- Huntsville Times getting new design director March 24, 2010
- Buyout offers popping up at Newhouse newspapers in Alabama Dec. 16, 2009
- Pink Power: Black and white and pink all over in Alabama Oct. 4, 2009
- Advance addiction fed by Alabama lawsuit Sept. 21, 2009
- Ex-publisher sues newspaper, Advance Publications; says forced retirement, job pledge change wrong Sept. 18, 2009
- Moving is today's theme at Advance Publications in Alabama Aug. 29, 2009
- Advance Publications grabbing big share of today's headlines Aug. 17, 2009
- Talking about Advance from Oregon to New Jersey: There's pain, envy, honors Aug. 6, 2009
- Alabama paper makes it local, local, local May 21, 2009
- Advance execs share outlook on TV April 8, 2009
June 24, 2000
The Hunstvlle Times
June 18, 2000
Writing about jobs for journalists
A job for you, a job for me: Suggestions flying in Aug. 7, 2009
New jobs: Building on skills, interests leads to non-media jobs Aug. 5, 2009
Fascination with journalists, jobs leads to suggestions for reading July 31, 2009
Facebook quiz leads to post-journalism jobs March 25, 2009
Resume-building sites, blogging advice can help you be JWJ (journalist with job) March 21, 2009
Blogging 'kvetch"' Tough noogies and self help for journalists March 20, 2009
Jobs for journalists via RSS Feb. 24, 2009
Talent will outlast jobs, careers Feb. 11, 2009
It hurts to laugh; it helps to prepare Jan. 8, 2009
Beyond the buyout, beyond the byline Aug. 5, 2008
Journalists not the first to start over Aug. 1, 2008
Buyout journalists, remember this March 17, 2008
What every good journalist needs to do, but won't Dec. 27, 208
I want to know why more folks don't let you know the job isn't yours
Some sites to use:
Wired Journalists
Some places to search for jobs:
JournalismJobs.com
I Want Media
Writing about The Star-Ledger
- Going back: Happiness better then safety Sept. 17, 2009
- Newspapers agreed to wait on endorsements Sept. 1, 2009
- Advance opinions: Open eyes, dignified hats, virtual running Aug. 13, 2009
- Talking about Advance from Oregon to New Jersey: There's pain, envy, honors Aug. 6, 2009
- Advance news organization changing video to match market July 10, 2009
- Newhouse reporter talks of 'hunkering down" June 7, 2009
- NYT notices NJ effort, 5 Bs still hoping June 1, 2009
- Newhouses praised for Star-Ledger cuts May 12, 2009
- Why May for Advance pension changes and other musings online about Monday's talks March 24, 2009
- Nothing new in news business Feb. 19, 2009
- A set of thanks due to byeout Jan. 11, 2009
June 16, 2000
Writing about The Oregonian
Watchers of media release forbidden words March 30, 2010
Oregonian now Stickel-less Jan. 6, 2010
New editor at the Oregonian Dec. 7, 2009
Oregonian editor: Not enough taking buyout; 70 must go Nov. 5, 2009
One year later: Journalist to lobbyist Nov. 3, 2009
Anderson named publisher at Oregonian Oct. 26, 2009
Four Advance publications get printing awards Oct. 19,2009
Oregonian editor tells newsroom new arrangments, new journalists needed Oct. 9, 2009
Oregonian public radio station focuses on future of journalism Oct 9, 2009
Oregonian employees weighing new buyout offer Sept. 28, 2009
Always more to say: Following up on Stickel Sept. 19, 2009
Oregonian employee sues, says Advance Publications wrong to deny buyout Sept. 18, 2009
Two more publishers leaving Advance Publications Sept. 16, 2009
Oregonian's breast cancer series finalist with wired in online news contest Aug. 31, 2009
Blogger: Advertising wraps front page of Oregonian Aug. 16, 2009
Advance opinions: Open eyes, dignified hats, virtual running Aug. 13, 2009
Is Google cartoon correct? Aug. 12, 2009
Talking about Advance from Oregon to New Jersey - pain, envy, honors Aug. 6, 2009
Wikipedia for journalists and other advice coming at Digital Media Camp July 28,2009
Month brings new price for Oregonian July 2, 2009
Advance editors weigh in on fate of newspapers April 27, 2009
Why May for Advance pension changes and other musings March 24, 2009
Oregonian blogger: Enjoy weekend March 21, 2009
Blogger unhappy with shrinking Oregonian March 13, 2009
June 11, 2000
I am a Girl Scout
I blog about Girl Scouts |
But mostly I bleed green because I am a Girl Scout.
