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If you look forward to your next pay day so that you can add a new set of bling to your wheels, the WhipAutos.tv network was built for you. WhipAutos is all about the very flashiest of custom car mods, and it�??s got a lot to show.

More than 1,300 photos cover the bases from Saleen to Mercedes to Lexus. This is a network for true car buffs, and you�??ll find a lot of shots of engines and equipment in addition to the standard sexy body images. The same is true of the videos section, with tuning videos to go with the racing clips so that all sides of building, refining, and driving top cars are covered.

WhipAutos.tv has hunted down some really unique material to add to its collection. There�??s a blog post with shots of a completely chromed Mercedes in Dubai, and a video detailing how chrome paint is applied in the first place. It�??s at once a really interesting learning experience and a look at the really extreme and wild side of the mod world.

WhipAutos might not give you that dream ride you�??ve been thinking of, but it�??ll give you the next best thing, which is all the fancy custom car content you could ever want. Roll on over, and don�??t forget the bling or the axle grease, since WhipAutos idolizes both.

While there are a ton of big things coming out soon, there�??s no time like the present for a quick set of bug fixes.

So tonight, around 8 p.m., we�??re we�??re planning on a-most-likely-unnoticeable release that will fix a number of small issues on your social network.

Details after the jump�?�

• Text boxes with no title will no longer have a thin border on the top of the module, allowing you to seamlessly add graphics or text into your social network�??s Main Page. To see this in action, check out the Brooklyn Art Project. They use graphics-in-text-boxes beautifully and inspired us to make this change.
• Profile pages will now have a �??My Blog�?� module right in the page, which will more readily let someone know that a blog comes with their new profile on your social network.
• When you try to reply to a discussion in group you haven�??t joined, you�??ll see a simpler set of dialog box options. We know this experience has been confusing up until now.
• On a few rare occasions, old members sometimes appeared in the Members module when sorted by �??Newest Members.�?� This will no longer occur.
• If a forum category is deleted, forum threads from that category will no longer show up. They had been sticking around a little longer than everyone liked and we fixed it.
• You can now embed content, such as images or videos, into one-line profile questions.
• Comments from groups that have been deleted will no longer show in network search results.
• When you add new features, the tab will use your domain mapped URL, not your ning.com subdomain. This is only relevant to you if you have the premium service for domain mapping your social network on Ning. If you don�??t have domain mapping and want it, there�??s no time like the present to set it up.
• If you upload an image to the Badges & Widgets customization page, you will now be able to properly remove the image.
• Cyrillic and other international characters should now be displayed properly in the subject line of email notifications.
• Days of the week will now be properly translated into supported languages.
• Network Creators using the Language Editor should no longer see a line break error.
• The �??Delete this song�?� warning message on your network�??s music player has now been simplified.
• The �??Send�?� button on the compose message page can now be translated into other languages.
• On profile pages, all modules will have the same background. Up until now, a few of them were transparent and this was inconsistent.

Please let us know if you have any questions or see anything strange on your social network after this release. It shouldn�??t create any issues, but we�??re watching everything closely nonetheless.

Kyte OpenSocial applications bring your favorite bands like Simple Plan, Jonas Brothers and The All-American Rejects right to your profile page. By adding any of these OpenSocial applications to Your Social Network, you will have access to exclusive features and footage.

On top of having new tunes and blogs at your fingertips, you can also get to know the real side of the band. Tune in for live mobile shows complete with informal interviews and backstage footage. You can also scroll through old shows at any time and even produce your own channel for other viewers to watch. Each application has its own chat feature so you can discuss the bands latest shows and songs with other fans.

To find out more about how the applications were created and continue to grow, I interviewed Ulysses King from Kyte. Check out what he had to say after the break.

How would you describe your application in a nutshell?
We provide an end-to-end online and mobile platform for media and entertainment companies to create, distribute and monetize their digital content (e.g. video, pictures). This content is delivered online via our Flash-based Kyte Player, and to mobile audiences via our Branded Mobile Web offering. Consumers can easily embed branded Kyte channels on social networks, blogs and web sites, as well as share mobile versions of the channels via SMS text messaging.

Kyte Open Social applications for the Ning platform are fully branded, interactive Kyte channels that media and entertainment brands such as 50 Cent, All American Rejects and KCRW (an NPR affiliate in Santa Monica, CA) use to distribute their digital content across Ning�??s 600,000 social networks. Consumers can add these Kyte channels to their profile pages with a single click from the OpenSocial application directory available on every social network on Ning.

