Best Practice Notes - Revision history

Neville Reid: /* ‘Wanted’ posts are a good thing */ straight quotes rather than smart quotes, easier for linking

2025-10-11T11:29:50Z

‘Wanted’ posts are a good thing: straight quotes rather than smart quotes, easier for linking

← Older revision		Revision as of 11:29, 11 October 2025
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	====~~‘Wanted’~~ posts are a good thing====		===='Wanted' posts are a good thing====
	Equally accept requests or offers as first and subsequent posts from members. Our primary purpose is to keep things in use, so members who reuse those items are essential for Freegle. Requests should be encouraged, with no restrictions on numbers of wanted posts or numbers of items requested.		Equally accept requests or offers as first and subsequent posts from members. Our primary purpose is to keep things in use, so members who reuse those items are essential for Freegle. Requests should be encouraged, with no restrictions on numbers of wanted posts or numbers of items requested.

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	*Wanted posts often remind people that they have that item languishing unused so will respond with an offer.		*Wanted posts often remind people that they have that item languishing unused so will respond with an offer.
	*People, including us, overestimate the number of Wanted posts. Most groups have more Offers than Wanteds. Modtools dashboard gives up to date information about this.		*People, including us, overestimate the number of Wanted posts. Most groups have more Offers than Wanteds. Modtools dashboard gives up to date information about this.


	====Avoid rejecting messages====		====Avoid rejecting messages====

Jacky: /* Simple and minimal rules */ added infor about new section in Modtools

2024-11-28T13:20:23Z

Simple and minimal rules: added infor about new section in Modtools

← Older revision		Revision as of 13:20, 28 November 2024
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	====Simple and minimal rules====		====Simple and minimal rules====
	Keep rules short and to the point. Apply them fairly, always politely, and with flexibility where appropriate. Your community rules are for your community only, it’s not acceptable to try to enforce your rules on other communities, such as asking your member to leave another community.		Keep rules short and to the point. Apply them fairly, always politely, and with flexibility where appropriate. Your community rules are for your community only, it’s not acceptable to try to enforce your rules on other communities, such as asking your member to leave another community.

			There is a section in Modtools (Settings>Community>Rules) where you can record your rules. This triggers reminders to members, as they complete a posting form, of what your rules are, so they can amend the post themselves before publishing.

	'''Consider''':		'''Consider''':
	*The fewer rules you impose, the less work it is for you to moderate.		*The fewer rules you impose, the less work it is for you to moderate.
	*No-one is keen on reading or remembering lots of rules, so too many just means that your members don’t know what they are.		*No-one is keen on reading or remembering lots of rules, so too many just means that your members don’t know what they are, unless you have listed them in Modtools (above)
	*The [[Terms_for_Freegle_Users#Disclaimer\|Disclaimer statement]] covers legality and safety, so there is no need to duplicate that with a long list of items, but if there are particular items your community disallows (eg. live creatures, weapons) then include them in your rules.		*The [[Terms_for_Freegle_Users#Disclaimer\|Disclaimer statement]] covers legality and safety, so there is no need to duplicate that with a long list of items, but if there are particular items your community disallows (eg. live creatures, weapons) then include them in your rules.
	*Review your rules regularly to make sure that members are being sent up to date information and your team is still in agreement with them.		*Review your rules regularly to make sure that members are being sent up to date information and your team is still in agreement with them.
	*The fewer barriers in place for people to reuse items the more effective we are.		*The fewer barriers in place for people to reuse items the more effective we are.


