DISCUSSION FORUMS OVERVIEW
The most popular and widely used resource for GGMG members is our discussion platform that is hosted in BigTent. These forums are meant to create a sense of community amongst our members and provide a safe and supportive environment to learn and share.

There are four discussion forums:

• Parenting Questions: for all parenting and pregnancy-related discussions, including questions about how you interact with your caregivers.

• Miscellaneous Questions: for all questions not related to parenting, such as housekeeper recommendations, home renovations, travel advice or general inquiries.

• Caregiver Search: used to recommend or search for a nanny, au pair, day care, share care, babysitter, mother's helper, doula, etc. You should only recommend a caregiver that you have used personally and you must use the Caregiver Recommendation Template. Please click here for more detail.

• GGMG Events and Announcements: used by GGMG volunteers to announce upcoming events and volunteer openings. Only volunteers are allowed to post to this forum.

There are two additional sections:

• Classifieds: used to post items for sale or "wish to buy", garage sales, event swaps, tickets, discount referrals and coupon codes, real estate/rental listings, job openings or seeking employment, and advertising and self promotion. Please click here for more detail.

• Reviews: for member reviews or announcements of local businesses or services as well as recipes, books, movies, products and travel.

If you check "ATTENTION PLEASE CHOOSE ONLY ONE FORUM BELOW" your message will not be posted. It is solely a reminder for members to choose only one forum when posting to the group.

This page will discuss:

TECHNICAL INFO
Instructions on how to access the forums and change your email preferences

FORUM BEST PRACTICES
Recommendations on how to make the most of the forums

FORUM GUIDELINES
Outlines what is allowed in the forums and what will be removed

MODERATION PROCEDURES
Explains how the forums are moderated

To Access the Forums
To view or participate in the forums, login to BigTent, go to 'my groups' then choose 'Golden Gate Mothers Group'. Click on the 'forums' tab to view recent discussions or search for historical threads.

To Change your Email Preferences
To change the frequency of email notifications you receive from these forums, login to BigTent, go to 'my bigtent' then choose 'email settings'. Put a check mark in the box to the left of the forum(s) you wish to change. Scroll to the bottom of the page and use the 'Change notification to' drop-down box to select one of the following:

• Email daily message digest (topics only) – will send an email message for every 25 new topics that are posted; you may receive more than one email per day. This option will send the least number of email messages per day.


• Email daily message digest (topics and comments) – will send an email message for every 25 new topics or comments that are posted; you may receive more than one email per day.


• Web Only – will not send any email digests but you can access content online at any time

The general format of our discussion forums is to post a question and other members will respond based on their own experiences. For example, a member might post "When should I take away my baby's pacifier?" Other members are encouraged to respond with their own stories and/or advice.

These forums are not monitored, meaning that GGMG volunteers do not consistently read or respond to posts made on this forum. If you have a question for the directors or a specific committee, please send us an email instead of posting on the forums. Click here for a list of direct email addresses.

Here are some other recommendations on how to use the forums:

DO NOT SHARE your BigTent Username and Password
Our online community in BigTent is meant for members only. Do not share your login credentials (username and password) with non-members such as your spouse or partner, your caregiver or your friends.

Search the archives
Always search the archives before asking a question. Chances are someone else has asked the same question and there are valuable answers already available. To perform a search:

• Log in to BigTent with your BigTent ID and Password
• From the top-level navigation, click "my groups", and then choose "Golden Gate Mothers Group"
• Click on the "forums" tab
• In the box labeled "Search" type in a simple description of your search. Use general wording, if possible, and if one description isn't adequate, try using similar wording. For example, if you are looking for information on sleep training, search for "sleep learning" or "CIO".
• Click on the magnifying glass to run the search. The results will be displayed below the search box. Click "Next" to page through the results.

Choose the CORRECT forum for your post
You may only post your message to ONE forum. Please review the forum descriptions above to determine the appropriate forum for your post. If posted to the wrong forum, your message may be deleted and you will not be notified. If you are uncertain, please send an email to webmaster@ggmg.org.

Choose only ONE FORUM for your post
You may only post your message to ONE forum. If you post to more than one forum simultaneously, ALL of those messages will be deleted and you may not be notified. Please review the forum descriptions to choose the appropriate forum for your post.

Limit the number of times you post the same message
You may only post the same message once per week. Duplicate postings within the same week will be deleted and you will not be notified.

Do not post "for a friend"
The discussion forums are for the exclusive use of GGMG members. Please do not post on behalf of non-GGMG members.

Forum guidelines are in place to help maintain a safe and supportive discussion environment. These guidelines outline what is allowed in the forums and what will be removed:

Advertising and Self Promotion
You may not post a new topic to advertise a business, service, website or blog in the forums. However, you can post a response to another member's forum post. For example, you may not start a thread suggesting members take a pilates class at a local studio. However, if a member asks for advice on where they can take a pilates class, you can comment on their post with detailed info regarding your favorite pilates studio including the studio name and other pertinent info. If you have an affiliation with the business (for example: you are the owner or an employee) you must disclose this affiliation in your response and your response must be relevant to the conversation.

