For those Coverts volunteers and staff members subscribed to the Coverts Listserve, you'll know there has been some lively discussion over the last 2 days regarding whether we should keep the listserve or try something different. I've also received lots of separate emails from Coverts volunteers, expressing their opinion on the matter. I wanted to summarize what I've learned, and tell you the solution I've come up with. I hope it will work well for everyone...and I'm sure you'll let me know if it doesn't! Even if you aren't a member of the list, hopefully you'll read on to learn about what's next.
Here's the question I posed to the list after we had problems with SPAM on the list:
"Should we keep the Coverts Listserve? The listserve isn't used much these days, and I'm wondering if it still provides a useful function now that I send out regular email updates. It may be more efficient and useful for my Coverts Update to serve as a clearinghouse for Coverts' questions to each other. There are also newer online tools we can try, but I'm interested in what you all think. Should we keep this listserve, or discontinue it? Occasionally someone asks a great question and receives useful feedback from other Coverts volunteers on the list."
To summarize what I've learned from the many posts and emails I received from Coverts volunteers:
- Some people like the Coverts listserve, but more people don't think it's that useful and find it cumbersome
- I have long recognized drawbacks to the listserve, including cumbersome management (for me), problems with expired emails (again, a problem for me), problems with SPAM, and most importantly, an inability to record really good conversations so that others at a later time can benefit from the results of the discussion.
- Although some people like the idea of a Coverts Facebook page, most Coverts volunteers do not use Facebook (and don't seem to want to, either). I did think it was funny that people interpreted my words "newer online tools" to mean Facebook. But I think we can use something simpler that would include everyone, not just users of Facebook.
- What people value about the listserve is the ability to hear from a wide range of Coverts folks when a question is posed to the group. I think we can find a better way that still allows this important discussion function.
- I'll share with you with the email message that made me laugh the hardest...you guys are the greatest! "Has the whole jury voted on the listserve issue yet?!?!?!? Silly you. What a question to ask a bunch of civic minded volunteers. You will learn that the best approach is to tell us what has been decided and to "live with it!" And if that causes a stir, blame it on someone else."
Ha ha! So....here's the new plan that I've come up with!
- I'm going to discontinue the Coverts Listserve, effective tomorrow. You don't have to do anything, but you might erase the email address (coverts.discussion (AT] lists.unh.edu) from your address book. We've had a great run, but it's time to move on.
- I will continue to email my "Coverts Update" to everyone on a regular basis. Everyone who has email will receive this update, which is also mailed to those who don't use email.
- I will add a Comments section to many of the posts on our existing blog, "Volunteers Working for Wildlife," to facilitate discussion and respond to questions posed by Coverts volunteers. You'll be able to type in your comments directly onto the webpage, and comment on any of the materials sent out in the Coverts Update. I'll add more things, too - your photos, fun stories, etc. You won't have to subscribe or be a member. All posts will be saved for later use, and I'll start using keywords so that we can search by topics.
- If you have something you want to share (like a photo or story), or a question you want to pose to other Coverts volunteers (about wildlife, stewardship, managing town lands, or whatever), just email your submission to me, and I'll post it on the blog. I will also send a regular email messages that link to the blog, so you won't have to check it--you'll know when there's something new. If you're really savvy, you can even subscribe to the blog (whoa!).
I think this should work. It will involve more volunteers (no subscription needed), it won't promote SPAM, and it will mean less maintenance work for me since I'm already using the blog (okay, I might be the ONLY person using the blog right now..but hopefully that will change!). The blog will also record comments permanently, which is a great feature. I'm not totally sure how the comments function will work (I think it will require you to include your name and email address, but that these will be hidden from view except from me, as the administrator). It will be an experiment, but I'm confident we can use it effectively. If not, I'll work with our Extension IT folks to get it right!
Thanks to everyone for their input, enthusiasm, and ideas. The feedback has been great.
Just testing this comment feature!
Everyone should be able to comment on these posts without registering with any outside service. You just need to provide your name and a valid email address which will NOT be publicly accessible. It's just so if people start posting horrible grafitti, we can trace them. In my example, I just wrote my first name, but you can do whatever...my first name is kind of like Cher - no last name needed :-)
Testing here too, hope it works! I think this is a great idea Malin. Hopefully, it will get more of us coverts to visit the webpage and read the blog. Great decision! :)
Thanks for the vote of confidence, Cindy. It may take awhile to get things going, but I appreciate your jumping right in with your comments. Nice work!