On Sun, 24 Aug 2003, Vincente Fernandes wrote:
> Wishing you a very HAPPY BIRTHDAY on behalf of GoaNetters to
>
> 25-AugHerman Carneiro Boston, MA, USA
Happy birthday Herman. Happy birthday Goanet (b 25 Aug 1994).
As Goanet enters its tenth year of successfully linking thousands of Goans
across the globe (4000+ and growing) let's all dedicate ourselves to
making this a network which shares ideas and inspiration not rancour and
recrimination.
Let's see how we can go ahead; we might only turn into a pillar of salt if
we keep our heads firmly stuck in the past.
Goans worldwide have a lot of talent and potential. Let's use that to
build bridges -- regardless of ethnic origins, religious differences, and
where we may be currently based or located.
All of us are bound to have different perspectives on our past, and about
our future. But we need not have daggers draw just because of this!
I got involved with Goanet sometime in 1994 or 1995... and it has vastly
helped me to be part of this global network. What we've given back by way
of posting and sharing information (which anyway would have been otherwise
wasted) is infinitely small compared to the warmth, friendship,
information we've gained over the years.
This small note is to say a thank you for people like Herman who set up
Goanet, when he was a 17-year-old studying at North Eastern University,
Boston. (Odd though it may sound, we've never met all these years!) It's
also a tribute to everyone who has posted to Goanet over the years, to
make it what it actually is. Those who came in at the very early stage
(some are still around) and those who added vibrancy at a later stage.
We would fail if we didn't say a 'thank you' to those who were with us,
at some point along the journey, but left due to a difference of opinion
or whatever reason, along the way. Everyone has a right to see things
differently ... and we thank you for joining us along part of the journey.
Lastly we look forward to members' suggestions on how Goanet could be made
a better place. (We specially need volunteers who can take on specific
tasks -- like Bosco and Vincente are doing... without overlooking the
work that our moderator Viviana Fernandes has been doing, as did others
like Eddie Fernandes and Sunila Muzawar at different points of time.)
Three things I like best about Goanet:
o Wide diversity of views, scope for even clashing perspectives.
o Discussion is (mostly) polite and non-offensive.
o Inputs from across the globe make this one of the best fora
for the exchange of views and news about Goa, even if
one compares the job newspapers in Goa are doing today. Of
course, there's a lot of scope for improvement...
Three things that could improve
o Like other lists, participation rates are 5=10% of total membership
o Flame-baits sometimes manage to block genuine debate
o More volunteers could build this into a really vibrant organisation
Naturally, we have our limitations too. If one could start all over again,
there are a number of things one would have done differently. But then, as
someone said, life is what's happening while you're making other plans ;-)
FN
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