Coordinating squash meetups: a suggestion

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Eugen Dimant

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Jul 27, 2021, 3:47:18 PM7/27/21

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Dear all,

with the many Squash opportunities that Philadelphia now offers (Drexel, Penn, Specter etc.), our group has become quite scattered – in fact now creating multiple sub-groups depending on where on has signed up. With that, coordinating meetups has become more challenging. Some of us used to have a WhatsApp group, mostly to coordinate weekend plays (hence the name: Weekend Squash Warriors) but many of the folks have since moved or stopped playing.

I talked to Rick about a potential way to improve coordination by synthesizing the various subgroups in one place: Slack. Some of you might already be using Slack because it’s a popular medium in many companies and research entities where this free platform is used to improve communication and coordination.

My proposition is to create a space for Squash enthusiasts who are still in Philadelphia and surrounds and are interested in playing (in)frequently. We would have a main channel where all of us could keep in touch and several sub-channels where people could coordinate games, depending on where they are signed up (Drexel, Penn, Specter etc.) -- see an example illustration below.
One substantial advantage of this over using email chains is that conversations (including private ones) are easier to keep track of and we wouldn’t have to blow up each other’s email accounts, especially of those who aren’t involved in the Philadelphia Squash scene anymore. On top of that, unlike on WhatsApp, iMessage group chats etc., one does not need to give out one’s phone number because it all works through personal handles that you choose upon creating your account.

I understand that some of you might be more receptive to this idea than others but if you want to give it a try and help reach a critical mass: simply download the app for free onto your phone (or onto your computer) and then email me privately (edi...@sas.upenn.edu) your Slack handle. I will then add you to the main group and you can then choose which other sub-groups to join.

Hope to see you all soon!

Eugen

________________________
Eugen Dimant, Ph.D.
E-Mail: edi...@sas.upenn.edu

Associate Professor of Practice in Behavioral and Decision Sciences, University of Pennsylvania
Identity and Conflict Lab, Political Science Department
Center for Social Norms and Behavioral Dynamics & Behavioral Ethics Lab

Office: McNeil, 433 & PCPSE, 336

Personal Research Website
https://sites.google.com/view/eugendimant/
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