What Should HEDIR Do?

By on August 19, 2012 in The HEDIR Discussion

In 1992 the original HEDIR was created–it’s intent was to develop an email directory (thus the acronym Health Education Directory).  In 1994 this directory was distributed via a listserv (a relatively new idea at the time). Immediately those individuals who were signed up for it realized the power of the HEDIR listserv (hereafter just called the HEDIR Discussion) to communicate.  The use of the directory soon lost its impact.

The HEDIR Discussion has continued for nearly 20 years.  Around 2008 an attempt was made to ‘modernize’ the HEDIR so that it included other issues such as Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn.  There was also an attempt to create a Blog.  The latter has been an utter failure.

Several weeks ago I tried to institute the Blog…the first posting had a few comments…the posting on Sunday, August 12 had just one post.  I arranged so that one can post a comment with relative ease.  They can sign up with DISQUS to make it easy to post.  By the way, DISQUS is also the site that allows you to post to sites such as CNN.  The reason to require this is to prevent spammers from using the site as a vehicle to spread their gossip.

So my question is what can the HEDIR do to meet your needs?  Don’t hurt my feelings…just let me know.  Is there a need for a blog?  Is there a need for the HEDIR Discussion anymore?  I need to get input from individuals to see where energies should be expended.

I’m looking forward to hearing your comments.

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About Mark J Kittleson

Mark J. Kittleson is in his 37th year as a health educator, having spent over 21 years at Southern Illinois University and having been at New Mexico State University since January 2011. Dr. Kittleson is best known for his development and management of the HEDIR Discussion group, as well as his efforts to help the profession of health education utilize technology.
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  • Sue Forster-Cox

    Mark – the discussions meet my needs as I learn what are key issues to folks, get class and text ideas, etc. The blogs are not something I tend to refer to / use / or respond to… not enough hours in the day for me to refer to blogs.

  • Nikki Hillier

    I read a lot of blogs, but I don’t usually comment. I do like the discussions, and while I never comment, I have posted and gotten great responses from people with experience. I usually file the discussions and refer when I need them. I would use the blog if the discussions were moved to the blog and no longer came to my inbox.

  • Jeanne Freeman

    Mark — I thoroughly enjoy the discussions and have participated from time to time in them. I have appreciated the feedback I have received over the years to the inquiries I have posted on the HEDIR. Further, I encourage my students to follow the HEDIR to give them some insight into the profession they are joining. As for blogs, I am not a big follower or ‘blogger’. I am not sure what I would get from reading or posting in the blog that I do not already get from the discussions.

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