<html><body><span style="font-family:Verdana; color:#000000; font-size:10pt;"><div>Hi all,</div><div><br></div><div>We've decided to use the GroupMe service in order to develop an emergency/last minute message system for our space. GroupMe is an SMS messaging service that allows broadcast SMS messages without the use of Group MMS. The function of this list is space schedule updates like weather closings, late openings, early closings, and other emergencies.</div><div><br></div><div>The best way to get yourself connected to this list is to first register with GroupMe via <a href="http://www.groupme.com">www.groupme.com</a> and create an account. After you've done so, send an e-mail OFF LIST directly to me (steckelj@jaredsroom.com) with your phone #. Once I add you to the Make Lehigh Valley group, you will receive a message that you've been added - simply save the number you received the message from as a contact called "Make Lehigh Valley", and all communications to/from the GroupMe list will come & go from that number.</div><div><br></div><div>If you do not wish to register with GroupMe but want to join the list, you can simply send an e-mail to me with your name/number and I can add you without a registration. Be advised, though, that if you register with GroupMe after this - even with the same number - GroupMe will not connect your Make Lehigh Valley registration with your newly registered account. We'll need to remove and re-add you.</div><div><br></div><div>Once you are a list subscriber, please be aware that you will receive a message each time someone is added to the list. So far as I can see there is nothing I can do about this, so please bear with us. </div><div><br></div><div>Help on GroupMe, which includes some commands you can issue via SMS (#help, #mute, etc) see here: <a href="http://help.groupme.com">help.groupme.com</a></div><div><br></div><div><span style="font-size: 10pt;">It is important that everyone understands the context in which you should text the GroupMe group. As a rule of thumb, if in doubt, don't. A message to the group will basically blast an SMS to everyone. The intention of the service is for emergency alerts for the space. "We're closed today", "Closing Early", etc.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><br></span></div><div><span style="font-size: 10pt;">I will handle the registrations as quickly as I can upon receipt. If you have any other questions, you can respond directly to me to save the list a few messages.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><br></span></div><div><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Jared Steckel / @gimps</span></div><div>Make Lehigh Valley</div><div><a href="mailto:steckelj@jaredsroom.com">steckelj@jaredsroom.com</a></div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><br></div> </span></body></html>