TRC now has a Twitter account, @TheRallyeClub
The purpose of TRC's Twitter account is for rallye masters to broadcast critical information to rallyists during a rallye. Rallyists can enable mobile notifications for TRC's account on any phone that can receive a text message (a smart phone is not necessary). Such rallyists can then receive update during a rallye (without having to call the RM and perhaps keep calling if the line is busy). Other rallyists should be told the same information at a checkpoint or when calling the rallye master. We expect this will reduce calls to rallye masters but not give those notified an "unfair" advantage over others.
It is not our intention to gimmick any Tweets, and we understand that not all rallyists will receive our tweets.
How many tweets?
We expect that this account will be used lightly:
- A pre-rallye message or two will allow rallyists to verify they are ready to receive mobile tweets from @TheRallyeClub.
Examples of messages that might be sent via twitter during a rallye:
- Coursemarker K on Kennedy St is up, just a little hard to find.
- A course marker was down on Downy Ave, but is now back up.
- The finish will be extended to 9:20 and protests to 9:30.
AT&T customers can get mobile Tweets without a Twitter account
This has not yet been tested. Let us know if it works for you.
Text the following to 40404
follow @therallyeclub
You don't need to do anything more. You may ignore the rest of these instructions. (I imagine that TRC will have to approve AT&T's service as a follower before this will be active, however.)
Perhaps those one other carriers can do the exact same thing, since all the US carriers uses this number.
To Create a Twitter account
1. Point your web browser at http://twitter.com/
2. Fill in the “New to Twitter? Join Today” form.
- Full Name (ex: Nick Stefanisko)
- Email (Email address must be valid and yours.)
- Password (ex: peli00kus)
3. Write your password down if it is not something you normally use, twitter does not make you confirm your password or email address.
4. Click the “Sign up” button
5. Twitter will validate your entries and if there are any problems, you will be required to make corrections
6. Click the “Create my account” button.
7. The next step involves publishing your interests; it is not necessary to share this information. If you are encouraged to select several friends or celebrities to follow, that is also unnecessary.
8. Click the “Next Step” button.
9. The next step involves searching for friends by importing email addresses. It is not necessary to do this now or even at all.
10. Click the “Next Step” button.
11. You may import email address from Hotmail, gmail, AOL, etc. It is not necessary to do this now or even at all.
12. Click “Skip import”.
13. Your account is now created, but it is not yet validated. You will receive an email on the account you specified back in step 2.
14. In your email you will have a message from Twitter with a link. Click the link.
Lock your account down
1. In the top right corner of the web page you will see your “username” (or maybe a figure like a torso) with a downward facing triangle.
a. Click the triangle.
b. Select “Settings”.
2. On the settings screen you can change your username, email address, language, time zone. You can also control your security. VERY IMPORTANT: Check the “Tweet Privacy Proctect my tweets” check box. This will require you to confirm followers before they are allowed to actually follow you. If you do not check this box, anyone who knows your email address or username can follow you; it’s a bit creepy.
3. Click the “Save” button, you will be asked to confirm with your password
Customize your account
- On the Profile page you will find a link to “Edit your profile”. In here you can, if you want, upload a profile picture, your home location, a bio, etc. It is all optional.
Follow TRC
1. If you are not on the “Home” screen, click on the “Home” tab in the page’s menu bar
2. In the small “What’s happening?” or "Compose new Tweet" box type:
FOLLOW therallyeclub
3. Make sure there are no leading or trailing spaces.
4. If you get “Sorry! We did something wrong. Try sending your Tweet again in a minute.” Don’t worry about it; but do try again.
5. A TRC administrator will notice your request and approve you to follow us.
Enable Mobile Notifications
Don't forget to enable mobile tweets from the rallye club or it really won't help you during the rallye. To do this (after you have been approved to follow TRC):
- Login into your Twitter account.
- Click on @TheRallyeClub from your list of those you are following.
- Near the top near the Green "Following" button there are 2 small circle buttons. One has a cell phone on it. Click it and make it green. You will now receive texts when ever we post something to the Twitter account. From this point forward, this account's phone can receive important updates as SMS messages on rallye night.
RM Tweets
Rallyemasters should obtain the password several days before the rallye and send a test tweet to assure they are able to tweet important info during a rallye.
They can use one of these methods:
- a Twitter mobile app
- web browser at twitter.com (login as @therallyeclub)
- SMS text message a (sufficiently short) tweet to 40404 (for all mobile carriers in the US).
- set up email access to TRC's twitter account. (If someone sets this up, all future RMs could email to it?)
Testing
A pre-rallye message or two should be sent (Friday afternoon and/or Saturday morning) to allow rallyists to verify they are ready to receive mobile tweets from @TheRallyeClub.
If you follow @TheRallyeClub and have enabled mobile notifications and do not get a pre-rallye practice message, send email to Teresa@TheRallyeClub.org who can confirm that you are following us and perhaps can help you diagnose the problem before the rallye.