(updated Feb 2012)
(Q:) What is Green Acre?
Green Acre Baha'i School is an educational school, retreat, and conference center operated by the Bahá’ís of the United States. It hosts programs year 'round about the Bahá’í Faith and efforts to make this world a better place. It is located in Eliot, Maine.
(Q:) What is GARideShare?
It's a website where parents can register their interest in offering / seeking a ride for their kids to the summer "camp" programs at Green Acre.
No. It is a private activity.
(Q:) Is there a fee?
No, not to use GARideShare.
However, if you do make plans to share a ride with someone, it is up to the driver and passengers to come to agreeable terms for cost-sharing the trip.
(Q:) Will I be "assigned" to a specific ride?
No, GARideShare makes no specific ride-sharing assignments. What it makes is introductions: its goal is to help you find families in your area going to the same program. It is up to you to make contact, verify available seats, and to work out all other details (like schedule and cost-sharing).
At this time, we are focusing on ride-sharing for the summer youth "camp" programs. If the site becomes popular and there seems to be interest in extending the site to cover all programs, then -- with the appropriate level of administrative help -- it may be considered in the future.
UPDATE: if you are a counselor serving at one of these programs and are seeking a ride share, we'd be happy to try to hook you up with a ride as well. Fill out a Ride Request, and mention you are a counselor and the date you'd like to arrive / depart in the "Special Requests" portion.
UPDATE: if you are a counselor serving at one of these programs and are seeking a ride share, we'd be happy to try to hook you up with a ride as well. Fill out a Ride Request, and mention you are a counselor and the date you'd like to arrive / depart in the "Special Requests" portion.
At this time, you don't need to "join", per se. When you are ready to fill out a Ride Share Offer / Request, as instructed below.
(Q:) Will my information be made public? With whom will it be shared? How long will it be kept?
Your contact information, and the nature of your request/offer will be shared mutually amongst the participants of the program you state you are interested in. (This might mean it is emailed, or posted to a semi-private web-page, or other means T.B.D.)
We are relying on the good judgement of those with access to treat your contact information with due privacy.
Shortly after the program concludes, web-based access (if any) to the contact info for that program will be removed. Note that parties who were given access to your contact info may have saved a copy and they might keep it indefinitely.
(Q:) You want me to put my kid in a car with a total stranger???
No, of course not. Rather, we are assuming that there are Baha'is in your region with kids the same age who you already know, but just didn't realize they were headed to Green Acre for a given program.
If you don't know the other parents or their kids personally, perhaps it is at least possible that you've seen each other at other regional events, or that you have a mutual friend who can vouch for the responsibility of the other party.
In any case, it is entirely your responsibility to become fully acquainted with and comfortable the other parents and kids involved in any particular ride-sharing arrangement.
GARideShare can't assure you of a ride. But you can help increase the chance that you and others in your area by spreading news of the site's availability.
(Q:) What if my ride falls through at the last minute?
We would be heartbroken if your ride falls through at the last minute and that prevents you from attending. You can look for a last-minute options here, but GARideShare can provide no guarantee that a suitable replacement can be found.
(Q:) My plans have changed... can I get out of commitments I have made to offer a ride?
For any reason at at any time, you can request that your currently posted offers and requests be removed from GARideShare itself.
However, if you have already made plans with specific individuals and then your plans change, it is up to you and them to decide how to proceed.
(Q:) What do I do if my question wasn't answered here?
For additional information, you can email GARideShare@gmail.org.
(Q:) I'm ready to offer / request a ride. What do I do now?
