Who can use My Hometown?
Who writes the stories?
How do I create a great posting?
How are events selected to be in the newspaper section of gvpennysaver.com?
Log in and Registration Issues
* Why can't I log in?
* Why do I need to register at all?
* I've lost my password!
* I registered but cannot log in!
* I registered in the past but cannot log in anymore!
User Preferences and settings
* How do I change my settings?
* How do I show an image with my username?
Posting Issues
* How do I post a topic in the Brighter/Vent?
* How do I edit or delete a post?
Formatting and Topic Types
* Can I use HTML?
* How do I post Images?
Contact us
* Whom do I contact about abusive and/or legal matters related to this site?
Who can use My Hometown?
Anyone on the Web can read stories, events, and online ads on gvpennysaver.com. But, if you want to post a story, you have to register.
Who writes the stories?
Members of gvpennysaver.com staff will post some stories and events, but mostly community members like you write the stories and take the photos. That’s why we need your help building gvpennysaver.com.
How do I create a great posting?
Remember the five W’s:
Who: Who is your story about? Your pet? Your kids? Your business? Don’t forget to include names and other relevant identifying information.
What: What is the central focus of your story? Make sure you have a sentence or paragraph that really drives your point home.
When: When did this happen? If you’re letting us know about an upcoming event, don’t forget to tell us what time it begins.
Where: Give us specific locations, ideally an address.
Why: Why should someone read your story? What makes it unique and essential?
Pick a category and then write your story or attach your photos. Once you’re done, hit “Preview/Submit for Review.” Don’t like what you see? Click on “back to Edit” or click “Save as Draft.” Have a masterpiece? Click “Submit For Review.”
Show us. Attach a picture by clicking on the “add images” button. You know that old adage: a picture tells a thousand words. Including a picture with your story adds a visual element and increases interest for viewers. If you post a picture (or four), don’t forget to tell us who is in the picture, first and last names in caption, where they’re from and about when the picture was taken.
If you have great photos to share, but don’t want to write a whole story, just post them! Be sure to include the five W’s in the captions.
Make it interesting. Who says news has to be serious? If you’re writing about your child’s lemonade stand, and they said something hilarious to their first customer, include the quote!
Don’t worry if you’re a “good” writer or not. Just tell your story.
How are events selected to be in the newspaper section of gvpennysaver.com?
Administrators from the Genesee Valley Penny Saver review all of the entries every week and select non-profit entries. If you are interested in being in the My Hometown section of our paper, it’s best to include your non-profit number.
Log in and Registration Issues
Why can't I log in?
Have you registered? You must register in order to log in. Have you been suspended from My Hometown? (A message will be displayed if you have.) If so, you should contact the Webmaster or Administrator to find out why. If you have registered and are not suspended and you still cannot log in then check and double-check your username and password. Usually this is the problem; if not, contact the administrator for assistance.
Why do I need to register at all?
You may not have to -- you only need to register in order to post content. However, registration will give you access to additional features not available to guest users such as posting stories, events and ads, having your own personal account, etc. It only takes a few minutes to register so it is recommended.
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I've lost my password!
Don't panic! If you have forgotten your password you may retrieve it through e-mail. To do this go to the login page and click "Forgot your password." Follow the instructions and you should be back online in no time.
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I registered but cannot log in!
First check that you are entering the correct e-mail and password. If they are okay then one of two things may have happened: When you registered it would have told you whether activation was required. If you were sent an e-mail then follow the instructions. If you did not receive the e-mail then check that your e-mail address is valid. One reason activation is used is to reduce the possibility of rogue users abusing the site anonymously. If you are sure the e-mail address you used is valid then try contacting the site administrator.
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I registered in the past but I cannot log in anymore!
The most likely reasons for this are: you entered an incorrect e-mail or password (check the e-mail you were sent when you first registered) or the administrator has deleted your account for some reason. If it is the latter case then perhaps you did not post anything? It is usual for sites to periodically remove users who have not posted anything so as to reduce the size of the database. Try registering again and get involved in our site.
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User Preferences and settings
How do I change my settings?
All your settings (if you are registered) are stored in the database. To alter them click the Profile link (generally shown at the top of pages but this may not be the case). This will allow you to change all your settings.
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How do I show an image with my Biography?
You may only post one image with your username on your Biography. It is up to the site administrator to approve your image and biography to be active. If your image is not approved then this is the decision of the site administrator and you should ask them their reasons (we're sure they'll be good!)
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Posting Issues
How do I post a topic in the Brighter/Vent?
When you registered it would have told you activation was required for the Brighter/Vent. If you were sent an e-mail then follow the instructions, if you did not receive the e-mail then check that your e-mail address is valid. One reason activation is used is to reduce the possibility of rogue users abusing the site anonymously. Everything else is easy -- click the relevant button where you would like to place your post.
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How do I edit or delete a post?
You are allowed to edit or delete your own posts at anytime. You can edit a post (only when you saved as a draft) by clicking the edit button for the relevant post. If your post has already been published you will only be able to delete the post.
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Formatting and Topic Types
Can I use HTML?
That depends on whether the administrator allows you to; they have complete control over it. The administrator must approve all postings before they will be active. This is a safety feature to prevent people from abusing the site by using tags that may destroy the layout or cause other problems.
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How do I post Images?
Images can indeed be shown in your posts. However, you will only be able to upload .jpg images directly to your post. You must link to an image stored on your own PC.
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Contact Us
Whom do I contact about abusive and/or legal matters related to this site?
You should contact the Genesee Valley Penny Saver by clicking on “Submit Complaint” or directly by e-mail at info@gvpennysaver.com. Please help us to maintain a healthy and vibrant community by reporting any illegal or inappropriate behavior. If you believe a User violates the My Hometown Terms & Conditions (http://www.gvpennysaver.com) please notify us using the complaint form. We will investigate your report and take appropriate action against offenders. We report all illegal activity to authorities.
