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INTRODUCTION
Welcome and thank you for downloading the WME Information Packet.
WME is a friendly, family-minded, volunteer network of computer BBS',dedicated to providing people of all ages with opportunities toexchange ideas, make new friends, and learn more of the world aroundus.
These Guidelines provide WME an operating foundation and establish basicpolicy to facilitate message flow. If you have any questions, feel freeto contact the WME COTEAM in our ADMINISTRATION conference, or any ofour member sysops.
Thanks again for your interest in World Message Exchange Network, we look forward to your participation.
BASIC DEFINITIONS
LEVEL: refers to the number of system-relays away from the WME Nethost BBS.
HUB: a BBS that exchanges WME mail with more than one other BBS.
NODE: a BBS that exchanges WME mail with only one other BBS.
WME NETHOST: the BBS designated as the central system for WME, (Level 0).
NET COORDINATION TEAM: the volunteer group providing day-to-day administration of the network. (WME CoTeam).
WME MEMBER: any BBS that has applied and been accepted for membership within WME, or, the sysop of such a system, any WME Conference Moderator, any member of the CoTeam.
GENERAL RULES
- Do not be annoying and do not be easily annoyed.
- Message here politely, exercising courtesy and mutual respect at all times.
- Tolerance of others is central to WME, discrimination based on sex, race, culture, nationality, religion or lifestyle is not allowed.
- Please stay on-topic in the conferences you use.
- Avoid overquoting, quote only enough to maintain the "train of thought."
- "Flaming": derogatory, abusive or harrassing messages are prohibited.
- Personal attacks, insults or baiting others is prohibited.
- Use of profanities or foul language, including letter substitution or alternate spelling is prohibited.
- ANSI & RIP graphics may only be posted in the BBS GRAPHICS conference.
- "Signatures" are limited to not more than three lines. "Headers" may not be used to circumvent the signature restriction.
- Taglines are limited to a single line.
- Obvious aliases are not allowed, except in specially designated conferences.
- For Sale/Want advertisements may only be posted in the 4SALE_OR_TRADE conference, individual moderators may make exceptions.
- Prohibited are pyramid, get-rich-quick, chain letter and similar scams.
- Advertising other networks in WME conferences is impolite behaviour.
- WME Net makes no attempt to provide private message service. All messages posted in WME conferences are considered publicly accessible.
RULES VIOLATIONS
- Any user repeatedly disrupting a conference, or who is found to be just plain arrogant can and may be locked out of WME.
- Appeal or questioning of moderator/administrative censure may only be done in the GRIEVANCE conference.
- Day-to-day administration of WME Net is by the WME CoTeam, they may be contacted in the WME ADMIN conference.
GUIDELINES ENFORCEMENT
- For minor problems: a friendly reminder may be issued by the conference moderator.
- For repeat or significant problems: a FORMAL WARNING will be issued by the moderator of the conference. A maximum of two (2) FORMAL WARNINGS is allowed to the same individual in any 3 month period.
- Any offense after receiving a second "formal warning" merits suspension of at least one month from the conference in question. The Chief Moderator will issue such conference specific suspensions.
- In the event a person ignores a conference moderator or the Chief Moderator, the Net Coordinator on behalf of the CoTeam may ban that person temporarily or permanently from the net.
- In the event of deliberate and/or flagrant violations of these Guidelines, immediate sanctions may be deemed appropriate by the Chief Moderator, or Net Coordinator.
- Notice of suspension will be posted directly to the individual in the conference where the problem occurred, and to the sysop of the BBS where the person accesses WME.
- Notice of netwide bans will be posted in WME_ADMIN, and the sysop of the originating BBS notified directly.
- In the event the offender is a sysop, compliance is required or all access to the net will be terminated.
APPEALS:
- Any person has the right to appeal an warning or suspension.
- All appeals should be addressed to the CoTeam in the GRIEVANCE conference.
- In cases of individuals banned from the net, an appeal may be forwarded by any member sysop.
- All appeals will be considered by the CoTeam as a whole.
BBS/SYSOP MEMBERSHIP
APPLYING FOR MEMBERSHIP IN WME:
- WME is a volunteer net, we charge no fees or dues.