	====Don't knock enthusiasm====		====Don't knock enthusiasm====

Jacky: /* Get to know other Freegle Volunteers */

2024-11-05T20:03:48Z

Get to know other Freegle Volunteers

← Older revision		Revision as of 20:03, 5 November 2024
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	* There are ways to do this easily -		* There are ways to do this easily -
	** Freegle Rock, social chat group for all national volunteers -[http://discourse.ilovefreegle.org/c/cafe/]		** Freegle Rock, social chat group for all national volunteers -[http://discourse.ilovefreegle.org/c/cafe/]
	** Zoomstock, a video chat for any volunteer who wishes to join in held every Thursday at 2pm, the link is along the top on Modtools.
	** [[Freestock]], an annual (except in lockdowns!) summer meet up for Freegle volunteers, families and friends		** [[Freestock]], an annual (except in lockdowns!) summer meet up for Freegle volunteers, families and friends
	** Attending, or even organising, a meet-up of your local communities and fellow volunteers. Face to face or online, either would be good.		** Attending, or even organising, a meet-up of your local communities and fellow volunteers. Face to face or online, either would be good.

Jacky: /* Supporting Freegle */

2022-03-01T10:46:03Z

Supporting Freegle

← Older revision		Revision as of 10:46, 1 March 2022
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	'''Consider''':		'''Consider''':

	*At least one volunteer for each community must be a member of Freegle Central, though preferably more than one would be better. (see [[Freegle ~~Volunteer Agreement~~]])		*At least one volunteer for each community must be a member of Freegle Central, though preferably more than one would be better. (see [[Freegle Aims]])
	*All volunteers that are signed up for Modtools with Owner or Moderator status have automatic access to membership of the Discourse platform, where all the central discussion groups are hosted. Click on ‘Us’ in the top menu bar. All Volunteers are strongly encouraged to become actively involved on Discourse. Read, join in discussions, or ask for help on any of the groups. You can see some threads of current discussions on Discourse on the Modtools Dashboard page (click on any of them to see the whole topic).		*All volunteers that are signed up for Modtools with Owner or Moderator status have automatic access to membership of the Discourse platform, where all the central discussion groups are hosted. Click on ‘Us’ in the top menu bar. All Volunteers are strongly encouraged to become actively involved on Discourse. Read, join in discussions, or ask for help on any of the groups. You can see some threads of current discussions on Discourse on the Modtools Dashboard page (click on any of them to see the whole topic).
	*Help make decisions on the future of Freegle by becoming a Member of Freegle Ltd - [[Invitation to Membership]] application form [http://freegle.it/JoinFreegleLtd] . We are proud of our inclusive and open governance so becoming a Member supports that ethos.		*Help make decisions on the future of Freegle by becoming a Member of Freegle Ltd - [[Invitation to Membership]] application form [http://freegle.it/JoinFreegleLtd] . We are proud of our inclusive and open governance so becoming a Member supports that ethos.

Jacky: /* Background */

2022-03-01T10:45:34Z

Background

← Older revision		Revision as of 10:45, 1 March 2022
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	Experience shows that restrictive rules are a barrier to thriving, so all volunteers should think carefully about these best practice suggestions.		Experience shows that restrictive rules are a barrier to thriving, so all volunteers should think carefully about these best practice suggestions.

	~~The~~ [[~~Freegle Volunteer Agreement~~]] outlines expectations of Freegle and Volunteers.		[[Our Aims]] outlines expectations of Freegle and Volunteers.

	The intent of this is to support Freegle and members, and to safeguard our reputation. All the advice below is within the context of the [[Basic Requirements of a Freegle Group#Local Rules]].		The intent of this is to support Freegle and members, and to safeguard our reputation. All the advice below is within the context of the [[Basic Requirements of a Freegle Group#Local Rules]].

