<div dir="ltr">I would like to promote email addresses and online groups for
Sagamore—what do you think?<br>
<h1>Introduction<br>
</h1>
<p>We sometimes struggle with promotion, inclusion, and succession;
it's not obvious to outsiders how vibrant Sagamore is, new parents
wonder how to plug-in, and existing knowledge doesn't find its way
new volunteers. Emailing Sagamore groups and email addresses
instead of personal email addresses would be a minor change to our
existing ways, yet could address some of those weaknesses; outsiders can
see Sagamore in action (impress prospective parents), new parents can
engage on their own time without formalities (more volunteering), and
successors can easily search past activity (less effort).<br>
</p>
<h1>How it works<br>
</h1>
<p>Remember, all of this is up for discussion…<br>
</p>
<p>Sagamore email addresses will work as you're used to. Addresses are
established for positions, such as <a href="mailto:president@sagamorehillspta.org">president@sagamorehillspta.org</a> .
Your email interface—phone, web, desktop client—are configured to access
that email account (in addition to your existing email) (I make house
calls). Using both your personal and Sagamore email accounts is easy.
Both the "From:" field and footer signature can be set to mention both
your name and Sagamore position. Now when you roll off your position,
your successor has access to your past activity (in your Sagmore email
account) and you won't continue to be solicited by the wider world
regarding Sagamore business. Light duty use might just have a Sagamore
email address forwarded to a personal account instead of using the
Sagamore email directly.<br>
</p>
<p>Groups—most email should be sent to an appropriate Sagamore group
instead of specific people (or at least always CC a group too).
Everyone decides how "plugged-in" to a group they want to be: completely
ignore, browse past conversations on the web, subscribe to receive
weekly or daily digests by email, or subscribe to receive every
message. Anyone can email a (non-announcement) group, but messages from
non-subscribers are moderated (I can moderate more heavily if need be).<br>
</p>
<h1>Email addresses</h1>
<p>Here are some ideas for email addresses. Should all Board positions have one?
Email addresses are good for permanent contacts, sensitive information,
and record a position's activities for reference by future position
holders.<br>
</p>
<h2>President</h2>
<p><a href="mailto:president@sagamorehillspta.org">president@sagamorehillspta.org</a> - Both co-presidents can use the same email account.<br>
</p>
<h2>Treasurer</h2>
<p>[already exists] <a href="mailto:treasurer@sagamorehillspta.org">treasurer@sagamorehillspta.org</a> - Since the Treasurer
has relationships with banks, auditors, and probably other outside
parties, it make sense those contacts use this email address.<br>
</p>
<h2>Communications</h2>
<p>[already exists] <a href="mailto:communications@sagamorehillspta.org">communications@sagamorehillspta.org</a> - Have already
used with our online hosting providers, promotional websites (Patch), and website notifications.<br>
</p>
<h2>Fundraising</h2>
<p><a href="mailto:fundraising@sagamorehillspta.org">fundraising@sagamorehillspta.org</a> - Would be the contact for all the
fundraising programs we can work with (Amazon Smile, Publix, local
sponsors, etc.).<br>
</p>
<h2>Garden</h2>
<p>[already exists] <a href="mailto:garden@sagamorehillspta.org">garden@sagamorehillspta.org</a> - Since the garden
coordinator makes many community contacts (Botanical Garden,
universities, volunteer orgs) that we don't want lost when the garden
coordinator changes, this email address provides a consistent Sagamore
garden contact for the larger community.<br>
</p>
<h1>Groups</h1>
<p>It's hard to get groups right, balancing specificity with simplicity,
volume with value. Here are some ideas. Existing groups can be
deleted and new ones created.<br>
</p>
<p>I've been <a href="http://www.9.0ne.org/w/Sagamore_discussion_lists" target="_blank">experimenting with groups</a> for a while.<br>
</p>
<h2>Sagamore announce</h2>
<p><a href="mailto:sagamore-announce@groups.sagamorehillspta.org">sagamore-announce@groups.sagamorehillspta.org</a> - Only moderators can post. Basically serves a similar
function to the existing Wildcat Update email list, but can serve any
important information (or from any source). Everyone should be subscribed.</p>
<h2>Community announce</h2>
<p><a href="mailto:community-announce@groups.sagamorehillspta.org">community-announce@groups.sagamorehillspta.org</a> - A low volume one-way
mailing list where folks in the wider community can subscribe and hear
about Sagamore happenings that may interest them. Invitations to
grounds or garden days, fundraisers, good news, alumni events, art show,
etc. I have met neighbors who are very interested in such
communications.<br>
</p>
<h2>Sagamore</h2>
<p><a href="mailto:sagamore@groups.sagamorehillspta.org">sagamore@groups.sagamorehillspta.org</a> - The most general Sagamore discussion group, where all the action is. Core
folks will be subscribed and anyone else can follow along too. Events
that come and go throughout the year can coordinate here.<br>
</p>
<p>I wonder if this should be two groups: this less busy, occasionally
reach out to parents discussion group, and a "all the Sagamore action"
group ("sagamore-volunteer@groups", "sagamore-active@groups", ?).<br>
</p>
<h2>Spanish</h2>
<p><a href="mailto:sagamore-spanish@groups.sagamorehillspta.org">sagamore-spanish@groups.sagamorehillspta.org</a> - Where spanish speakers at Sagamore can support each other.<br>
</p>
<h2>Board</h2>
<p><a href="mailto:board@groups.sagamorehillspta.org">board@groups.sagamorehillspta.org</a> - Where PTA Board chatter happens.
