Please help - need suggestions for setting up group forum

>
Sounds like a great idea Eliz...
Here is my contribution to the brainstorm..

You could start with a forum through
network54 and promote it as a support group
for the downsized; call it something like
"down but not out": a support and motivation
network for downsized professionals..the objective
could be to help each other network to find
jobs and resources...for the people who are
not net savvy: give them the url for the
forum and eventually ask them if it is ok for
you to post their resumes on your own website...
(a website for your members resumes)

You could eventually start a newsletter for your
group keeping them abreast of new net resources
and interviews with career counselors etc...

I think even the novice will be able to post
to a message board like the ones at Network54...

In short, you could start a web community for
over 40 downsized professionals...

I can invision some of your links and resources
to come right from this and other marketing
boards as I'm sure some of these professionals
will be looking for ways to market themselves
and their services...another potential resource
would be Julie's passion site because some of
the members might even want to find their passion
especially if they are thinking of a career
change...Sounds like an excellent idea! Keep
us posted...I'm anxious to hear the other ideas...

Hi, I wonder if the regulars at sowpub could
> do some brainstorming with me about an idea
> I have.

> I recently attended a professional
> development seminar that lasted 4 weeks. I
> met 19 other participants and we're trying
> to keep in touch and help one another stay
> motivated. All of us at one time were
> employed in fairly good paying jobs, but
> were downsized over the last 6-13 months. We
> are also all 40+. Many in their mid-late
> 50's. Some are looking at the
> self-employment route, others still haven't
> gotten their heads around how to market
> their services and are looking for the
> traditional job. These men and women are all
> professionals, civil engineers, Presidents
> and CEOs of small to medium sized
> manufacturing and technology companies,
> marketing directors, accountants, ex. cop
> now private investigator, business analyst
> and many other types in our group.

> There is certainly a wide range of talent
> and skills among the members. My object is
> for us to grow our network, help one another
> by exchanging ideas, offering advice, and
> find some way for us to put this talent base
> to work for us. I thought of creating a
> community forum where we could meet online
> and both exchange ideas and invite others
> outside the group to join in.
> Communityzero.com comes to mind as a place
> to start such a group.

> And this is where I'm stuck. Naturally, I
> need to sell the idea to the group, but
> before I do so, I want to go to them with a
> bit more sturcture around my idea. Keeping
> in mind, this group, although made up of
> professionals, many are not into the net as
> I am.

> Can you see this kind of group dynamics
> making sense if I set up a community group
> forum?
> Other than word-of-mouth among all members,
> how can we get others of like mind to
> paritcipate?
> I'd like to keep it regional, i.e. mainly in
> SW Ontario, Canada. Why? Many of the group
> are really not internet savvy. They use the
> internet to post their resumes, research
> prospective employers and access email and
> job related functions, but that's it. They
> really don't use the internet for surfing
> and research as much as I do.
> Once we're set up in this kind of forum, can
> we use search engines to get listed if we
> don't have our own domain name?
> Any suggestions on how we could turn this
> into a viable business opportunity down the
> road?

> All comments or suggestions would be most
> welcome.

> Thanks.

> Eliz.