Forum promotions / Expansion of the moderation team

[mark]

I'd just like to thank the mod team for the excellent work they have been doing so far. As the forum grows the amount of work increases and the mods work tirelessly to try and keep some sense of order in the forum. Some of you may wonder why threads seem to be in the correct area - you may wonder if people are always posting in the right place - trust me this is no accident

Promotions

Anyway, with this in mind I'd like to announce the following promotions:

• Lob Rockster is hereby promoted to the rank of Administrator (previously Super Moderator). Lob is the longest-serving member of the mod team, and I'm sure you'll all agree that his contribution to the forum has been nothing short of amazing. He now has the key to the forum, so to speak, and has access to every nook and cranny. He'll now be able to assist with such tasks as renaming users, merging users and adjustments to the reputation system.
• Evilshell and Lou are hereby promoted to the rank of Super Moderator (previously Moderator). This will allow them zap spam and moderate in any area of the forum.

Expansion of Mod Team

These promotions represent an expansion of the team at all levels. We are now two administrators, three super moderators and want to add another four moderators to bring the total moderators to six (total team size will then be eleven!)

If you are interested in joining the team as a moderator please send a private message to any of the existing team. They will copy your application into a thread in our secret mod forum and consider all the applications.

Please be aware - being a mod is not just about swanning around the forum with plenty of yellow stars and green dots - there is real work to be done. The job of a mod is often a thankless one. You'll have to put up with abusive users, endless stupid questions and clueless users, not to mention an endless supply of thread moves, merges, deletes and private messages.

What are the qualities we are looking for?

• Be able to dedicate a reasonable amount of time each day to the forum
• Ability to communicate
• Good understanding of the goals, structure and purpose of the forum
• Attention to detail
• Relevant expertise or experience in the areas of the forum which you feel you would like to moderate or co-moderate (please tell us)
• Previous forum experience as a moderator and the ability to make a reasonable attempt at spelling and grammar a definite advantage
• Ability to fit in with the existing team

What are the duties of a moderator?

• Deletion of spam or inappropriate messages
• Communicating with users via private messages about why you may have taken a certain action (in the hope that they'll understand and not do it again)
• Moving threads started in inappropriate areas
• Merging threads or shifting posts from one thread to another
• Reminding users to search for the information they are asking about, or sometimes searching for them when the search isn't simple
• Banning users for a limited period or permanently for inappropriate behaviour
• Enforcing the various forum policies
• Helping to keep threads on-topic
• Being familiar with and staying up to date with the threads in your areas
• Modifying subject lines to add information [that actually makes them remotely useful]
• Starting thoughtful threads on interesting topics relevant to your area
• Keeping the information in your section as organised as practically possible - this means creating sticky threads, writing frequently asked questions and other housekeeping tasks
• Keeping up to the date with discussions in the moderators' private forum

My own personal goal for the forum is for me to be able to focus more on developing new features, overseeing structure and helping to set a future direction and strategy. In other words, I would like to guide others to moderate the forum, rather than do it myself. As the forum grows we need more and more help - do you think this is you? Then we'd like to hear from you.

[mark]

Just a quick note - we've had some more changes to the mod team - Nanda and Gooner have joined, and Diem has resigned. We are still looking for suitable people - so please get in touch if you are interested.

Please don't be offended if it takes a little time to get back to you, we discuss applications internally, but we'll try to give you some feedback one way or another.

[grumpygrapefruit]

Hi Mark

Couldn't spare the time myself this year but thought I'd take this opportunity of thanking you and the Mods for a Fantastic Forum. I'm sure many like me have come to see it as part of their on-line life and it's far too easy to take for granted (how many would miss it if it went?). In the relatively short time I've been in Switzerland I've learnt so much on EF (even taught my Swiss GF a thing or too) from other members about this country and beyond as well as making some new friends. Of course it's also VERY amusing (thank you Lob).

Being a member of a number of other forums I say have to say this is head and shoulders above the rest in terms of design and content.

Keep up the good work, it is very much appreciated!

Mike

[Lob]

I've groaned you because it's not supposed to be funny

[katie]

Heya

I second the thanks on all the hard work!! Awesome work guys.

I would love to help with the moderator thing but I dont have the time everyday to give... so good luck.

