55-Alive! FAQ's
(Frequently Asked Questions)
 
55-Alive! and 55-Alive Romance! Profiles
There are 2 profile areas in 55-Alive!  Both may be accessed by clicking on the "My 55-Alive!" link at the top of the page.  They are:
 
1.  A "Main" Profile - located under the "My Profile" tab.
2.  A "Romance! Profile - located under the "Romance!" tab
 
The Main Profile can be seen by other members and 55-Alive! users.  This is the place to tell others about you, and to create a blog, if you wish.
 
Members wishing to participate in 55-Alive Romance! need to create a 55-Alive Romance! Profile. 
 
You can create a Main Profile, a Romance! Profile, or both a Main Profile and Romance! Profile, depending on how you would like to use 55-Alive! 
 
MAIN PROFILE INFORMATION
 
My Pictures
Q:  Why am I unable to upload pictures?
A: Pictures should be less than 1 mb (1,000 kb) in file size to load quickly if you have a high speed connection, 300 kb if you have a dial-up connection.  (Note - Most of our pictures are less than 50kb in size, so anything larger than this size will look fine).  If your picture is greater than 1 mb, please re-size it before trying to upload.  If you set the resolution to 72 dpi, this should do the trick.
  
You can also set the picture size to 400 pixels wide by 300 tall (for horizontal pictures, opposite dimensions for vertical pictures), or 125 pixels square (for square pictures).

Please note - if you try to upload pictures larger than 1 mb, you may experience a "time out" from your internet service provider (isp), especially if you're using a dial-up connection.  A "time out" means that the connection will terminate before the picture has been completely uploaded. 
 
Q:  How do I edit my 55-Alive! Profile?
A: To edit information located in your 55-Alive! profile, click on the heading of the blue box containing the information you'd like to change. Once you've made changes, save them by clicking the red Update button.

Q:  What is a New Custom Content Block?
A: A Custom Content Block is a box that will appear in your 55-Alive! profile. You can create both the topics (such as "favorite movies") and the content (King Kong). This is just another way to share more about yourself with others.

To create a New Custom Content Block click on the blue button located on the right-hand side of your 55-Alive! profile. Fill out the information regarding your desired content block. When finished, click on the red Submit Custom Profile Block button. Your New Custom Content Block will now appear within your 55-Alive! profile.

Team 55-Alive!
Q:  How do I create a new log?
A: Select an activity from the drop-down list in the top box, select a date, and enter in a number for the minutes spent during that day on the selected activity.  If you want to track an activity in a measurement other than minutes, enter a number in the optional box (such as for miles, laps, etc), but this is not necessary.  Then click Insert Log.

Q:  How do I change a log entry?
A: To change a log entry, choose a date range in the Your Team 55-Alive! Logs box, then click on the Search Logs box.

Q:  How do I set up a goal?
A: You can only have one goal per activity. Goals can be changed at any time. To set up a goal, you must have a new log already created. Under the activity that was created you can set up a goal by clicking Setup a Goal underneath the specified activity.  Then choose a date and range for your goal, and the goal amount. After you're done setting up your goal click the red Create Goal button below the box.

Q:  How come other people can't see my personal Team 55-Alive! log?
A: Your log entries are private by default, meaning that only you have access to them.  If you would like, you can make a summary of any of your logs viewable on your public profile by changing the default status on your My 55-Alive! page by clicking on the arrow.

Q:  How does Team 55-Alive! work?
A: The minutes for all Team 55-Alive! members are automatically added up for each category and entered in the Team 55-Alive! log, which shows how many hours Team 55-Alive! members have spent engaging in a specific activity during a period (such as showing that Team 55-Alive! members spent 358 hours volunteering in a particular week).  The summary report is not broken down by individual member contributions.

Blogs
Q: What is a blog?
A: A blog is a weblog. A weblog is similar to a journal that is updated frequently and is intended for the public to see. Many members enjoy blogging because it allows others to voice their opinions, feelings, and thoughts within the site.

