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Archiver > USGENWEB-ALL > 2007-09 > 1189276456


From: "bluebear" <>
Subject: [ABChat] USGenWeb National Mail Lists
Date: Sat, 8 Sep 2007 13:34:34 -0500


Last month, you may remember, I proposed to add a section to the USGenWeb Standard Rules on "Mailing Lists Managed by the Advisory Board." [Motion 07-18] It was not well-received. : )

Most of the criticisms focused on the severity of the penalties involved for infractions of the rules, a potential conflict with the Bylaws, and the concern that the NC's authority was being compromised. I withdrew the motion a couple of days later so that the AB could consider and revise the motion in response to the expressed concerns of the membership. This was received somewhat more positively. : )

We did, in fact, discuss and revise the motion, but didn't post a new version because the end of the 2006-2007 Advisory Board year was imminent. It seemed better to postpone action until a new NC and a new AB were seated.

Since Tina Vickery convened the September meeting, we've discussed this leftover issue enough to decide that (1) we do want to develop guidelines for the use and management of the USGenWeb national lists and (2) we need to discuss the issue on this list, so that the general membership can see our thinking and offer feedback.

I'm posting below the line of dashes a revised version of the withdrawn Motion 07-18 (which we'll call National Mailing Lists Draft from now on). It includes revisions made by the previous AB and a few that I've added this month. It's only a draft, one that I hope will be discussed and reworked until it addresses the issues of concern as clearly and as effectively as possible.

You can find the original motion in the USGenWeb Advisory Board Archives for August 2007:
(http://archiver.rootsweb.com/th/index/BOARD/).

You can find the names and email addresses of the current Advisory Board at http://www.usgenweb.org/about/advisoryboard.shtml.

Thank you.

Greta Thompson
USGenWeb Advisory Board
"Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a great battle."

----------------------------------------------------------------------

NATIONAL MAILING LISTS: A DRAFT REVISION

I move that the USGenWeb Standard Rules be amended to include a section on "Mailing Lists Managed by the Advisory Board." This section would include the following:

1. The RootsWeb lists managed by the USGenWeb Advisory Board are All, Board, Board-Exec, Discuss, NENC, NWPL, SEMA, SWSC, and State Coordinators.

2. Administration of the lists

a. Usually the National Coordinator will personally administer All, Board, Board-Exec, Discuss, and State Coordinators. In the absence of the NC the person acting for the NC will administer these lists. [USGenWeb Standard Rules, Section VIII].

b. At the beginning of his/her term of office the National Coordinator will
appoint AB representatives from the regions to administer the regional
lists (NENC, NWPL, SEMA, and SWSC).

c. The National Coordinator may delegate the administration of All, Discuss, and/or State Coordinators to another member of the project.

d. A list may be moderated for due cause for a period not to exceed two
weeks.

3. Membership

a. Board, All, and Discuss are open to every member in good standing of
USGenWeb. Board and All are read-only lists for everyone but the elected
representatives of the AB. At the discretion of the list manager, a member
not in good standing may be subscribed as a read-only member of the
non-archived list Discuss.

b. The members of Board-Exec will be limited to the elected representatives
of the Advisory Board.

c. The members of the State Coordinators list will be limited to State
Coordinators, Assistant State Coordinators, and Advisory Board members.

4. Management of the lists

a. The discussion on all of these lists will focus on project issues and
will be civil in tone and content. The judgment of what is "civil in tone
and content" will be determined and revised, as necessary, by those serving as USGenWeb National Mail List Administrators, subject to the approval of the National Coordinator.

b. Under no circumstances will a list member be permitted to make derogatory
or offensive remarks, whether open or veiled, about individuals. The following
penalties in the case of violations are guidelines (not requirements) for list administrators. The first violation of this rule will result in being moderated
for one month. The second violation will result in having read-only status on the list for a period of six months. The third violation will result in having read-only status on the list for a period of twelve months. If s/he is required by USGenWeb to be subscribed to the list, s/he will have read-only status for a period of six months for the second violation and a period of twelve months for the third violation.

c. The decision of the list administrator may be appealed by the member
affected on the grounds, and only on the grounds, that the established rules
were not followed. The appeal must be made within one week of the decision.
The National Coordinator, assisted by the National Mail List Administrators, will review the appeal and issue a decision within one week of receiving it. His or her decision will be final, that is, no other appeals regarding that decision, either from the affected member or any another individual, will be heard by the National Coordinator or the USGenWeb Grievance Committee.

d. Repeated instances of personal attacks on any USGenWeb National Mail List will result in the person(s) making the attack being limited to read-only status on
all USGenWeb National Mailing Lists for a period of six months.


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