NeighborhoodNettmFor Neighborhoods In The Kansas City Metro Area
|
Neighbors Write About NeighborhoodNet Closing
|
| February 17, 1999
Folks, Thank you so much for all the really nice letters you have sent me since I announced I was closing NeighborhoodNet. They confirm what a great and kind audience visited the website. Here are the letters I have received. Bob Phillips
From Eric Kirkendale, Citizens for Responsible Development Bob, I am so sad to see you quitting, but understand. This Web publication business takes a lot of time, and it is hard to make a buck! You made a big difference--you were a subject of conversation at the second meeting of the Smart Growth Alliance--people were much impressed!
* * * * *From Norm Bowers, Johnson County Public Works Department
Bob, thanks for a job well done. I was wondering how you found the time to
keep things current. Twenty hours a week, that was a big time hobby.
* * * * *From Greg Laiben, Publisher Of CARE and 49/63 Websites Bob, I am so sorry to hear that you're closing down the NeighborhoodNet site. Your site is unique, extremely lively and helpful. Your words of encouragement and the publicity you provided to us during the UMKC disagreement were instrumental in our success. I am going to miss your site.
If there is any chance you may reconsider, I would support you in any way I
can. I understand the time constraints required to keep a site updated - I
can't imagine how many hours you really put in, for I suspect you're
drastically underestimating when you say 20 hours per week
Good luck and thanks for having such a great site for as long as you have.
...gregg
From Tom Clarke, ATC Graphics
Bob,
From Heather DeBrosse
Bob,
Heather
From Bill Nell, publisher of FiberVision
What are you going to do for fun NOW, Bob?
From Lisa Sweatt
Bob,
Thanks for everything!!!
From Becky Creech
Bob -
Your excellent information source will be sorely missed! I'm sad but
completely understanding of your decision to close NeighborhoodNet. You've
done a great job with it and I always did wonder how on earth you found the
time to keep it up so well.
Thank you for spoiling us for so long! Now go have a life! :-)
Becky Creech
From Kathy Grazier, publisher of Strawberry Hill website
Bob,
I am shocked and very sad to hear that you are going to stop
publishing your web site. NeighborhoodNet was by far the best
community site on the Internet. I wish I could convince you to keep
it active, but I do understand the amount of time and work that goes
into keeping it current. I wish I had volunteered to help you a long
time ago.
Good luck to you in your future ventures...and please keep my address
on your email list. I would love to hear from you and know what you
are doing from time to time.
Sincerely,
Return to top
|
From Nancy Seats, President Of HADD
Bob, I am in shock!!! I have been out of town again and just found out tonight that you are retiring from NeighborhoodNet. I have watched your web site become so professional and so comprehensive over the time I have been reading it. Really a great service. I do understand. I can't tell you how many times we have talked about declaring a victory and disbanding HADD. We have always looked at each other and said "we can't, because if we quit they win". The truth is that the Certified Master Builder organization no longer exists as of November 1, 1998. The other problems do still exist such as no accountability in the residential construction industry. We desperately need state licensing, and for houses to be covered under consumer protection, But I doubt that any of us will livelong enough to see that happen. We could declare victory because the CMB is gone. You do definitely need to put your family first-----when the kids are grown you can do it again! Best wishes to you and your family. Even though I have never met you I feel that you are a good friend. You are the one who encouraged me enough so that I didn't give up on the computer. Thanks Bob for being a friend. Nancy Seats, HADD PS--I heard on NBC nightly news the other night that 18 states have lemon laws on pets. Interesting!!!!
* * * * *From Christine Malamanig, reporter for the Kansas City Star
Bob,
--Christine Malamanig
* * * * *From Richard Fox, publisher of NAILEM and A Web Design Service Bob, I need additional responsibility like I need a hole in the head, but it would break my heart, and I am sure many people there, to see your site go off line. What can I do to help you? Is there anything I can do or say to change your mind? I will do whatever I can to help you keep it. Any ideas? Richard
* * * * *From Russ Gibson Sad news! NeighborhoodNet has grown beyond belief. I remember when its focus was just Blue Valley Riding! This will be a significant loss. Isn't this "service" something we could pay for through our subdivision dues? As a fellow resident and employee at Sprint, I REALLY appreciate the effort and results you've provided! Russ Gibson
* * * * *From Wendy Crosby, Crosby Photo Graphics
Bob- I was shocked and heartbroken that NeighborhoodNet will close. Although
I can undestand all the time and effort it took, it was such a great
neighborhood togetherness thing. Very sad. I think the function as Johnson
County gov't watchdog was invaluable.