I became a Girl Scout in the fourth grade, two years later then I wanted to because there was no room for me in the Brownie Girl Scout troop at my school.
Once in, I stayed. I'm now as a lifetime member who facilitates, blogs and operates WAGGGS-L, an email list that predates the Yahoo groups and most other online Girl Scout resources.
I even earned the highest award - First Class - before graduating from high school. Then, I was part of the Detroit Metro Girl Scout Council.
While attending Michigan State University and studying journalism, I helped with a Girl Scout troop in the hometown of a roommate. That troop was in Fair Winds Girl Scout Council.
After college, I moved to the city where I helped with that troop. But, I didn't hook back up with the Girl Scouts right away.
Daughter joins
When my daughter was old enough, I volunteered first as a parent, then co-leader, then leader, advisor, and trainer. There were a few neighborhood/service unit positions in there somewhere too.
Fair Winds Girl Scout Council, now part of Girl Scouts South East Michigan gave me the Thanks Award for creating the first online presence - first as a gopher site, then on the World Wide Web. That was back in the mid 1990s.
Even after my daughter graduated from high school and Girl Scouts, I stayed on.
'Career' higlights
I was a council delegate at the 48th National Girl Scout Convention.
Our council even paid for me and three girl Girl Scouts (also delegates) to go a day early so we could tour Kansas City before the business of the convention. We also went to a WAGGGS-L gathering at a Girl Scout camp.
Convention Talk
I was thrilled when I got to start Convention Talk, a discussion board for the national Girl Scouts organzation in October 2008.
But that's nothing compared to what I gained by being a part of the StoryWeavers and Conversations That Matter initiative at the 2008 Girl Scout convention, even though I left Indianapolis before the opening ceremony.
As a longtime journalist, I know the importance of story, openness, and community.
I always knew I wanted to return to a Girl Scout convention. I decided to treat myself to the 51st convention during my first year as a bought-out journalist. I planned to go as a visitor, but in July 2008 I saw a plea for volunteers for the StoryWeaving project.
For the next three months, the national Girl Scout convention was my main focus in life I learned about Open Space, Appreciative Inquiry, wikis, and a whole lot more as part of the planning committee. Oh, and how could I forget texting.
As a mother, I know that what my daughter learned in and as a result of Girl Scouts is why she is alive today.
I am who I am because of Girl Scouts. I want other girls to discover, connect and take action in Girl Scouts too.
Find me online:
My Girl Scout Twittering is done as mcwgs
There is a FriendFeed group, Girl-Scouts.