What is your favorite aspect of the application?
There are lots of cool features of the Kyte Player, including multimedia chat (i.e. text and video), the ability to comment and rate shows, and Twitter integration, but my personal favorite are the viral sharing capabilities.

What�??s been the most surprising thing you�??ve encountered?
We�??ve been very surprised by the different ways our partners are using Kyte. Whether its 50 Cent, Extra, Huffington Post or Extra TV, they are using Kyte to give their audiences raw, authentic content �?? behind the scenes on tour, red carpet celebrity interviews, on location news coverage, even branded user-generated content campaigns �?? this is what Kyte is all about.

What would you say to someone who wants to create an application?
Kyte is a great tool for creating, distributing and monetizing your digital content. We provide a cost effective platform that enables brands to reach a wide audience, and engage them for long durations with our interactive features (e.g. multimedia chat, etc.) and ultimately monetize their content through our rich media advertising features.

Companies that would like to inquire about setting up a Kyte OpenSocial application can contact us at business@kyte.com

What plans do you have for the application�??s future?
You are going to see lots of exciting things from Kyte in 2009, including more options for player customization and video quality, monetization, content management and mobile applications.

Tell us more about yourself and where you are from!
Kyte was founded in 2006 by Daniel Graf and Erik Abair. Prior to founding Kyte, Daniel and Erik created the world�??s first MP3 Home Stereo Jukebox at a startup company called ReQuest Media. Daniel and Erik also worked together at Philips Consumer Electronics and were key figures behind the Philips Streamium product line.

About OpenSocial: An OpenSocial application is a feature that you can add to your profile page for fun, communication or business. Add it to your page by clicking the �??Add Applications�?� link in the left hand column, beneath your profile photo. This will take you to the application�??s directory, where you can scroll through the list of available applications or use the search box to jump to a specific one. Then click on the �??Add to My Page�?� button and and confirm by clicking �??Add Application�?�.

It�??s important to keep an eye on housing and land sales and prices if you�??re looking at buying or selling anytime soon, and the Chase Nation network is providing up to date news on the Reno-Tahoe area of California.

Chase bloggers read their news carefully. You can learn about the possibility of Reno defaulting on $73 million worth of bonds and read analysis of the bottoming out of the real estate industry in the area and editorializing on the embezzlement scams that have plagued the county for some time.

Of course, there�??s a lot of good news at Chase Nation too. Members love their mountain homes, and aren�??t afraid to show off their beauty. The vistas and sunrises are gorgeous, and there�??s even a shot of Monkey Rock. Even with all the scandals, it�??s enough to make you want to move to the area just to bask in the scenery.

Chase Nation is a solid source of regular information and an equally great window into what makes the Reno-Taho area special. Visit, and you could find yourself making plans for a retirement home.

The Buzz network was recently nominated for a NetGuide Australian Web Award in the �??Best Social Networking Site�?� category. The contest compiles a �??Best Of�?� guide for computers and the Internet. Buzz�??s competition includes Myspace, Friends Reunited and RSVP.

Buzz describes itself as �??The Friendlier Aussie Social Network�?� and it�??s easy to see why. With more than 10,000 members in hundreds of groups, Buzz is the place to socialize. Buzz has also created a sister network for each location in Australia so neighbors can connect further. Buzz goes beyond bringing members together online and gives back to the community. Members can vote for the next community cause Buzz gets behind. Buzz�??s recent contributions include $5,000 to United Way and $5,100 to the Mental Health Council of Australia.

Give back to Buzz by casting your vote here for the best social networking site.

Actress Lisa Rinna�??s chic and brand new network Cafe Belle Gray is a luxurious stop for ladies looking to connect with each other, chat with Lisa and learn all about her clothing store, Belle Gray.

This is no vanity project for Lisa; her enthusiasm for the store, and the social network is readily apparent in the videos she posts. Lest you think celebrities don�??t get excited about clothes and designers, check out these videos on Diane Von Furstenburg and Elizabeth and James. Lisa clearly loves her store and sharing her ideas with potential shoppers and network members.

In Lisa�??s own words, �??Cafe Belle Gray is the place where you can kick off your shoes after a hard day�??s shopping, put your virtual shopping bags down and talk about life with your friends.�?� So when you need to set down those virtual bags, there�??s a comfy virtual chair waiting for you at Cafe Belle Gray.

Kyle just updated our product overview for your own social network on Ning. It�??s a handy and super fast way for you to quickly see all the features you get for free when you create a social network (for free in a few minutes) on Ning.

