Re: ListServ
Re: ListServ
- Subject: Re: ListServ
- From: email@hidden
- Date: Sat, 21 Dec 2002 01:03:21 EST
Yan Feng -
I belong to a diabetes ListServ that has a rather strict requirement - one
MUST post something of relevance (a question, an answer, a link to a
pertinent document or participate in a discussion) at least once every 30
days in order to stay on the list. If you do not participate you are dropped
with no notice. The list is fully moderated and also has requirements as to
how posts should read: example - no quoting a full e-mail back but rather
only the relevant comments if necessary and a maximum of 4 lines. No sig
lines, etc. Obviously the list owner means business and understands that many
of us just want the data without digging through old stuff etc. You need to
decide if you want something like that.
What this means is that people who are curious and/or serious participate and
reap mucho benefits while those that are not are dropped.
If only one other person in your group is participating then you need to
re-assess a few things:
1. Is there truly a need for your ListServ?
Obviously if it is new you will want to give it some time to see how
effective a resource it is for your group but you might wish to poll your
membership to see if they really want it and ask them pointblank why they are
not participating. To do this you could either set up a survey webpage where
results are kept anonymous but people can only vote once or ask people to
respond to you directly via e-mail with reasons as to why the group should
offer this service or should not offer this service.
A requirement like the above ListServ might be a sufficient motivator.
2. If there is a need, is this the time? Or should you wait until you get
some more techie types and/or total newbies into the group that might benefit
from this?
3. Is it being publicized enough and do enough people have web access to act
ually participate?
4. While you may perceive that it adds a wonderful value to your group, it
may be either overkill or an item that scares people away.
Remember that your group is new; people are getting used to that. While it is
great to hear all about the wonderful things that we all do (or say we do or
wish we do) no one group or organization can be all things to all people.
Grow your group wide as well as deep and, in time, everything will be there -
but not overnight. While you read a ton and a half of great ideas here not
all of them will work for every group - either at the present time or
possibly at no time. If one idea does not work then look at another. Do not
get discouraged; actually that is one of the healthiest things about being a
leader in a User Group. Change and variety and even getting one of your
"this-is-the-greatest-thing-since-chopped-liver" ideas toasted and tossed out
the window means that you have a vibrant and healthy group even if they are
not all as active as you would like them to be. In fact, when they toss an
idea out the window (can we use that phrase here?), it gives you an opening
to challenge them to do something for the group. I used that tact in our
newsletter. One member always beefed about too much stuff being above his
head. I brought in a jar of baby food to the next meeting and gave it to him.
I then told him that if he wanted to be spoonfed we had members he could pay
to do that beyond what we offered in the group sessions; that all he was
doing was taking from the group and not giving. I then told him that he could
be a part of the solution and contrbute to the newsletter. Today he
contributes a monthly column of computer terms and has become a very
productive member of the group. I think that social workers call this
approach "Tough Love." Whatever it is I can tell you it works. You may lose a
couple of people - but you know what? You would have lost them anyway or they
would have had a negative longterm effect on your group.
Enough of my rambles...
A joyous and happy holiday season to all regardless of your beliefs,
Peter
Peter A. Weissenstein
Vice--President/Industry Liaison - AppleCore Berkshire County
Apple Product Professional 2000, 2001, 2002
Apple Sales Representative as Employee of MarketSource
email@hidden
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