Learn about WAGGGS=L
Writing about AnnArbor.com, Ann Arbor News
Here are some posts where I mention the new site:
- Michigan newspapers announces changes March 23, 2009
- AnnArbor.com evolving March 25, 2009
- What's being said about Advance March 26, 2009
- Is Advance the surviving five-and-dime? March 26, 2009
- Blogger: Print's death to damn river of news April 6, 2009
- What they're saying in Ann Arbor, elsewhere about AnnArbor.com April 8, 2009
- 1 meeting, 3 takes on AnnArbor.com April 10, 2009
- AnnArbor.com editor to discuss newspapers April 20, 2009
- Sailing into sale of goods keeps me rushing May 28, 2009
- Bye, bye, bye - bloggers calling it quits June 10, 2009
- AnnArbor.com picks up two ex-Boothies July 8, 2009
- Michigan city says yes to AnnArbor.com July 9, 2009
- Another Michigan publication shifting to AnnArbor.com July 10, 2009
- Whining about wine: AnnArbor.com watch continues July 22, 2009
- AnnArbor.com growing bumper crop of recognition July 23, 2009
- In love: Blogging leader skillful in reply July 25, 2009
- Final words on the Ann Arbor News July 26, 2009
- Oh no! Vehicle, not guns, killed swans Aug. 6, 2009
- Killing the news to save it Aug. 7, 2009
- Assistant photo director from Ann Arbor sad Aug. 13, 2009
- Blogging leader's insights Aug. 17, 2009
- Blogger: Is AnnArbor.com's reliance on unpaid writers how news units will survive? Sept. 2, 2009
- Scooped by site when content keeps flowing? Sept. 3, 2009
AnnArbor.com on itself:
- Announcing AnnArbor.com
- March 31 Update
- What do you want us to cover?
- AnnArbor.com draws inspiration from local news sites in Chicago, Seattle
- Our first job descriptions: Community team
- Leadership job postings for News, Sports and Entertainment
- AnnArbor.com will strongly encourage people to use real name when posting comments
- Slideshow for my presentation to LA2M
- Mary Morgan speaks encouragingly about advertiser support for community journalism
- Marketing and sales job listings
- No, citizen journalism can't replace professional journalism -- or vice versa
- PricewaterhouseCoopers study on newspaper industry rings true here
- Wikipedia hoax underscores public's desire for journalists to vet information
- Collaboration means linking out to other good sources of information
- Kindle is an option, not a business strategy, for news organizations
- Annenberg study suggests only newspapers that move online 'decisively' will survive
- If content is king, collaboration is queen
- Producer/Copy Editor jobs available in News, Sports and Entertainment
- Job descriptions for Digital Journalist, Photographer/Videographer, Clerk
- Yes, all of our content in print will appear online for free
- AnnArbor.com names Stefanie Murray as Community Director
- Jim Knight and Dave Birkett named to key roles in Sports
- Amalie Nash will lead local news coverage
- Local, state and national media cover the closing of the Ann Arbor News
Ann Arbor News covers the change
The Ann Arbor News has covered the launch of the new site. Here are links to some of those stories:
- AnnArbor.com will offer more than local news to an Internet savvy community
- Content director Tony Dearing: AnnArbor.com emphasis will be "local, local local"
- AnnArbor.com leaders reassure residents that news focus will be local
- AnnArbor.com will survey residents about topics they want covered
- AnnArbor.com officials try to allay fears that local reporting will be lost once newspaper closes
- AnnArbor.com leaders address community concerns about local news coverage
- AnnArbor.com to launch print edition on July 26
PaperTiger No More
Jim Carty, a former sportswriter for the Ann Arbor News, interviewed Dearing and shared other news about AnnArbor.com in his blog Paper Tiger No More.
- Tony Dearing: The Ann Arbor News will not be going away (updated)
- Transcript of Dearing, Kraner addressing Ann Arbor News newsroom
- Dearing interview part 1: Like Nothing You've Seen Before
- Dearing interview part 2: Who do you hire? Who sells ads? Exclusive content?
- Dearing interview part 3: He invites skepticism
- Seems a bit premature: AnnArbor.com Shaping Up As Big Fail
- Guest thoughts from Sports Illustrated's Jim Deitsch
- Same news a week later, plus links
- MGoBlog on A2 News collapse
- SI's Deitsch attends another A2.com meeting and shares more thoughts
- Morning roundup
- Closing date? What closing date?
- Last day of the A2 News: July 25
- Dear Tony, please don't do this at the .com
- What the death of the A2 News means to the Michigan blogosphere
- Unexpected Sunday night link dump
- So, what do I think about AnnArbor.com?
- Some inside info, new A2 News stories
- A2 Chronicle: News' building will be vacated, AnnArbor.com will be separate from MLive
- The News appears to be the only paper going online, some print publication to remain?