One small curse of the ease-of-creation on which we�??ve been maniacally focused since the start is that it might take some time to fully explore the rich feature set that, at over 715,000 718,000 social networks, makes us the best in the business. This might just provide a little inspiration for you as you create - or update for the new year - your own social network on Ning.

Enjoy!

The members of the Hawaii Photography network are working to record every lovely bit of the island paradise Hawaii, and they�??re already accumulated more than 750 wonderful photos.

Bask in the beauty of Hawaiian beaches, check out a stunning sunset viewed from Black Rock, and be amazed by the awesome Christmas tree lighting in Grand Wailea. Every shot is breathtaking, and you�??ll feel more relaxed and happy after just sifting through the photos for a while. It�??s like stopping at Hawaii Photography is a vacation by itself.

Members are eager to discuss the land they love, too. The forum has commentary on the Hawaiian economy, some funny stories of awkward moments on photo shoots, and a warm discussion of what makes Hawaii special that will make you want to start checking housing costs. There really is magic in the air.

Hawaii Photography will simply make you a happier human being. Every photo will make you smile, and members�?? enthusiasm about the islands is extremely contagious. So take a vacation to Hawaii Photography. You won�??t even need a plane.

Animeland Wasabi is the coordinating network for the successful anime convention of the same name, and they�??re gearing up for another go in Denver from March 27-29. For the true anime fan, this isn�??t an event to miss.

While you�??re waiting and making travel plans, the network will fill you in on the developing plans for this year�??s con and show off the great times from last year. Animeland Wasabi�??s photos section from 2008 particularly shows off the cool anime convention tradition of dressing up as favorite characters.

Once you get to the convention in March, there is plenty to do for visitors of all tastes. Animeland Wasabi has already set up a group for gaming, has panels ready on subjects like Japanese Mythology and the history of anime video game maker Square Enix, and is holding a contest for the best anime music video. There�??s something for you whether you�??re a casual consumer, an avid intellectual, or a dancer or artist, and you�??re sure to have a good time.

Animeland Wasabi looks to be one of the biggest anime events in 2009. The hotel has a cut-off date on Feb. 16, so you�??ll need to register soon.

Top Secret Dance Off is �??an underground network of otherwise ordinary people seeking to activate the dance secret �?? an elusive power said to be hard-wired into our brains, and requiring highly unusual dance experiences to unlock it.

Top Secret Dance Off is a game, or challenge, based around the social network and some sweet dance moves. Says network creator Punky McMonsef, �??I�??ll be the first to admit. I�??m not a fantastic dancer. I am, however, an enthusiastic dancer. When I�??m not too embarrassed to dance, that is. So TSDO is unleashing the top secret awesome dancer in me. I hope it unleashes the top secret awesome dancer in others.�?�

Members of the network participate in specific dance challenges. The first one, Dance Quest 1, asks that members create a disguise that hides their face, video tape themself dancing, and then post the intro video on the network. Dance Quest 2 is a little more complicated �?? it requires a video tape of dancing upside down. The next challenge, Dance Quest 3, is even more difficult, and challenges members to dance in disguise in a crosswalk. This one is a difficult one, and members are told they need to complete the first challenge before attempting the third.

Beyond celebrating the joy of dancing, TSDO is also a contest. Members receive points for each quest they complete, as well as for comments left on their videos by other members. You can�??t win �?? nor can you shake your groove thing �?? if you don�??t join the network. There�??s no need to worry if your dance skills aren�??t amazing.

After all, Top Secret Dance Off isn�??t about being the best or most professional dancer: �??It�??s about being a clever dancer, a brave dancer, and occasionally a stealthy dancer.�?�

Nonprofits are always trying to do more while spending less. So it�??s no surprise that these philanthropic organizations want to harness the power of social networking as a way of reaching out to their supporters. Nonprofits, meet Ning.

We checked in with the people behind two of our favorite nonprofit networks: Manny Hernandez from Tu Diabetes and Es Tu Diabetes, and Ayumi Stubbs from the ASPCA Online Community. Combined, the three networks have almost 20,000 members, a testament to the hard work (and networking expertise) of these two network creators. Here are their best tips and advice �?? whether you�??re thinking of launching a network, or are already building up your member base for an already-launched network.