Not sure if it should exist, maybe the general Sagamore group is
enough.<br>
</p>
<h2>Each grade<br>
</h2>
<p><a href="mailto:graduatingyear@groups.sagamorehillspta.org">graduatingyear@groups.sagamorehillspta.org</a> - Not sure about this one…<br>
</p>
<p>Each grade could have its own announcements group to which all
parents in that grade are subscribed to allow grade specific
announcements.<br>
</p>
<p>There could also be grade level discussion groups (many-to-many).<br>
</p>
<p>The group names would be based on graduation date—instead of grade—so
that the same group continues to be relevant for each class's years at
Sagamore. Sagamore or high school graduation year (e.g. 2014-2015's
second grade would be 2018 or 2025)?<br>
</p>
<p>I set one up when my now-second-grade daughter was in kindergarten and it currently has 94 subscribers. You can get a feel for its utility over the years by looking at its <a href="http://list.9.0ne.org/archive/2025.sagamore/" target="_blank">archive</a> (or <a href="https://www.google.com/search?q=site:list.9.0ne.org/archive/2025.sagamore" target="_blank">Google's view</a>).<br>
</p>
<h2>Room Parent</h2>
<p>[already exists] <a href="mailto:roomparent@groups.sagamorehillspta.org">roomparent@groups.sagamorehillspta.org</a> - Room
parents are awesome, and their activity and
wisdom should be out in the open for all to see. This groups allows
them to coordinate amongst themselves, and let interested parents easily
lend a hand. Again, it's great for room parents because they don't
have to keep track of all the room parent email addresses (the just mail
the group).<br>
</p>
<h2>STEM</h2>
<p>[<a href="https://groups.google.com/a/groups.sagamorehillspta.org/d/forum/stem" target="_blank">already exists</a>] <a href="mailto:stem@groups.sagamorehillspta.org">stem@groups.sagamorehillspta.org</a> - For those excited about STEM.<br>
</p>
<p>Maybe should also have an announcements group to keep community partners (business) engaged? Maybe the "community-announce" group would do that?<br>
</p>
<h2>Foundation</h2>
<p>[<a href="https://groups.google.com/a/groups.sagamorehillspta.org/d/forum/foundation" target="_blank">already exists</a>]
<a href="mailto:foundation@groups.sagamorehillspta.org">foundation@groups.sagamorehillspta.org</a> - Currently allows folks to talk
about establishing a Sagamore foundation. Once a foundation is
established, where work can take place.<br>
</p>
<h2>Garden<br>
</h2>
<p>[<a href="https://groups.google.com/a/groups.sagamorehillspta.org/d/forum/garden" target="_blank">already exists</a>]
<a href="mailto:garden@groups.sagamorehillspta.org">garden@groups.sagamorehillspta.org</a> - The garden happens 365 days a year
and can use the help of the entire Sagamore neighborhood. The garden
group allows anyone in the larger community with an interest in the
garden to know what's going on and jump in to help. When it's time to
talk garden, email this group, to which the garden coordinator is always
subscribed.<br>
</p>
<p>Maybe there should be a garden announcement group too?<br>
</p>
<h2>Building & Grounds</h2>
<p>[already exists] <a href="mailto:grounds@groups.sagamorehillspta.org" target="_blank">grounds@groups.sagamorehillspta.org</a> - Some people
like working on buildings and grounds. People can talk about ideas and
priorities, pass on opportunities for mulch or volunteer painters, etc.
Of course, the Building & Grounds leadership is necessarily
subscribed and grounds day reminders would go to the "sagamore-announce"
group.<br>
</p>
<h1>Conclusion</h1>
<p>Imagine if you could only email groups instead of individuals, would
these groups suffice? This is really an experiment, a suggestion—we can
see what happens, adjust as we go, or scrap most of it.<br>
</p>
<p>Thanks for taking a look, and I'll see you at Jen's next week!<br>
</p>
</div>