- AnnArbor.com content czar: Blogs are good and bad
- AnnArbor.com posts video from first forum
- AnnArbor.com posts first job listings
- AnnArbor.com announces sports leaders
- New from AnnArbor.com: Future of newspapers
- More postings on the AnnArbor.com
- A little more on AnnArbor.com
- AnnArbor.com now has a blog
I wiped out the contents of this post on Sept. 30, 2009, and reverted to an earlier version.
Writing about Twitter
- Girl Scouts taking to Twitter June 2009 (I now do my Girl Scout tweeting as @mcwgs)
- Twitter can be so addicting June 11, 2009
- No secrets: Sharing insights May 23, 2009
- Sweet! Twitter litter March 21, 2009
- Twittering, Digg makes late night tv talk March 12, 2009
- Sweet! Twitter litter March 21, 2009
- Finding Michigan peeps on Twitter Feb. 10, 2009
- Happy Tweets make me 'pretty' mad Feb. 6, 2009
- Growth industry: Your Twitter life December 19, 2008
- A measure of success (or something) December 8, 2008
- Filling my ceiling with Twitter, more November 10, 2008
- Twitter delivering news is only a start August 2008
- Twitter away! March 4, 2008
- Twitter - and your words - to the rescue Feb. 24, 2008
- A word for everything Dec. 28, 2007
Writing about Girl Scouts
2013
2009
- Lost in clutter? Or a Rensaissance woman? Oct 22, 2009
- New GSUSA guidelines will help girls use the latest tools Sept. 4, 2009
- Girl Scouts getting more social every day (on Facebook) Aug. 27,2009
- More councils on Twitter July 8, 2009
- Girl Scout Councils taking to Twitter June 26,2009 (though I keep updating the list as it changes; subscribe easily by clicking on graphic above)
- Girl Scout cookie baker going very green June 10, 2009
- Disconnect? That's one blogger's take on GSUSA's branding and cookies March 13, 2009
- Newsweek enters Girl Scout cookie battle March 12, 2009
- Girl Scout cookies save a life February 23, 2009
- A favorite 'holiday' for this Girl Scout February 22, 2009
- Girl Scout coolies are safe, kosher, less fat - find the news on Facebook and Internet January 26, 2009
- Lifetime commitment (of GS tatto) gets them talking Jan. 26, 2009
2008
- Even Girl Scouts have stories to tell Oct. 10, 2008
- It's a tradition: Change and griping Oct. 14, 2008
- Finding results not always easy Oct. 12, 2008
- Study: Txting helps parent-teen relationship Oct. 27, 2008
- Meet a StoryWeaver Oct. 28, 2008
- GS Central unfolds in in Indy Oct. 28, 2008
- Blogger writes about Conversations that Matter while others use Twitter Oct. 31, 2008
- Open Space stars with listing ideas Oct. 31, 2008
- Girls tell the story in videos done at national Girl Scout Convention Nov. 21, 2008
- Who is leading the Girl Scouts now? Nov. 22, 2008
- If you look, you'll find support - even in Girl Scouts Nov. 22, 2008
Find me online:
I am a Girl ScoutMy Girl Scout Twittering is done as mcwgs
There a FriendFeed group, Girl-Scouts, where I pull in mentions of Girl Scouts on Twitter and blogs.
Posts about Jim Hopkins or the Gannett Blog
Here are some posts where I talk about his blog:
Posts mentioning Jim Carty or Paper Tiger No More
Here are some of my posts where I mention Jim or his blog:
Daughter's cancer
Within weeks of diagnosis, my husband and I encouraged my daughter and her boyfriend to leave their jobs in Tennessee and move in with us. That would let her concentrate on battling late stage three cancer.
We were sure he would quickly find a job, not knowing how much further Michigan's economy would sink. We were grateful for support of family and friends. We were grateful I could become a first time, stay-at-home mom as I had just accepted a buyout from the news organization where I worked for almost 30 years.
