Support Group Forum:  Directions Register or Log-in Click "Register" at the top of the forum screen if you are not yet a member.  If you are a member, log-in at the bottom right of the forum screen or by clicking "My Account" at the top right of the screen. Post a Message or Reply to a Topic Once logged in, click on the Board you'd like to visit (such as Elder Care) and on the right side you will see "New Post."  Click that, enter your message, and click preview & then submit or just submit.  To create a reply to a thread on a board, click on that thread and click "Reply." "Mark Topic (or Board) as Read" Feature The "Mark Topic as Read" or "Mark Board as Read" features allow you to mark what you have read for ease of reference when you next visit.  If you choose to mark an item as "read," the pink folder that is in front of the topic title will turn yellow, indicating you have read that topic or board.  Unread = pink.  Read = yellow. Calendar - Public and Private The calendar has a public and a private component.  If you would like to post something that only you can see, click the Calendar link at the top of the screen and then choose "New Private Event."  You can post whatever you like in your private calendar.  For example, you may list February 17th as a dentist appointment at 2 p.m. on your private calendar.  It is only for your use.  Only you can see your private calendar. To post a public event, click on the Calendar Board, click "New Event" and then fill out the form, including a message as the complete description.  If you would like to list your birthday, you can do so in two ways.  You can either create a public event, as described here, on the Calendar Board, or you can list your birthday in your "My Account" under the "Change Your Profile" Section.  Examples of the public calendar:  Listing the birthday of the elder you are caring for, posting a date & time for everyone to meet in the chat room for a chat, etc. E-mail and Private Messages If you click on the e-mail tab for any member, you will receive a form that allows you to e-mail them from Project BEA.  However, you will be exposing your registered e-mail address to them as the e-mail will go directly to their e-mail inbox in their e-mail program (such a Hotmail, Yahoo, Gmail, etc.)  If you would like to keep your e-mail address hidden and still privately contact a member with a message, you can choose the link to Private Message that person.  Your e-mail address will not be exposed with a Private Message unless you tell the member your e-mail address in the message.  Please try to keep your stored private messages to a minimum in Private Messages. Chat To use the chatroom, click the link at the top of the screen.  You can create an account with a username and password or log-in with just a username by marking the "guest" checkbox. Please note:  The first time you use chat or the forum, you will need to make a log-in for each one. Register your username with the forum and then register the same username separately with chat. You can easily alter the settings of the chat by clicking "Settings" at the top of the chat window once you are logged in.  You may customize your preferred language, time zone, time format, sound alerts, and more. My Account You have control of many self-explanatory settings in My Account.  If you click on My Account, you will find links to update your bio, add an avatar (a small picture of you or an image to represent you), change your e-mail address or password, etc.  Make sure to click "Submit" once you update your information so that it will save.  We ask that you introduce yourself in your bio section and also in our "Getting To Know You" thread, which is pinned to the top of the Elder Care Board. Basic Rules 1. You must agree to our Disclaimer before using ProjectBEA.com, including the forum. 2. The Golden Rule applies:  Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.  Make sure to show respect for yourself and others at all times.  "Others" include any other members, the elder(s) you are caring for, etc. You can vent here, but do not trash anyone.  Saying, for example "I am at my wit's end with caring for my mother" and then stating the facts is okay.  That scenario is different than calling your mother names, providing your own diagnosis of her idiosyncrasies, etc., which is not okay.  Place the blame on the disease and not on the elder.  Open discussion is encouraged but doing so respectfully is expected.  3.  Ads are not allowed on the forum unless approved by Project BEA. 4.  Members and their IP addresses can and will be banned if the forum rules are broken.  Let's keep this a nice place to share our caregiving stories.