SkinCell Council 2

[Nick]

Dear Members,

Our regular members will already be aware that SkinCell operates on a unique basis when dealing with serious issues affecting the Forum.

As well having an Admin and a team of Moderators to deal with the day to day running of the forum we also have a democratic Council made up of Mod team and regular members. The reason for including regular members is to ensure that there is impartiality, no censorship, accurate reporting to the members and to ensure that neither Admin or the Mod Team are able to act unilaterally in banning members or deleting posts.

Since our first incarnation of the council we have reviewed its performance and are generally very pleased with how things have gone, however, times change and so our set up in the council is due for a change also, hopefully for the better.

Here are the main outlines for how the council will now be structured.

Council construction.
1. A new position of Head of Council has been created to act as a permanent intermediary between members and the council, also as a mentor and guide for freshman council members. The Head of Council (or HOC) would have a private email address of council@skincell.org as an anonymous front line point of contact should it ever be needed.
The HOC will also have a username available in the forum in case a member should want to contact them by Instant Message. That contact username is COUNCIL
2. Admin (that's me) will stand down from all voting unless specifically requested to take part by Head of Council (HOC) should any other members be excluded or fail to appear in council chambers. Admin will only serve the council to ensure that all information and data brought before the council is accurate and valid.
3. Any moderator or council member will be expected to withdraw their vote from any action in the event that they have any personal involvement in the action.
4. The Council will be formed from the 5 moderators, 4 general members and 1 HOC. Admin will act as facilitator, data clerk, officer of the council and reporter of the verdicts.

Council Membership
1. Any general member may be nominated to sit on the council by any other general member, by HOC, by moderators, or even by themselves. The total number of  general members allowed will be four plus HOC.
2. Council membership is open to all members but the preferred source is Gods and Goddesses due to their experience with the forum and its operations. Applications will be heard and dealt with on their own merits.
3. Nominations should be heard and reviewed from within Council Chambers which is where council view all cases and submit their votes with input being accepted from the Moderators, Admin and HOC.
4. On successful nomination admin will extend an invitation to the nominee.
5. Accepted members will only receive access to Council Chambers if there is a need to vote and the council is needed.

Reporting
All matters passed before the council will be reported to the general membership using this board, News. A new thread will be created with a title similar to "Council News". This task will be carried out only after all voting and an appropriate course of action has been decided and actioned upon by the council.

Complaints
Should you wish to register a formal complaint about any portion of the forum, its administrator, moderators or the council itself please address your complaints in the first place to any official. We are duty bound to act upon any complaint. In the event that a member is not satisfied with their response they may take the matter directly to the HOC who is sworn to impartial and independent action in all matters.
The matter may then be taken before the council for a decision.
Any appeals against a council decidion should be made to either the HOC or to Admin together with specific reasons why the appeal should be heard.
Any such appeal with then be reviewed and acted upon depending on the circumstances.


Identities.
In order to prevent abuse, harassment or undue influence it is our policy to keep the identities of the council general members secret unless they themselves wish to inform any other of this fact. Also, the HOC will remain secret to all except for those general members who join the Council.


I will be leaving this thread sticky but open to replies in case any members have questions, which I will do my best to answer .

Thanks for your time.

[Knanuk]

Nick, if by any means, I can help in this regard let me know --- Be warned that I have spent time in the Navy and 25 years in Warehouse operations, and, at times, although I make every attempt to control it , my language is not , what would one say " The Queen's English"

If , I can be of any service, no matter what, please let me know

Thanks my friend

[Nick]

Hi Bob,

Many thanks for the offer I really appreciate it


The whole idea of the Forum Council relies on the fact that regular members' views and opinions are highly valued. I know that there have been critics of the system and God only knows it's not perfect, but at least we try to make sure that the views and opinions of the membership is properly recognised and aired.

Queens English is certain not a requirement, neither is nationality, creed, colour or oratory ability. The whole idea of the Council sittings is to allow the representing members an equal opportunity to discuss and debate in private, regardless of their origins or background - embracing all cross-sections of the forum only serves to strengthen the Council

[Knanuk]

Nick, I once again offer my services , however limited they are , to anything that I can do to release you from any of your requirements - I, today saw, a relaxed Nick - in the Chat room -- we all, including you had a laugh . Perhaps, rather than Viewing and loking at the Boards, you should enjoy yourself more - who deserves it more.

Granted, I have not "seen you in action" before, but if your dities on this board refrain you from having fun, along with us - it is time to refrain from some of the duties you have. By no means am I saying that you can't do them , or shouldn't do them - it is a matter of enjoyment. __ I would certainly  rather "banter"  with the young ladies as try to determine what My Mate Guzzi and I were talking about -- Heck , we can't even sort it out.