My father died of cancer the day my daughter's care plan was finalized. Six months later, a niece was diagnosed with cancer, caught in a very early stage and her treatment is done. A good friend has started her cancer fight. Make that two friends. Both now in the countdown to five years cancer free.
Until my daughter's diagnosis, I was like many who did not realize how many twenty-somethings face cancer. Resources like the Young Survival Coalition, with a Detroit-area chapter, the Everything Changes book and blog and Mothers Supporting Daughters with Breast Cancer help. So have the Girl Scouts.
Girl Scouts is why my daughter's cancer was found. She was a Junior Girl Scout when her troop went to the health fair and learned to feel for breast lumps on fake breasts they got to take home. They were told to perform checks monthly.
My daughter listened and in July 2008 she discovered a lump in her left breast.
Doctor knows best
In October, the doctor reluctantly sent her for an ultrasound as he did not see the value of a mammogram for a woman her age. Within hours of the ultrasound, my daughter underwent a needle biopsy "just to be safe."
Five days later, her doctor reluctantly delivered the news no one is prepared to hear: "You have cancer." Later, we would learn it was at least late stage three.
No need for mom
My daughter called me while I was helping girls learn to edit video in preparation for the 51st national Girl Scout convention.She's a lifelong Girl Scout who earned the highest honor, the Gold Award, and been a convention delegate. She knew how excited I was to be a part of the Storyweaving project and the discovery of what is essential to the success of the Girl Scout movement by the members, for the members, through the members.
My daughter said I should stay through the convention, then drive to her place in time for her first appointment with a breast cancer specialist. The doctor who delayed the diagnosis for four months pulled hard to get her into the specialist so quickly.
I had honored her first wish, not being there for the biopsy report. This time, I listened to my heart and left the next morning, driving miles to get to her place on Juliette Low's birthday. Juliette Low, the founder of Girl Scouts, the woman who died of breast cancer.
She writes, I write
Here are some of my posts about her cancer journey:
October 2008
November 2008
- Culture shock: Living with 24-year-olds
- Sandwich woman: Spread between cancers
- The past creates shadows on today
- Technology mends, bends, breaks
- Observations of distractions: 0
- For the record: Jelly was better
- Listening, sleeping, traveling
December 2008
January 2009
- A hairy day is a fine one for hats
- Barber school will not help me or 'client'
- It'syour bill check it carefully
- Iphone photo art? Some days are like that ...
- Zig-zagging through changing priorities
- Shut up, listen and receive ... with grace
- Breast cancer search leads to YouTube
February 2009 March 2009
- Making it: 'Maize and blue' cake, life
- Don't send John Hopkins news please
- Quick update on eyes, chemo
April 2009
- Jay Leno to the rescue
- TV saves me, slays me as cancer squeezes in
- Why eye am quiet for now
- Daughter blogs on happy dance
May 2009
- Daughter graduates to next phase of treatment
- Cancer strikes again too close to home
- Sailing into sale of goods keeps me rushing
- Breast cancer surgery today
- Surgery done so ..
- Surprise. Daughter's health insurance story up on Obama's site
August 2009
- We're battling cancer - and each other
- Cancer treatments on hold
- The hour changes the city that changed me
Writing about the Cleveland Plain Dealer
The Cleveland, Ohio, newspaper can trace its roots to 1842. In 1967, The Cleveland Plain Dealer was purchased by Newhouse Publications for $54.2 million.