- Read and agree to abide by the WME Guidelines, and those policies established by the WME CoTeam.
- Find a WME member that is willing to act as hub for you.
- Fill out a current node application and submit it as instructed on the application form.
- **NOTE** persons under the age of 18 years must have a parent or legal guardian co-sign and mail hardcopy of the application to the Node Coordinator.
- When the application is accepted, you are a member of WME and authorized to carry WME Net on your BBS.
- If turned down by one member hub, feel free to contact another.
- WME reserves the right to refuse or terminate membership to any BBS at any time for violating these Guidelines, or when such membership is considered detrimental to WME.
MEMBER BBS RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Must carry the following conferences: WME_ADMIN & WME_GRIEVANCE, in the event a conference moderator relays through your BBS, carry MODERATORS.
- Each member BBS will make a copy of the current Net Guidelines readily available to their callers.
- Restrict access to those conferences designated by the CoTeam.
- Blocking, interfering with, or altering messages in any WME Net conference is prohibited; except where transmission of a message would be illegal.
- Only those names approved by the WME CoTeam may be placed into network "twit" filters. This does not prevent any member sysop from locking- out or preventing an individual from posting messages from the sysop's own BBS.
- Each sysop is responsible for overseeing the actions of their callers who utilize WME.
- Member sysops will assist net moderators and the CoTeam in preventing problem activity from disrupting others on the net.
- Member sysops will not allow persons who have been banned from the net to access any WME conference.
- Net Taglines for member BBSes should approximate the following as applicable...
WME * <BBS name> * <City/State/Country> * <phone> * <FTN node number>
- Nodes must relay mail at least once per week, but preferably more often.
- Member sysops must send the Nodelist Coordinator an updated application if any information on their last application has changed.
HUB RESPONSIBILITIES: (in addition to the above)...
- Must relay WME message traffic at least once every 24 hours.
- Failure to relay mail for seven days without explanation will terminate hub status.
- Must relay all conferences requested by any downlink member BBS.
- WME is free, hubs may not require payment from nodes for relaying WME message traffic. Voluntary cost-sharing among member BBSes is allowed.
- Hub sysops have seven (7) days to respond to a request from prospective nodes. If agreeable, they should notify the Node Coordinator immediately.
- Any sysop who intends to cease hub activity should warn their nodes and assist them in finding an alternative hub prior to shutdown.
- BBSes Level-3 or lower may not act as hubs without approval by the CoTeam.
CONFERENCES
- Message conferences are the "bread & butter" of any network.
- WME will support any reasonable suggestion for new conference topics where sufficient interest is shown by the membership. Users of WME are encouraged to offer sugestions.
- The CoTeam will establish a system for adding/dropping conferences, and conduct the same at least three times yearly.
- In the event of particular merit or circumstance, the CoTeam may add or dropindividual conferences on an as needed basis.
- No conference will be added without first having an approved moderator and description of purpose.
- Special conferences (i.e. required, restricted access, special conditions) see current conference list to determine present require- ments and details.
CONFERENCE MODERATORS
- Are considered part of the WME Administration.
- Will abide by the relevant portions of these Guidelines, and the Administrative Code of Conduct.
- Are appointed by the CoTeam from among those person who have submitted complete Moderator Applications.
- Co-moderators may be allowed by the CoTeam on an as needed basis.
RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Make the conference you moderate a place people enjoy using.
- Make new users of the conference feel welcome.
- Keep message threads reasonably on-topic.
- Monitor your assigned conference on a daily basis.
- Monitor the MODERATORS and the GRIEVANCE conferences, at least for ALL and YOUR messages, on a daily basis.
- Enforce the WME Guidelines within your assigned conference(s).
- Should have "private" message read access to the conference you moderate.
- In the event of a problem user, notify the Chief Moderator - ASAP.
- When sending a formal warning, use "FORMAL WARNING" in the subject line, and carbon copy to Chief Moderator in the MODERATORS conference.
- User<->Moderator discussion of official actions must be moved to GRIEVANCE, it is off topic in any other conference.
NET COORDINATION TEAM (CoTeam)
- The committee that provides administrative housekeeping to assure that WME Net continues to operate and grow consisting of the following positions:
NET COORDINATOR: representative/spokesman for the CoTeam, handles day-to-day business of the net; calls for elections/votes as needed; oversees the Grievance Conference.
