CSO Email Policy for Google Groups

E-mail is a great convenience and serves as the primary means of communication for ChesapeakeSpokes.org (CSO). However, e-mail also makes it is easy for the author's meaning to be lost, leading to miscommunication. Unfortunately, it also tempts people to say things that they wouldn't say in person. CSO wants to avoid both problems! Because e-mail is our primary means of communication, it is important to have some guidelines to prevent the above problems. Below are some common-sense reminders for composing the messages that we send through Google Groups.

1. When replying to a Google Groups message, your "Reply" only goes to the sender of the email.  If you "Reply All", your reply will go to everyone on the list. Please ask yourself this question before hitting reply: "Does everyone need to read this e-mail?" In most cases, the answer is "no." In your e-mail reply, replace the Google Groups address with the address of the specific person or people you want to e-mail.

2. Avoid typing in all capitals. IT COMES ACROSS AS YELLING AND IS HARD TO READ.

3. Do not say anything in an e-mail that you would not say in person.

4. Do not air personal disputes via Google Groups.

5. Tactful disagreement is welcome when discussing club business. Tactful disagreement includes stating your opinion without attacking others and their opinions.

6. Be thoughtful as you compose your message and use common courtesy. Ask yourself, "Could anything I type be misconstrued? Would a reasonable person be upset by this message?"

7. Finally, give others the benefit of the doubt and do not make assumptions about the intentions behind another's message. Chances are that any perceived offense was not intended.