Build off your existing brand: The ASPCA Online Community is linked off the ASPCA website. Though one is run internally and one is a network on Ning, the two Web sites share a color scheme, icons (see the cute animals on the banner) and overall look, making navigation between the two relatively seamless for members and supporters. �??We link to the ASPCA Online Community from our main navigation,�?� explained Stubbs, �??and consider it a part of our Web site.�?�

It�??s about more than raising money: There isn�??t a fundraising feature built in to network, but a network can help �?? to an extent. Stubbs said the ASPCA does some minor fundraising through ads they place on their network, but that �??our main goal is to provide an online community where animal lovers can engage with each other and the ASPCA.�?�

Stubbs continued, �??Instead of a member donating to us and only visiting the ASPCA Web site again a year later to renew their membership �?? they can come back throughout the year (every day, hopefully!) and really stay involved and feel like they are a part of the ASPCA.  Engagement and cultivation are a huge part of building donor value.�?�

Hernandez�??s network has raised roughly $6,000 through its fundraising section. Running your own ads, of course, can be an additional source of revenue.

You don�??t need to be established to start: While the ASPCA is a large, extremely well-known philanthropic organization, Tu Diabetes started out as �?? and still is �?? based around the network Hernandez built on Ning.

�??The social network was before the organization,�?� Hernandez explained. �??The social networks (TuDiabetes and EsTuDiabetes) constitute the two programs that make up the first unit in our foundation: our online communities.�?� As the networks grow, the Hernandez�??s hope is that his organization can extend it�??s reach through books, calendars, and other forms of media. The overall goal, however, will remain the same: raising diabetes awareness.

All about the Forums: On both the ASPCA Online Community and Tu Diabetes, one of the most popular features is the forum. It�??s �??where most of the interaction takes place at the community level,�?� explains Hernandez.

On the ASPCA network, the forum is the second only to those features that allow members to show off their own pets�??the photos and videos. Stubbs says the network�??s two most-popular topics are pet care and animal cruelty. �??We�??re fortunate to have members who are very passionate about our mission!�?� she noted.

The price is right: For nonprofits looking to save money in today�??s economy, a network on Ning is really affordable, especially when compared with the cost of hosting a Web site elsewhere and building a social network from scratch. The full line of premium services will run an organization less than $65 per month.

There are book dorks, video game nerds, science geeks, readers of Metafilter and Star Trek fans. Proclaiming yourself as a nerd of some sort isn�??t difficult. But for the really, truly nerdy among us, there�??s a new place to self-identify: Hardcore Nerdity, where �??the elite meet to geek.�?�

And elite geeks, they are. The featured podcast is �??Sexuality in Sci Fi Television�?� �?? that�??s heady stuff!  With almost 1,000 members, there�??s a wide variety of nerdity represented, and there�??s no better place to see it than in the blog posts. Of current concern is who will play the Doctor in the new version of Dr. Who. Of course, there�??s nothing a good nerd likes more than learning something new, and nerdy. For a mini science lesson, read the cleverly named �??Soft Core Science�?� lessons: the first focuses on the Andromeda Galaxy.

If you aren�??t sure if your nerddom is, well, nerdy enough for Hardcore Nerds, then stop by the Groups section, to see just how many types of nerds there really are. When you�??ve confirmed that you are indeed a nerd, �??Klingon�?� to Hardcore Nerdity to start nerding it up!

There�??s something about the political process that occurs every four years in the United States that has the ability to make even the most neutral person start holding firm opinions and standing up for their beliefs. While both Barack Obama and John McCain argue that they�??ll bring change to this country, you can bring your own change with I Am Progress.

With a sleek, modular design, it�??s clear that this is a network for forward-thinking, innovative activists, and it also goes a fantastic job of showing how different a network on Ning can look. Once you take in the design of the network, it�??s fascinating to hear why different members consider themselves activists in the Videos section. Each video tells a unique story of one person�??s belief in progressive politics. One person is a progressive because the environment, while another stresses equal opportunity.

If you want to take part in the network, and in the movement, the first step is to join the network. Then you can get started contacting legislators, educating yourself about the issues and learning about past progressive heroes. No matter where you stand on the political spectrum, don�??t be left sitting on the sidelines.

Be Your Art is a place where artists can learn, contribute, and network about the business of art �?? or simply be their art. Acting as a hub of practical resources and information for starving artists, the goal is to �??help artists understand the demands of the business world while still allowing them to pursue their dreams without compromising them.�?�

Just a month old, Be Your Art has got a great foundation already. Network Creator Judah Mahay is clearly ambitious (and busy!) as he�??s established an About Us, FAQs, a wide variety of Art News and Resources, a range of forum categories and helpful groups. What is especially cool is the diversity of groups �?? they aren�??t just about your passion, but also about how you can turn your passion into something sustainable: Finances, Medical Insurance, Conventional Marketing and Art Law. Following Judah�??s suit, members can find themselves spotlighted as either a Featured Member or the Artist of the Week in a number of ways by simply contributing to the network.

