Public vs Private

[Tockita]

Since deep down I know that anyone coming to this site should have the best interest of ALL horses in their heart, that we (the entire community should decide together what we want this board to be.

I feel we are sort of the "Small World" theme of horse rescues. We are only as far apart as we chose to be
"There's so much that we share, that it's time we're aware, it's a small world after aaaaall.. " (I promise that was as cheesy to type as it is to sing but heartfelt just the same)

I wanted to add that I have been pleased thus far with the quality of posts and commitment to horses shown here. I also would like to assure you that from my experience the Admin/Staff have been very co operative in disscussions and decisions with majority vote being the final deciding factor. (sometimes causes a reversal of a temporary measure but the end result is the one based on a vote of the Admins)

I also feel we need a staff that represents the many rescues listed. To add more voices, with different experiences would can only enhance the future of our growing rescue community.

So if you have someone you feel would help enhance our mission, please PM an Admin with your nominations.

[earlybp]

Well-spoken (and sung!) Tockita!

[cybercat]

I don't want this board open at this time. The amount of angst, lies and paranoia that we had to try to combat on previous boards rendered the group incapable of agreeing to and working on anything constructive. Later, perhaps open. But now, we need to develop our structure, strengthen and guide it into the way we want the vision to grow.

[jessiegirl1981]

I agree completely with that c cat having just recently checked into all boards and sites I really like coming on here and not having any b.s. to sift through

[gratefulknits]

I'm in agreement with C-cat and JG. It's totally ok with me if people can read the board without registering (I don't feel I have any secrets - at least none I'll talk about on the board!) but I do think people should have to register to post; that way there is at least some potential to control what kinds of things get posted. Just my very humble $0.02.

[piopico]

What are the negatives for having #2.........Public readable/Member only Post? Do the members whose 'handle' is recognised get hassled privately? I agree, keep it Members only to Post, but I just wonder about the other.

[cybercat]

thanks, you two! In the meantime, while we debate this, know any rescue groups you would like to invite to look us over? Are there people on other message board whom you would like to work with or get to know better? Notice anyone out there with great ideas? Skills?

[galaxy]

I do like this board and the positive comments made on it. I am not sure how allowing the public to view this board would threaten what this board has become. If you still require membership to post, how can public viewing affect the post content?
I am just asking the questions that come to mind as I read this debate. I have been on some other boards some good, some bad, and some really bad.
I think this board is great and very supportive of the members.
I believe the more people that have access to the rescue information the better.

[gratefulknits]

Cybercat,

I invited Catherine of Fair Dinkum Rescue to join the board. She sent me an update on Z Me Zipp, about whom there was a thread on the old "Support Board" - beautiful gray mare OTTB who was neglected and about to ship to slaughter. They rescued her and she's doing well. I'm hoping to have a photo update to post here for those who remember her.

[cybercat]

Hi galaxy, I agree that having the rescue info available is key, and that is the goal...but I wonder about the no-gooders who come to read, take info out of context from our rescues here and then post inaccurately elsewhere. We have had several examples already, which I don't really want to get started on. But one example is the now lost Multi-Rescue Support Board. The staff was working on taking the board in a certain direction, and when the split occurred, guess where our ideas went...
I want to see energetic, like minded people on this board who want to pull together to work as an organization. A driving force in horse rescue all across the board, not just gossip and lip-service instead of actually rescuing. There needs to be an enjoyable bonded group to lead the way. A way for rescues and rescuers to actually communicate and develop a network of hard working, horse-loving open arms to catch our beloved equines when they need us the most, wherever they are.

I don't know about you all, but I have an agenda....

[cybercat]

That horse has an amazing story...thank you for inviting Catherine. We'll be on the lookout for her registration.

Perhaps the open reading wouldn't be as bad as I think, but I am erring on the conservative side, based on prior experience.

[atticus]

My vote leave it like it is, don't fix something that ain't broke. IMHO

[bridgetah]

atticus said:

My vote leave it like it is, don't fix something that ain't broke. IMHO

This is my opinion, as well. There should be some place where we can come without having to run into the TS/BSers. I don't see any benefit to having the board open to the public.

Even if they don't post, they gossip and spread nasty lies about CBER on other boards. IMO, they have caused the deaths of horses this way by discouraging adopters.

There are plenty of other boards and rescues sites people can work with.

