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Archiver > USGENWEB-ALL > 2007-09 > 1189565641


From: <>
Subject: Re: [ABChat] Fw: [BOARD] Fw: USGenWeb National Mail Lists - Draft
Date: Tue, 11 Sep 2007 22:54:01 -0400


I had commented earlier before ALL was open, I'll just repeat it now.

First, if these were written to truely just inform the membership of who runs what lists, and what they are used for, I don't think you'd have much objection. But when they are written with a specific, small group of people in mind, people recognize them for what they are. I honestly believe that if this is passed as is, it will have unintended and longlasting consequences. All of us can get our buttons pushed and get involved in "heat of the moment" wee wee contests. A warning is usually enough to get most people to cool it. For those that it's not, deal with them, don't make over the top rules set in concrete to deal with the few that can't "behave".

---- "Tina S. Vickery" <> wrote:
> This is the draft under consideration.
>
> Tina Vickery

> >>
> >> 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.

If we are going to have this, then yes, all the lists should be defined, who is responsible for them, and who can administer them.
> >>
> >> d. A list may be moderated for due cause for a period not to exceed two weeks.

Three days max. Also,
This statement should be moved down to the "punishment" section

> >> 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.

This should end after the first sentence. Every member, no matter the standing should be able to participate in Board business.


> >> 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.

This should end after the first sentence. The rest of it states that on a whim, the rules change.
> >>
> >> 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.

First, if these are guidelines and not requirements, you're telling the LA that they can ban somebody for life if they feel like it.
Second, If you must have *punishment*, it should be a warning first, 3 days moderation second, another 3 days third. If they are persistant, 30 days moderation. Everything resets in 3 months


> >> 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.

I would hope the NC, AB, etcl, would have better things to worry about. That's why we have a GC. Let them do what they are supposed to do.
> >>
> >> 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.

The punishments are already in place. This is an obvious "just in case we missed somebody" "gotcha" type addition
> >>
> >> -------------------------------
> >> To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to
> >> with the word 'unsubscribe' without the
> >> quotes in the subject and the body of the message
> >
> > USGenWeb Project information can be found at: http://www.usgenweb.com
> > -------------------------------
> > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to
> > with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes
> > in the subject and the body of the message
>
>
> -------------------------------
> To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message

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