I have been a member of the Best Friends Network for about 1 year. I never really created a profile, nor did I post anything about my pets. Ironically, I did all of this 2 days ago, right before the launch of the new site. Now it seems that the bulk of what I wrote is lost. I feel a bit upset because I spent most of the day creating interesting and funny comments, and now it looks as if everything is lost. I hope that the profiles I wrote about my pets are still migrating to the new site. I know a great deal of work goes into designing and creating a website, because I have one myself, but honestly this change over is somewhat frustrating because it has not gone very smoothly. I hope that it all gets worked out. I can't even imagine handling a website as complicated and complete as the Best Friend's site, and I know everyone is working as hard as possible, so thank you for your efforts! Marlene

Marlene (aka dogonfunny), don't worry, your data is not lost. Please know that we are still working Pet Profiles capability.  We will continue to work on the site and make fixes and add new features and Pet Profiles is definitely on our list.  So please be patient with us as we work through all of our items.  In the meantime, I hope that you will browse through the new site and keep adding to your profile.  Thanks for your continued support and understanding!

Unfortunately it's been awhile since I logged onto the network. I like the new look....but where did my groups go?  Dogs at the Lodges, etc??  I can't seem to find them anymore.  :-(  Please help1

karyninva, never fear! Your Groups are here. Your can find your shelters/rescues and interest groups like the Lodges by clicking on Groups at the top of the site in the orange navigation bar. Use the keywword search to find a group. If you need any more help, Click on Help in the very top right-hand corner of any page of the site. That will take you to Network Support where we are answering questions on the Forums.

I too have a hard time finding anything on this site..Why didnt you "B/F just change the home page ect..You should have left the forum page alone..It seems we all find it frustrating tring to find the sites we are looking for..Everytime I click on something it takes forever to load,is Unavalible,doesnt exsist,or say's im denied,or say's comming soon!!..Im sorry I dont like the new chages you all have done,and im sure more people feel the same,They just wont admit it..I think it was fine the way it was,user friendly..Now No one can use it.."They say"If it isnt broke dont fix it..But Now since ya'll did fix it "It Really Is Broke"LOL

Well, I hate to say this but I'm really discouraged with the new site.  As I stated above, I love the LOOK of the network now but the functionality leaves a lot to be desired.  I consider myself to be pretty tech savvy but I cannot find my way around now.  It is EXTREMELY slow, both of my computers time out before finding the forum or whatever that I'm looking for, I cannot find my old forums, groups or friends, and I tried to download the 12 step guide (linked to somewhere else on the forum but now I have no idea where I found it) but each time I try to download it I get an error message!!  This isn't user friendly at all & I'm really missing the old network!  Sorry for the post, but I loved following the network and now I'm just plain frustrated!  Thanks for letting me vent.

I am also finding it harder each day tring to find my favorate forums..Like you Karyninva I like the new look.But wish they would put the Foums back the way they had it..Or someone write to me and tell me where the forum"s are about  feral cats.Are they all put into one Group..What about the forum on litterbox..It was nice that everything was listed like before it showed who was one last,which topic was just posted and so on..This site is so confussing and crazy to me now,I cant even mail anyone in my profile to get help or the answers I need.Too many "comming soon messages", or error mess,or unavalible ect..Where did everything get placed,its so out of reach.Nic

ihave13 (Nic), I feel the same way about my favorite forums ... I'm still trying to find some of them.

I did find where the feral cat community went - the Focus on Felines Group.  Here is the link:  network.bestfriends.org/.../default.aspx

hope this helps - once I find the litterbox forum (used to be under Best Friends Felines?), I'll send that to you, too.  Or vice versa, if you find it first!!

I can identify with your frustrations, honest I can. I've felt the same way everytime I've changed from one format to another, but it's always become easier with use and this one will too.

If you don't mind a suggestion, though, could you post your questions/concerns on the Network Support Forum rather than here in News Comments? There are prople monitoring that Forum, but we can't possibly monitor every comment on every news article on the Network.

You can find the Network Support Forum by clicking the "Help" link at the upper right corner of the page. That takes you to the Network Support Group and the Forum is linked in the menu at the top.

Well, I'm sorry to say, the new network doesn't feel as accessable as the old one.  I don't know where to get my alerts or my mail.  On the other hand, I think the stramlined look is awesome, I can see you put a lot of thought and work into it.  If I knew how to get my alerts and mail, I'd have nothing to complain about re: the new design.

Lin

Check out the "Quick Start Guide." You'll find a link to it in the News article, "Getting Around the Network" in this Group. You'll find info on inviting friends on the second page.

