What the Listserv Conversation Reminds Us About Community

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Over the past week, one topic seems to have been on everyone’s mind across the Upper Valley: listservs.

I can’t speak to the decision-making process behind the changes to the town listservs, or what their future will ultimately look like. But the conversation that followed made one thing very clear: the Upper Valley relies on simple, community-driven ways of communicating with one another.

And perhaps that’s why the response has been so strong.

Sometimes, simpler really is better

We live in a world of increasingly slick apps and platforms, all competing for our attention with pings, notifications, algorithms and endless scrolling. Against that backdrop, the humble listserv feels almost like a throwback. 

You subscribe. You get an email. You see what your neighbors are talking about. There’s no algorithm deciding what you should see, no need to figure out how to make a post "perform," just people sharing information with other people.

And the information shared on Upper Valley listservs is remarkably varied. A community event. A lost dog. A question about town government. A recommendation for a contractor. Something for sale. A fundraiser. An announcement from a local organization. A small business letting neighbors know about something new.

These aren't just email lists. They're part of the infrastructure of community.

They help people stay informed about the places where they live, and they create connections that don't necessarily happen through formal organizations or social media.

Finding new ways to stay connected

The conversation around the listservs has also been a useful reminder that there isn't one single way to keep a community informed. For the Upper Valley Business Alliance, one small piece of that puzzle is our community calendar.

If you're hosting an event, meeting, workshop, concert, fundraiser or other gathering in the Upper Valley, you can add it to our calendar for free at uppervalleybusinessalliance.com. It's searchable and open to everyone, and it gives residents, visitors and other businesses another way to discover what's happening throughout our region.

Our calendar isn't a replacement for the town listservs, and we don't pretend it can fill every role they play. But it is one more tool available to all of us. Ultimately, keeping a community connected isn't the responsibility of one organization, one platform or one communication channel, it's something we all play a role in.

The Upper Valley is fortunate to have an incredible variety of organizations, businesses, municipalities, community groups and, perhaps most importantly, people who care about what's happening here. The listserv conversation has reminded us just how valuable those connections are.

If you're hosting something that you'd like people to know about, add it to the Upper Valley Business Alliance community calendar. It's one small way we can all help make sure the Upper Valley remains an informed, connected and engaged community. Keep sharing.

Originally posted by Upper Valley Business Alliance via Locable