TESTING

[Carina Prakke]

Good morning, all, and thank you for your participation in this morning's Google Meet.

When I started typing this it said there were 10 members in this group, and I just figured out where they are listed .. (navigating the page layout is half the battle LOL) and I've added the rest of you in Bulk Add which allows me to directly add 10 at a time.

This got me thinking that one of the questions on the Questionnaire should be "Do you want your email address automatically added to the Forum of XUNICEF?" Yes/No  

We can do a bulk-add instead of waiting for action from the email address, or adding one-by-one.  If we get permission via the Questionnaire, it will also go a long way to updating the active from the inactive email addresses.   The caveat to this is that some addresses, like Hotmail, require an invitation instead of auto-add, which is fine.  I can manage that. 

Please feel free to roam around the forum, figure out if you're comfortable navigating it, and leave some feedback as a Reply to this thread.

What I don't know is if Groups automatically alerts members to new Threads or new Posts, and I guess I'll see if it alerts me to Replies.

Welcome to the Petri Dish LOL

Kind regards,

Carina

[Carina Prakke]

Ah, well first lesson learned .. it sends the New Thread as an email in its entirety, with a link to the Forum at the bottom of the email. (hopefully none of you decide to unsubscribe just yet).   That email does not, however, allow you to see who is in the group.  I think that's a good thing.

I've also seen the ability to pin a thread to the top, which would be a good place for the How To that Margherita suggested during the call (if we decide that this is a suitable piece with which to go forward, I'll work on putting one together).

Thanks for your patience while I figure this out, and again, feel free to add your comments.

[Detlef Palm]

Thanks Carina,

I suggest to add the label "testing G-groups" (or similar) to this communication thread. I personally think that Google Groups might be more suited to 'work teams' with a common purpose.

Following up from the today's online meeting on the future of the blog, I like to resubmit what I had suggested two and a half years ago (slightly abbreviated/updated):

1. The original concept of editors was to facilitate the publishing of stuff of common interest, preferably produced by members. The editors agreed that the blog should be curated, and comments moderated if and when necessary. Within four years we did not publish two articles that were submitted by members, and  removed one comment. This was done on grounds of one staff member personally attacking (by name) another staff member, which was bad etiquette and against our ‘conditions of use’. In retrospect, the ‘quality control’ did not make a significant difference; something inappropriate can always be removed as needed. I am ready to give up on quality control and thus empower the common UNICEF retiree.

The editors however spend a considerable time on ‘editing’ articles and photo stories – getting photos in shape, correcting grammar and spelling, formatting text, suggesting titles where there was none, searching for images that would represent a story, and so forth. My idea was to ensure some quality in the postings, so that the blog would be a pleasure to look at it and not go the way of most crummy social media sites.

Some contributors submit materials asking the editors whether it would be ‘fit for publishing’, orsent a bunch of images and asked us to select a few and add text, thinking they do us a favour. It reminded me very much of my UNICEF days, where someone was doing half a job and gracefully letting someone else finish it.

Therefore, we should refer to editors as ‘facilitators’, whose main purpose would be to help less tech-savvy people to get their pieces up. 

2. We need to get realistic with the number. There are 1200 registered members, but there are many double entries and for more than 200 death notices have been published. Perhaps many members registered as they thought it would help them get a consultancy with UNICEF, and went offline when they saw this was not the case. In my personal view (and I am happy to be contradicted), the number of readers is probably something between 130 and 300 people.

The typical ‘feature’ gets upwards from 150 to 300 views. More clicks are possible when the article is shared through other social network platforms (email list, LinkedIn, Facebook, WhatsApp etc). The typical 'weekly digest‘ (from the editors) gets between 100 and 150 views. Death notices are very frequently clicked, which I find devastating as it is too late to engage with a dear former colleague. The average original article is viewed between 10 and 70 times, but can rapidly receive many more clicks as soon as a single comment (and more subsequent comments) are made. 

But the point is not really in the numbers. A smaller group is not necessarily a bad thing. I rather have an animated discussion among 30 or 40 active people and friends, who periodically submit and comment, and discuss issues and create a feeling of community and conversation, than have a rather anonymous lethargic crowd where everyone is blasé and not interested.  

3. We should absolutely avoid the term newsletter. It carries the notion that there is somebody (probably paid) who assembles the newsletter. Newsletter are so 1990. The blog has a new article whenever someone sends one. It is updated every day (or almost so) just like your BBC or other news-site. I have suggested that we do away with the 'editorial'  (from the editors), because it is work to produce; its purpose is unclear; and people who read the editorial may not read the actual articles. We should, however, continue with a weekly email pointing at the blog, reminding our increasingly forgetful former colleagues that the blog still exists. This can be fully automated.
 
4. We sometimes refer to the blog as an ‘archive’ of past contributions, including articles written by colleagues who have passed on. While this is true, it is not a good archiving tool, mainly because it is jumbled up with non-original contributions (links to news articles that are of fleeting interest). It would be different for a ‘views’ blog, consisting only of original contributions by our members (and comments they make or discussions they engage), plus any news about our members themselves, however there are different views about this.  In any case, the more important function of the blog is that of a repository. An article posted on the blog can be linked to other social networks, including personal Facebook pages, WhatsApp, LinkedIn pages (or Google Groups) and so forth. Most of these other Social Media  platforms are unsuited to publish serious original content, because they are formatted differently, and not least because it tends to disappear quickly in their respective timelines, but they can link to the ‘real’ articles on our Blog. Our Blog (with its original content pieces) can be the treasure trove, from which members can pick an interesting piece and share it through their own networks with whomever they like.