Enjoy
kt

[grumpygrapefruit]

	Quote:	Lob Rockster
	I've groaned you because it's not supposed to be funny

Well that is funny - sorry

[Blaze]

My thanks as well to Mark and the mods for their hard work and patience which makes this forum happen.



I consider this forum the best resource out there for (English speaking) foreigners trying to find their way in this fairly complicated land.

By spending time here I have discovered things which otherwise may have taken years.

Please do keep it going!
Blaze

	Quote:	grumpygrapefruit
	Hi Mark Couldn't spare the time myself this year but thought I'd take this opportunity of thanking you and the Mods for a Fantastic Forum. I'm sure many like me have come to see it as part of their on-line life and it's far too easy to take for granted (how many would miss it if it went?). In the relatively short time I've been in Switzerland I've learnt so much on EF (even taught my Swiss GF a thing or too) from other members about this country and beyond as well as making some new friends. Of course it's also VERY amusing (thank you Lob). Being a member of a number of other forums I say have to say this is head and shoulders above the rest in terms of design and content. Keep up the good work, it is very much appreciated! Mike

[krlock3]

I would like to second all positive comments made here so far and thank the mods for the wonderful job that they do, and the amazing forum it has helped to produce.

long live englishforum.ch !!!!!!

[Lotty]

And so say all of us. di dum de dum de dum!!
I've just discovered EF....absolutely flippin brilliant. You're all doing a cracking job.

[mark]

Old promotions

I'm sorry but I forgot to update this thread with some promotions we made a few months back. Swissbob and gregv joined the moderator team some months back (my sincere apologies for forgetting to update that on this thread).

New promotions

In recognition of an outstanding amount of work done to keep the forum tidy and organised, Gooner is hereby promoted to the rank of Super Moderator (previously Moderator).

[gooner]

New forum moderator

We would like to welcome Nathu to Team EF. Nathu is our first Swiss pedigree Moderator by the way (and his English is better than ours!)

Nathu has been of great value to the forum, and to make the best of Nathu as a local, we have put him in to moderate all areas under living in switzerland and help-tips

[Nathu]

New forum moderator

I'm pleased to announce that Longbyt has joined Team EF. She is the probably most helpful user to newbies who introduce themselves, and a valued contributor in various other areas.

She will moderate in the Introductions, Daily Life and Family Matters forums and in the Activities section as well. Welcome aboard!

[PlantHead]

Again for a bit of clarity,
currently the moderators of the forum are,

PlantHead - Moderator
Longbyt - Moderator
Nanda - Moderator
Abfab - Moderator
Litespeed -Super Moderator
Nathu - Super Moderator
EvilShell - Super Moderator

You can see who is responsible for which forum by looking here
http://www.englishforum.ch/forum.php at the far right hand column.

This will change in the coming weeks I suspect as Abfab steps down.

Please do not reply to this thread unless you have something extremely relevant to post.

[Nathu]

Nanda and Planthead have left the Mod team. My thanks to both for their commitment over a rather different timespan.

EF is currently not recruiting, please keep an eye on this thread for later.

[Eire]

	Quote:	Nathu
	Nanda and Planthead have left the Mod team. My thanks to both for their commitment over a rather different timespan. EF is currently not recruiting, please keep an eye on this thread for later.

Can you let us know who the currently active mods are?

Cheers.

[Nathu]

	Quote:	Eire
	Can you let us know who the currently active mods are? Cheers.

You're fast. The other names on Planthead's list are still up to date and in possession of the stated mod rights.

Longbyt - Moderator
Abfab - Moderator
Litespeed -Super Moderator
Nathu - Super Moderator
EvilShell - Super Moderator

[jrspet]

Sometimes late at night, I just wish I had the super admin / mod powers to zap and ban these spammers who target the forum coincidentally after the mods / admins have hit the sack. Last night it was 4 registered long term users online versus 3 spammers creating their posts .. one was also graphic.

Just to let you know Nathu ( and others ) that your hours late into the night policing the forum is much appreciated.

[Natasha]

Why is PlantHead not a mod anymore?

[Nathu]

jrspet, I am aware of this annoying spam and working on a few solutions.

Natasha, I can't fully explain Planthead's remarkable mod career either. The man is full of surprises. While we may have seen some things differently, I am thankful for his other contributions during his brief stay. It's up to you if you believe that.

[Eire]

For those of you like me who don't know everything that is going on, this provides some interesting information.