 If you need any , and I stress - Non-technical help - I am willing to try and aid you , in an attempt to diminish your workload and increase your enjoyment.

[GuzziHeroV50]

"There is, to the best of my knowledge, no such operation at this time, nor would I, if asked, be able to confirm or deny any such operation, if it did, indeed, exist"
<Canada's contribution to English Grammar & Punctuation>

[Nick]

Thanks for that Bob You are so right.

There's nothing I enjoy more than a light hearted chat session especially with such a great crowd as we had on Sunday
I must be honest I have been spending far too much time either sifting through new code for the new forum or fiddling around with other matters that do unfortunately need to get done (but maybe they don't need to get done all at once).

It's important to take time out and to "smell the roses" once in a while, something I have been neglecting for far too long so I listened to a close friend of mine (she knows who she is) who suggested not rushing in to updating the forum at full speed, but to take a little bit of time to recapture the essence of what the forum is all about.

I did start to get a little bit worried when Idil got the needle out and Ian called in the help of Stella the fish-netted Fireman though

So, everybody be warned ! The SpannerMan is in da house and back to basics  

[Gary]

So, everybody be warned ! The SpannerMan is in da house and back to basics.

Word up, Son!

Fashizzle.

[Timothy41]

Nick, I commend your diplomatic approach to this forum and would be happy to serve in anyway needed.  

[Timothy41]

I Think I meant Democratic!!!!!!

[Nick]

Thanks Tim, I appreciate that

[Hvns]

Yes Nick you do a fine job at skincell   Do enjoy yourself and like you said stop and smell the roses   If you ever need my  help I'm here (um that is non tech help  )

Hvns

[Nick]

No matter Hvns, techie help, emotional help, morale supportive help .... they all add up to the same thing at the end of the day ..... HELP.
and that's what's important

I have never met such a supportive, helpful and unselfish bunch of internet surfers as I have met right here in SkinCell.

[Dhiammara]

I'm willing to help any way I can Nick. I've web skills if they're of any use as well.

Dhia

[Bev]

  That's because we have such a good Administrator

[Hvns]

I agree Nick  

[Nick]

Baaahhhhh  !

It's the members that makes this place what it is.
Always has been, always will be

[puppydogeyes]

Baaahhhhh  !

It's the members that makes this place what it is.
Always has been, always will be

eeek! nick's turning into a sheep!!!  

yep i agree, its the members who make SC a wonderful place to be....the administrator aint a bad bloke either...

also theres this mod i know...he's quite a nice fella too.....

[Nati]

Nick,
I can't offer you unlimited banner-making support since I recently figured out how to do it.  
-Nati

[Nick]

Hi Nati

And very cool it is too

[Val]

Baaahhhhh  !

It's the members that makes this place what it is.
Always has been, always will be

eeek! nick's turning into a sheep!!!  

yep i agree, its the members who make SC a wonderful place to be....the administrator aint a bad bloke either...

Totally agree with you Rosie

But I do so wish that our great SpannerMan would take some credit for setting this place up for us all.

also theres this mod i know...he's quite a nice fella too.....

Huh!! So what about the rest of the mods then Rosie?

[Bev]

All The Mods are lovely too
In fact everyone at Skincell is fantastic.............and I'm so happy to be apart of the skincell family

[peterb]

Val, I think Rosie was being a bit biased on a personal level    I know she meant the whole Mod Team.  

Although I must admit she has got taste.  

[Nick]

Although I must admit she has got taste.

You guys !

[puppydogeyes]

Val, I think Rosie was being a bit biased on a personal level    I know she meant the whole Mod Team.  

Although I must admit she has got taste.  

oh i did i did!!! the whole mod team are FANTASTIC...just that i think it would be a bit of a squash having em all in with us at night.  

yeah i got taste my love....you make a fabulous cuppa!  

[Val]

Val, I think Rosie was being a bit biased on a personal level    I know she meant the whole Mod Team.  

Although I must admit she has got taste.  

oh i did i did!!! the whole mod team are FANTASTIC...

Oh that's ok then Rosie!

just that i think it would be a bit of a squash having em all in with us at night.  

Eeerrrr! Yep it would be very squashed up as well I know, cuz I've seen your place.

yeah i got taste my love....you make a fabulous cuppa!  

Have to agree with you again Rosie, Pete makes a great cuppa coffee I do know. Never tried his tea though.

[puppydogeyes]

his tea and coffee are yummy!

[Hvns]

Yes it is the members that make skincell what it is, which is a awsome place to come to, to get support and give it back.
I certainly did not want to dimish what the other mods do, or the members also  

Hope no one took it that way, because that is not where I was going with my prior comment.

Hvns

[Nick]

Not at all Hvns

[Hvns]

whew! Thanks Nick