[saymaListserv] Have you heard about FreeCycle?

[Jennifer Snow]

Dear Friends,
         Maybe I'm the only one who's just heard about this internet 
site called "FreeCycle". It seems to have been designed by Quakers 
and I think its wonderful. I've been cleaning stuff out of my garage 
that I've never used that other people have been very thankful to 
receive, often single Mom's or young couples just starting out in life.
         Its all over the country, I've been posting to the FreeCycle 
near Raleigh. Below is the introductory letter they send out to new members.

Here's an email from the moderator on how to post:
         The easiest way to post (in my opinion, anyway!) is to go 
right to the Wake Freecycle web site at
         http://groups.yahoo.com/group/WakeFreecycle/ , click on the 
"post" option, and type it in.  Don't worry
         about finding something to offer first or having to give to 
someone who already posted a wanted         message for something; we 
like that, but we don't require it.  We just like people to be nice, 
to follow        our rules, and to offer what they can!
Fred - owner/moderaor WakeFreecycle Moderator 
<WakeFreecycle-owner at yahoogroups.com>

FreeCycle Rules of the Road:
         This Freecycle group matches people who have things they 
need to get rid of with people who can use them. Our goal is to keep 
usable items out of the landfill. By using what we already have on 
this earth, we reduce consumerism, manufacture fewer goods, and 
lessen the impact on the earth. Another benefit of using Freecycle is 
that it encourages us to get rid of things that we no longer need and 
promote community involvement in the process. Free your inner pack rat!

USING THE FREECYCLE LIST

Although not required, it is STRONGLY SUGGESTED that your first 
message be an Offer, rather than a Wanted. If you give first, you'll 
be more likely to receive later.

NOTE: ONLY ONE WANTED MESSAGE PER DAY, ONE ITEM PER MESSAGE.

FREECYCLE RULES & ETIQUETTE

1) KEEP IT FREE, LEGAL, & APPROPRIATE FOR ALL AGES. No alcohol, 
Tobacco, Firearms or Drugs, legal or otherwise. This is our main rule 
and it's a pretty easy one.

2) NO BORROWING, SELLING, TRADING, BARTERING OR OFFERS TO BUY.  It 
has to be free.  Period.  No strings attached.

3) NO YARD SALE POSTINGS, AND NO WANTED POSTINGS FOR ANY 
CHARITY.  "Wanted" posts on behalf of charitable organizations belong 
in the Chat Room, and not on the Wake Freecycle main board.  We 
believe that people who collect for non-profit organizations should 
be able to provide 501(c)(3) tax receipts to donors, so that they 
will be able to claim a tax deduction when they settle up with our 
favorite uncle, Sam, at the end of the year.

4) USE THE CORRECT FORMAT FOR THE SUBJECT LINE OF YOUR POSTS. Use one 
of these phrases to make it easy for others to delete or view:

    Offer: (item) (location) - as in Offer: loveseat, downtown Raleigh.

    **Always include your location in the subject line of the message**.

    Taken:  (item)

    Wanted: (item)
    PLEASE use this sparingly and don't offer money, trades, barter or borrow.

    Received: (item)

Noncompliant messages may be edited and approved or rejected, depending on
    how busy the moderators are at the moment.

5) Wanted messages. You may post no more than one Wanted message per 
day, for a single item or set. For example, you make ask for a set of 
dishes, a set of sheets, a box of Tinkertoys. You may not post a 
Wanted for a list of items. You may post a Wanted message for the 
same item no more than once per 30-day period. For example, if you 
post a wanted message for a screen door, you may not post another 
message for a screen door for 30 days.

6) NO SIGNATURE LINES OR ADVERTISING.  NO BUSINESS "OFFERS".  NO 
RELIGIOUS BLURBS.  NO LIVE LINKS ANYWHERE IN ANY MESSAGE.

7) NO OFFERS OR WANTED POSTINGS FOR ANIMALS.  Some Freecycle groups 
allow animal postings, but we do not. See the Files section 
(http://groups.yahoo.com/group/WakeFreecycle/files/) for a list of 
some of the many local and state-wide organizations that provide 
animal rescue and shelters. By the way - "animals" means reptiles, 
mammals, birds, insects - if it lives and breathes, don't post 
it!  You will be banned from Wake Freecycle if you do.

8) NO SOB STORIES, PLEASE!  Keep it short and sweet. When you ask for 
something, all  you really need to do is state what it is you are 
hoping to receive. A little bit of explanation is ok, but generally 
there is no need for much.

9) DO NOT INCLUDE PERSONAL CONTACT INFORMATION IN A POSTING.  Leave 
phone numbers or addresses out of your messages. This information 
should be made available to the selected recipient ONLY. This is a 
safety issue.

10) PICK UP. Arrange as you like. Generally, you'll wait until you 
get a handful of responses or maybe overnight, and then you can pick 
whomever you like. That's half the fun.

11) DO NOT CHOOSE "No Email" AS YOUR EMAIL SETTING.  We require 
"Special Notices" as the minimum setting so that we will be able to 
get any  administrative messages out to our members.

DISCLAIMER: FREECYCLE NETWORK MEMBERS USE THE LIST AT THEIR OWN RISK. 
Please take reasonable measures to protect your safety and privacy 
when posting to the list or participating in an exchange. By joining 
the list, you agree to hold neither the list owners, moderators, nor 
anyone affiliated with The Freecycle Network responsible or liable 
for any circumstance resulting from a Freecycle-related exchange or 
communication.

SAFETY. Be aware! It is up to each individual member of Freecycle 
when arranging for pickup of the item being given away to be 
appropriately aware of the potential risk of having "a stranger" come 
to your home to pick something up. Freecycle as a listserv assumes no 
responsibility for this risk. If you, for example, you may say that 
you'll leave the item on the front porch or arrange to meet at a public place.

A FEW BRIEF NOTES ON ETIQUETTE: Be nice. When you arrange to pick up 
an item from another Freecycle member, it is good manners to 
accommodate them as much as possible in terms of scheduling, and then 
be punctual. They are giving you something you need and asking 
nothing in return except that you will show up when you say you 
will.  Always keep your correspondence with other Freecyclers 
appropriate.  Be polite.  Don't advocate for or against 
something.  No speculative comments about what people offer or ask 
for.  Don't give unsolicited advice.  The board is here to keep 
tangible items out of the landfill; it is not a forum for individual 
ideas or beliefs.  Keep it simple, folks!

This is a "local" board.  We don't mind if people from a county (or 
two or three) away joins up, but this is not a board for people 
living in Seattle, New York City or Katmandu.  Please, if you live 
far away, join a board nearer to home.

THE MODERATORS WILL HELP YOU
If you have any questions or comments, feel free to drop a line to 
the moderators at WakeFreecycle-owner at yahoogroups.com. We actually 
like to get input from you!

That should just about do it. Have fun and Keep on Keeping Stuff Out 
of the Landfills!

Your friendly neighborhood Freecycle moderators,
Fred and Julia and Kristina
WakeFreecycle-owner at yahoogroups.com



FQA:  Fellowship of Quakers in the ARTS 
<http://www.quakers.org/fqa>www.quakers.org/fqa
FQA Clerk:      Chuck Fager, ChuckFager at aol.com
Me:             Jennifer Snow Wolff
Address:        2112 Bethlehem Rd., Raleigh, NC 27610
Phone:  (919) 261-0084
email:  snowolff at earthlink.net
cell:   (919) 606-5562
E-FAX:  1-(253) 650-2180  toll free
"Friends (Quakers) function is to comfort the afflicted and to 
afflict the comfortable."
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