CHIEF MODERATOR: acts as second to the Net Coordinator; oversees and assists operations of the conference moderators, including Moderators conference; maintains a list of current moderators.
NODE/HUB COORDINATOR: maintains the master records of all WME boards, present or past; provides up to date nodelists (general, ftn, hub) on a monthly basis; assists sysops in finding hubs as needed.
CONFERENCE COORDINATOR: maintains up to date listings of WME conferences, including description/purpose and special rules; works with the Chief Moderator to maintain a list of current conference moderators; records moderator applications and handles conference add/drop suggestions.
INFORMATION COORDINATOR: responsible for assembly and distribution of a WME information packet each month; handles day to day clerical business of the net; keeps duplicate files of those maintained by the other CoTeam members.
- Selection to the CoTeam is by volunteering for an opening and approval by the current Net CoTeam members.
- CoTeam applicants must be at least 18 years of age.
- In the event more than one qualified applicant volunteers for an opening, the CoTeam shall hold a run-off election.
- Normal term on the CoTeam is two years, with elections yearly as follows;
Odd-numbered years: Net, Conference and Information Coordinator elections.
Even-numbered years: Chief Moderator and Node/Hub Coordinator are elected.
- Elections will be held in January of each year for coteam members.
- There is no limit on the number of consecutive terms a person may serve.
- No person may hold more than one (1) position at a time.
- To run for a different office a current CoTeam member must resign their present office.
- If a position becomes vacant prematurely, one or more CoTeam members may fill the vacated duties until a successor is elected. Such election is for the remainder of the term vacated.
GENERAL RESPONSIBILITIES:
- All members of the CoTeam must abide by these Guidelines.
- Provide day-to-day administrative oversight of the net, including interpretation of, and implementing policies based on, these Guidelines;for the purpose of enhanced message flow and health of the Net.
- Act as final arbitration authority to resolve an disputes that may arise.
- Review and act on any complaints brought against a member sysop, moderator or CoTeam member.
NO-CONFIDENCE VOTE:
- Any voting member may move for a vote of no-confidence against any CoTeam member(s) and any such motion that receives 12 or more seconds from voting members will require that a vote be held within 14 days of receiving the necesary minimum seconds.
- Of the votes cast, a simple majority in support of the motion will require a new election be held for the CoTeam position(s) specified in the No-Confidence Motion.
- In the event no CoTeam member is available to run the election, the L-1 sysops will bear that responsibility.
WME NETHOST BBS (LEVEL-0)
- The designated central BBS of WME Net, a dedicated mail-only BBS.
- The physical equipment and operating software are property of WME Net, the members of which cooperatively share responsiblity for upkeep and improvement of the Nethost system.
- The physical location and administration are determined by the CoTeam.
- The Nethost sysop will operate the BBS in accordance with the directives and policies established by the CoTeam.
- The Nethost sysop may at his/her discretion solicit donations from the Net membership for repair or upgrade of the nethost BBS.
VOTING:
- Unless prohibited elsewhere in the Guidelines, those eligible to vote in all matters pertaining to WME are:
Sysops of member BBSes, one vote per BBS.
WME moderators, one vote per person regardless of conferences moderated.
In the event of multiple moderators in a conference only the principle moderator may cast a vote.
No person may cast more than one ballot at a time.
- Prior to any vote, the CoTeam will bring up to date and make public the list of current member-sysops and primary-moderators who are elegible to cast ballots. This list shall serve as a voter registry.
- A quorum shall be not less than fifteen (15) of those persons on the list.
- Lacking a quorum, the CoTeam shall decide the question.
- Five (5) days minimum notice of a pending vote, and a minimum of ten (10) days for balloting is required for all votes.
- Notice of pending vote must be made in WME_ADMIN and WME_SYSOPS conferences.
- Balloting will take place in the VOTING conference.
AMENDING THESE GUIDELINES
- Changes to these Guidelines must be approved by the voting members.
- Notice will include full text of the proposed change, be posted on at least three consecutive days with at least two (2) days between the third notice and the start of balloting.
- Balloting will continue for at least 10 days in the VOTING conference.