Artists everywhere should check out Be Your Art!

We�??ll have more details shortly on the iPhone interface included in next week�??s release, but I wanted to give a little sneak peek (definitely influenced by recent announcements) for Network Creators that have asked whether or not the interface will inherit the main network�??s colors:

London Recording attracts UK professionals in the music industry. Members here are always engaged in cool projects. Network Creator Pinna, for example, stays busy with recordings ranging from Jewish choirs to folktronica.

A true musician sports wild facial hair �?? that�??s why there�??s the Beard Watch, a closely monitored forum thread in which embers post �?? and boast �?? about their growth. And although the network�??s got plenty to offer to grizzled veterans, it�??s also a great resource for aspiring professionals. One member hoping to make it as a sound engineer asked for some advice, and got plenty in the form of suggested reading and useful equipment.

London Recording is an indispensible resource for recording artists across the UK!

I�??m Ram Reddy, the VP of Operations at Ning. As you know, we take the performance and availability of your networks very seriously. We are committed to providing you the absolute best, highly scalable platform for creating and growing Your Own Social Network for Anything.

In the past few months, we�??ve done a ton to make sure that new releases and other operational tasks are done with little-to-no downtime and we�??ve succeeded.

What used to require a 2-3 hour maintenance window on a Saturday night is now done with no downtime to your social network. Looking at our uptime numbers for 2008 we continue to get better and better. We expect nothing less of ourselves and the Ning Platform.

Here�??s a graph of our uptime and availability since January:

We had 99.6% uptime in June and 99.9% so far in July. We�??ve been steadily improving month over month since the unacceptable low of March. Our goal is to see those green bars climb even higher from here.

That�??s the good news.

The bad news is that over the next two weeks, we�??re planning a series of network migrations and Ning Platform upgrades that require downtime. If we could do them without planned maintenance windows, we would. But we can�??t.

To this end, we will be performing planned maintenance for the Ning Platform on Friday, August 8th from 8:00 PM PDT to 10:00 PM PDT.

Additionally, we will be migrating networks in batches to new, better infrastructure over the course of the next two weeks. This new infrastructure will increase the speed of your networks as well as continue to improve ongoing stability. To complete these migrations, we�??ll need to take your network down for 2 additional planned maintenance windows of 30 to 60 minutes each at some point during the next two weeks.

Because we�??ll be doing this work in batches, it may seem as though there is a lot of intermittent downtime across the Ning Platform. That will not be the case. While there will be interruptions of service on your network, we should still achieve between 99.8%-99.9% uptime for August, or a total of 3-4.5 hours of downtime for any individual social network on Ning.

We will be contacting Network Creators of these migrations via email. We will also be available to provide specific details about your network and answer any questions at any time from the Ning Help Center.

Additional information and updates will be funneled through Ning Network Creators and the Ning Status Blog. Lastly, we will continue to provide regular updates here on the Ning Blog as we do this work.

We appreciate your patience in advance and look forward to getting through this work together as quickly and smoothly as possible.

I love log homes, so I was excited to come across LogHomeU, a network dedicated to �??log home enthusiasts.�?� I�??m not sure if I can confidently assume the title of a log-home enthusiast, but I definitely think they�??re beautiful.

Whether you design, build, decorate or simply live in a log home, you�??ll want to pay LogHomeU a visit. Photos of members�?? beautiful homes are enough to inspire anyone to buy a piece of land to create one of their own. The hard, detailed work and talent that goes into creating and maintaining these beautiful homes is very impressive.

Peruse through the upcoming log home events �?? there�??s plenty! In the videos section, you can get a glimpse of the work that is involved or get ideas for your own homes. If you�??re very hands-on, you should join the DIY group to discuss custom projects.

Stop by the online log home neighborhood today!

Cr8 Everyday Crafts is a collaborative network for artists and crafters looking to help one another create - I mean, cr8 new things, sell their awesome handmade crafts, make new friends and empower one another!

By taking a quick glimpse at the Site Stats on the main page, these Cr8tv peeps are obviously keeping busy with 473 members, 181 discussions and 285 blog posts! Cr8tv peeps show off their creations with more than 1,700 photos. Looking for a new craft to engage in? Check out the videos on how to knit dishcloth, the progression of a purse and refinishing a huge wall unit! If you�??ve already found your cr8tv passion, you can find peeps like you through groups.

