Dear All: You will find the following on the OOS site at http://www.ohiobirds.org/publications/emaillist.php#listmanager : "Who takes care of the mailing list? A list owner is a volunteer who makes sure that a list runs smoothly and has final say on issues that arise. This discussion list is not moderated and no prior review of postings takes place. Ned Keller is the Ohio-birds listowner. Feel free to contact him at [log in to unmask]" Well, if ohio-birds is no longer an unmoderated list, or if Ned is no longer sole list owner, that is indeed very much "behind the scenes." I yield to no one in my devotion to this mailing list, even though I know diddley about computers. I negotiated its transfer four years ago from Vic Fazio's aves.net to the OOS; we both wanted it to continue as Vic conceived it, and he made the right choice among several prospective sponsoring organizations. Ned Keller and Greg Miller were easily persuaded to donate their valuable expertise and time to ohio-birds so that we could all communicate with one another. Later I initiated inquiries that led to Miami University sponsorship of this list when our former service provider became too expensive, whereupon Bill Heck used his own knowledge of computerized communications, and contacts within the University, to make it possible. No big deal on my part, but I hope this will demonstrate that I have no interest in conflict that threatens ohio-birds. Quite the contrary. I have learned a lot on ohio-birds, and made many good friends. I hope my contributions have been, if not always wholly supportive of everyone, at least timely, thought-provoking, and educational for all. I value very much this neighborly little back road on the information highway, and I do get upset when people want to put billboards up along it. Cordially, Bill Whan Columbus Jim McCormac wrote: > Hi all, > > > > Just a very cordial reminder that the moderators of the listserve are Ned > Keller ([log in to unmask]) and myself ([log in to unmask]). If anyone has > any issues with the content of posts, or any other problems at all with this > listserve, please don't hesitate to contact us. We would like to resolve > problems, which in most cases are better done behind the scenes. > > > > With some 1,100 subscribers, the listserve is amazingly free of conflict, > and we wish to keep it that way. This listserve has been an invaluable asset > for sharing information on Ohio birds, and allowing other birders to "meet" > each other. Many times I've been at conferences or out in the field and > "really" met people whose names I've seen here, and I know that has happened > to many others. The little bit of friction that has occurred has been when > someone feels compelled to publicly scold others, when in every case it > would have been better to first consider if it was a serious problem that > really did need addressed, and if so, then contact either a moderator or the > other party directly. > > > > Thanks to all for your support of this listserve and Ohio birding, and I > thank Bill Heck for pointing out the invaluable role that Miami University > plays in supporting the listserve and by extension, Ohio birding and > birders. > > > > Jim McCormac, President > > Ohio Ornithological Society ______________________________________________________________________ Ohio-birds mailing list, a service of the Ohio Ornithological Society. Our thanks to Miami University for hosting this mailing list. Additional discussions can be found in our forums, at www.ohiobirds.org/forum/. You can join or leave the list, or change your options, at: http://listserv.muohio.edu/scripts/wa.exe?LIST=OHIO-BIRDS Send questions or comments about the list to: [log in to unmask]