* However, This is not a place for you to advertise your business or services for free, so please don't post advertising messages. If you make a blog posting that we feel is primarily an advertisement for your services or products, we may place the following message in your posting:  55-Alive! LLC Does Not Approve of or Endorse Any Products or Services that are advertised in a Blog Postings.

Q: How do I make my first post?
A: First, go to the “My Blog” section on your My 55-Alive! page.  After you have read, understood and agreed to the 55-Alive terms of the blog usage, click to check-mark and then click next. You will then be able to create your first blog posting.  For your blog, you will need a blog name and a blog description.

[Example]:

Blog Name: KelseytheIntern's Blog
Blog Description: Life of an Intern

After you've filled out the Blog Information, click on the red Update Blog Information button. Now you're ready to start your first posting. Once you've finished your posting make sure to click the red Post New Entry button below.

Q: How can I see what the post looks like before I submit it?
A: To view your post before submitting it for others to see, click the red Preview Post button at the bottom of the posting page. This option allows you to view your posting before the final submission.
 
Q: Can I go back and change a posting after?
A: Yes. To make changes click on the edit button on the bottom of your posting. When you're satisfied with your changes, click Submit Changes and the changes will be saved.

Q: How can I delete a posting?
A: You can delete postings at any time. To delete a post click the delete button at the bottom of that specific post.

Q: How do I find an old posting?
A: To view an old posting either on your blog or another member's blog, click the Next  link at the top of the blog. This feature allows you to view old postings starting from the most recent.

Q: How do I comment on another member's blog?
A: To comment on another member's blog, click Add Reply at the bottom of the blog posting.
* Depending on the other membe's settings, your comment may show up right away or it may require the blog owner's approval. 
Q: How do I delete an unwanted comment on my blog?
A: Just click the Delete link.
* If you feel that the comment is offensive please report it by clicking the Report! link and the staff at 55-Alive will be notified right away.
Friends
Q: Who are my Friends?
A: Everyone is a friend here at 55-Alive! but you can make finding other members easier by adding them to your friends list.
 
Q: How do I Add Friends?
A: There are two ways to add other members as your friend.
1) When viewing a member's profile there is an Add to Friends link in their About Me section. You can click on the link to add the member as your friend.

* Please Note: [When adding other members as friends they will automatically become your friend once you have clicked on the link.  There is no approval needed from the other member and vice versa.]

2) When inside your 55-Alive! Profile, click the edit button inside the My Friends box.  Once you've clicked the edit button, the page will show all of your current friends. The link at the top of the new page Click here to add/find friends will direct you to the member gallery to add/find friends.

Q: If I choose for someone to be my friend, will I automatically be there friend too?
A: No. The other person will have to add you as a friend to show up on their profile under their own friends.

Q: Can everyone see my friends?
A: Yes & No. Other members are only able to see 5 of your randomly displayed friends on your profile page at a time.

Q: How do I remove a friend?
A: To remove a friend, click on the edit button under the My Friends box in your 55-Alive! profile. Click on the remove button next to the member's name you'd like to remove.

Groups
Q: What is a group?
A: A group is a place to share information about a specific topic of interest, such as Grandparenting.
 
Q: How do I search for groups?
A: There are two ways to search for groups.

1) Click on Groups at the top of the page. Once you've clicked on the Groups link, the list of groups will appear.

2) In your 55-Alive profile there is a Groups & Events box located on the right-hand side of your profile.  Click on the “edit” text, to search for groups.  Once you've clicked edit a new page will appear. Search for groups by clicking Browse Member Groups on the left-hand side of the page located within the light blue box. 
Q: How do I join a group?
A: If you like one of the groups you can join by clicking on the Group name when browsing all of the groups.  Once you are inside of a group, you can join by clicking the red button Join the Group!
 
Q: Will the group I join show up in my profile?
A: Yes, once you join a group it will show up under Groups & Events in your profile for others to see.

Q: What if I no longer want to be part of a group?
A: If you decide that you no longer want to be part of a group, you can remove the group by clicking the edit button in your Groups & Events box located within your 55-Alive profile. Remove the unwanted group by clicking the blue box that says Remove Group and it will no longer appear on your profile.

