Re: [GSAS-board] Proposed email

[Matt Staroscik <staroscik@gmail.com>]

I still think it would be a good idea to create a second mailing list, something like GSAS-ForSale. Members who want deals from sponsors would sign up for it. Any member who has something personal for sale (plants etc) would also post to that list. Set a post limit, like one post per member/sponsor per week. 

Then we wouldn't have to worry about "one time things" and "what about Hiro" because we'd have a simple policy that covered everything, and that protected members who do not want to get spammed. 

Joining a new list is a small burden, and those of us who want to see the offers aren't going to mind. 

My scuba club has the exact same problem, by the way. Local businesses are club sponsors. Club members run businesses. Who gets to post offers to the chat list? When does an offer cross the line? The board has been arguing about it for years with no end in sight. The only thing they HAVE agreed on is not to try adding another mailing list--I think they like the arguing. ;)

OK, that was two more cents than I intended to add. 

MS

On Mon, Nov 30, 2009 at 11:36 AM, Steev Ward <steevward@yahoo.com> wrote:

I would vote yes on the one time listing (since that is the motion that has been seconded).

As Erik has pointed out, we have already tread on the slippery slope so maybe it is good that we visit the issue occassionaly. It is a chat list, so I think we've been appropriately flexible about content in the past. If he would have just posted the message without asking I don't think there would have been much objection.  I think it is good that we take a position of "spreading the word" on such things and at the same time try to shy away from frequent commercial promotion. We do talk about individual businesses on the list (Denny's, Aquarist World, Sierra Renton, APlaceForPets, etc.) when there is something to say that would be of interest to the membership. But I think we would be uncomfortable if any one of them were sending out frequent sales promotions on the list. I think.

Steev

----- Original Message ----
From: Erik Olson <erik@thekrib.com>

To: GSAS board members and alumni <gsas-board@thekrib.com>

Sent: Mon, November 30, 2009 8:09:29 AM
Subject: Re: [GSAS-board] Proposed email

Also, regardless of what Clay said about slippery slope, consider that
we've had things like "lowcoaster"'s plant list posted, as well as Hiro's
monthly postings of stuff for sale (not auction -- straight sale).

So, can we get an executive decision?  Looking at the board members
opinions, it seems to be roughly "tied"...

  - Erik

On Mon, 30 Nov 2009, Paul M. Wallace wrote:

> I agree with Eric & Phil.  The stock looked a little thin (food) and the prices were normal.
>
> -Paul
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: gsas-board-bounces@thekrib.com [mailto:gsas-board-bounces@thekrib.com] On Behalf Of Erik Olson
> Sent: Sunday, November 29, 2009 1:41 PM
> To: GSAS board members and alumni
> Subject: Re: [GSAS-board] Proposed email
>
> On Sun, 29 Nov 2009, Phil Lacefield Jr. wrote:
>
>> I think y'all are missing the point here.  He's asking for GSAS member
>> input on his website, and is willing to pay for good ideas in product
>> - this is certainly more than worthy of the mailing lists' attention.
>> He is also offering a 10% discount to GSAS members, which is what most
>> of our sponsor stores offer as well.  I cannot possibly imagine that
>> anything he's asking for would in any way offend any of our club sponsors, nor would I be opposed if any (or all!) of those same sponsors wanted to post something to the list as well.
>>
>> While our newsletter is great, and gets the news out once a month, the
>> mailing list is immediate and direct.  My feeling is that he's asking
>> for help, and mentioning his discount; if Blue Sierra or Denny's or
>> anyone else wanted to do a similar announcement to the list, I'd say
>> they should be more than welcome to do so, within reason of course
>> (i.e. not overdo it, no weekly spam mails, etc.) I'd go so far as to
>> say we might want to remind our sponsoring stores that this option is open to them as well; what better perk for supporting the club than an occasional direct message to the membership?
>
> Couldn't have said it better myself.  He's a local guy, club member even (I think).  He's trying to figure out why his online business (selling a dozen or so items... at prices similar to or more expensive than Drs Foster and Smith...) isn't getting any traction.  He's looking for critique and input, not advertising.
>
> I told him straight up when he was at our house yesterday that we didn't do banner ads on the website.  Actually suggested that he could put his website in his signature on his posts & he might get some attention that way.
>
>   - Erik
>
>

--
Erik Olson                                                        Sent from my crusty old Linux box
erik at thekrib dot com
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