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--------- E30 M3 Special Interest Group Charter ----------
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E30 M3 SIG Advisory Gruppe: 
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Filippo Morelli       filippo@bimmers.com (M3 SIG Administrator) 
Ben Thongsai          ben@bimmers.com 
Gary Bossert          gary@bimmers.com


The E30 M3 SIG Charter 
==================
First of all it is assumed that all members are E30 M3 enthusiasts. If you 
are not, your time is probably better spent elsewhere. Given the common 
denominator of M3 passion, the purpose of the Charter is to provide 
guidelines that all members can understand and attempt to follow as best as 
possible.

The SIG is intended for the exchange of information and ideas pertaining 
to E30 M3's. Please note that responses which you make to individuals 
should be sent to the list as well if you feel your response provides useful
information to the members in general.

Please consider *carefully* how you post information. DO NOT post 
information as FACT if you do not know for a fact that the information is 
FACT. Opinions are good things and should be exchanged often. Many times, 
though, people will post false information as fact, which can mislead those 
that do not know better.

0.) Commercial posting is expressedly prohibited by business members or
those acting as a busy (i.e. buying and selling items). Private party parts
for sale or wanted (for E30 M3's) are acceptable. For more information on
this, please see the advertising policy.

1.) Administrative issues are ONLY to be sent to the list administrator - 
m3sig@bimmers.com, AND NOT to the list as a whole. These issues include... 
a) invitation of new members. 
b) change of address (or removal)
c) concerns about a post's content, a member or general list operation.

2.) Posts may ONLY pertain to E30 M3's. Topics which *indirectly* pertain 
to the M3 may be made so long as they seem sensible to the individual. 
Examples include: 
a) tire discussions about auto-x and track are ok, as many members compete 
	with their cars. 
b) E30 issues which concern E30 M3 members in general. Don't ask how to 
	fix your E30 325es on the list - that won't be well received.
	Posts which are not allowed include: 
	- e-mails which are not pertinent to the M3 - i.e "how do I fix the 
		window chatter in my 1986 325e?" or "1984 M635 for sale" 
	- personal attacks. 
	- political posts.

3.) New members will be brought on in READ ONLY mode for two weeks so they 
may experience how the list behaves before becoming a full participating 
member. Early Internet etiquette was "lurking" prior to posting, where one 
learned the behavior of a group prior to becoming involved ("when in Rome, 
do like the Romans"). This approach was effective but has been somewhat 
lost due to the onslaught of Internet Newbies.


If a member violates this charter they will be placed in READ ONLY mode
for two weeks. The next time will cause review of the Advisory Gruppe for
potential removal from the list. If other behavior is occurring which is
detrimental to the list, the member in question will be contacted with
the issue and asked to modify their behavior.

History: 
====== 
The E30 M3 list was founded on March 5th, 1997 by a core group of E30 M3 
owners interested in sharing information and creating a resource pool for 
the enjoyment and maintenance of the M3. Matt Brumwell, Ben Thongsai and 
Filippo Morelli launched the list along with more than 20 founding members. 

Two decisions were made with regard to how the list would operate: 
1) the list is "by invitation only" -- any existing member may invite a 
	new individual to the list, simply by dropping the list administrator a 
	note. It was asked that people use "good judgement" in inviting individuals 
	to the list - list culture was important to the initial members. 
2) moderation would not occur, except in the case of personal attacks or 
	out of subject context mail.

Years later... 
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The list now more than 900 members -- many of these members are not in the
United States. With growth has come the opportunity for all of us to 
meet many new people and share our experiences, expertise and moral support.
We now allow all E30 M3 enthusiasts join, no longer requiring invitation by
existing members. The original invitation mechanism was used to build a group
with strong integrity and cultural ownership of this online community.

On the downside, the list is not as rich in dialog as it was in the first 
six months of operation. Furthermore, several personal spats have occurred, 
along with postings ranging from topics which have nothing to do with the 
E30 M3 to information as fact (which is hardly fact).

The issue... 
========= 
First and foremost, the list is a place for enthusiasts to share and enjoy 
their passion of the E30 M3. While we all have different perspectives on 
the car (and what we enjoy about them), this passion is the one thing that 
brings us all together.

To keep the list operating with a maxim of topical postings and 
discussions over subject matter (versus personal attacks over subject 
matter), something had to be done. An M3 Advistory Gruppe was assembled to 
put together a Charter by which all members will work to uphold.

There were other alternatives: 
1) do nothing and continue to watch the list deteriorate. 
2) dump the list and start a new, small list with 40 or so of our best 
	friends. 
3) moderate all traffic.

As you might guess, the Gruppe did not like any of the above three for 
fairly obvious reasons. The M3 SIG Charter was created to address the issues
and clearly set the guidelines for the community.

Filippo Morelli - Author Ben Thongsai, Chet Marfatia - Proof
	Best viewed at 800 x 600	© Copyright 1999