* * * * *From Ben Florance, Fire Chief, City of LeawoodBob, It has been a pleasure to work with you on the fire info. I wish you all the best and appreciate your efforts as do others in our neighborhood. Perhaps we'll see each other around sometime. Take Care,
Ben C. Florance
* * * * *From Mark Andrasik, Director Of Information Services, City Of Leawood Bob, I truly am sorry to hear that you are to stop publishing the NeighborhoodNet! I definitely understand and respect the reason behind this --- time is so precious in our lives. Family, in my opinion, is the most important factor in life and I can see that spending 20 hours per week doing the NeighborhoodNet plus your "normal" job would detract from this. I can only say that what you have done has been of great help to all of us. Specifically, the time you took to provide response on our Internet home page was invaluable to us --- we have incorporated many of your suggestions. I hope that you will continue to be active in the community because, regardless of stance on a position, people like you do make a positive difference --- it is what democracy is all about. Information is the key to making correct decisions and the NeighborhoodNet was a tool used to provide this information. Good luck in the future and don't hesitate to give me a call if I can be of any help --- 339-6700 ext. 125. Sincerely, Mark Andrasik
* * * * *Return to top |
From Brad Jordan, President of Oak Park and publisher of Oak Park website
Bob, Sorry to hear about your site, but then again I'm happy for you as I know what a thankless job it can be, even to maintain a little site like ours (http://www.kcnet.com/~jordan). I salute you on your efforts and would like to help carry the "torch" if the alternative is watching it go out. I've recently procured the domain name http://www.kcmetro.net and am entertaining the idea of hosting free web sites for pro-neighborhood organizations (homes associations, non-profits, etc). I think it's really important that us "little guys" have a resource of information and a rallying place for local issues. How large is the current Neighborhood Net site? I could "archive" it or portions of it on my site, if users would still like access to the information. It would be a better option than deleting all your hard work. Please let me know if you have any thoughts or comments on the idea. Thanks Again!
Brad Jordan
* * * * *From Bruce Gorthy Bob, I read your message concerning your NeighborhoodNet web site with sadness. However, I do understand "Time Constraints". Just to let you know, it was the best Web Site out there for local information!!
* * * * *From Denise Upah, President Blue Valley Riding Homes Association Bob, Just wanted you to know how sad I am that you have decided to take a sabbatical from NeighborhoodNet, yet I certainly understand your reasons why. Thank you so much for all of your time and hard work. I've come to rely on the information I find there, even moreso than the KC Star at times, because of your thoroughness and dedication. Thanks again. I'm certainly going to miss it as I'm sure others will too. Denise Upah
* * * * *From David EmersonSorry to hear the bad news, maybe someone with a lot of free time will take it over? :(
* * * * *From Alice Stewart, Urban Reference Librarian, Johnson County Library I am very sorry to see that you will be shutting down your website. You have done a wonderful job of collecting local information and organizing it into an easily used format. I learned about your site from Brad Jordan, who recommened that I create a link from the Urban Reference page on the Johnson County Library homepage. I was planning to make that link, but now will hold off doing so. If you should change your mind about supporting the page (and I'll watch to see if you do), then I'll make a link. I will be creating a "Neighborhood" link off of Urban Ref - but due to the nature of how the Library's site is maintained - this site will probable remain a "link to other links", rather than a site for publishing information. Sincerely -
Alice Stewart
* * * * *From Tom Roudebush Bob, I can't believe what I am reading. No more NeighborhoodNet :( I have been reading this page for 3 years. I think I was in on the first testing. I have seen it grow from nothing to a great asset to our neighborhood. I can understand you not being able to keep. I could not find 20 hours a month much less a week. I just want to say: THANK YOU Tom Roudebush
* * * * *From Sandy Hall I'm sorry that you are closing down your network. We have really enjoyed it, and I think I was getting closer to getting the internet, now I have no reason to get it. I was wondering if you could send me names and phone number or E-mail address of the following Home Associations:
Kingston Lake
Thank you for all you do!!!!!!!!
* * * * *From Ted Carleton Trying to hold back the tears>.....LOL...< how 'bout transferring your web-base to another enterprising soul? I'd like to see Blue Valley retain this nearly indispensable entity. Perhaps the local school could run it?
* * * * *From Judy Runser Bob: you have done a GREAT job! I have enjoyed it throughout the 3 years! I often wondered how you found the time to keep up with it! Thanks for all of your hard work! Judy Runser
* * * * *From Michaela Brady Many thanks to YOU, Bob! Your involvement and contributions are the stuff of which great citizenry is made. Hope your new free time is very enjoyable. Michaela Brady
* * * * *From Stan Sease You have been a service to the people of Southern Johnson County. Good for you, and you will never get the thanks you deserve. |