Travel is a Tradition With Us

Our youth group made its 7th trip to Europe on June 26 through July 11, 2007.

We flew in and out of Frankfurt, Germany, but spent most of our time in eastern Germany and central Europe. We visited Frankfurt, Dresden, Prague, Krakow, Berlin, and Wiesbaden traveling by train, bus, tram, subway, and good old-fashioned shoe leather.

Our church is a member of the NY Conference of the United Church of Christ on the "congregationalist" side of our church family.  The NY Conference of the UCC has a "sister church" relationship with the Evangelical Reformed church of the German state of Hesse.  One of the church's in the state of Hesse is the Ringkirche in Wiesbaden.

The Rev. Sunny Panitz, pastor of the Ringkirche in Wiesbaden, met our group in Frankfurt to see that we'd arrived safely and met us at the Wiesbaden train station when we arrived there.  He helped us find our hostel and then arranged for a tour bus to pick us up the next morning to take us along the Rhine River, to Marksburg Castle, and then to see the great statue of "Germania."  

We had a wonderful day with Sunny, who explained some of the history of the area.  When it came time for our group photo, everyone wanted him to be in the picture.  There he is in the front row with Katie Dana, Eleanor and Tim Doak.

Using Facebook to Share Photos

For Sr. High events and trips, the group has found Facebook an easy way to share photos with each other.   Many of our Sr. High members have a Facebook account, which lets them comment on the pictures and share their own.  I have a Facebook account as well, you'll find me as "Eleanor Stanton" in the Albany network.

For Middle School events and trips, photos will be posted in the church foyer only.  Most middle school students do not have Facebook accounts, and I am not encouraging them to get them.  The Facebook community is made up of mostly college-aged students and not appropriate for this younger set. 

I know we've all heard about unsafe Internet spaces.  I don't believe Facebook is an unsafe space for high schoolers, but I did a little research and posted my findings here.  Parents should discuss with their own children about Internet safety.

After reading several reviews, here's my take on it.  Facebook's "friend" feature - only people you've confirmed as "friends" can see your profile page - provides an extra level of privacy.  However privacy doesn't equal safety... or secrecy.  It's up to individual users to be wary of posting personal information on their Facebook site. 

Some Facebook users believe that everyone on Facebook is a student.  This is not only false, it is dangerously naive.  I have a Facebook account and use it to share trip photos with the group, but I'm not a high school or college student (not counting seminary here).  So don't assume anything about a person who sends you a "Friend Request" in Facebook.  And never agree to meet someone who contacts you via Facebook or any other online site without your parents knowing about it.

Being safe is first, but let's not forget being smart.  Be smart about what you post on your profile page.  Expect that it's going to get seen by people that you hadn't anticipated - like the admissions counselor at the college you're applying to, a friend of your parents, or the police.  I'm a member of the Saratoga County Prevention Council and I have listened to the school truant officer and the police chief discuss how they find out about underage drinking and parties by seeing the videos that students have posted OF THEMSELVES on both YouTube and Facebook.

Remember, Facebook is a networking tool.  It's designed to help people meet each other.  If your profile can be seen by the entire network, people can find your profile page by following the links of their friends, to your friends, to you.  You can decide to have your profile page viewable only by those you've designated as friends or viewable by the entire network. 

So, in summary, Facebook is a GREAT networking tool, really powerful for sharing pictures and staying in touch.  But like all power tools, you need to be smart about using it.

Stay safe.  Keep your friends safe.

Love,
Eleanor