Jacky: /* Links */

2022-03-01T10:42:59Z

Links

← Older revision		Revision as of 10:42, 1 March 2022
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	*[[Running Your Local Community]]		*[[Running Your Local Community]]
	*[[Best Practice]]		*[[Best Practice]]
	*[[~~Freegle Volunteer Agreement~~]]		*[[Our Aims]]



	[[category:The Basics]]		[[category:The Basics]]

Jacky: /* First impressions */

2021-11-14T16:16:45Z

First impressions

← Older revision		Revision as of 16:16, 14 November 2021
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	====First impressions====		====First impressions====
	Home pages (Freegle website, Facebook etc.) should be welcoming and quick and easy to read. All website homepages should have a logo or local picture, tagline, welcoming message and, optionally, local rules. To do this, go to Settings in Modtools.		Home pages (Freegle website, Facebook etc.) should be welcoming and quick and easy to read. All website homepages should have a logo or local picture, tagline, welcoming message and, optionally, local rules. To do this, go to Settings in Modtools. (see [[ModTools#Getting_Set_Up]] for some more info)

	'''Consider''':		'''Consider''':
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	*Keeping your homepages up to date keeps your current members interested, so review regularly.		*Keeping your homepages up to date keeps your current members interested, so review regularly.
	*The Mentors or Support team can help you update your homepage(s), email mentors@ilovefreegle.org, or support@ilovefreegle.org		*The Mentors or Support team can help you update your homepage(s), email mentors@ilovefreegle.org, or support@ilovefreegle.org


	====New Freeglers need an easy start====		====New Freeglers need an easy start====

Jacky: /* Links */

2021-11-14T13:26:59Z

Links

← Older revision		Revision as of 13:26, 14 November 2021
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	====Links====		====Links====
	*[[Running Your Local Community]]		*[[Running Your Local Community]]
	*[[Best Practice]]		*[[Best Practice]]
			*[[Freegle Volunteer Agreement]]



	[[category:The Basics]]		[[category:The Basics]]

Jacky: /* Impression of you and Freegle */

2021-11-10T19:07:32Z

Impression of you and Freegle

← Older revision		Revision as of 19:07, 10 November 2021
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	*Don’t be anonymous, let your member know your first name.		*Don’t be anonymous, let your member know your first name.

	Use the member website when you want to be a member. Use ModTools when you want to be a volunteer. Never use your position to unfairly obtain items that are being freegled on your community. It is not acceptable to hold onto messages whilst you reply or to say that you are a moderator or owner in order to gain advantage.		Use the member website when you want to be a member. Use ModTools when you want to be a volunteer. Never use your position to unfairly obtain items that are being freegled on your community. It is not acceptable to hold onto messages whilst you reply or to say that you are a moderator or owner in order to gain advantage. See [[Can I make use of freegle]] for more information.

	====Member problems====		====Member problems====

Jacky: /* Get to know other Freegle Volunteers */

2021-11-06T11:47:50Z

Get to know other Freegle Volunteers

← Older revision		Revision as of 11:47, 6 November 2021
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	'''Consider:'''		'''Consider:'''
	*~~Pretty much all~~ of us are ~~very~~ nice.		* All of us are jolly nice.
	*~~It's~~ more enjoyable than you might think.		* It’s more enjoyable than you might think.
	*~~You'll be able~~ to relate to people ~~better~~ online once ~~you've~~ met them.		* It’s easier to relate to people online once you’ve met or chatted to them.
	*There are ways to do this easily -		* There are ways to do this easily -
	**Freegle Rock, ~~online~~ social chat group http://~~freegle~~.in~~/Cafe~~		** Freegle Rock, social chat group for all national volunteers -[http://discourse.ilovefreegle.org/c/cafe/]
	**Freestock, an annual summer meet up for Freegle volunteers and ~~others http://wiki.ilovefreegle.org/Freestock~~		** Zoomstock, a video chat for any volunteer who wishes to join in held every Thursday at 2pm, the link is along the top on Modtools.
	**Attending - or even organising - a meet-up of your local communities and fellow volunteers. ~~See [[Local Support Groups]] for more local socialising/support ideas~~.		** [[Freestock]], an annual (except in lockdowns!) summer meet up for Freegle volunteers, families and friends
			** Attending, or even organising, a meet-up of your local communities and fellow volunteers. Face to face or online, either would be good.

	====Links====		====Links====