Hence we should separate between (i) collecting and storing original content of our members; and (ii) using the existing social networks that members presently use to distribute it. We do have a 'share' button under each of our posts. It allows users, with one click and without any tech-skills, to share a post on their favorite networks - though I don't think that many of our readers are aware or considered it. I don't think that any of our content is 'for registered XUNICEF eyes only'.

4. As for the sharing of email addresses: Anyone can share their own email address on the blog (I do). Email addresses of registered members are be shared by an editor when a bona-fide request (from another registered member) for the address is received.

[Gautam Banerji]

Thank you. Well received.

Best 

Gautam 

www.linkedin.com/in/gautam-banerji-frsa-7901b36

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[Niloufar Pourzand]

Thanks so much for these insights & suggestions.

Niloufar

Sent from my iPhone

On Feb 19, 2026, at 9:24 PM, Detlef Palm <detlef...@gmail.com> wrote:

Thanks Carina,

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[Carina Prakke]

Detlef, thank you.

I'm pleased to see you added the label Testing, and with the content of your post, I've added Purpose to it, since we are broadening the discussion.

Referring to your points:

1.  Completely agree that there is a lot expected from the current Editors that many don't realise.  This also leads me to think that a Forum (google group) is easier on the "Editors" because it's a self-service type of platform.  If someone wants to share something, they can post it themselves, and I really don't care about anyone's spelling mistakes and grammar because I am definitely not as fluent in their language as they are in mine.  Good for them, I say.  

I also agree that Editor is too weighty  - honestly it is what has kept me from stepping up.  Facilitator, Assistant, even Contact works fine for me, let anyone else make suggestions too, please.

2.  Total agreement on numbers - smaller groups are fine, I would just like as many people as want to join to be able to know about us and find us.  It's not that we have a target, but an awareness within UNICEF and former UNICEF individuals that we are living proof of life after the UNICEF door closes.  I learned in my early days engaging with the Retirees from NYC that it closes with a thud, and felt that thud myself in November.  It's difficult to carry on discussions about my feelings about UNICEF with people who look at me all wide-eyed and only think "oh, how wonderful what you did" (or some other awe-filled statement of perceived glory).  

Also, having been in another forum, there are the typical handful that engage more than others.  I think everyone should be added to the forum, so that when/if they want to contribute they can, and if they prefer to lurk and just read what others are discussing, that's fine too.  They're also given the option to unsubscribe at any time which many may do if they prefer to keep reading via the Blog.

One of the challenges we do have is "sign of life" - as you say, we don't know how many of those email addresses are still valid.  I've gone through the curating exercise when I was maintaining my own list, and perhaps it becomes one of the questions on the questionnaire, something like "*Do you still wish this email address to receive Google-Group communications from XUNICEF?  If NO, your email address will be removed from the google-group and you will no longer have access to Forum of XUNICEF.  If you wish to change or update your email address, please ......(we'll have to work that one out)*"  Yes/No - and another one for receiving Blog updates since not everyone will want to subscribe to all options.  We can also, hopefully, track the "undeliverable" bounce-backs and remove them from the list.  These typically mean the email has been terminated for whatever reason.

3.  Another point of agreement from me - Blog is a more accurate description.

4.  So, XUNICEF has ... what exactly?  We have an Instagram account, a Blog, some Google Groups of which I propose we revitalise this one and encourage use of labels (depending on how busy it gets, we can go in and add a label if someone forgets), do we have a Facebook and/or LinkedIn?  Can links to these be shared to members?  I think this could be added to a global communication to membership and/or pinned to the top of the Forum so that people can easily reach them and get used to interacting with them.  

4a  For email addresses I am very aware of bots that troll the internet and scrape email addresses that ultimately multiply the amount of spam messages people get.  For that reason, I think we can leave the Membership list on Google Drive, and grant access only to those whose email address is already on the list.  Anyone who has an issue can reach out.

PLUS ONE - succession planning.  None of us are getting younger, and as we roll into the new roles, I suggest that we try to have 2 people for each role in case something happens to one of them.  Accidents are common enough, and we all know people who have sudden demise.  It would be preferable to having to ask an overwhelmed and potentially grieving spouse for passwords.

Plenty to think about!  Others please add your thoughts as well.

[Milada Pejovic]

Thank you all for great work. I am still capturing all ideas. Thank you Carina for G-Group Testing. I am learning how to navigate the new forum (at least new for me). It's encouraging to know that four new members volunteered for the new Editorial Board.  I like the idea of creating a book club which will meet periodically for a book study. I may be able yo facilitate a book club if we have enough interested.  If XUNICEFers continue to run the Blog, plus Google Group, plus and Google Chat there will be plenty of opportunities to keep in touch with UNICEF retirees old and new.

Looking forward to staying in touch,

Milada

   

[Oscar Fernandez]

Hi Carina,

It was a pleasure meeting you on Thursday during the Editors chat. I believe you have a great idea. I agree that using a forum for our communication is a good approach. We can upload the entire XUNICEF list and proceed from there. If anyone feels overwhelmed by the messages, they can choose to opt out. Thank you and Niloufar for your efforts in bringing so many new members into our XUNICEF Group. 

Regards,

Oscar

[Niloufar Pourzand]

Thanks to you Oscar for all your kind efforts, N

Sent from my iPhone

On Feb 21, 2026, at 12:12 PM, Oscar Fernandez <ofern...@xunicef.com> wrote:

Hi Carina,

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