How do I get started?
- Log into American Public Gardens Professional Communities at community.publicgardens.org.
- View groups you're in by clicking My Community Pages.
- Join some new Communities by clicking Find Communities to Join.
- Start a discussion by clicking Post New Discussion from the Discussions tab of any community.
- Reply to a discussion by clicking "Reply..." from within the discussion online OR by replying to a discussion email notification.
What is my username and password?
Your username and password is the same as your APGA website username and password. Your username is usually your work email address. If you don't know your password, visit the APGA login page and click reset password.
How do I join a community?
Join some new Communities by clicking Find Communities to Join.
How do I remove myself from a community?
There are several ways you can remove yourself from a community which include:
- Go to the community you want to leave and click on three dots on the top right corner of the header/banner. From the drop down select Remove me.
- Additionally, you can simply turn off emails for any or all communities by going to the left hand panel and clicking on "My Account" "Email Preferences."
How do I start a new discussion in a community?
New discussions can be started via email by clicking on the "Post New Discussion" link in the notification emails you receive, or via the website.
How do I reply to a discussion post?
To reply to a discussion post, simply reply to the email notification you received. Your reply will be emailed out to all group members and posted to the website. If you wish, you can also reply to the discussion via the website by clicking on the discussion topic and clicking the reply button.
Who can see what I post to a community?
All of our communities are members-only, so only fellow APGA can see your posts. Some communities, like the Executive Garden Leaders and Council of Communities, are private communities by invite only. When you post a message to private communities, only members of that community can see your message.
How do I search discussion history?
The platform is capable of searching all discussion topics within the communities you are a member of. The search bar can be found at the top of your Connect home page.
How do I unsubscribe from communities email notification?
To unsubscribe from any community go to "My Account"- "Email Preferences" to update your preferences.
How do I receive daily digests or a weekly digest of discussions vs. real-time email notifications of community discussions?
Click "My Account" on the left menu of the Communities website, then the "Email Preference" tab and update your settings. If you want to use the website exclusively and never want to receive an email from the system, choose the "Disable All E-mails" option. Then set your preference to Individual Emails, Daily Digest, or Weekly Digest messages.
How do I add or change my profile picture?
To add or change a profile picture, you need to update your account on the APGA profile webpage. This link should take you directly to your profile to update. If it does not go to the APGA login page and login as a member. On the dashboard, on the right hand side click on "My Profile". Click on the pencil icon next to your photo and you will be prompted to locate and save a picture to your profile. You new photo will be changed in the community. Please allow up to 24 hrs for the changes to be made. This is also where you can change additional profile information.
Why is there a website? Do I have to use it?
Once you have joined a community, the system can be used entirely via email if desired. You can send your messages to the community email address and reply via email to any notifications you receive. The website offers many features that are not available via email. Here are a few of the most popular features that must be accessed via the website:
- Searchable archives of all discussions
- Privately message another member
- Joining additional communities
- Accessing resources
How do I access the website?
Many of the links in the notification emails will automatically log you onto the Connect website. To access the site directly, type community.publicgardens.org in the web address bar of your web browser.
Why am I receiving some notifications but not others?
It is likely that your anti-SPAM system is blocking some of the messages. Add "@community.publicgardens.org" to your list of "safe senders" to ensure you receive all notifications. This setting is different for each email system, so check your email system help for information on how to do this.
Do I need to follow certain etiquette when using American Public Gardens Professional Communities?
Yes, please view the terms page.
What are the points I see associated with people and Communities?
Points are used to help you see the level of activity in any group and the level of participation of any member. Communities gain points each time there is activity in them and people gain points each time they contribute to a community. Community lists and Member lists can be sorted by points to see which communities and which people are the most active in the system.
How can I find a member's email address?
Click on the envelope icon to email a member using your email system. You can send a private message to any member. See the note below about sending private messages. You can also search for member information such as email addresses etc. in the Member Directory on the APGA website. You will need to be logged in to access this information.
How can I send a private message to an individual?
Go to the profile page of the person you want to message by clicking their name in any Community or in any notification email. Then click "Message this Person", enter a subject and message body and click "Post".
To start a new private message by click "Private Message" from the menu on the website, click "Write a New Message", enter a subject, person to message (just type in their name and select the person's name), message body, and then click "Post".
I can't find the answer to my question. What do I do?
If you need help and can't find the answer here, email us at jhenderson@publicgardens.org and info@publicgardens.org.