[eirualaerdna]

I came here as a random horse lover that has always wanted to somehow help, be in contact with, or even seek help from, and talk to horse rescuers and like-minded people. I found what I was looking for. C cat is right, there are too many people out there just looking for an opportunity to bad mouth people from this group, because of other peoples' ways of doing things in "rescues" (which don't even necessarily have anything to do with anyone here). They come here, and somehow twist something they read, or assume, and end up bundling this group with other negativity they have heard of, or experienced. I say, don't open the flood gates. Those that truely care will find this board, through one of the over 400 people on here already, or by stumbling across it on a quest to find a place of this sort, as I have, and register. People that don't care or are just looking for trouble wont even bother to register. I say do what you're doing - promote rescue in other places, and keep this board the "safe zone".

[wendyp]

I vote to keep it private for now, with the option to open it up later -or parts of it- to the public. I don't think we *really* know anyone who joins, but if they are at least recommended by a core member, then we cut down the odds of getting the 'dark side' in here. I think that our longevitiy is in jeopardy if we open it up to the public. It might take us longer to grow this way, but we grow with quality, not quantity.

Just my humble opinion.........

WendyP/Bend, OR

[emjay]

HMMM

[Tockita]

All good points, keep your thoughts and votes coming! With over 400 members I think we need some more votes before we close the poll.

[swissgrl]

I can see both sides. For one it would be helpful to have more people get involved, and if somebody wants to lurk for a while and read, they might be more likely to join after seeing what this board is about, then needing to sign up right away.
On the other hand, opening it up you will have some people take what they want/need, and go elsewhere and twist it. Yes, they won't be able to post here, but they will be able to read, and then crosspost their own version of events.
I agree with Ccat, I think we need to strengthen and structure this board some more before we open it up.

[bridgetah]

Why don't we have two boards - one with public information available, i.e., Angel Fund, transportation, contact addresses, etc.

I shudder to think of people who have tried to hurt CBER (and cost Barrista her only chance for an adopter) coming over here. They have already destroyed CL as a place for posting ads, they have trashed us time and again on COTH and they posted elsewhere recently.

There is nothing to be gained by giving those people access to our forum.

[cybercat]

That is an option that has been brought up too, bridgetah...and possibly a good compromise. The people whom we do not care to associate with will complain that we are hiding things but, hey, there is no law that says we have to "play fair" in order to get our projects done without hassle, drama and lies.

[Admin]

If they have found us or have been invited it is not difficult to join!

[sherigraf]

A "teaser" section of the board could be exposed to give the prospective member a look at what the board is about. I think it would help draw new blood.

[galaxy]

The people that trash Cber and other rescues are going to continue to do that with or without access to this board. Do you really think that "they" have not seen this board?
I am just happy that the positive people that are trying to help these animals have found a "safe" place for postings. I feel grateful to be a part of this group.

[calypso]

Please, keep the board "closed"!

I understand the need to broaden our reach, but I have an idea. Bear with me, I'm a little coffee-challenged this morning....I hope this makes sense.

Carrying bridgetah's idea a bit further - we have a website that is underutilized right now. What about posting the public info (rescues, resources) on the website and having the forum remain a private entity for discussion.

The concerns raised about having the forum be readable by the public are valid. Just because people cannot post here doesn't mean they won't pull info and take it out of context and end up doing more harm than good.

The "2006, [poster name], All Rights Reserved. This post may not be copied, distributed or otherwise retransmitted outside of the Rescuesonly forum without prior written consent from author." at the end of every post only provides a limited protection. There is nothing to stop someone from say "i read on rescues only that so-and-so is doing such-and-such.." and worse yet, continuing their discussion by saying "and now that post has been taken down" which would prevent anyone from coming over and verifying what was actually posted (public can read, after all) and would certainly cause some tainted perceptions in the public arena.

The website could have a link saying "if you'd like to volunteer to assist our efforts, send an email to " That email could go to whomever and a brief dialog could take place to see if the person would be a valuable addition.

There is nothing wrong with being a little "exclusive" folks. It helps ensure that our time, attention, energy stays focused on our task and helping each other along rather than focused on damage control and squabbling.

I realize that expanding the website will require some effort, so if anyone likes this idea and is interested, shoot me a pm and we can figure out a time to talk (phone conf) or chat (online)

Caly

eta: okay, that sort of made sense.

