Meet Traci Manza Murphy and Patrick Callahan, founders of the Brandywine Family Buzz - an electronic bulletin board of what's happening for families in the region. What started in 2007 as an e-mail to a few dozen friends has blossomed into a popular listserv for thousands in the Brandywine Valley and beyond.
Q: How did the Brandywine Family Buzz get its start?
A: Traci: We were frequently having conversations about "wow, I wish I knew about this event this weekend, because I would have gone." For parents with jobs or kids with extra-curricular activities, there might not be time to cull different event listings. We started something for our families and then decided to share the wealth.
A: Patrick: My wife would always come home and say "did you know if you bought a membership to this museum, you'd also get access to this one?" And I got to thinking that all parents would want to know that kind of thing.
Q: What is your role with the Buzz?
A: Traci: I do the creative writing for the site...We also have Dr. Amy Anzilotti who writes a bi-monthly column about common pediatric issues.
A: Patrick: I focus more on the tech stuff; making sure the e-mails come out every week when they're supposed to.
Q: How do you get information about the events you list?
A: Traci: It started with looking for a lot of bulletin boards in the coffee shops and then eventually
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Meet the brains behind the Buzz Name: Traci Manza Murphy Name: Patrick Callahan |
we would ask readers and get submissions from them. It's a very viral, word-of-mouth operation.
A: Patrick: It's getting to the point now where people know about us and are seeking us out. We probably get between 20 and 30 contributions each week.
Q: How have you been so successful in getting the word out?
A: Traci: We have the moms. The moms that are volunteering or on planning committees or organizing events...know what's going on and they let us know about it.
A: Patrick: I think a lot of sites lose their simplicity. E-mail was the first application for the Internet. It's so basic and I think a lot of parents don't have the time to spend on the Web or policing all the different blogs. Our focus is on what benefits parents and making their life easier.
