Albuquerque Vipassana Sangha

Email Moderator Responsibilities

• Drawing on information provided on the sangha website, the email moderator puts out a timely weekly notice to the sangha general list that includes information on that week's Thursday sit and restaurant dinner. When there are upcoming sangha events such as membership meetings, board meetings, residential retreats, day long retreats, half-day long retreats, beginner's classes, residencies, etc., s/he also provides the key information on them in either the weekly notice or a separate notice. These notices should provide key program details, including when and where the event will take place, contact numbers, and directions, with flyers, agendas, and other documents attached as needed. (Sometimes this involves tracking down pieces of information that have not been provided.)

• In accordance with the longstanding policy of using the general membership list and website only for sangha-related information, s/he vets requests to post items. If a requested announcement doesn't fit that requirement, s/he politely explains to the requester what the list is used for and offers the option of posting on the chat list instead.

• When asked to do so, AVS does run announcements for our sister sangha, the People of Color and Allies Sangha (POCAS). In the case of special announcements from our other sister sanghas in Santa Fe and Taos, the moderator may occasionally make an exception to the rule, or provide a link.

• Periodically, s/he gives the sangha website address and encourages members to go there to learn more about the sangha.

• When new people sign up to join the sangha, s/he sends them a welcome letter with instructions for how to subscribe to the group lists (both the general membership list and the chat list). When new board secretaries take office, s/he updates the letter accordingly (see template letter text). If people have trouble following the steps for getting on the lists, s/he assists them. In dealing with membership information, s/he coordinates with the sangha board secretary on maintenance of current rolls.

• S/he responds to incoming messages on the sangha email account as needed.

• S/he maintains that account, entering new email addresses, deleting spam, etc.

• S/he manages the chat list, which is set up so that messages from list members automatically post. However, when spam slips through (as it very occasionally does), the moderator deletes it, removes the spammer from list membership, and blocks them from rejoining.