Start your own Cr8tv Studio today and get crafty!

Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy is the most prevalent type of muscular dystrophy, affecting 1 in every 3,500 males. It�??s an affliction that impacts an entire family �?? that�??s why Parent Project Muscular Dystrophy was created. At this network, parents of children with DMD come together to talk about opportunities for participation, PPMD events, advances in research, and more.

Within hours of joining the network, I was welcomed by Julie G., who works in Sacramento. She made me feel right at home, told me about the California Families group, and even let me know that she was coming to my area in a few days to talk about DMD (thanks Julie!).

Ongoing research has continued to shed light on the causes of and potential remedies for Duchenne. That research is a subject of discussion in the forum, where concerned parents often discuss the newest findings and what action �?? if any �?? they should take. The result is a positive framework of support and feedback that extends way beyond geographical boundaries. This is exactly what social networks are for!

Many members maintain blogs, which may be the most inspiring feature of PPMD. They�??re also incredibly important �?? it�??s here that parents can get real-world testimonials about which treatments are effective. And in the events tab, members can learn about upcoming fundraisers like the �??Rocky Run II,�?� a 3-mile run through Philadelphia made famous in the film Rocky. For these reasons, Parent Project Muscular Dystrophy isn�??t just a support network �?? it�??s also right on the front lines in the fight to end Duchenne.

If you like living on your wheels, have nomadic tendencies or like cushy, rolling road trips maybe you have the RV Bug! People with a home on wheels now have a home on the net with this great new social network.

The network is packed with pertinent information to create the perfect RV trip.  If you don�??t have one yet, you�??ll have to read the 5 steps to choosing the best RV. The world of RVing can be nerve-wracking for amateurs.  If you need some help starting out on the dusty trail, check out some of the great advice on the forums page and explore RVing for Beginners. If you are confident in your ability, but need help planning a trip, check out the national listing of campgrounds. This networks links to some great resources for RVers.

A short trip can be fun for some, but for those looking to settle down and roll articles on RV life will guide your way.  There are many people here living the life.  Check out the members blogs for tales on the road. Two members, the Duncans, will let you explore their trip through the Colorado rockies with them!

Not convinced yet?  Check out some of these great road trip photos to get you started.  Before you know it you�??ll be on the road again!

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My Motiv is the meeting place for BMW owners online. And members are proud of their cars, featuring them as photos on most profiles. To catch up with members of this network, keep up with BMW events, covering a variety of locations.

A unique feature to My Motiv is the Cause of the Month tab. This month is Cornwall Air Ambulance, which saved a member�??s life airlifting him to safety. The page provides a link to the service, where visitors can learn about how to donate!

Videos are a popular feature on My Motiv, covering races, test drives, and hill climbs. For me, photos is where it�??s at on My Motiv. You can search for classics, pick out rally cars or plan a wishlist of bimmers you�??d like to own!

If you are a BMW owner, or simply an aficionado, check out My Motiv for your networking needs!

Cami Walker created the 29-Day Giving Challenge to encourage her �??friends, family, clients and hopefully many strangers to give back to our communities.�?�

To break it down, she states in her GOAL: Inspire at least 2,000 people to commit to the 29-Day Giving Challenge by July 29, 2008. So far she is up to more than 500 members on her network, who share their stories of giving on their blogs. Cami provides an awesome how-to for stories, photos, and links.

This doesn�??t mean Cami or the other participants are giving away everything they own. As she states, �??Your 29 gifts can be anything �?? material objects, money, your time, smiles or kind thoughts.�?� This is demonstrated in the forum, where people discuss cooking a meal for a friend and cover suggestions on how to give.

If you are interested in challenging yourself, sign up to the 29 Day Giving Challenge!

Understandably, parents with children in the armed forces may have a lot to cope with. However, mothers of children serving in the Navy may find answers, comfort and friendship at Navy For Moms.

In my humble opinion, the active and direct communication that takes place between members is the most valuable component of Navy For Moms. Members blog about their experiences, sharing genuine stories about what Navy life is like. To further disseminate the truth, there is a section in the forum dedicated to clearing up misconceptions about Navy life. Currently, an active discussion takes place regarding the connection or lack there of between the college and the Navy.

Mothers that have children who are in or are considering joining the Navy should check out Navy For Moms today!

A couple of months ago we profiled the Offbeat Bride Tribe. One of the things we immediately noticed about their network is their active forum section �?? hundreds of brides and brides-to-be sharing tips, tricks and advice. We were fortunate enough to sit down �?? well, virtually sit-down �?? with Network Creator Ariel to see what kind of advice she could give to maintaining an active forum.

