DATE: Wednesday, April 23, 1997             TAG: 9704220549

SECTION: LOCAL                   PAGE: B3   EDITION: FINAL 

TYPE: PUBLIC LIFE 

SOURCE: BY MIKE KNEPLER, STAFF WRITER 

                                            LENGTH:   51 lines

SOLVING NEIGHBORHOOD PROBLEMS ON THE INTERNET

Neighborhoods seeking inspiration for solving recreation problems might start on the home computer, instead of City Hall.

Browsers can learn how folks in Dallas, Ore., brought together businesses, community groups and government - including the National Guard - to build a recreation complex.

That's one example of problem-solving ideas being posted on the Internet by grass-roots groups across the country.

Locally, the Hampton Roads Coalition of Civic Organizations (www.infi.net/hrcco) helps activists access such information.

``People see what other people have done across the state, the nation and the world. They're not limited anymore to their own community,'' said Gene Waters, vice president of the HRCCO.

Occasionally, Waters gives free Internet classes to civic leaders. There's also an HRCCO computer homepage that connects to the Chesapeake Council of Civic Organizations and the Virginia Beach Council of Civic Organizations.

The HRCCO page also provides national links through groups such as the Civic Practices Network (www.cpn.org).

Neil Whitworth of Norfolk's East Ocean View Civic League took Waters' class. ``Fantastic!'' he said. ``They've got problems we've never heard, and they've got solutions we've never heard.''

Waters already uses the Internet to help civic leagues track state legislation. He used it in pursuing a City Charter change to create advisory referendums in Chesapeake.

Alfonzo Harrell of Chesapeake's Colonial Point Civic League foresees using the Internet to build ad-hoc coalitions for common issues.

While many homes still don't have computers, rapid advances in technology could make Internet connections as common as turning on the TV, Waters said.

The civic-league Internet course brings together folks who might never have met in person. A recent class included Norfolk's East Ocean View, Chesapeake's Point Elizabeth Townhomes, Virginia Beach's Princess Anne Plaza.

Because the Internet makes it easier to communicate with strangers thousands of miles away, it could mean less time talking to neighbors.

But as Jim Thomson said after class: ``There's something to meeting people face to face that you can't replicate on a screen.'' Waters hopes to offer the course four times a year. For information, call 547-8885. MEMO: Ideas for this column? Contact Mike Knepler at 150 W. Brambleton

Ave., Norfolk, Va. 23510; phone 446-2275 or 436-6195; or e-mail

knep(AT)pilotonline.com ILLUSTRATION: Gene Waters

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