Newsletter #15 - May 6, 2009

Twitter, New PodCast, and more...


In This Issue:

- Following ActiveCaptain
- Two of Our Captains Have Released Books
- ActiveCaptain Gives You Honest Reviews
- New NOAA Regions Released for ActiveCaptain Mobile



Following ActiveCaptain on the Internet
==========================================
The ways we can communicate just keep expanding! At times it feels overwhelming and can even makes you feel "out of touch" when your kids and grandkids seem to be speaking a foreign language. But like all technology, the secret is to learn when and how it can assist you, and when to just leave it alone. We've been experimenting for some time with the new social networking tools to determine the best ways ActiveCaptain can utilize these tools to enhance communication with our Captains.

ActiveCaptain has been "tweeting" with Twitter for some time now. We're using Twitter to communicate between newsletters and will be making much more use of it in the upcoming weeks. Twitter is free and very easy to use. Sign up and follow us - we're "ActiveCaptain":
http://twitter.com/ActiveCaptain

We've also been MadCast'ed on the Mad Mariner site. Check out Jeff's interview by Mad Mariner editor Glenn Justice where he answers questions about using mobile phones on your boat:
http://www.madmariner.com/podcasts



Two of Our Captains Have Released Books
==========================================
We're proud to have two ActiveCaptain contributors who have recently released books. Richard Cook has written a primer for small boats interested in cruising the Inside Passage to Alaska based on his experience on 22- and 26-foot trailerable boats. Yes, that does in fact read "a 22-foot boat." His account is entertaining and informative and we think it will inspire you!

For more information on "Cruising in a Big Way" go to:
http://www.lulu.com/content/paperback-book/cruising-in-a-big-way/5835870
-or-
http://tinyurl.com/cuvmnp


If you're looking for a good laugh, we suggest you check out Tim Bete's "Guide to Pirate Parenting." Tim is an award-winning columnist and author and his latest book provides everything you need to train and manage your own pirate child, or even your pirate husband. Check it out at:
http://www.timbete.com

We like to hear what our Captain's are up to so give us a howl - or an "argh" - if you're doing anything cool!



ActiveCaptain Gives You Honest Reviews
==========================================
Most of you have noticed that when you add or change data for a marker, it might be edited by the Registrar. We make minor changes, fix typos, move items to a better location, and sometimes even ask for clarifications from the contributing Captain. Our goal is to ensure that the data is as accurate as possible and in a format that is easy for you to find and access.

One thing we will never do, ever, is change a Captain's review. To us your reviews are sacred. They are your honest opinion about the experiences you've had. Sometimes our Captains disagree -- your "nightmare" might be our "all time favorite" - but it's just that sort of open and honest exchange that ensures we all have access to the best information possible.

Occasionally we are approached by a marina asking for a review to be removed because they believe they have been unfairly portrayed. While we certainly recognize that unreasonable patrons do exist, our commitment to honest, open exchange is stronger. We have faith in the great ActiveCaptain community to fix any injustices. Can a "bad" facility change for the better? Of course it can and more recent reviews will reflect this change - that's why the latest reviews are always displayed first. If your experience is different than the ones you see, either for better or worse, add your own review and explain the differences.

Sometimes your input can have a significant impact. As we noted in our last newsletter, reputable marinas have chosen not to balk at negative reviews but rather they've fixed the problems, apologized to the patron, or learned from the issue. Everyone wins when this happens.

So while other sites claim to offer real end-user feedback, in actuality they give veto power to their biggest advertisers. We put the power in you to effect change and improve the cruising experience for all of us. You guys are the greatest! Thanks!



New NOAA Regions Released for ActiveCaptain Mobile
==========================================
Updates to the latest NOAA charts for ActiveCaptain Mobile are now available on the web site. These charts are current to May 1st, 2009. You can now download the latest charts for any regions you've licensed by clicking on the "My Account" link on any page of the web site or:
http://www.activecaptain.com/myAccount.php

In the section that displays, "Region licenses that have been activated," make sure "09050" is showing on the right side. If it isn't, restart your browser or reboot to guarantee the latest version of the page is loaded for use.

We thank all of our Captains for your continued support and encouragement! Keep adding those reviews and anchorages. We have several programs in the works to use your ActiveCaptain points for discounts on marine products and even some free give-aways. Check out the many new marinas that are participating in our fuel pricing update program and be sure to let them know you use ActiveCaptain to find the best fuel prices.

==================================
Karen and Jeffrey Siegel
aCappella
Castine, Maine

www.activecaptain.com
The Interactive Cruising Guidebook

2010-07-21	#35 - My Card, messaging, and more...
2010-06-29	#34 - New ActiveCaptain award...
2010-06-02	#33 - MaxSea Time Zero v1.9 Released
2010-05-18	#32 - ActiveCaptain loves the iPhone/iPad
2010-04-27	#31 - Coastal Explorer Now Available
2010-04-14	#30 - ActiveCaptain Loves Coastal Explorer
2010-03-16	#29 - ActiveCaptain Co-Ops - This is big...
2010-02-23	#28 - ActiveCaptain "X" is now live
2010-02-15	#27 - ActiveCaptain Loves MaxSea/Furuno
2010-01-19	#26 - ActiveCaptain 2010
2009-12-10	#25 - ActiveCaptain X goes beta
2009-11-17	#24 - Quick Lists
2009-10-20	#23 - A fresh look at the iPhone
2009-09-22	#22 - Are we the wave of the future?
2009-08-19	#21 - ActiveCaptain Sets Sail
2009-07-21	#20 - Rescue Tape for 150 Points
2009-07-14	#19 - ActiveCaptain Rocks!
2009-07-01	#18 - ActiveCaptain Gets a Facelift
2009-06-02	#17 - Another ActiveCaptain award!
2009-05-19	#16 - Hats off to you!
2009-05-06	#15 - Twitter, New PodCast, and more
2009-03-17	#14 - Using phones in the Bahamas
2009-03-03	#13 - The best fuel prices
2009-01-28	#12 - SAIL innovation award
2009-01-05	#11 - Power accessories article
2008-12-02	#10 - Bluetooth headsets article
2008-10-28	#9 - The next wave
2008-09-13	#8 - ActiveCaptain Mobile news
2008-06-15	#7 - Mad Mariner
2008-03-12	#6 - ActiveCaptain Mobile
2008-01-21	#5 - Inlets
2007-09-19	#4 - Boat ramps
2007-07-09	#3 - Local knowledge released
2007-04-14	#2 - Global support
2007-02-11	#1 - Anchorages released

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