What's the Buzz?

Happenings and Tips for VBA Connect, week 3.

Members are adapting quickly to our new online communities.  As with our prior listserve service, the most active section is the Property Law Section, with Family Law following close behind.   One of the added benefits of this new system is that you can check out and search what other Sections are talking about whether or not you join or post.  So what is the buzz?

The Property Law Section has continued to discuss MyVtax glitches and fixes, referrals for out of state matters, septic shadows, HOA liens, tenant evictions and pending legislation.  The Family Law Section is actively discussing several new bills being introduced on alimony reform, joint custody presumptions, side judges as mediators and other hot topics.  While you are browsing, check out the Technology Community’s discussions on Virtual Law Practice and Law Practice Management Software.  We are trying to assemble recommendations and warnings for software products, so if you have anything to add, please do so!

We have sent an email blast out to the membership to remind members to login and configure their accounts.  Please check your junk mail and white list mail@connectedcommunity.org.  All members have been defaulted to receiving a “daily digest” unless otherwise selected.  As noted in the General Discussion Library post “General Use Instructions,” you can see that there are two ways to select your email notification preferences. 

First, in each community, by the heading, is a button called “settings.”  There, you can set your email notifications for that community with a drop-down under “email notifications.”  Alternatively, you can view all your communities at once by clicking the drop-down arrow next to your profile picture (or Mr. Nobody picture) in the top right corner, and selecting “profile.” In your profile, select “my account” and there will be a drop-down for “community notifications.”  You can set all your community preferences there.

One member noted how convenient it was to be able to set the notifications at “daily digest” or none while he was on vacation, but then change them back to “real time” when he returned.  He thought he could go online on his own time when he was away to see what everyone was up to, but keep his emails down until he got back.  Another noted how important it is to have “real time” set during the legislative session and perhaps changing to “daily digest” when summer hits.  Because legislation is inevitably last-minute (and often critical), setting to “real time” now makes sense.  The beauty is that you can control what you see.

We know some members haven’t yet logged on, as they have “been meaning to” when they have “spare time.”  Been there, heard that! Rest assured that joining the conversation is as easy as entering your VBA username and password and browsing the communities.  The buttons are minimal, and clear, and the platform is extremely user-friendly.  One of your most powerful, yet most simple, resources is the collective wisdom of your colleagues. So what are you waiting for?  Join the conversation today! 

Got questions? We are here to help! Email me at jeb at vtbar dot org.  Training is available.