Discussion List Terms of Use
The purpose of the email discussion list:
To provide an additional means for CVSF members, representatives, trustees and staff who are online to communicate between our events
To provide access to online discussions for people unable to attend meetings
To enable online discussions between community and voluntary organisations to take place in a "safe space", similar to that created at CVSF meetings
To recognise and maximise the use of technology to meet the aims and objectives of the organisation
To enable elected representatives on strategic partnerships to get feedback from members when timescales prevent a full mail-out to all members
To maximise transparency of communications
Membership:
The Email Discussion List (EDL) is open to volunteers, committee members and paid employees of community and voluntary organisations that are CVSF members
Any number of people from each member organisation can join the EDL from the website
Conflict of interest - member organisations are reminded that they cannot send representatives to join the EDL who are local councillors or senior officers from statutory agencies. The EDL will not accept new members with local government email addresses
Ground rules:
All members are responsible for encouraging participation in the group
Attempt to keep the discussion relevant to issues affecting the community and voluntary sector in Brighton and Hove
Challenge the issue, not the person
Confidentiality - members may repeat what was said on the EDL to others, but not who said it
Avoid using jargon
Avoid language that could be construed as discriminatory or is offensive to others
Do not use your status to undermine others
Treat each other with respect
Advertising:
Members benefit greatly from publicizing the services of their own organisations on the EDL and are free to do so. Any such publicity must be accurate, and must not breach other guidelines for use of the list
Services of other not-for-profit organisations (ie which are not CVSF Members) may also be advertised on the list
The CVSF List is NOT to be used to give publicity to any business or private sector organisation
However, there may be some situations where a private sector organisation offers a free or low cost service, which may benefit CVSF Members. In this case, the organisation (or list) should first contact Laura Williams, the list moderator on laura@cvsectorforum.org.uk.
The email discussion list facilitator will:
Encourage a warm, friendly, informal environment
Seek to involve as many members as possible in the discussion
Sum up people's views, enabling discussions to move forwards
Challenge behaviour which could be perceived as offensive to others
Determine the validity of the issues and timescales
In the unlikely event of breach of ground rules, terminate membership of the Email Discussion List
Complaints:
In the first instance, users may raise any issues of concern with the email forum facilitator off-list. If the issue is not resolved, the matter will be referred through the organisation's complaints procedure.