Marion, thanks for the suggestions.  Unfortunately this is the only place I've been able to post anything.!! :-)  Everything else times out or I get an error message, such as when I try to access the Quick Start Guide.  If I could ever open that, I'm sure some of my frustrations would subside but....guess I'll keep trying

Hello Karyn,Im still tring to figure this all out myself..It blows my mind that the creator of the new site has made it sooooo Slow,and user UN-friendly.Which takes forever to load or find anything!!..I think even as I keep on a tring daily to find what it is im looking for it still is a strugle and takes longer as the days move forward..But, I think I did figure out one thing..To post to anything in that group you have to click on (BE A FAN!!)I tried to post to many differant groups,but I clicked be a fan,and was able to post my replys..It worked for me,hope it works for you...I still cant find in my profile how to send messages out...........Atuttle32;Thanks for the link,I was able to use it after I became a "FAN"LOL...My Question is; Why is it so complacated to use this site?..Its Not simply by any means,Not like before.Nic

I have to say guys,I do miss the old site and hate this new one..It was so easy to use,post replys and even mail others,find everything just from one page from the forums list..I even liked the idea that once you post something you can go back and fix errors in spelling,their is no quote or delete boxes to us ..Im so unhappy with this site,I wish the forum would have stayed the way they was.Just some venting on my part.nic

If I have this correct,for me to mail anyone on B/F network they have to be added to my friends list right??and they also have to accept me as their friend first, right??.And if I have no friends added I cant mail within the network.Is this correct??..Alot of changes for sure..Oh one more thing I did try the quick start guide,at first I was denied but then became a "fan"and to my suprise I had access..Good job Nicole,looks like im on my way to learning more with time..I just hope I can get the (New Info) behind me, So I can post to my favoriate threads.But first I have to find them,lol..Looks like their isnt much activity lately on the Feral cat community,seems many are trying to figure out the site first.n

I really hope everyone takes a little breath and remembers a couple of things.  First, the Network was designed to attract new members and turn more people on to Best Friends and animal welfare.  It's not just "our" private site.  (I've been a member of BF for years, a Network member since it began, am a news writer, and I manage a couple of Go Locals....so I understand.)

The new Network has a different rhythm to it than the former one.  That's all.  What helped me was to let go of how the old network worked, and open my mind up to the fact that this one functions differently.  Not worse.  Different.  Better.

What also helped me was just spending some time moving around the Network, as a member, not as a network volunteer or news writer, just a person exploring the site.  It really moves quite easily and logically.  I even asked some of my friends who had never been on the network before to look at it, and they were all fine with it (and they are not all young Facebook-ers or Twitter experts. :) )  (that was also a sneaky way of getting them turned on to Best Friends. )

Second, the staff at BF has put a tremendous amount of work into this new Network.  They've never lead us astray on anything before. In fact, they are the leader among leaders in animal welfare.  (If you're here, then I'm guessing you know that.)  They deserve our complete support.  

I join the group who dislikes this new site.  It takes longer to find what you want and I am still searching for some.  I am tending to use this site less and less.  Am putting the blogs I like to follow in my favorites so I can go there directly and not have to navigate the new site.  And I dislike having to open a .jpg to see photoes posted on a blog.

Hello again,I do agree with canjun about a few things.The site may have been created for the use of having new members join and has a great look..And for them it would be eaiser to navigate,But for the old timmers like myself and others,PLEASE you all remember we as a whole "Remember the way the old site ran"Easy and alot faster..It was alot quicker and everything was just one click away,and seemed everything was posted on one page not thousand's that we all have to search for Now..Yes I have an opened mind,If I didnt I wouldnt still be here..But respect the comments of others please ,those like myself who have been members for years,and YES those like myself also who find the New Network,Like you say,Not worse,Different,Better..We say it is very complacated,Frustrating,and slower then the old B/F site and everything is scattererd to the wind,Finding things is difficult.But many are still trying to figure everything out,so please understand and support us.Nic

I think as I search this site more and more,things are starting to sink in ..For everyone who is confussed as I have been lately..Following cajun advice and just spend some time moving around the Network.It has helped me a great deal..Adding friends and groups to my profile is where im at now.

I am confused about how to join the forum. I assume I need to sign up to post, but I cannot find a link to do so. Could someone please point me to the correct place?

There are a lot of help files under Resources. For instructions on Becoming a Fan and posting to a forum, go to:

network.bestfriends.org/.../creating-a-forum-post.aspx