Hi Ariel! For the people unfamiliar, can you introduce yourself and tell me a little bit about the network you�??ve created?
I split my time between being a marketing manager for Microsoft, and then writing books, blogs and magazine articles. My first book, Offbeat Bride: Taffeta-Free Alternatives For Independent Brides, came out last year and I launched offbeatbride.com at the same time. Obviously, a forum was a natural fit for the site, but I�??ve managed forums in the past, and I sort of hate them �?� all that moderating and back-end work are irritating. Plus, the last time I hosted my own forum, it got hacked and was ultimately used to spread an email virus. ACK. I�??m a geek, but I�??m not into doing back-end PHP work to keep my forum working.

But last fall I started getting emails from offbeatbride.com readers begging for a forum of some kind. I was hesitant and knew I didn�??t want host it �?� plus, forums feel awful Web 1.0 and very 1998 �?� so I decided as an experiment to start a network on Ning.

Within days the network had hundreds of users, and within six months it was up to 3,000. I�??ve been shocked by the popularity! I guess nontraditional brides really have a lot to get off their chests.

A big challenge for a lot of new Network Creators is that it�??s tough to get the conversation started. How did you address this?
I think it�??s key to look at your motivations for starting a network. It�??s hard to manufacture community out of thin air, and so it�??s best to identify an existing market that is looking for a place to talk.

Do you have moderators? Are they your friends or people on your network? What exactly do moderators do?
I have two moderators who I chose based on their ranking as the two most active folks in the forum. They help me with approving new members, and alert me when there�??s drama brewing somewhere. Honestly, with the site getting as large as it is, I could probably use a couple more moderators - plus, one of my mods just got married, which means she�??ll probably be on the site less.

What kinds of things do you think you do differently?
My Ning network is a community extension of offbeatbride.com, which was already heavily trafficked when I started the network. So I had a lot of traffic to drive to my social network on Ning.

I�??ve spent enough time in online communities to know what I think works and what has a way of slowly destroying a community. I�??m very clear about what the mission of the group is and am quick to close threads, delete members, and ban people who don�??t abide by the rules.

Probably the biggest rule I enforce is proactive, positive discussion. I�??ve seen what happens to communities when they get taken over by ranting, bitching, and venting, and I�??m just not interested in running a community that�??s non-stop negativity. I think this is especially important when dealing with a subculture like nontraditional weddings. It�??s all too tempting for the conversation to devolve into rants against family members who don�??t understand, catty attacks on people who do things more traditionally, etc.

I totally get that sometimes members need a place to vent - which is why we have a group on the network specifically dedicated to bitching. That way, if you want to commiserate, you can head to the group and get your gripe on. But if you�??re just looking for, say, centerpiece ideas, you�??re not wading through discussions about family drama, etc.

I get accused of being a �??forum nazi�?� sometimes, and I�??m totally cool with that. It�??s a great big Internet out there - if people don�??t like the way I run my social network, I encourage them to start their own network on Ning. And some of them have taken me up on it!

What are your tips on setting up �?? and maintaining �?? an awesome social network?
Figure out what your members want and give it to them. I only recently realized that part of why the OBT forum was so overwhelmingly busy was because people were using forum posts as a blog substitute. When I moved the �??Recent Blogs�?� module to the top of our homepage, the relief was almost immediate. Members immediately started posting blogs like crazy and the forum calmed down to a more manageable conversational load.

Thanks, Ariel!

Snowboarder Community is a network to connect snowboarders everywhere through the sharing of videos, photos, gossip, product reviews and tips. With more than 150 members, boarders are sure to find other enthusiasts who share their passion for riding freestyle, freeride, rails, halfpipes and everything in between. 

Whether you�??re a beginner or extreme boarder, there�??s something for everyone. Even goofy footed riders (those who ride with their right foot forward) can mingle by joining Goofy Footers United. On those rare occasions when you�??ve torn yourself away from the slopes, indulge and take yourself back by viewing some of the incredible videos. Discuss your favorite resorts and share insider secrets on the forum.  

Have a knack for creating witty remarks to bizarre photos? Enter the Blurb Alert Contest to win a limited edition ogre t-shirt, sticker pack, and other goodies from SNOWBOARDER magazine.

Whether you�??re an aspiring or avid snowboarder, Snowboarder Community is the network to join!

