Hi Sue, I totally understand the "inbox is a busy place" issue. (A study by Jacob Neilson said most people consider their inbox too busy, and it doesn't matter if they get 10 or 100 message per day.) In fact, the separate "announce" list was setup so people could participate in the buying club while getting only minimal email.
I also plan to create regional lists, starting with nv-reno-organics, for announcements specific the local area. Beyond that, I understand the next version of Mailman will allow people to "subscribe" to certain topics within a mailing list, thus limiting the messages they receive to only the topics they are interested in. Although I think these technological solutions should mostly address your concerns, I also understand what you're saying in that buying organically is what brought this group together, and politics could easily rip it apart. In fact, early this year, I squelched a political discussion on the list we used before the friends list, because I thought it had no place on a list about buying organically. At least one person left the group because of that, and I decided that I wouldn't try to control the topics of discussion on the friends list, which is one reason I gave it an non-specific name. Anyway, the point is that I have gone back and forth on this issue. At present my best solution it to setup web based discussion boards to handle topic discussion. (This will let people pick and choose which discussions they are interested in, and when they have time to visit.) In any case, I think you are totally right about our needing regular face-to-face meetings. Could you (or someone else?) volunteer to schedule a time and place? (We have the possibility of using the conference room at PLAN, a public library, or somewhere else... We just need a volunteer to step forward to schedule the meetings; since I have been unable to find time to do this myself.) Sorry for this long response, but please let me know what you think. I appreciate your thoughts, and hope the political discussion hasn't been too offensive. We are a young organization, and still need to work out the bugs... while trying to remain practical and flexible. Thanks, -jeb On Mon, Oct 29, 2001 at 03:04:50PM -0800, Sue French wrote: > What do you suggest for those of us who are participating in the group > strictly for the purpose of "Buy(ing) organic(ally)"? My inbox is a busy > place...and I really would prefer to just receive notices that pertain to > buying opportunities -- which is what I thought we were all about. I > honestly didn't anticipate some of the peripheral issues -- nor did I > expect to be hearing from folks all over the country! > > The one thing that I *had* hoped for (getting to know a group of folks > locally, sharing co-op/buying issues rather than more political themes) > hasn't really happened, and was perhaps never intended to. (My > admittedly limited co-op experiences are of the New England "brick & > mortar" variety.) I miss the face to face interaction! I belong to > several internet discussion groups, ranging from parenting to allergy > issues to frugal living, and I'm used to lots of diverse opinions -- but > the common issues are what keep us together, and I'm not seeing that > (organic buying issues) coming first here -- at least at this point. > > It may just make more sense for me to order on my own, and I'm comfortable > doing so. I did want to address the issue publically, as I think there > may be others feeling the same way. > > Just my .02 (you can invoice me via PayPal ;) ) > -Sue _______________________________________________ Buying Club discussion list at BuyOrganic.org http://buyorganic.org/mailman/listinfo/friends
