Gateway

The following is a guest blog. It does not represent the views or opinions of OSFES or other writers for this blog but is the sole opinion of the guest writer. Please express your concerns about this issue in the comments section. But if there is another topic you would like to write an opinion about contact me at jshoberg@cox.net with your ideas.

GATEWAY
By R.L Callaway: NE
edited Jean Sexton: NC
Proofed Howard Bampton: PA

Omaha lacks a gateway informational site. This is a site that consolidates information on the activities and meetings of the various Omaha groups. In the past our centers of information were located in the game shops, comic book shops, and specialty bookstores, such as Merchant of Venus and Star Realm. These are stores that many of today's fans have never heard of.

There are reportedly seven different anime clubs, between four and seven gaming groups, at least three conventions, two to three video media groups and God alone knows if the DR WHO folks are still around in the greater Omaha metro area. Does anyone know when and where they all meet? What their current interests are? When their meetings are held? Who is in charge? And the last of the five Ws of journalism: Why?

The Greater Omaha Metro Area Science Fiction and Fantasy community is in need of a central site to post information about the area's activities and clubs, including information such as contact points, meeting dates, events, and news. Such a gatekeeper site is not political. It does not care about feuds between groups; it is not a blog; it has no opinions about the events. It will not allow a petty-minded flame war to exist on its discussion site. If someone needs to talk trash, then they can text it to whomever they want, but not via this site. In short, it is purely an informational area (OK, it might have one section for banter but you have to keep it clean).

The major rule of the site would be the five Ws of the journalist: Who, What, When, Where, Why.

Thus announcements such as:

203rd Lyran Sq will be holding a Christmas party @ 6pm-9pm 12-21-09 @ charlies 7301 Giles RD No alcohol or Rec Drugs permitted; all welcome.
The FMP anime club will be showing season 1 disk 3 of Black Lagoon starting at 2pm 12-22-09 in room C Downtown library. Contact Jim Thorpe for additional information (see club contact section for details).

We can use a neutral site to bring together the facts about fandom in the Omaha area. It must be about facts, not feuds, not hurt feelings; it should not be about ego, nor should it feature any one group's agenda. But the facts about who we are, where we can be found, when we are meeting, what are we doing, and why we are doing it.

It can only be done if you see a need and a desire to fill it.