Unsolicited advertising and self promotion is allowed in the 'Classifieds' and the 'Reviews' sections. To access these sections, click on their respective tabs in BigTent. In the Classifieds section, please post to the 'Services Offered' category. EXCEPTION: Caregivers may not promote themselves.

Event Postings
No posts for events, talks, open houses, etc unless it is:

• Sponsored by GGMG or
• Sponsored by the city or
• A school fundraiser/open house or
• Free and open to the public

The Classifieds Section
Please note that the following items should be posted in the Classifieds section, not in the forums. To access the Classifieds, click on the 'classifieds' tab in BigTent.

• Items for sale or "wish to buy"
• GGMG registered event swaps
• Discount referrals or coupon codes
• Real estate or rental listings
• Job openings or seeking employment
• Advertising and self promotion

Message Format for Caregiver Warnings
Questionable caregiver situations may be posted in the 'Parenting Questions' forum; however, you must keep the tone neutral and use the template below. Posts concealing your identity and posts or comments naming caregivers in a negative way will be removed.

Message Title: Questionable Caregiver Situation at <blank>

Message: I witnessed a questionable caregiver situation with a child today. Here is a description of the parties involved. Please contact me if you think this could be your child.

Message Format for Vendor Warnings
Negative reviews for local businesses, doctors, etc. may be posted in either the 'Parenting Questions' or 'Miscellaneous Questions' forums, however you must use the following language and you should not conceal your identity:

Message Title: Negative Experience at <blank>

Message: I had a negative experience with <blank>. If you are thinking of hiring/using this vendor, please contact me.

No Solicitations
No solicitations for religious or political campaigns, any type of "Vote for X" messages, chain letters, or requests for monetary donations. 

Requests for the donation of items such as clothes, diapers, carseats, etc will be allowed.  

Posting links encouraging members to take surveys is not allowed. Any exceptions must get approval from the board.

No Unsolicited Recommendations
If you would like to provide positive feedback on local businesses, doctors, etc. this can be done in the 'Reviews' section. To access the Reviews section, click on the 'reviews' tab in BigTent.

No Political Discussions
Please refrain from posting political opinions or commentary. 

No Solitary Links
Forum posts that contain a link to an article or website with no explanation or context provided may be removed.

No Inflammatory Language
Posts that include inflammatory language such as profanity, sarcasm or personal attacks will be removed from the forums.

No Bullying or Harassment
Members should be polite, courteous and respectful when debating sensitive topics such as sleep training and vaccination choices. Any form of bullying or harassment will not be tolerated.

No Illegal Posts
Forum posts that are found to be in violation of Federal or California State Law will be deleted.

Confidentiality
Member email addresses and other contact information are confidential and for the personal use of members only. Do not share member information or your BigTent login credentials with non-members.

False Identity
GGMG members must be mothers, living in San Francisco, with children age five and under. If it is found that you did not meet these criteria when you joined or renewed your membership (for example: you are a nanny trying to find a job or you are a vendor trying to promote your own business), your membership privileges will be revoked.

GUIDELINES SPECIFIC TO THE CAREGIVER SEARCH FORUM

GGMG prides itself on providing a safe and reliable community for our members. The Caregiver Search forum is meant to help you find a variety of caregiver solutions including a nanny, babysitter, au pair, mother's helper, doula, day care, share care, etc. Please note that preschools do not fall under this category.

In an effort to maintain the integrity of this forum and protect our members, the following guidelines are in place:

Caregiver Recommendation Template

• My name is:
• My phone number is:
• My email address is:
• My caregiver's name is:
• My caregiver's contact information is:
• She/he is looking for: <type of job>, <location>, <dates>, <etc.>
• I employed this caregiver from <start date> to <end date>
• I highly recommend her/him because:

Optional:

• Your child's age:
• Does the caregiver drive (yes/no):
• Any certifications (eg. CPR):
• Recent Immunizations:
• TB Test (yes/no):

Full Moderation

The Caregiver Search forum is fully moderated. This means that all posts must be approved by a member of the Webmaster Committee before they will be displayed in BigTent. Posts are typically reviewed 1-2 days after being submitted. If you do not see your post within that time frame, send an email to webmaster@ggmg.org to see if your post was rejected for being in violation of forum guidelines.

No Anonymous Caregiver Recommendations

Anonymous recommendations for caregivers, nannies, babysitters, au pairs, mother's helpers, doulas, etc will be rejected.

No "Posting for a Friend"

All recommendations made in this forum must be written by you, for a caregiver that you have used personally.

Allow Interested Parties to Contact You Directly

In your recommendation, you may encourage members to contact your caregiver for additional information however you should also be available to discuss your experience with the caregiver you're recommending with interested parties.

Do Not Post in the Classifieds

All searches or recommendations for caregivers in the Classifieds section will be deleted.

Suspicious Activity

If you experience unusual or suspicious activity when exploring the referrals provided in the Caregiver Search forum, please alert the Webmaster Committee by sending an email to webmaster@ggmg.org. We will investigate the situation and take appropriate action.

