Because access to Community Weaver 2.0 (CW2.0) requires a log in, it is difficult to set up an RSS feed in a standard feed reader such as Google Reader. However, I believe Time Trader Rob has found a workaround, at least for those who use Mozilla Firefox as their web browser. (Thanks Rob, for your patience and help on this issue!)
If you use Firefox, you can download an "add-on" that allows you to receive notifications of new Service Offers and Service Requests as they are posted in CW2.0. The notifications appear as a "ticker," a scrolling bar across the bottom of your screen, and are visible as you surf the web on Firefox.
You must have Firefox open and be logged in to your CW 2.0 account at timetrader.timebanks.org
If you are using your personal computer (not a shared or public computer), I would recommend allowing Firefox to store your log in information so that you will automatically be logged in to CW2.0 whenever you open Firefox. This should enable you to move to the next step, downloading the add-on.
It is called "RSS Ticker" and here is the URL:
https://addons.mozilla.org/en-us/firefox/addon/rss-ticker/
On the page, click the green box that says "Add to Firefox."
Once it downloads it will prompt you to restart Firefox.
Instructions for using the add-on are located at:
http://www.chrisfinke.com/firstrun/rss-ticker.php?v=12
Once you have restarted Firefox, you should be able to go the Time Trader homepage at timetrader.timebanks.org and look in the blue bar at the top. On the right side there are a number of links. Click on "Recent Offers," then go to "Bookmarks" in your menu bar at the top and click on the RSS feed icon where it says "Subscribe to this page." Do the same thing with the link next to it that says, "Recent Requests."
If that does not work, you may have to add the URL of the feed manually. Email timetrader@familyservicerochester.org with the subject line RSS FEED and explain that you have tried to add the RSS feeds but you need the URLs. I will send them in an email along with brief instructions about how to enter them to receive the feeds.
Once the feed starts working, the request titles will scroll across the bottom of your screen. You must click on each individual offer title. This will bring up the offer or request in CW2.0 and then the title will disappear from the ticker. The first time you do this, ALL existing requests or offers will appear, so you will need to click on each one and look at the listing. After that, each new offer or request will scroll across and you will be sure that it is brand new.
I do apologize that this requires such effort on your part, but since RSS feeds were designed for publicly viewable information on the web to be shared, it is difficult to make them work within the privacy settings we have set up in Community Weaver for the safety and peace of mind of our members.
Again, right now I can recommend this as a solution only for those members who use Mozilla Firefox as their web browser. I will continue to look for other solutions for the rest of you, and if you are a member who has a solution, please let me know. I will pay you Time Credits for explaining it to me.
I do the best I can to reach members as many ways as possible and to make it as convenient as possible for members to access Community Weaver 2.0 and to remain active and engaged in the community. If you have ideas or suggestions about how I can do that more efficiently or effectively, please do let me know by emailing me at timetrader@familyservicerochester.org.
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