Desert Messenger

6 www.DesertMessenger.com DESERT MESSENGER Quartzsite s FREE Community Paper Founded by Walt Akin October 1, 2004 P�������� �� P���� R��� P��������� C�. P.O. Box 3185 Quartzsite, AZ 85359 P�������� ����� � ����� 1st & 3rd Wednesday Sept. thru May with Special Summer Editions June, July & August EDITOR/PUBLISHER Shanana "Rain" Golden-Bear CONTRIBUTING JOURNALIST Joanne Winer GUEST COLUMNIST Louise Rouse GUEST COLUMNIST Jedidiah Free GUEST COLUMNIST The late Rosalee O Wheeler GUEST COLUMNIST Violet Kiss CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHER Starr BearCat NAME PLATE LETTERING Paul Winer www.DesertMessenger.com www.MyQuartzsite.com E-mail: Editor@DesertMessenger.com Copyright 2013 Opinions expressed herein are not necessarily those of the Desert Messenger. LIKE US on Facebook.com/ DesertMessengerNews FOLLOW US on Twitter @QuartzsiteRain Proud to be a Quartzsite Licensed Business 928-916-4235 541-218-2560 Copyright 2013 By Shanana "Rain" Golden-Bear EDITORIAL "Social media is addictive precisely because it gives us something which the real world lacks: it gives us immediacy, direction, a sense of clarity and value as an individual." ― David Amerland, The Social Media Mind: How social media is changing business, politics and science How social media affects our world Two weeks ago, we all learned the power of social media's impact on capturing the Boston bombing suspects. I also had challenges with incorporating social media into the print medium. If you read my last editorial, you'll remember that the Boston tragedy happened just hours before going to print. As part of the last minute juggling, I left out the most important part of Rosalee's "Voices from the Past" article. I apologize for the inconvenience. LETTERS TO EDITOR POLICY Desert Messenger encourages letters from its readers. Letters should be no longer than 300 words, and may be edited for grammar, content and length. OPINIONS EXPRESSED HERE DO NOT NECESSARILY REPRESENT THOSE OF THE DESERT MESSENGER. We invite you to not only see a problem, but search for the solution to share with the community, keeping the bene�it of all in mind. Letters considered libelous, in poor taste, on a personal issue, mean spirited or dominated by Scripture quotes will not be published. Third party letters will not be accepted. To avoid confusion over people with common or similar names, writers must provide a full name and indicate the name they are known by. Writers must provide a full street address and phone number. Rvers can provide the location of park/BLM land, etc. Street addresses will not be published. Phone numbers are for veri�ication only and will not be printed. Mail letters to: Desert Messenger, P.O. Box 3185, Quartzsite, AZ 85359 or E-mail to: Editor@DesertMessenger.com 928-916-4235 The online edition of Desert Messenger was corrected, but the whole article is now included in this edition, beginning on Page 14. It's easy to get caught up on trivial details on social media networks such as Twitter and Facebook. But the importance of social media became obvious during the recent Boston tragedy. Main stream networks were challenged to keep up with social media. For example when the FBI posted online the photos of the two suspects, the masses overwhelmed the website for a short time. Knowing I have almost 900 followers on Twitter, I felt a responsibility to post as well. One never knows who we reach. Remember the 1979 Ma Bell AT&T commercial, "Reach out and touch someone"? With social media, we are reaching out and touching the world. Quartzsite is gradually moving into the social media world. Quartzsite Fire and Rescue has joined Facebook along with many local businesses. They're doing an awesome job of updating readers about their calls and giving wonderful education information. Be sure to check them out at www.Facebook.com/QuartzsiteFire. The Town of Quartzsite released their new website just this past week. It's disappointing that no social media was included. As with any launch of a new website, there are sure to be many glitches and typos. They are working diligently to update correct information and links. If you find issues that need correcting, please send an email directly to Town Clerk Terry Frausto at townclerk@ci.quartzsite.az.us. Nowadays, we have the ability to build up a community or tear it down Like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com /DesertMessengerNews May 1, 2013 in 140 characters or less. (Twitter posts are restricted to 140 characters, including spaces, so one learns to be very precise!) How we, as a community communicate within the framework of social media will impact how Quartzsite thrives in the future. "Innovation needs to be part of your culture. Consumers are transforming faster than we are, and if we don't catch up, we're in trouble." – Ian Schafer of Deep Focus. Ian is one of advertising's most influential voices in interactive marketing and social media Humans fear that which they don't understand. Social media is the same. Sometimes we need to jump in and start playing. My sister recently experienced the power of social media when a friend died. After she posted a notice online, donations began pouring in to help the suffering family. We all have the ability to reach out touch others to benefit humanity. But we cannot forget the power of of the human touch as Town Employees learned this week visiting homebound residents on "Pay it Forward Day". (See article on Page 5) Folks around the world were helping others with no expectations. Quartzsite residents were pleasantly surprised when help arrived to clean up weeds, fix a leak, etc. The simple act of delivering homemade cookies to a person shut in their home brought smiles and happiness to an otherwise dreary day. "Pay it Forward Day" was promoted via social media. So we take what we learn online and put it to use right here in Quartzsite, helping our family, friends and neighbors. That's how social media affects our world today! One person at a time! I encourage you to join the fun! DEADLINE IS WED. MAY 8 for MAY 15th issue of the Desert Messenger Email: editor@DesertMessenger.com Follow on Twitter @DesertMessenger @QuartzsiteRain Phone: 928-916-4235 www.DesertMessenger.com

• Cover