What is it?

The most basic tool: a mailing list.

For whom?

For people who work in municipal, county, state, or non-profit agencies and educational centers (anywhere) and are working on the problems created by bed bugs in our society.

Why?

The federal agencies with the three-letter names are not coming to the rescue.

Aim

If at all possible, to not reinvent the wheel.

To share what we have collectively learned.

And help everyone who wants to get up to speed as quickly as possible.

Can anyone join?

No.

People fighting infestations at home need help the most, no question. But there are already online resources to find information, ask questions, get moral support, and interact with professionals and others who have fought or are also fighting infestations.

This group is for people in the public and non-profit sectors who are struggling to come up with effective policy or educational responses to bed bugs in their cities and communities. Seeking advice from peers will make it reasonably possible to share the information necessary for a useful exchange.

The idea is to have a low-key place where people can participate as little or as much as their time and circumstances permit, while creating a resource for those who may need it later.

Where do I sign up?

For now I propose we use Google Groups. It’s free and relatively simple.

To subscribe, send an email directly to usvbb+subscribe@googlegroups.com

– or –

To request to be added to the list (or if you have problems with the direct subscription method), please send an email to renee@newyorkvsbedbugs.org

Please indicate your name and email address (the email address you would like to use to receive group messages) and the name and location of your agency/institution/non-profit. If you prefer to use a personal email address, that’s cool, but please send your request or a separate email from your agency email address — we won’t have the resources to verify who you are otherwise.

Once subscribed, emails sent to usvbb@googlegroups.com will be received by the whole group.

The web address for the list is: http://groups.google.com/group/usvbb

You will notice if you go to that page that you seem to need a Google Account to do anything. You don’t need to have a Google Account to send or receive messages to the group via email. It is only necessary for group members who want to read or post messages using the web interface. If you don’t have one already, please note that creating a Google Account does not create a separate email account or interfere with your existing email account(s). And, if you want, you can create a Google Account just for this group. But, again, you don’t need one!

What else?

Tell others who may be interested. And let me know if you have questions or suggestions.

We’ll try this, see if it works. If there is no interest or it is not useful, no harm. No pressure.