Spammers and the status of this group

[Stev...@aol.com]

You will be happy to know that I have taken steps to prevent spammers from posting to this group. 

 

Previous spammers, including the two who posted today, have been banned from the group, but that didn't prevent someone from creating a different screen name and rejoining the group.  After banning the latest two, I activated a filter which will require new members' posts to be moderated.  I hope that will solve the problem.

 

Regarding the status of this group:

 

It was nice to see some conversation on this group recently, but I think it needs to be re-energized.

 

On the plus side, the group has at least 75 members who apparently want to receive your comments and questions and could offer some advice.  And in a year in which college trustees and administrators are desperately looking for ways to cut costs, I'm sure there are a lot of shared governance issues arising all over the state.

 

On the minus side, only a few of you actually participate in the discussions.  More importantly, only 6 people (other than spammers) joined the group in 2008 and only 2 so far in 2009.  While the turnover in senate leadership might not be all that great in any given year, I suspect that there are many new leaders who could be participating, and they SHOULD be if the group is to remain useful. 

 

If you believe the group serves a useful purpose, I hope you will let others know about it and encourage them to join.  (I will send a separate e-mail that you can forward to potential members.)

 

I should mention that I retired in May, so I won't be a major contributor myself, but I am willing to remain as the group manager for now.

 

And may I make one suggestion while I have your attention?  Unless your intention is to remain semi-anonymous, would you please give your name and the name of your college when you post?  We all like to know who we're talking to.  And, besides, you deserve your 15 seconds of fame!

 

Steve Gold
Cypress College (retired)