Start Group Report 2010-01

FREEGLE START GROUP

January 31st 2010

37 Members. This Group is open to all Central Members.
SUMMARY OF POSTS FROM MESSAGES 407-487
Spokesperson: Sue, Walsall

The Reps have asked us what we believe is the remit of the Start working group so they can review overlaps or gaps between teams.

It was reported that Jane had joined the new Groups Assessment team but concerns were raised about the way this was done and that in future all such announcements of appointments should be made on Central.

The Reps are deciding on which decisions they will make and which need to have polls run to try and cut down on the number and this is the reason why no such poll is being run at the moment.

Various people have asked if it is possible to be given names or groups who are
wanting to join the Freegle organisation. Because of the nature of some applications, at this moment in time no such information will be provided.

Various questions have been raised regarding why some of the potential new groups are taking so long to be approved by the Assessment Team. Again the Group was advised that there are various reasons for the delays which could not really be discussed because of possible sensitivity of the situation. The Assessment Team have provided statistics on the 125 applications received so far.

The Start Group have been asked by the Interim Assessment Team to consider further issues which were not covered in the poll and also including principles on which groups should be listed:-
(a) Is it OK for existing group owners to set up new groups outside their own
area but not just for helping out.
(b) What about groups who expanded their boundaries when they left Freecycle
(c) Should we take into account the person applying for a listing, as well as
the area they want to cover
(d) What if there is more than one application for a new group in an area
(e) Should we accept a group opened by someone who also plans to keep their Freecycle group open in the same area.

It has also been pointed out that the Principles document will need revising after the moratorium ends on 20th February so we will have to be looking at possible new wording.

A date has now been announced as to when new groups in areas where there are Freecycle groups will be accepted and that any such Freecycle group will be given approximately 1 month to move over to Freegle.

Esther is still liaising with the `people group` regarding the procedure for groups appealing against decisions made by the start team.

We are still to put in place the process for members who wanted to leave the Freegle organisation.

We still need to decide on a permanent structure for the Approval Team and which is also being discussed by the Reps. Also needed is a procedure to establish application procedures, appeals procedures, a buddy system for new Freegle Mods and Group Owners, a leaving procedure, a procedure for groups who change ownership and establish a database and who will have access of it.

Sue

Walsall & Cannock

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