[saymaListserv] Proposal to change SAYMA's Listserv

[CIsland at aol.com]

 The following is a "bulletin" from the SAYMA Ad  Hoc Committee on Electronic 
Communications.  It is not an invitation  to discuss the proposal on the 
SAYMA Listserv.  Good Yearly Meeting order  is for it to be discussed within 
Meetings and Worship Groups for Meetings'  discernment process in preparation for 
the Yearly Meeting's discernment when it  meets next.  (However, no punishments 
will occur if there is  discussion on the listserv.)  All Meetings and WG's 
should have either a  contact person for the ad hoc committee or a 
Representative to the YM  Representative Meeting, or both jointly, who should shepherd the 
MMs', WGs'  considerations of the proposal.  
 
The proposal to form three SAYMA  listserv's, as quoted below was presented 
to the Representative  Meeting a month ago. There was some brief discussion of 
the proposal in the  Rep Meeting and Clerk Kristi announced that the committee 
is authorized to  distribute the proposal to MM's & WG's for feedback because 
the  committee's charge as approved a year ago says so.    .  
 

Bill Reynolds, Clerk
SAYMA Ad Hoc Committee on Electronic Communications
 
    
SAYMA Ad Hoc Committee on Electronic Communications Report and Proposal to  
9-10-05 Representative Meeting
 
PREAMBLE to the PROPOSAL:

Concerns that drive the proposal for three listservs, (not saying the  
following covers all of the concerns): 

1.  For some  SAYMA Friends a relatively high volume of messages in their 
inboxes violates  their interest in living simply.  Consequently it annoys them 
to be forced  to look at the subject lines in their inboxes and dispose of the 
entries.   These Friends have expressed to the committee a desire to receive 
only the bare  minimum of announcements specific to the life and work of the 
Yearly Meeting, -  to be able to choose what they receive in their inboxes.    
2.  Some SAYMA Friends experience joy at the volume of notices  and 
discussions about issues of concern to Friends.  These Friends have  expressed to the 
committee how much they enjoy inspiration, information and  edification in 
reading the posts from Friends with whom they might otherwise  have little or no 
contact - and getting information, thoughts and ideas that  they otherwise 
might not see or hear.  
3.  Some SAYMA  Friends have expressed an interest in reading and sending 
information, thoughts  and opinions on Friends concerns but they are "turned off" 
or offended by the  caustic or harsh "tone" by which some contributors 
sometimes write their  posts.  They would prefer that, although divergent - even 
opposing -  opinions are expressed, such would be expressed in a F/friendly 
manner of  speech.  Some feel that sometimes there has been "tone" of speech that  
violates Friends values and testimonies and should not ever appear in a 
Friends'  sponsored publication.    
 
Suggesting three listserv's with the following proposed names: 
 
 1.  SAYMA DISCUSSION LISTSERV
 
GUIDELINES FOR CONTENT:
This list is for the SAYMA community to discuss  general issues of concern to 
Quakers. (For further information about Friends'  concerns see Quaker.org).  
This list is especially for those who like  electronic back and forth 
discussion about views, opinions, etc.  Please  compose your postings to this list to 
reflect the fundamental Quaker value that  'there is that of God in Everyone'. 
When responding to another post, respond to  that of God in the author or 
subject of that post. This means express your  perspective sincerely without 
passing judgement on the other's motives,  character, intelligence or integrity. 
Sometimes it is good to allow time to pass  for seasoning your thoughts before 
posting a response.
 
ELDERING GUIDELINES:
Form a group of four or five "elders" from those  who read the list regularly 
and appear to have skills in discernment.  Ask  them to "step in" if a/some 
subscriber(s) post inappropriate material or  excessive numbers of posts.  
 
When someone posted something with inappropriate content or tone, elder(s)  
are advised to email directly to the person who sent the message and suggest in 
 their future postings they use more tender language.  Elders may, from time  
to time, feel a sense that a remnder for what and how we speak on this 
listserv  needs to be sent to the whole listserv, either near the time when an 
offense has  occurred or later.  Elders are advised to be mindful that some issues 
will  be resolved without their intervention.  This is a good thing.  If  
listserv participants make a mistake occasionally, it does not necessarily have  
to be pointed out to them. If an individual repeatedly violates the listserv  
guidelines despite repeated eldering, the listserv elders should consult with  
each other and reach unity before asking the listserv administrator to remove  
him/her from the list.

"ONE LINER" TO APPEAR AT THE BOTTOM OF  EVERY POST TO THIS LIST:  
"This list is for the SAYMA community to  discuss issues of concern to 
Quakers. (For further information about Friends'  concerns see Quaker.org)" 
 
WELCOME NOTICE TO EVERYONE WHEN THEY JOIN THIS LIST: 
This list is  especially for those who like electronic back and forth 
discussion about views,  opinions, etc.  Please compose your postings to this list to 
reflect the  fundamental Quaker value that "there is that of God in 
Everyone." When  responding to another post, respond to that of God in the author or 
subject of  that post. This means express your perspective sincerely without 
passing  judgement on the other's motives, character, intelligence or integrity.  
Sometimes it is good to allow time to pass for seasoning your thoughts before 
 posting a response.


2.  SAYMA  IMP^O^ Bulletin Service:  
 
This listserv is to continue the current  IMP^O^ Bulletin  Service  exactly 
as currently operated by the SAYMA Administrative  Assistant without any 
non-SAYMA announcements or any discussion.  (The  latter two functions to be covered 
by the other two listservs.)   
 

3.  GENERAL INTEREST ANNOUNCEMNTS 
 
GUIDELINES FOR CONTENT OF GENERAL INTEREST ANNOUNCEMENTS LIST:   
This list is for posting announcements about events, information, opinion  
and information about action opportunities related to Friends' concerns.   (For 
further information about Friends' concerns see Quaker.org).  To  include such 
things as:   (a) events happening around SAYMA region or  nationally.  (b)  
articles, publications, and websites of interest -  For example:  "FCNL has 
posted an analysis of the Iraq war  budget....."  (c) action opportunities such 
as writing congress, peace  demonstrations, etc.  Appropriate responses to 
announcements on this  listserv are to be questions of clarification about 
details, additional planning  information, e.g, time, place, topic and contact 
information, etc. Any responses  other than these particular types of responses are 
to be posted on the SAYMA  DISCUSSION LISTSERV.  
 
GUIDELINES FOR "MONITORING" OF GENERAL INTEREST ANNOUNCEMENTS LIST:
Form  a group of four or five "elders" from those who read the list regularly 
and  appear to have skills in discernment.  Ask them to "step in" if a/some  
subscriber(s) post inappropriate material or excessive numbers of posts.   One 
example of what to say:  "If those who have been following this  conversation 
would like to continue, it seems more appropriate to move it to the  
Discussion listserv."  
 
If a subscriber persists in deliberately posting  inappropriate  material or 
posting excessive numbers of posts after being appropriately eldered  they are 
subject to removal from the list.  
 
WELCOME NOTICE TO EVERYONE WHEN THEY JOIN THIS LIST:  
This list is  for posting announcements about events, information, opinion 
and information  about action opportunities related to Friends' concerns.  (For 
further  information about Friends' concerns see Quaker.org).   Appropriate  
responses to announcements on this listserv are to be questions of 
clarification  about details, additional planning info: time, place, topic and contact  
information. Any responses other than these particular types of responses are to 
 be posted on the SAYMA DISCUSSION LISTSERV.   



-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: http://kitenet.net/pipermail/sayma/attachments/20051001/81745997/attachment.htm