[NAGDU] Rules for the E-mail List

[Cindy Ray]

Below are the updated rules for our E-mail list. They are a little long, but they are simple. I am going to try to post them each month so that they will remind us all of how we are to proceed. Thanks.
Cindy Ray, Moderator
E-mail List Rules


1. Be nice to others. This includes:
    * Using a courteous and respectful tone and language.   If in doubt don't post it.
    * Please feel free to disagree with any idea, concept or topic, but disagreement does not preclude manners.
    * No flaming. This list is publicly archived and may be read by minors.
2. Stay on topic. Be respectful of everyone's time by staying on topic.  The main topic of the list is *guide dog use*.  Occasional discussions of general blindness issues or other types of *service animal use* are acceptable, but please keep these at a minimum.
    * There will be posts on National Federation of the Blind initiatives and related announcements and these are acceptable.
3.   Any announcement for any sales, collection, donation or other exchange of goods or service not directly related to the National Federation of the Blind or the National Association of Guide Dog Users is not allowed.
    * Guide dog related Product recommendations in which you do not receive direct financial compensation are completely acceptable and appreciated.
    * Likewise if there is a direct question about a product or service that you provide, you are free to respond with your sales information to that specific question. It is perfectly acceptable to have a link to your product website in your signature line.
    * Examples of acceptable discussion of goods or services:
        A. Announcements of National Federation of the Blind
        B. Affiliate, chapter and division fundraisers
        C. Answering questions regarding guide dog related goods and services you provide.
        D. Discussion of a product you have used.
    * Examples of inappropriate goods and services posts:
        A. Advertisements for any product or service you provide not prompted by a specific question from another list member.
        B. Advertisements having to do with goods or services unrelated to guide dogs.
4. No discussion of any sort of criminal activities.  
5. Every effort should be made to provide accurate and up to date information about laws regarding guide dogs.  Please be prepared to provide the specific law you are referencing in the discussion.
6. All posts should be of substance and add to the discussion.  Please refrain from post like, "I agree" or "me too" or Thank you" or "Please email me off list.". If the message is one word or only one line, please send the message directly to the person to whom you would like to respond. In your responses, write a complete sentence so that your readers will know what you are talking about without having to read the messages below or find messages.
7. Please refrain from posting an inordinate amount of email to the list. In order to cut down on the list traffic, list members will *generally be allowed to post only* 5 posts per day.  This list can be high volume at times.  Please respect the time of others on the list. *Often times,* responses can be grouped into one email or emailed directly to a list member. Even the one line one word messages count toward the 5 posts per day per member rule, and such messages clutter the list and add no substance to the thread.
8. All list members are required to include at least a first name and email address in the signature of each post. As of May 2014 the email management program that NFBnet utilizes does not allow for the easy access of who an email is from. We should always be aware of who the author is. Email addresses should also be included so that members who would like to take a conversation off list will have easy access to that address. Most email programs have a signature feature. If you would like assistance in setting up that signature including your E-mail address by using the feature in your E-mail program that allows you to do so, please ask fellow techie list members how to set that up.  
9. If a topic changes within a thread, please remember to change the subject line of the message. This will keep those who are looking for specific messages from reading everything.

Continued violation of the rules after being warned *may result in moderated status or*removal from the list.  


The below are things that would be appreciated, but are not mandatory.
1. Trim your posts.  This means to remove all that header info from a forwarded message or the 13 previous messages in the thread that you are replying to.  It's just courtesy.  
2. If you're posting pictures please include a description of them.  The majority of list members cannot see the pictures so a text description is very much appreciated.     
3. If you ask a question about a situation you are experiencing requesting advice, please update us on the resolution of the problem.  It is just so gratifying to know how things worked out and the information might prove useful to someone else.  
4. If you're posting an attachment please let us know in the body of your message what the attachment contains.      
5. Please keep forwarded messages to a minimum.   Remember the message should be relevant to guide dog users in a large geographic area.  If the message has nothing to do with guide dogs, don't forward it.
6. If your posting a link, please include a bit of information about the link in the message body, including what it is that made you think the list would enjoy checking it out. It is also recommended that persons who post links, copy and paste the article into the email, including the link, so that all members who are reading the email can read the article.


Things to keep in mind:
1.        This list is open to anyone interested in the use of guide dogs. This includes but is not limited to: guide dog users, former guide dog users, Future guide dog users, puppy raisers, guide dog trainers, guide dog program Employees, owner trainers, pet dog trainers, friends and family of guide dog Users, guide horse users etc.
2. It is not necessary to be a member of the National Federation of the Blind or of the National Association of Guide Dog
Users to join or participate on the list;  however, membership is encouraged. You can become a member by joining your affiliate division or going to <http://www.nagdu.org/> <http://www.nagdu.org/> www.nagdu.org <http://www.nagdu.org/>
3. This list is publicly archived.  This means that anyone with an Internet connection can read posts.   Don't post anything you don't want the whole world to know such as: phone numbers, addresses, web site etc.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to email: cindyray at gmail.com <mailto:cindyray at gmail.com>
You may also contact Raul Gallegos, President of the National Association of Guide Dog Users, via email to president at nagdu.org <mailto:president at nagdu.org>.


-- 
Respectfully,