HBA Community

The HBA Community (HBA Connect) is private and secure members-only online community, where members can connect with each other, participate in discussion, access useful information, contribute to the knowledge base and post questions to peers. It can be accessed directly by clicking here and logging into your HBA profile to access members-only content. You can also access HBA Connect by visiting the HBA website, logging into your profile, and clicking the HBA Connect link at the top of the page, which will open in a new browser window. 

Once logged in, your home page will consist of easy quick links, designed to take you where you need to go. Along the center of the HBA Connect homepage is a series of links you are encouraged to explore. We recommend starting with the first box and exploring all of the communities you already belong to - often these are communities based on your geography or your volunteer role.

Next see what else HBA Connect offers:

• Member Networks: Communities based on shared interests.
• HBA Member Directory: Search our member directory and start connecting with HBA members around the globe.
• Volunteer Opportunities: Give back in a meaningful way and find the right volunteer opportunity for you.

At the drop-down menu at the top of the page, you can also easily navigate to:

• The HBA Member Forum - reach ALL 28,000+ HBA members in this community (access only granted to current HBA members)
• The HBA All Leaders Community - share knowledge or ask questions of ALL HBA Volunteers in your network (access only granted to current HBA Volunteer Leaders)

1. To access HBA Connect, click the golden button at the top of the HBA homepage. You can also navigate directly by visiting community.hbanet.org.
2. If you are already logged into the HBA website, you should already be logged into HBA Connect through single sign on.
3. If you are not logged in, click on the login button in the top right hand corner and use your HBA credentials to log in.

In the HBA Community, you can edit your profile to include information about your education and work experience.

1. Click on "HBA Community" in the top right hand corner (You must be logged into your count to access this page)

2. Navigate to your profile by clicking the down facing arrow icon and profile button in the upper right corner of the page.

3. From your profile, you can add information by clicking the green “Add” button or edit and delete any existing information. You can also easily import your information from LinkedIn by clicking the “Import Your Info” button.

• In the "My Account" section of your profile, you can edit your privacy, email and notification preferences to control the number of community emails you receive and the ways in which your information in shared with other HBA members.

Members can view shared documents in community libraries.

1. Navigate to the “Library” section of the Member Forum or a specific community.
2. You will see a system of folders on the left side of the page where files are organized, as well as a list of documents on the right side of the page.
3. When you have found the document you would like to access, double-click the title to open the document page.
4. Scroll down the page to the file name and click the download button to save a copy of the file.

To participate in discussions in the HBA Community:

1. If you are posting in the “Member Forum” click the link on the community navigation bar. If you are posting in another community click "Communities" then choose"My Communities" and selecting the community to you are planning to post the content in. 
   • From here, you can browse discussions, shared files and the membership list.
2. To add your own discussion, click the green “Post New Message” button in the discussion section.
   •  In accordance with the HBA Community etiquette policy, please keep topics relevant to the HBA mission and refrain from posting commercial messages. Job opportunities should be posted in the HBA career center instead of the Community.
3. You can read an existing discussion by clicking the topic title.
   • For each post, you can choose to respond publicly to the discussion or reply directly to the sender through a message, by clicking on “Reply to Discussion” or by clicking the arrow icon and selecting “Reply to Sender.”

1. Click on the “Communities” link in the navigation bar.

2. You can view all Communities, or a list of your subscribed communities only.

3. Discussions and shared files are accessed in the same manner as the Member Forum, but are only seen by those who have joined that particular Community.

• To update your communication preferences from the community directly, click the "settings" button next to the community name and choose your preference from the drop-down under "email notifications":

• To update communication preferences for all your communities at once, click here

1. Go to “My Profile” and click on "My Account” and select “Community Notifications.”

2.  Scroll down to “Notification Settings” on this page, you'll see an option in the dropdown for Real Time, Daily Digest, PlainText or No Email (see below for descriptions of these choices). You will also see a check box for Consolidate Weekly Digest. Select your preferences and they will automatically save.

- If you would just like Weekly Digests, you can choose No Email and check Consolidated Weekly Digests

For each discussion, you have the following delivery options:

• Real time: sends an email every time a new message is posted
• Daily digest: sends one email to you each day, consolidating all of the posts from the previous day
• Plain text: sends real-time text versions of the posts, which are compatible with Blackberries and most other handheld devices. This option also allows you to reply without logging into a web browser, but it does NOT allow you to include attachments with your post.
• No Email: allows you to be part of the group without having emails sent to you. You can still post and read others’ messages by logging into the community site.

This article will help you get familiar with the HBA's member-only community, where members share resources, creative solutions, advice and build their networks. Various Communities within provide forums for individuals to connect with others around the world, with similar special interests and more. Please see our full toolkit deck here: Community toolkit.pptx

• Need help getting started? Jump into the HBA Member Forum to introduce yourself to your fellow members, search for other members, and so much more.
• Not only can you find members within your region, but you can also seek out like-minded individuals:
  • Directory
  • Regional member communities
  • Affinity Groups
• Explore open leadership opportunities to develop new skills and advance your career
• Need help? Visit the Community Help Center.

DO's:

• Fill out your profile, add a profile photo, and include a brief bio so community members know who you are
• Browse discussion threads to familiarize yourself with "hot topics" of the community 
• Use the member directory to search and connect with colleagues
  • The "advanced search" option allows you to search by company type, role title/contributor level, or region
• When posting, always make sure there is a call to action, even something very simple
• When promoting an event, be sure to link to your event's registration page; including a quick blurb about the event is also a great best practice
• Tag your colleagues! Start with an "@" and begin typing - if they are an HBA member, their name should appear

• Spread the love: take a look at our list of unanswered threads - can you help? 

DONT'S:

• Post a reply to every discussion thread
• Contact members personally in response to a post unless it is strategically decided upon as the best course of action
• Contradict or correct "wrong" answers or information provided by other members 
  • Inaccurate answers will be dealt with strategically and will come from one dedicated voice of the community (i.e. the community manager)
• Post any material that could be construed as marketing or advertising