resource June-July 2010

Recyclopedia: if you build it, they will come

admin — Mon, 05 Jul 2010 11:33:26 -0700

For Residential Admins

Are you using your Recyclopedia to help users a find way to dispose of materials they might not know how to recycle?

What it does

The Recyclopedia is an A-Z Guide to Reuse and Recycling. Each community customizes their site to accommodate local regulations, relevant charities and businesses. Generally, the Recyclopedia is a good resource for those “Hard to Reuse/Recycle” items.

New

Recyclopedia and Dynamic Directories can now be linked; you can select Dynamic Directory entries as 'disposal options' in the Recyclopedia.

This new system makes it much easier (and far less time consuming) to set up your Recyclopedia here.

Having a hard time compiling your Recyclopedia list?

Check out Madison Stuff Exchange's Recyclopedia:

http://www.madisonstuffexchange.com/?content=recyclopedia.list

Entry Example:

Download our easy to follow tutorial: http://www.iwastenotsystems.com/admin_guides/recyclopedia_res.pdf

If you would like to start a list but don't think you have the time, try adding a few items a day. Just like adding a few drops of water to a Chia pet, you'll watch your Recylopedia list grow in no time! (Feeling a little nostalgic? Check out the original Chia Pet commercial here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tzY7qQFij_M)

Add articles to your exchange

admin — Mon, 05 Jul 2010 11:29:55 -0700

For all admins

Want to add your own articles to your exchange? Let us know and we can turn on the 'Articles Feature' for you. This feature allows you to add more general information on your exchange like Success Stories, Site Updates, or Regulatory Information.

Once the feature is turned on new links display in the 'Navigate pane' and in the 'Directories' section of the admin panel. You choose how many new links you would like (maximum three) and what you would like them to be called.

You add articles to these sections the same way you add a 'News' article.

For an example of how they display on the exchange click here: http://www.materialtrader.org/?content=article.list;article_group_id=3

Note: We will be adding the 'Articles feature' control panel to the admin panel some time in the future, so you can control if you would like it on or off and what you would like the links to be called.

For your listing pleasure

admin — Mon, 05 Jul 2010 11:27:21 -0700

A Reminder for all admins

Can I approve listings?

Yes, you turn on listing approval by clicking on Listing Settings (under 'Configure the Exchange').

Approval section:

Check ‘All new listings require approval’
Check ‘ All photo listings require approval’
Check ‘Modified listings require re-approval’ - if you don't check this one, a member can change their listing to something inappropriate.

When do listings expire?

It's up to you when listings expire. You choose by clicking on Listing Settings (under 'Configure the Exchange').

You can set the Expiry options to whatever you would like. You can also send expiry notices to your members, and decide how many and how often you want to send them:

Eventful listings

admin — Mon, 05 Jul 2010 11:22:45 -0700

A reminder for all admins

Event listings expire at midnight of the day of the event; the exchange checks this by reading the Event Date field.
By default the Event Date field displays the date you create the listing, so you MUST change this field to the actual day of the event or you listing will expire at midnight of the same day you created your listing.
If you plan to hold your event on more than one day, please set the Event Date to the last day of the event.
The Event Date field does not display in your listing details; it is for the exchange to determine when the listing expires. You must enter the date of your event in the title of the event. e.g. Garage Sale July 1, 8 AM - 3 PM.
You are NEVER prompted to renew event listings as it states when you create the event: ‘Event Date’: Event listings are deleted at midnight on this date.

Quick tip

admin — Mon, 05 Jul 2010 11:20:03 -0700

Add an Event Category so your members can select the Event category when they post a garage sale, a conference or farmer's market for example.

Bites and bytes

admin — Mon, 05 Jul 2010 11:20:00 -0700

“WiserEarth helps the global movement of people and organizations working toward social justice, indigenous rights, and environmental stewardship connect, collaborate, share knowledge, and build alliances.”

Check it out: http://www.wiserearth.org/

Plastic Century: a taste of the polluted oceans:
http://www.boingboing.net/2010/06/08/plastic-century-a-ta.html