Three levels of access/participation:

Website - the clearing house of information
- open to the public
- contains rescue information/links
- contains resource information (transport, etc)
- contains public info/alert links (ie, slaughter legislation, stolen horses, the rip-off artists that just nailed one of our own"
- links to public discussion groups (ie, COTH, etc)
- special needs
- "if you'd like to help us co-ordinate rescue efforts, please send an email to [addy] and tell us a little about yourself and how you'd like to help. We can use any and all kinds of help from blah, blah, blah."

Forum - where the actual co-ordination takes place
- private: register to read and post
- creates the "drama-free community" that we're currently experiencing.
- the direction is initiated at the grass-roots level

Staff
- staff continues to monitor and maintain discipline.

Did that help? Or make it more convoluted..

[MustangAppy]

I for one was in the process of leaving the CBER board just because of all the crap flying around. I have found this board to be refreshingly different, and if that difference is taken away, I fear it will suffer the same dis-jointed, mud-slinging fate as the CBER board.

[Tockita]

I guess I have hopes that since we are not a CBER board, just folks that met there and have common history that there wouldn't be much to target here.
Yes we do discuss our CBER horses and we do continue to support that effort, but I don't think we have a single CBER BOD as a member, not that they are not welcome here, but I think there are folks here who can provide updates on CBERs horses. Heck I myself was a BB volunteer so without the BB I'm sort of unemployed, and am pretty much "JUST" a supporter again lol.

. Perhaps we should have a thread area for advice on how to approach the owners of horses we think are at risk.. with so many rescue heads here I am sure they could give us the wisdom gained from their own experiences.

Also we may want to consider not posting names and contact info of people on the open board, perhaps have a passworded section that only the rescues can access to gain contact info so people are not subject to a landslide of negative contacts.

Hey it happens even here... the Yakima effort took a nasty turn at first. I'm glad we were able to channel our energy in a more positive direction. :bows to Chatty and all involved:
Also another recent situation where someone realized they needed to cut back and was attempting to place some horses, got pretty much ground into the dirt and backed out of placing the horses because of it. We are not talking about gross neglect either, just behind in maintainance after some tough times. So think before you type, reread your posts. I am still fully in favor of removing and banning people who can not keep this a friendly HELPFUL rescue site.

I felt we all needed to state how we feel and why and in that way perhaps come up with a compromise that not only works, but that we can all live and play happily with, so keep posting YOUR ideas and thoughts here

[beckybee]

As the other new, "open" and "neutral" board found out: too much history to keep open and neutral.

My $0.02:
1. Second board IS TOO MUCH WORK!
2. Keeping all this dynamic information updated on the website is TOO MUCH WORK!
(As you can tell, I'm VERY lazy
3. Open a couple threads on this board for viewing and guest posting, like welcome, list of information contained, and introduce yourself. These could be easily moderated (delete b!tchy and negative postings), but new people would be greeted with some info and can start to get to know us while they wait to get in.

[cybercat]

yeah, trying to brainwash you folks is WAY too much work for me...LOL! And trying to keep up a second board would be tough, I think...I'm messing around on here SO MUCH when there are lots of things being ignored at home....(Laundry, tree trimming, grocery shopping, etc...hehehe...)

[earlybp]

Well, I must admit that I have enjoyed the lack of BS and drama that plagued the CBER board and plague other horse boards. We are growing slowly and I don't see how more members is going to help. But maybe less horses would ship and more horses would be saved if at least people knew that we existed?

[jenm]

I agree with beckybee and lurker. We should open up part of the board for general information so people can get to know us. Must of us have been around long enough to know who potential troublemakers are, and even if one sneaks in, it doesn't take much to figure out who they are and ban them.

I don't agree with exclusivity to the degree of keeping this board invite only. I do agree with Caly's comment that the administrators will be able to discipline members and maintain a sense of decorum that will prevent things from getting out of hand before they start.

Bottom line is we need members, lots of members to successful. We have many rescues to support. The Angel Fund currently has $232.57 to its name and the only way to grow it so we can continue to provided financial assistance, is to have more people on board. Word of mouth will enable us to grow, but we don't want to give the impression that one must jump through hoops and participate in a background check in order to gain access to this board. As of today, we have 477 members, we need to at least quadruple this number in order to make an impact. Anyone in sales will know your pipeline needs to be at least 4X the size of your quota, and this is no different. A membership of almost 500 is impressive, but how many of us are active participants? My guess is fewer than 100.

Negative posts are deleted. Potential troublemakers are warned then banned. Let the membership drive begin! ;D