Seven years already! It seems like yesterday when on 20 September 2016 I timidly knocked on Connect’s door to ask for help.
Seven years since an earthquake changed the maps of villages and towns in central Italy, and I wanted to do something. I had an idea in my head, and to make it happen I needed Google Maps. I had been a Local Guide for two months and knew little or nothing about mapping, so I went to those who knew more than me, and knocked on their door. I did it in a very naive way, but if you still see me here, seven years later, that door has been opened.
Every year it motivates us more, and gives us new reasons to celebrate this amazing community. My 7 reasons to celebrate are:
- The first reason is easy: This is the 7th birthday of Connect, which officially opened to the public on July 15, 2016
- On the 19th of July 2016 I joined the Local Guides program, so this was also my 7th birthday as a Local Guide
- Connect was officially born in July, the seventh month of the year, so this seventh birthday is really special
- My Seven years in Connect (of which more than six spent as a Community Moderator) will be on September 20, in less than two months
- I have written 777 posts in Connect so far, averaging 111 posts per year. This is my post number 778
- So far I have added more than 7 thousand roads in Google Maps. I did my best to reach this number on the occasion of this celebration, and I am happy to have succeeded
- During these seven years I have built an incredible network of friendships and contacts with Local Guides from all over the world, but there are seven in particular to whom I owe a lot, and whom I want to thank in this post:
- My wife @AntonellaGr , an incredible Local Guide who shared every day of this adventure with me.
- @TraciC , who welcomed me into the Community from day one, and who guided my first steps by teaching me the rules of respecting others and rules.
- @FaridTDF , my first Connect Moderator, who encouraged me and became a friend and companion.
- @KarenVChin , my “partner in crime” and companion of online and offline adventures. Together with Farid we are often called “The Three Musketeers”
- @sashabg77 , who expertly introduced me to the world of accessibility.
- @JaneBurunina , who taught me how friendship can overcome all difficulties, even the greatest.
- @Jesi , who taught me that age difference is not a barrier when you have common passions to share.
Caption: A collage of eight images showing the people above, plus a photo with the Connect Moderators team taken in San Jose (CA) during Connect Live 2019
Looking forward to 2024, a thank you and a hug to this fantastic group of moderators with whom I have shared this long journey. A long journey, but one that seems to have started yesterday.
There would be many names to add to this list, and I hope everyone I haven’t mentioned will forgive me. They know they are in my heart.
What about you? How have you spent these years, and what were the “memorable” moments of your experience in Connect for you?
We still have two days to celebrate. If you haven’t already done so, leave a comment also in Let’s celebrate Connect’s birthday together
Happy seventh birthday, Local Guides Connect
Caption: A group of Local Guides celebrating at the opening of Connect Live 2018
. Happy 7th birthday once again for Connect and cheers…