Q: How do I create a new group?
A: Click on the Groups link at the very top of the page. The page will then display the list of the groups that have been created. To make a new group, click on the blue box Create a New Group at the top of the Groups page. To create a group, you must select which category your group will fall under by clicking on the arrow for the drop down box. Then decide if you want your group to be open or private..

[A Private Group will only allow other group members to see postings made within the group.  If a member is not part of the private group, they will not be able to see any postings.]

Next you will need to choose a group name, and include a brief description of the group.  Once you have completed these steps, click the white Create New Group button to see your new group.

Q: How do I invite other members to join a group?
A: Only the group moderator can send an invitation to join a group. If you are a group moderator you can invite members to join by clicking invite members after you've made the group. The members whom you have invited will then receive a message within their 55-Alive! mailbox which is the invitation to join the group.

* If you have already created the group and want to invite more members later, you can do this by clicking the “edit” button in your Groups & Events box located within your profile. Once you are within the Groups & Events box you will then see the list of all the groups that you moderate. Click on the blue box “Invite Members” to invite more members to join the group.

Mailbox
* You have one mailbox that is used for both 55-Alive! and  55-Alive Romanc! You can send and receive messages through this mailbox.*
 
Q: How do I send a personal message?
A: There are two ways to send someone a personal message.
1) While viewing another member's profile, in their About Me section you can choose to send them a personal message, by selecting Send Message.

2) While in My 55-Alive! click on the Mailbox tab.  To send someone a personal message, choose Compose New Message on the left-hand side of the screen. You will then need to fill in the recipients name, the title of the message, and the message itself before clicking on Send Message at the bottom of the page.

Q: How do I send message to more than one member at a time?
A: To send the message to more than one member at a time, list the additional members' names in the larger recipient box below with one member name per line.

* Example:
                  NAME
                  NAME
                  NAME
Q: What does it mean to “Hide CC recipients from others'?
A: When sending a message to more than one member (Carbon Copy or CC), the message will display the names of the other members receiving the message.   If you don't want this to happen, select Hide CC recipients from others by checking the white box located under the carbon copy box.  This will make the names of the copied members to the recipients.

Q: How do I block a member from contacting me?
A: To block a member from contacting you, click on Advanced Settings at the very bottom of your 55-Alive! profile page. Then click PM Block List on the left-hand side of the page. Type in the profile name of the member you would like to block from sending you messages. When finished, save the list by clicking on Add this member to my block list in red.
 
Q: How do I delete my messages?
A: It's important to delete unwanted messages within your mailbox, otherwise it becomes too full. 50 messages is the maximum amount you can have in your mailbox at one time. Once your inbox reaches 50 messages, you cannot receive anymore. To get rid of unwanted messages, select the white box to the right of the message creating a check-mark inside the box.  After selecting the unwanted message(s) click on the red box delete message down below. Your message(s) will then be deleted.

Q: What if the other person's mailbox is too full?
A: When a member's mailbox is too full, they have to delete some of their messages. You can leave them a comment on their profile page to notify them of their full mailbox; otherwise it's up to them to make room for incoming messages.

Q: How do I save a copy of my sent message?
A: You can save a copy of the message by checking the white box next to Add a copy of this message to my sent items folder right before you send the message. This option is located at the bottom of the page when composing a new message. Once you have checked the option to add a copy of the message to my sent items folder it will be saved in your sent items until you delete it.

Q: What does it mean to track a message?
A: If you would like to make sure your message is read by the recipient you can check the white box next to Track this message.  When tracking a message, you will receive notification in your mailbox telling you that your message has been read. This option is located at the bottom of the page when composing a new message.

Q: How do I attach a picture in my message?
A: To attach a picture within a personal message, click the browse button under your composed message area. Once you have found the photo you want to attach double click on the picture and it will show up in the selected file area. 
*Make sure you picture is the proper size or else it will not send correctly After you've completed those steps click the green Upload button. Your picture is ready to be sent.

Q: How do I save a message to be sent later?
A: Once you have composed your message, you can save it to be sent later by clicking the red Save (Send Later) button at the bottom of the page. This option allows you to go back to the saved message and send it at a later time. The saved message will then be located in your mailbox under Saved (Unsent) PMs.

