Last Update: 2009 Feb 09. Click on History for changes and updates.
__Given the serious financial issues, the management and governance issues and the limited opportunities that MOA members have to communicate with one another, it is time to take advantage of the discussion opportunities available with the internet.
__The software and practices are well established. The liability issues are settled. The provider of the discussion forum is not liable with appropriate terms of service.
__Several years ago, I explored the possibility of using the discussion forum software for organizing comments on recommendations concerning possible amendments to bylaws. That Discussion Forum is available at [http://www.atfreeforum.com/michaywepoa/index.php?mforum=michaywepoa].
__The continuation of this post provides explanation for registering and using the discussion form which is "password" protected for use by MOA members only.
Don Nordeen
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Read the Continuation of this Post and any Comments.
- Key Words: • Michaywe Owners Association; • MOA Board of Directors; • MOA Governance; • MOA Members & Members' Rights; access; open meetings; transparency
Discussion Forum for MOA (continued)
Introduction
__Many organizations have discussion forums, sometimes called message boards, on the internet for members to communicate with one another, or for people to communicate with one another. Many owners associations provide such forums. The software for discussion forums is part of some of the commercial software for owners associations.
__Most newspapers provide the capability for readers to add comments on each article. Some organize the comments on the individual articles under their discussion forum as well. All provide registrations to post on the forum which requires agreement to the terms of service.
__The Gaylord Herald Times provides for comments on most articles and a discussion forum as well. Click on Opinions in the Menu Bar. The Reader Opinions & Reader Discussion are in the right column.
__In the area of owners associations, HOA Talk, provides a forum for discussion. Hopefully, the link will take you to the listing of discussion topics and bypass the HOA Talk Registration, which is required if you wish to post on the site.
__A related area is the Robert's Rules of Order Message Board. If you have a question concerning parliamentary procedure, register at the site and post your question. Experts will provide good answers.
__On numerous occasions, the MOA board has been asked to provide such a forum. Various aspects have been discussed. However, to my knowledge, the board has never voted on providing a discussion forum for MOA members.
__The discussion forum described below is intended to belong to the MOA members. I am only acting as a facilitator in getting the process started. No editing will be done except if comments do not meet the requirements in the terms of service.
Getting Started and Using
__An image of the home page for the forum is shown below. Double click on the image for a full-size view. Then use your browser's back button/arrow to return to this post.
The ad comes with the use of a free forum. Beggars can't be choosy. Note that the discussion forum uses phpBB software, which is open source and widely used.
__Click on Discussion Forum at [http://www.atfreeforum.com/michaywepoa/index.php?mforum=michaywepoa] to access the forum. Then, click on "Getting Started with This Discussion Forum" at the Discussion Forum and follow the instructions to register, and then follow the instructions to become a member. Both are required to access most of the forums. This provides the protection of restricting the forum to MOA members.
__As stated in Getting Started, your customary name or nickname is required for registration — basically the name you would use in identifying yourself at a members' meeting. This name will appear on all of your posts, in much the same way as you identify yourself when speaking at a members' meeting.
__After registering and becoming a member, I suggest starting with MOA Members Discussion Forum in the General Information Category. It has a number of topics that may be of interest including one on the proposed dues increase that the board will be asking the members to approve.
__Posts should be business like and professional. As in meetings, personal attacks and questioning of motives is prohibited. The forum is largely self regulating as are most forums. If you believe a post is inappropriate, click on DF Administrator on the main page, and then click on the email icon, and send your concern to the DF Administrator who will remove any offending post in its entirety.
__Again the intent is for this discussion forum to belong to the MOA members. My name is shown as moderator for most individual forums. I welcome MOA members as volunteers to become moderators for individual forums. I would gladly make this discussion forum available to MOA with an MOA policy to sponsor such a discussion forum without censorship by the board.
__You may click on the search icon to locate key words or persons of interest.
- History: __
- 2009 Feb 09 — Text added to make clear that this discussion forum belongs to the MOA members.
- 2009 Feb 02 — Initial Post
- Links: Discussion Forum for MOA Members at [http://swagmanmwpoa.blogspot.com/2009/02/discussion-forum-for-moa.html]
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