Here are some of the posts where I talk about the Advance Publication news organization:
- Cleveland newspaper workers get pay cut, furloughs June 23, 2009
- Plain Dealer redesigns June 23, 2009
- Plain Dealer remains relevant - publisher June 23, 2009
- 'Nifty content' not enough June 18, 2009
- Sharing the blues, sharing the doubts May 11, 2009
- Advance execs share outlook on TV May 2009
- Cleveland paper praised in 'headcount slashing not enough' piece March 2009
- Why May for Advance pension cuts March 2009
- Magazine: Detroit News, Advance newspaper to fold or go digital and Plain Dealer publisher says reports wrong March 10, 2009
Writing about The Grand Rapids Press
Here are some posts about the Grand Rapids Press:
- Advance opinions: Open eyes, dignified hats, virtual running Aug. 13, 2009
- Live in the present: Advice for the going, going, gone July 16, 2009
- Many eager to tell new editor what to do July 13, 2009
- Humiliation or proof positive that a newspaper went crazy? July 13, 2009
- New month brings price increase in Oregon, hellos and goodbyes in Grand Rapids, July 2, 2009
- New editor named for Grand Rapids Press, June 22, 2009
- Updates on Advance Publications come with the help of my friends June 15, 2009
- Something Special: Looking back at newspaper careers (Mike Lloyd) June 16, 2009
- Another editor leaving a Michigan newspaper May 19, 2009
- Advance editors weigh in on future of newspapers April 27, 2009
- What's being said about and by Advance, Ann Arbor.com and Michigan newspapers, March 26, 2009
- Michigan Newspapers announce changes March 23, 2009
Writing about The Birmingham News
Two more publishers leaving Advance Publications Sept. 16, 2009
Moving is today's theme at Advance Publications' Alabama properties Aug. 29, 2009
Advance Publications grabbing headlines today Aug. 17, 2009
Talking about Advance from Oregon to New Jersey - pain, envy, honors Aug. 6, 2009
Publisher blasts 'Birmingham Noose' July 14, 2009
Birmingham weekly says daily making cuts June 4, 2009
Birmingham News cuts salaries June3, 2009
Advance execs share outlook on TV
June 9, 2000
About WAGGGS-L
Individuals subscribe to the List and any post made from the members gets redistributed to all the members. It can not be read by those who have not subscribed.
WAGGGS-L was formed in June 1996 after another list, Scout-Girls-L, had outgrown the software and server being used to run it. The list changed names as it changed hosts; its name is the acronym of the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts. The list is not officially sponsored by WAGGGS, but with its new name, the list grew progressively more international, with members all over the world.
Things change and so has the list as other lists have been created. There are now lists catering to every level of Girl Scouts and numberous Girl Guides lists too. Many are web based, unlike WAGGGS-L which uses listserv software.
To subscribe to the list, send only the following command in the body of your email to: listserv@jupui.edu
subscribe wagggs-l yourfirstname yourlastname
Once on the list:
* To send a message to everyone, write to: WAGGGS-L@listserv.iupui.edu
* To send a message to the computer, write to: listserv@iupui.edu (drop all quotes ")
- To find old postings, send this: "search prominent-keywords-you're-
searching-for in WAGGGS-L" - To get help commands, send "get WAGGGS-L help"
- To unsubscribe, send this "unsubscribe wagggs-l your name"
Some WAGGGS-L resources created by list members:
Cyber Cookbook
WAGGGS-L Favorite URLS
This list exists to promote discussion about Girl Scouting and Girl Guiding. The topics of discussion vary from day to day, but commonly discussed items include ceremonies, songs, recipes, and traditions; other messages discuss dealing with difficult issues such as over- or under-involved parents, behavior problems, helping older girls stay involved, etc. Any issue relating to Scouting/Guiding is possible.
It is not appropriate to post to WAGGGS-L about non-Scouting or Guiding topics. Furthermore, it is never appropriate to post a chain letter (even a friendly, pass-this-poem-to-20-people chain letter) to WAGGGS-L.
WAGGGS-L Etiquette
The list relies on members' good will and good "netiquette" to run as smoothly as it does. From time to time the listowners post a list of hints that help make the list a pleasure to all of us. In general, the following principles help make the electronic discussion continue:
Be patient. Electronic mail can be sent in an instant, and it can't be recalled.
If you read something that makes you angry, don't reply immediately. Wait an hour or two, or a day, and then reply.
Use the Girl Scout and Girl Guide Promise and Laws to guide your postings.
Sign your messages. Always put your name, geographic location, and e-mail address at the bottom of your posts.
Explain terms or abbreviations. Please remember that there are representatives of many different scouting or guiding associations on the list, so customs, abbreviations, rules, and laws may differ from country to country.