55-ALIVE ROMANCE! PROFILE
Your 55-Alive Romance! Profile is located under the red "Romance" tab that can be seen by clicking on the "My 55-Alive!" link at the top of the page. 
 
You'll need to complete the profile and upload at least one picture of yourself to be able to use 55-Alive Romance! and search for other 55-Alive Romance! members.
 
Your 55-Alive Romance! profile is only viewable by other 55-Alive Romance! members.   You can also create a separate 55-Alive! profile (which is viewable in the general sections of 55-Alive!)  Just click on the My 55-Alive! tab at the top of the page to create this profile. 

Pictures
Q:  Why am I unable to upload pictures?
A: Pictures should be less than 1 mb (1,000 kb) in file size to load quickly if you have a high speed connection, 300 kb if you have a dial-up connection.  (Note - Most of our pictures are less than 50kb in size, so anything larger than this size will look fine).  If your picture is greater than 1 mb, please re-size it before trying to upload.  If you set the resolution to 72 dpi, this should do the trick.
  
You can also set the picture size to 400 pixels wide by 300 tall (for horizontal pictures, opposite dimensions for vertical pictures), or 125 pixels square (for square pictures).

Additionally, if you are using a dial-up connection you may experience difficulty in uploading pictures due to the speed of the connection.

Romance Profile Information
Q: How do I activate my Romance profile?
A:  When you've completed your 55-Alive Romance! profile, you need to activate it so that other Romance! members can view your Romance! Profile.  To activate, click on the "Activate My Profile" button in your Romance! Profile.  You can also "deactivate" your profile by clicking on the "deactivate" button if you don't want others to see it, and then can activate it again at a later time if you wish. 

Q:  How do I edit information in my 55-Alive Romance! Profile?
A: To edit information located in your 55-Alive Romance! profile, click “edit” on the specific portion of the profile you'd like to change, then edit the information.  Once you're finished editing, save the changes by clicking the red Update box. 

Q: How do I search for other 55-Alive Romance! members?
A: Click the Search link at the top of your 55-Alive Romance! profile. It will then bring you to the search page. Check the appropriate information in each of the drop-down boxes to begin your search. You can specify as much information as you wish to help narrow down your results.

* ATTENTION: You will not get accurate search results if you do not fill the gender portion out correctly.

Please Note:

I am a: (YOUR GENDER) looking for a (GENDER OF PERSON YOU'RE LOOKING FOR)

Click the red Search Profiles button at the bottom of the search page to begin your search.

Q: How come my profile doesn't show up in 55-Alive Romance!?
A: You first need to add a picture and complete all sections of the 55-Alive Romance! Profile.  Then, activate your profile by clicking on the "Activate Profile" link.  Note - Your OWN profile will not appear in searches done by you.

Q: I don't understand the 55-Alive Romance! advanced settings?
A: The advanced settings for 55-Alive Romance! allows you to control your privacy. You can choose to Show/Hide your status when you're online. If you'd like for other members to know when you're logged in select Show and your profile will display a Currently Online status.

To Show/Hide your profile when viewing other member's profiles, select Show if you'd like your profile to appear on the other members' Recently Viewed list after you've viewed their profile.

Q: If I choose for someone to be my friend, will I automatically be their friend too?
A: No. The other person will have to add you as a friend to show up on their profile under their own friends.

Q: Can everyone see my friends?
A: Other members are only able to see 5 of your randomly displayed friends on your profile page, not all of them (if there are more than 5).

Q: How do I remove a friend?
A: To remove a friend, click on the edit button under the My Friends box in your 55-Alive! profile. Then click on the remove button next to the member's name in which you'd like to remove.

Favorites
Q:  How do I save something to my Favorites?
A: To save articles, RV Listings, or Retirement Community listings on 55-Alive! click the Save to My Articles link at the top of the specified article or listing. Your saved article or listing will then be saved in your Favorites and can be viewed under My 55-Alive! in the Favorites tab on the far right of the page.