Recently Aquatics International started aiconnect a place where aquatic professionals from all over the world can come together and connect through a micro social networking solution called ning.com

At first I was wondering would this work, but within a few weeks of me finding the site the membership climbed to over 500 members currently at 511 members with 100o’s more that will join as they find it.  This is exactly what Aquatics has been waiting for and is the future of information exchange and hot topic discussion.  I suggest you join, because no matter what it will engage you, make you think about your profession and at times reinvigorate you to try new things and develop new strategies.

In the past few weeks I have done an informal poll on what the people think of the site, pretty much everybody loves it, but there a small number that worry about the topics of discussion.  They worry that many aquatic professionals are discussing topics that could come back to haunt them.  I agree that we need to maintain professionalism at all times and if topics are of a highly sensitive nature then those topics should be discussed in private forums, or face to face.  I don’t think this is something to stress about but, do believe that we should be careful everywhere we go on the internet.  Basically think before you write.

I have a few questions for you the reader:

1. Are open social networks good in a professional environment?
2. Should only closed networks such as the CPRS Aquatics Section exists to protect the operator from liability and public view?
3. Should any of this information be exchanged in an electronic form?

Please leave your comments below.

Chris Lundie

The Aquatic Professional

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