To mou-net subscribers:
The guidelines for the benefit of those contributing to this
listservice have long been present on the MOU website (http://moumn.org/listservice.html
), but it would also be useful to occasionally post them here on mou-
net where they would be more accessible to subscribers:
mou-net is a place where birders can share their sightings -- notable
or otherwise -- with other interested people. We particularly invite
posts of observations that contribute to the understanding of the
birds in the state. This includes sightings of birds that are unusual,
in an unusual location or out of season, or present in significantly
higher numbers than normally expected.
mou-net is also a place where you can ask questions or make
observations regarding the identification, behavior, and natural
history of birds in Minnesota. Finally, it is available for conducting
or reporting on the business of the MOU and its affiliated clubs.
These postings might include announcements of planned activities (such
as a field trip) or simply be notices of upcoming meetings.
Please limit your posts to the areas described above. If this list
loses its focus, then it also loses its value. There are other mailing
lists available for people interested in other issues. Of course,
different people have different views as to what constitutes a
"notable" sighting. Ultimately, you are the only person who can judge
what is important to you, and your decision to post a sighting or
question here will be respected.
This is an open mailing list. Unless noted otherwise, messages are
posted here by individuals, not by the MOU as an organization. No
effort is made to review messages prior to their dissemination to
subscribers. There is no guarantee of the accuracy of any message.
Messages must be courteous and respectful of others. People who
flagrantly or repeatedly abuse this expectation could see their
posting privileges revoked, either temporarily or permanently.
Presumably this action will never be required.
No private addresses are to be broadcast on mou-net without prior
permission from the homeowner/landowner. If you include such an
address, include the name of the person who received permission for
such an announcement. If you "know" permission has been granted, but
do not know who received this permission, do not post the address. If
permission has been granted with conditions (e.g., only from 9 AM - 4
PM, only at most 5 people in the yard at one time, check in with
homeowner before entering yard, etc.), include such conditions in your
message. If you are the one to procure permission through direct
conversation with the homeowners, be explicit with them as to what
they can expect and ask them what conditions they would like to impose
on birders. You might even volunteer some conditions, such as "not
before 9 AM". It may not occur to them that someone might be in their
yard at 5 AM looking for a bird. Do not assume that permission for
birders to visit is the same as permission to post it to mou-net.
- - - - -
Following are a few additional comments which will hopefully assist
mou-net subscribers to contribute useful and appropriate postings:
- As it states above, there are postings other than bird sightings
which are suitable for mou-net. In addition to those mentioned,
postings regarding birding sites and birding references are welcome,
and it has been acceptable to request help from subscribers in
locating lost field guides and optics, or when searching for contact
information on birders.
- On the other hand, mou-net is not the place to advertise products or
services (unless sponsored or endorsed by MOU or its affiliates). Nor
is it the forum for non-Minnesota birding trip reports, debates
between individuals, personal musings and monologues, or surveys about
personal experiences. As it aptly says in the guidelines: "If this
list loses its focus, it also loses its value. There are other mailing
lists available for people interested in other issues." Always keep in
mind as well that some responses to postings are best handled by
private e-mails rather than by public postings on mou-net.
- Finally, it is worth reiterating another statement in the
guidelines: "There is no guarantee of the accuracy of any message."
This includes reports of rarities, some of which are unfortunately
never confirmed or documented. Of course, the vast majority of birds
reported on mou-net are accurately identified, but a few are not, and
accordingly subscribers should be aware that the occurrence or status
of species cannot always be determined from a posting on mou-net.
Again, for more complete information on mou-net (and mou-rba), see http://moumn.org/listservice.html
. Please be sure to contact any of us on this committee if you have
any questions or suggestions, and thanks for your continued
participation and support of mou-net.
MOU Electronic Communications Committee
Terry Brashear, [email protected]
Paul Budde, [email protected]
Dave Cahlander (chairman), [email protected]
Kim Eckert, [email protected]
Tony Hertzel, [email protected]
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