Hi,

How do I reinstate my email to get the VTBird reports? I have been on 
temporary hold for several months and now am able to receive again.

Thanks,
Carolyn Jackson
[log in to unmask]



On 9/13/2010 7:11 PM, Ernie Buford wrote:
>  This discussion is about 1 month old now, so it's high time I wrapped 
> it up (or, more likely, initiate more discussion!)....
>
> VTBIRDers have spoken, I've reflected, and now I've decided to remove 
> from VTBIRD guidelines the new language I recently added concerning 
> advertisement of fee-based events, services, and professional 
> photographs.  I certainly do NOT want to open the flood gates to an 
> onslaught of commercial advertisements and will change course if that 
> happens.  For now, I think it is appropriate to allow thoughtful 
> promotion of *local* (perhaps regional) events and workshops that are 
> of interest to birders in Vermont.  Astute observers will notice that 
> nothing in the VTBIRD guidelines ever did prohibit commercial 
> advertisements.  I like to believe that we were all just too 
> considerate to spam each other with that sort of content.
>
> So for now, feel free to announce birding workshops, special bird 
> tours, and speaking events.  Just keep a few things in mind:
>
> 1) Whatever you are announcing had better be relevant to Vermont 
> birders (and mindful of the other VTBIRD guidelines)
> 2) If you've posted an ad or announcement, then wait a month or two (3 
> might be better) before you do it again
> 3) Use the SUBJECT line to identify your post appropriately (everyone 
> should be doing this anyway, regardless of content)
> 4) Apply the Steve Mermelstein test (quoted below) before posting
>
> While (if?) you are still reading, please allow me to clarify two 
> points of confusion that arose in the course of this discussion:
>
> I did ask that pro photographers exercise restraint, but I never 
> intentionally suggested that they should not be sharing their work 
> (when relevant) on VTBIRD.  I can't say enough about how nice it is to 
> have photographs, professional or otherwise, accompanying bird reports 
> (particularly those extraordinary sightings that many birders may not 
> get a chance to see).
>
> Several comments indicated that subscribers were concerned I might 
> clamp down on "ordinary" bird reports.  I have no such intention.  I 
> must admit that I do greet some of the so-called mundane trip reports 
> with dismay, but that's my personal bias.  I do not individually 
> screen these posts; I only ask that contributors consider how 
> interesting a report is before posting it to VTBIRD (keeping in mind 
> that we have all levels of experience and ability in our audience).
>
> Finally, I'll share a few representative subscriber comments on the 
> current topic:
>
> "...perhaps occasional, judicious posts -- directing folks to a web 
> page, for example, and discouraging follow-up discussion -- may be 
> appropriate from entrepreneurs of my ilk."  -- Bryan Pfeiffer  [Yes!]
>
> "I'm not even sure why there should be an objection to the occasional 
> notice of for-profit products, events, Web sites, etc., as long as 
> they're clearly identified as such.  There's surely nothing 
> dishonorable about making a living by providing products and services 
> the birding community wants." -- Jane Stein
>
> "Purely for the sake of clarity would an authority figure please 
> explain to me why the above self-promotional post containing multiple 
> links to a commercial web site (I consider web sites running shopping 
> carts to meet the minimal threshold of commerce) is allowable, while 
> some post announcing (once) a birding workshop is anathema." -- Kim 
> Likakis
>
> To answer Kim's question:  I don't think I can explain that, so I 
> won't attempt to discriminate (unless "commercial" volume becomes 
> problematic).
>
> Best regards,
> Ernie Buford
> VTBIRD List Owner
> http://www.uvm.edu/~ebuford/vtbird.html
>
> On 8/14/2010 9:29 PM, Janet Watton wrote:
>> Steve Mermelstein said it best:  "Just don't post anything if it's 
>> going to serve you more than it'll
>> serve the VT Birding community as a whole."
>>
>> As did Allan Strong:   "the delete key is only inches away."
>>
>> This is such a nifty site, with so much information - choose what you 
>> want and need from it - and has such a warmth of bird-lover community 
>> about it.  Let's not go for too much change!  And kudos to Ernie for 
>> making it all happen.  I just supposed it was Cyber-Magic - never 
>> occurred to me that some poor human being had to sift through all 
>> this STUFF and get it out to us all, every single day.  Thanks so much!
>> Janet Watton
>> Randolph Center
>