WILPF Discussion Listserv Invites Subscribers in March

Published on February, 56 2022

By Dianne Blais
WILPF US Secretary

March 2022

A number of WILPF members have asked for a way to have national discussions with other individual WILPF members. A listserve is one way to do this. Posting to a listserv – sending an email to it – allows the listserve “subscriber” email to multiple other people (the other members/subscribers of the listserv) without having to fill in each individual email address. Additionally, a listserve can protect the privacy of the personal information about the emails of the other subscribers.  

Currently, numerous issue committees and branches utilize listservs. The WILPF-Branches listserv is set up so each branch has a liaison who gets information. The liaison then relays information to the branch members.  

Soon, WILPF members will have a way to write freely about what they're thinking and send it to other WILPF members who choose to subscribe to the listserv. A discussion listserv that any WILPF member can join seems the best way to do this. Now, a WILPF Discussion listserv is in the works; it will be up and running soon! 

Numerous factors need to be considered in setting up this Discussion listserv. They include how to:

  • Publicize and establish it;
  • Decide which Discussion listserv rules and guidelines must be followed and how these are to be enforced;
  • Work out how the listserv participants will elect listserv monitors/mediators;
  • Set up procedures for how complaints/petitions are handled; and
  • Keep info on the WILPF website about the Discussion listserv up-to-date.

A Discussion Listserv Committee has been formed to set up the listserv. The committee will meet regularly about Discussion listserv use, concerns, and procedures in the future.

Tentatively the Discussion Listserv Committee has two rules and four guidelines for Discussion listserv members/subscribers.  

The two rules are:

  1. All Discussion listserv members must be current members of WILPF US; and
  2. Because of IRS 501(c)(4)) rules, there can be no political candidate endorsements.

The four suggested guidelines that each Discussion listserv member must agree to are:     

  1. Be kind and courteous;
  2. No hate speech or bullying;
  3. Respect everyone’s privacy; and 
  4. No ad hominem attacks/personal insults.

Please consider joining the Discussion Listserv Committee (now) and the Discussion listserv (hopefully very soon). If you're not currently a WILPF member, you can join now at this webpage! Watch for an eAlert and/or an e-mail from your branch liaison to tell you when the Discussion list will start and how to join. 

Contact me at secretary@wilpfus.org to volunteer or with any questions or comments.

 

Alert/Update Category: 
Updates