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Find more photos like this on Snowboarder Community

Tonight�??s release is complete, and your networks are now equipped with a ton of great new features and fixes to take advantage of. Best of all, we were able to avoid taking your networks offline!

Feel free to visit the discussion about this release, or check out the full details of all changes. Below are just a sample of the new features available:

• Forum Improvements: In addition to cosmetic fixes, we�??ve introduced the ability to display �??Featured�?� discussions in the forum section, much like featuring members or groups. Network Creators will now have the ability to swap your forum between two styles:
  • �??Flat�?� �?? replies are shown in chronological order, or
  • �??Threaded�?� �?? replies are indented below the post or the reply that they respond to

  There will also be an option to set the main Forum page default view to show categories only, latest discussions by time or latest discussions by category.

• Enhanced Viral Widget Distribution: You and your members can easily spread your network�??s badges, widgets, individual videos and photo album slideshows to MySpace, Facebook and 15 other popular destinations without the need to copy and paste HTML embed code.
• Drag-and-Drop Profile Page Layout Editing: Let your members freely re-arrange their profile pages. We�??ve also added Network Creator controls to allow/disallow members to change their profile page themes and/or layouts.
• Friendships will now appear in Latest Activity: New friendships between members of your network will be announced in the Latest Activity feed. Like all other latest activity, you can disable these from appearing.

With a vibrant background filled with montages from soldiers throughout the years the Iveteran network is dedicated to celebrating the lives of those who served in the US armed forces. The tour may be over, but the memory of those you served with lives forever! Now you can maintain those bonds developed with those who served with you. Members share memories, photo�??s, music, and videos of those moments.

The Iveteran network has done a great job of creating resources find Information on veteran benefits, disability, veteran business advantages, state benefits, and more. Finally got something to say? Now from the safety of your home you can write in the Forums & Blogs. Its the therapy every soldier has needed over all these years. If you need a good laugh check out the comedy bunker. According to Network Creator Iceman �??we survived because of the bad jokes & jabs at those around us. So hey, why not laugh a little?�??

Don�??t wait for the annual reunion or the occasional holiday cards. Join the iVeteran network so you can share those memories like you used to - without the foxhole!

Alopecia is a rare condition affecting both males and females in which hair loss occurs somewhere on the body, usually on the scalp. Alopecia World is a great network for people who are afflicted or connected to someone afflicted with the condition. When going through something as psychologically trying as losing one�??s hair, it is essential to have a place to connect with others who understand the experience, especially with a condition that occurs most commonly during the teen years. Teen years are tough enough, without having to deal with hair loss!

Alopecia World is a perfect place for this kind of support networking. You can see how supportive and active this network is by looking at the blogs tab, which is a collection of all blog posts across the network. It contains more than 300 threads of stories about coping, words of support and humor to keep everyone laughing.

This network is simply a place where people can live their lives with and despite this condition. The Network Creators have done an amazing job of turning this site into a bustling, encouraging network for people in all stages of and connections to alopecia. The photos page is packed with glimpses into the lives of the members of this network. Some photos are of the hair loss experience and some show how alopecians get along regardless of their hair.  Groups have popped up for everything from regional support groups to a singles group connecting like minded alopecians. And for those looking for support in the flesh, the events page details some very cool speakers doing very cool things. One active support network is a group started by long time alopecian Thea Chassin, called Bald Girls Do Lunch. They have a few upcoming events in the San Francisco Bay Area that any Northern Californians would be remiss in missing.

A great introduction to the site might be these words of wisdom espoused by Richard Jones and Cheryl Carvery, the co-founders of Alopecia World. Even if you�??ve never heard of alopecia before you should check out this network. It is inspirational for anyone, because it is a intricate story of coping and living that can be understood universally. We highly encourage you to spend some time on or contribute to this amazing network, because we all get by with a little help from our friends!

With an engaging layout, great header and logo, and loads of content the Eyoked network is the home where Christians can connect with other believers 30 and over. Members at Eyoke are involved with all aspects of single Christian living from prayer groups, dating, and more. The right side of the page is filled with a feed updated for volunteers, single groups,  bible study groups and more.

Members promote their church, ministry, Web site and business using the forums and the notes feature. The events section is filled with fun, wholesome events for Christians. Looking for something to do? There are a number of events listed aimed at single Christrians, such as a spectacular Hudson River Dance and Cruise.  Check out the Oasis Singles Dinner Fellowship featuring soul stirring musicial guests Roar and Silje Fjelde.

If you�??re ready to meet your future Christian mate, check out the Eyoked network today!