How to release it to your group
From MemberPlugin
As with most things about the running of your group, you should send an ADMIN. But before you do that, there are a few things you might like to do. These are just suggestions - obviously you can do some, all or none of these as you see fit.
You can see more information and other suggestions on the Discussion tab.
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Before you publicise i
Try it!
If your members are going to use it, it's a good idea for you to have tried it too. There's a playground group here, which is set up with default preferences. Feel free to install the plugins, and then join this group. You can then experiment with composing messages to see how it works.
Update your home page
Put a link to http://wiki.memberplugin.org on your home page, to let people know about it.
You can do this using one of the standard Logos. Like this:
<a href="http://wiki.memberplugin.org"><img src="http://tinyurl.com/memb05" width="500" height="60"></a>
Or you can put text. Something like this:
<font SIZE="5">We now have handy plugins for the Internet Explorer and Mozilla Firefox browsers to help you write messages without forgetting the helpful bits, and much more. <br><br>If you use one of these browsers, please go <a href="http://wiki.memberplugin.org">here</a> to install it.</font> </font>
Change your welcome message
You probably send out some information when people join the group. You should add some text in there. Something like this:
If you use Internet Explorer or Mozilla Firefox, then to help you format your messages correctly, so they get approved more rapidly, you should install a plugin. This also lets you work easily with your posts, and more. Please go to http://wiki.memberplugin.org and follow the instructions.
If you use Internet Explorer or Mozilla Firefox, then to help you format your messages correctly, so they get approved more rapidly, you should install a plugin. People often don't read welcome mails - so consider making this a separate file with a suitable subject, like:
Compose messages correctly using our new plugins
Some groups might not want to do this, to avoid swamping people with information - it's up to you.
Change your standard rejection texts
If you send standard replies to mails which are badly formatted, you should refer people to this tool. Something like this:
An easy way to get this right is to use the plugin for Internet Explorer or Mozilla Firefox, which will help you format your messages correctly. Please go to http://wiki.memberplugin.org and follow the instructions to install it.
Change your "group" message
Some people might post a good OFFER, and get taken off moderation, but then have forgotten how to post by the time they post again. So if you use the Firefox moderation extension to send people a message when you change their moderation status to Group, then you can mention the plugin in there, to encourage people to get it installed so that then it doesn't matter if they forget.
Change your footer
If you have a footer which publicises the Message Maker, change it to point to http://wiki.memberplugin.org .
Sending an ADMIN
Obviously you can write your own. But something like this:
If you've used Freegle, the chances are that at some point, you've had a moderator ask you to correct something in your mail - for example, you might have got the subject wrong. That creates extra work and hassle:
- It's more work for members, because you only find that out after you've sent your message. And it means more delay before your message reaches the group.
- It makes extra work for the moderators too.
So wouldn't it be great if you could get the messages right in the first place? Some of you may have used the Message Maker tool, which helps you format your messages correctly. Now you can install plugins for Internet Explorer and Mozilla Firefox, aimed at making it even easier to format your messages.
Once you install the appropriate plugin, then whenever you go to Yahoo's Post page to send a message, you'll see different fields to help you get the subject line right, and some hints about what to put in there. You also get a new My Posts link which allows to you easily see and work with your recent posts.
You also get other nice features, like a map of where posts are, so you can see what's available or sought nearby.
To install the plugin, go to http://wiki.memberplugin.org and follow the instructions. There's also help there, so you can see what to expect.
If you're really interested in this tool and want to find out more, suggest features, or report problems, then join the group for it at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/MemberPlugin . You don't have to do that just to use it, though.
You're not obliged to install this to carry on using the group - but it will make your life easier (and ours!) so do please consider it.
ADMIN for My Posts
Here's the one I'm sending out with a subject of ADMIN: Get New Features using the Freegle Plugins:
You might or might not know that there are plugins for Firefox and Internet Explorer to make using Freegle easier. Once you've installed these, you get several features built into Yahoo's web pages:
- A "Message Maker" on the Post page, to help you compose messages easily and correctly.
- A "My Posts" link which lets you see your recent posts, and mark OFFERs as TAKEN or WANTEDs as RECEIVED with a couple of clicks.
- An updated "Messages" page. For example, this greys out OFFERs which are no longer available (where it can).
These last two features are new - if you already have the plugin installed then it will prompt you to upgrade - see http://tinyurl.com/4y6wo2 for more information.
If you don't have the plugin installed, then to find out more and install, go to http://wiki.memberplugin.org .
Jokey ADMIN
Here's an ADMIN from Stevenage to get your members interested:
Significant e-Medical Breakthrough - Please Read
Do your posts linger in cyber space for hours before reaching the Stevenage Freecycle Board? Or do your posts bounce back from the moderators pending box with sickening regularity?
You may be affected by RJP - or rejected post syndrome!! This can affect your posts even if they are not suffering from this awful condition themselves.
What are the symptoms of RJP?
Offers lack location?
Wanteds are over-full and keep repeating.
Is the whole subject line sick and twisted?
Like microbes in a luke warm stew, these ghastly afflictions spread their evil effect in the Moderator's Pending Box so that even pure and innocent posts get harmed too.
This is because the Moderating Medicos have to scrutinise every post that lands for the symptoms above. Even your very best posts have to go into quarantine whilst the sick ones are sent back to their writers for repair and treatment.
But worry not! Hospital Supremo Hazel , Surgeons Sheila & Sandra - and for the hippy dippies, Alternative Therapist Annie - have the cure. And it is foolproof - well they haven't been able to wreck it!
It is this simple - we have found an amazing patch that once applied means no post of yours will ever again linger in the pending box, associating with the damaged ones - and if you use it we can eliminate the scourge of damaged posts anyway.
All you do is download our Member Plugin-
http://wiki.memberplugin.org/index.php/Main_Page
A video guide showing how easy it is to install can be seen here.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P6QHMLvOKow
The next post you send will then have an auto message attached telling the Moderators you have had the vaccine - and the Mods will then give all your future posts advance and immediate clearance -; Result - no post of yours will ever even drift by the Mods Pending Tray ever, ever again.
With a clean Bill of Health / Vaccination certificate - every single one will go straight to the Board.
Go -on - give it a go. Be the proud possessor of a clean posting record by getting your anti-pending patch today. Aren't your posts worth it?
Got questions or need help? e-mail whatever-owner@yahoogroups.com
