Introducing “EBCoM Connect”

 

You may have seen Jesse's email a few weeks ago announcing a meeting to discuss isolation among our members, and ways of reducing isolation/increasing connection. Plus Peter Davis' action at the last Saturday meeting to have guys open to phone calls/going for walks raise their hand.

 

Out of Jesse's meeting, I volunteered to lead an effort to develop some longer-lasting mechanism for men to share what kinds of activities they are interested in, along with other interests, so that other men can find them, and contact them and ultimately organize things between interested parties. Doug Kuenning, Ed DeMattia, and Robert Greenberg have been working on this with me.

 

We’ve produced an online resource, where any man can add their information: contact info, activities they are interested in doing with others (in-person or virtual), plus other interests - and look for other men they want to contact. It’s accessible in the EBCoM website under the “Members” section, or directly at http://eastbaycircleofmen.org/members/connect/ .

 

It’s very easy to add your own interests and information. There’s a “how to” on the EBCoM website, plus we’ll have a kickoff and demo during this Saturday’s business meeting.

 

The most important steps: add your information, and then call up a guy and make an invitation - whether to just a phone call or a walk.

 

A personal experience: after Peter’s request for guys to raise hands if they were open to a phone call or walk last meeting, I called up Dennis. I’ve known him for years, through common music/dance communities, and later through EBCoM. But, I’d never had much of a conversation with him, or really gotten to know him. We went for a nice long walk through the Berkeley Hills, got to know each other some, looked at old houses, and generally had a great time. I’m so glad I did that. EBCoM Connect is there for you, to help you make similar connections.

 

Or - just pick a guy you’re interested in, from a meeting or elsewhere, and contact them!

 

Phillip Garrison

415-640-3072