After you've been on the list for a while, you'll become familiar with some of the basic differences, but remember to explain acronyms or terms that may be unfamiliar.
Use appropriate subject headings. If you receive the list in digest form, you'll need to change the subject heading when you reply to the list. Your subject heading should reflect the topic(s) you discuss in your posting.
Posts to the list vs. posts to individuals
We ask that members think carefully about whether a particular post should go to the whole list, or only to a single participant. If you are reading your mail several days behind, please read through all your mail before responding to the whole list, since you may find that others responding to WAGGGS-L have already posted what you were thinking.
If someone has asked a question that has a single (or limited) answer (such as "Where can I find the book Trefoil Around the World?" or "What's the name of the youngest age level group in Spain?"), or a question that virtually all members can answer (such as "How many years have you been involved in Girl Scouting or Guiding?") post the answer privately.
People who ask these sorts of questions should offer to collect responses off-list and then post a summary for the whole list. When such a question is posted, and you're interested in the answer, instead of sending a message to the list saying "I need that info, too", consider sending it to the person who posted the question to begin with.
Similarly, postings that say "I agree!" or "Me, too!" or "Good idea!" should be sent privately.
If someone has asked a question that can have many answers (such as "Any ideas for a Guide's Own? or environmental wide games?), post the answer to the list.
The format of messages sent to the list
When replying to a message, only include those portions of the message which are absolutely necessary to make your own posting clear.
In general, it's not necessary to quote more than a line or two from a previous posting.
When discussing variations in song lyrics, please don't repost the entire song (after a while it gets repetitious); simply indicate where your lyrics are different.
Send only plain text messages. Learn enough about your own mailing system to be able to send only plain text to the list. Even if your mailer allows you to send hot links, italics, bold-face, underlining, or different colors in your mail, do not send such posts to the list. They will be unreadable in many readers' mailboxes, and they may interfere with an entire day's worth of mail for some people.
It is particularly important that you avoid sending winmail.dat encoded mail to the list; this is something that can be generated by Windows-based mail systems like Microsoft Exchange.
Generally speaking, attachments, unusual characters, graphics, zipped or encoded files, etc. can be difficult for many list members to read. Given the variety of e-mail systems around the world, simplicity is best.
Don't send HTML postings. If you are using a web-based mailing system, please make sure that your messages to the list do not include HTML markup language.
Similarly, please do not send encoded messages to the list, and do not use a single line of hyphens. Many people will not be able to read such messages.
Privacy and Problems
We should all remember that WAGGGS-L is a public discussion, and that e-mail is not always private. Messages sent via e-mail might be shared with others, and posters have no control over the final destinations of their messages.
While the sharing of craft ideas or recipes poses little problem, the sharing of posts about personal experiences or local problems can cause personal difficulties.
We ask list members to be considerate about sharing personal posts without the author's express permission.
We also ask all participants on the list to recognize that the list is a valuable problem-solving resource. There have been a few cases in which list members posted queries about local problems, asking advice or assistance, which in turn caused problems for the posters when others in the local area saw the posts. These readers saw the request for assistance as criticisms of particular individuals, service units, or councils.
We want WAGGGS-L to be a place where people can communicate openly and honestly about problems they are having at all levels of Girl Scouting/Girl Guiding, from the troop to WAGGGS.
In order to make this possible, we ask that all readers bear in mind the pride we all take in our involvement with Girl Scouting/Guiding, the delicate nature of problem-solving, and the creativity that the list discussion brings to bear on hard situations.
Listmembers shouldn't be afraid to ask about difficult issues, although posts about local problems might tactfully delete identifying information about individuals, and sometimes about locations, in order to minimize potential embarrassment. We also ask that listmembers who may be familiar with a problem posed not chastise or reprimand the poster for raising a difficult issue. It is our hope that readers interpret problems discussed not as a reflection on the people involved, but rather as a description of a situation that could happen anywhere.
Welcome aboard!