Verifying Recommendations

GGMG volunteers will randomly verify recommendations made in this forum. Your GGMG membership will be terminated if it is found that you have made a false representation of yourself or your caregiver.

Disclaimer: GGMG cannot verify all information provided by members and therefore does not endorse the recommendations made in our online forums. Members are encouraged to perform proper due diligence when interviewing and hiring caregivers based on these recommendations.

GUIDELINES SPECIFIC TO THE CLASSIFIEDS SECTION

The Classifieds section is an open marketplace for our members. It can be accessed by clicking on the 'classifieds' tab within BigTent. Its goal is to allow for the exchange of goods and services amongst our community.

Please note the following items that can and should be posted to the Classifieds section (not the forums):

Items for Sale or Wish to Buy

Items for sale or 'wish to buy/borrow' should be posted in the Classifieds section. Please ensure you are satisfied with the condition of the item before you make a purchase, as GGMG cannot be held liable for these transactions.

GGMG Registered Event Swaps

If you have registered for a GGMG event and can no longer attend, you may post the availability of the spot in the 'Classifieds' section in the "GGMG Event Swaps" category. Once you have found a replacement, inform the event organizer of your attendance swap so they know whom to expect at the event.

Discount Referrals and Coupon Codes

Discount referrals (for example: Groupon or Plum District) should be posted in the Classifieds section in the "Discounts & Coupons" category. If you are receiving any type of benefit from the promotion, it must be fully disclosed. Coupon codes for any sale event (for example: 40% off at the Gap or Friends & Family discount code for my company) should also be posted in the Classifieds section in the "Discounts & Coupons" category.

Real Estate or Rental Listings

All real estate or rental listings, "in search of" requests and invitations to open houses should be posted in the Classifieds section.

Job Openings and Seeking Employment

Job openings or job seeking requests may be posted in the Classifieds section under the 'career' categories. You may also try a Yahoo Group called 'Works for Me'. This is a spin off of GGMG's previously used Yahoo Group. EXCEPTION: Please note that caregivers may NOT seek employment in the Classifieds section. This includes nannies, babysitters, au pairs, mother's helpers, doulas, and day cares. All caregivers must be recommended by a mother for whom they have worked previously. More information can be found in the 'Caregiver Search Forum' section.

Advertising and Self Promotion

Advertising for a business or a service is allowed in the 'Classifieds' section. This applies to any business, regardless of whether you are the owner, an employee or a customer. When posting an advertisement, please use the 'Services Offered' category. EXCEPTION: Please note that caregivers may NOT promote themselves in the Classifieds section. This includes nannies, babysitters, au pairs, mother's helpers, doulas, and day cares. All caregivers must be recommended by a mother for whom they have worked previously. More information can be found in the 'Caregiver Search Forum section.

Please be aware, our forums are not fully moderated. Posts made by members who disclose their identity are displayed immediately after being submitted. Posts made anonymously are placed in a moderation queue and must be approved by the Webmaster Committee before they are displayed. The typical time for anonymous posts to be reviewed and displayed is 2-3 days. If you do not see your anonymous post displayed within that time frame, send an email to webmaster@ggmg.org to see if your post was rejected for being in violation of forum guidelines.

Note: Anonymous posts are truly anonymous; moderators cannot see the original poster's name in the moderation queue.

Flagging Messages
The Webmaster Committee is responsible for moderating the forums. This committee is comprised solely of volunteers. Due to the volume of posts in the forums (there are approximately 400 posts per day) we rely on all GGMG members to notify us when they see a post that violates forum guidelines. This can be done by sending an email to webmaster@ggmg.org or by flagging the message in the BigTent forum interface. To flag a message, simply click the 'flag' checkbox below the message.

When a message is flagged, a notice will appear in the moderation queue. A member of the Webmaster Committee will then review the message in question. The moderator will choose to either ignore the flag (in which case the message continues to be displayed) or will delete the message from the forum. It is up to the moderator to decide if a post is in violation of a forum rule. If the message is deleted, a copy will be saved for future reference (unless it is posted multiple times in the same forum or it is posted in multiple forums, in which case it will simply be deleted). Please note that no notification will be sent to the poster when the message is deleted. If you find that one of your posts is not displayed in the forums, please send an email to webmaster@ggmg.org and we will explain why your post was removed.

Constant Moderation
If a member violates our forum guidelines multiple times, that member may be placed on "constant moderation". This means that every message they post will need to be approved by the Webmaster Committee before it is displayed in the forums. The Webmaster Committee will notify the member when they are placed on constant moderation and when they are removed. The length of time a member is on constant moderation is up to the discretion of the Webmaster Committee but is typically three months. GGMG reserves the right to take appropriate action (for example: suspending or revoking membership) if a member continuously violates forum guidelines.

Moderating Discussions
If a discussion contains multiple comments that are in violation of forum guidelines, the Webmaster Committee will post a warning reminding members to be considerate when participating in the discussion. If it continues in the same manner, the discussion will be closed for further comment or removed from the forum.