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| A publication of Ecunet.org |
Volume
1| Issue 3| March 2003 |
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Ecunet,
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| Discussion of this newsletter can be found by visiting http://www.ecunet.org/topic/ecunews_chat.
The war in Iraq Military analysts predict the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq could go
on for weeks or months longer. Just when the entire country might
be subdued and its cities secured remains an open question. During
this crisis, Ecunet remains committed to providing the best tools
possible to support discussion and resource sharing. The following
war-related meetings are open to all Iraq and churches. Resources for discussion
& advocacy. Ecunet.org and FaithAndValues.com have agreed to explore how the two organizations can collaborate. "Ecunet and FaithAndValues.com share a fundamental element in their corporate missions to serve people of faith with Internet related services," says the opening statement to the March 15 agreement. "By collaborating in some key areas, Ecunet and FaithAndValues.com will increase their visibility to a wider market and enrich the services that each organization offers." Areas of collaboration outlined in the letter of agreement include offering Ecunet's discussion groups to FaithAndValues customers, and promoting FaithAndValues homepage creation tool (WebMedley) to Ecunet's members. Related link: http://www.faithandvalues.com Tips on nurturing an Ecunet discussion People have to know what is expected of them when they join an online discussion. As a meeting creator, it is your responsibility to develop core users who greet members and lead discussions. Starting a new online discussion requires some nurturing. What follows are some tips for successful online meetings. Exist for a reason. A simple and straightforward meeting invitation directs your discussions and the initial shape of the group in which you are participating. Users draw other users. Regular users will develop a sense of ownership in your discussions. Many users will take on a sense of community responsibility. This will help regulate the give-and-take of online discussions, and hold people accountable when they are inappropriate. You will not please all users. Accept critics as a vocal minority. Greet each new arrival in your discussion. Remember that most people participate on the fringes. Most people read and never write. Most writers write only occasionally. Most community members have opinions about the various discussion topics but rarely speak. Find encouragement in having steady growth and repeat users. Lead with content. Few members initiate their own threads in a conversation. Most members react to other threads. To make a meeting sizzle, you will need to “prime the pump” each week, or every few days, with a new tidbit of content, in order to refresh the cycle of action and reaction. Ask open ended questions in order to get the discussion going. Some meetings are built around information or personalities, but most are a gathering of individuals with common interest in a subject. Each is waiting for the other to write something. The way to get the most involvement is to follow upon your initial content with open ended questions, so that participants are invited to jump in with their own opinions.Thank participants for entering the dialogue. Once someone writes a note, they have an interest in how it is responded to. Encourage that interest by thanking those who write. Recognize their contribution and they will find it easier the next time. You know how you feel when you write a note that no one responds to? Know when to end the meeting. No one can commit full time energies to a open ended project. It will die a slow death. Instead, in your invitation, give the parameters for the discussion..."Over the next 10 weeks, I'd like to hear others comments on the Ten Commandments." At the end of that time, thank the participants and close the discussion on a high note, rather than letting it gradually lose energy. Build a plan for where you want the discussion to go. You may or may not announce this to the group, but know when you expect to introduce new content, and move the discussion along. Like any community, discussions in which you participate will have spats and factions and frictions. These must be handled wisely for the community to survive. Plan for trouble, though you cannot tell when or where it will strike. Set simple rules. Make them explicit. Apply them consistently. (For more information on community use guidelines, see Ecunet's "Terms of Service" at http://www.ecunet.org/terms.html .) Related links: Overview on building community online: Visit
to Houston Ecunet's president, Paul Edison Swift visited Houston recently in anticipation of his daughter's upcoming move to the city. Paul took time out from his duties as Dad to have lunch with Ecunet's management team. Enjoy great low, long distance rates and
support Ecunet by purchasing Internet or phone services from
EcuServe! Visit http://www.ecuserve.com/order
for more information.
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