Oh, please tell me how to handle this. I'm fuming!

[Word Nerd]

It seems pretty funny for people on a communication platform funded by and advertising a commercial entity to be complaining about a different communication platform because it's hosted by a commercial entity.

Edited January 10, 2018 by Word Nerd

[Bluegoat]

It seems pretty funny for people on a communication platform funded by and advertising a commercial entity to be complaining about a different communication platform because it's hosted by a commercial entity.

 

I don't know - what do you know about SWB's plans that I don't?

[eternalsummer]

FB is like slot machines?

 

What do you say in response to the many posters who have explained that they don't view their FB news feed, don't follow anybody except the groups they belong to, set email notifications so they don't have to log in to FB every day...?

 

Just like nobody makes you buy overpriced and unhealthy popcorn and soda at the movies - you really can pay the matinee or coupon price and not waste your money on impulsive junk - nobody makes you sign up for the full social media experience.

 

Really, it can just be a tool.

 

People need to grow up and take responsibility.

 

 

Well, I am not the person who posted the analogy, but I would say that there are a lot of people who can go to a casino once and never again (or smoke once and never again, etc.).  That doesn't mean slot machines aren't harmful for people predisposed to that addiction.

 

Furthermore, while some people are fine with the existence and promotion of things that are harmful to others but not themselves (like casinos), other people find it unacceptable to support them, even though they may or may not be personally harmful, kwim?  Like, I think people should be allowed to drink alcohol if they want, and that bars are okay enough to exist, and etc., but I know of people who themselves would never set foot in a bar - not because they think they'll become alcohol addicts but because they think the business itself promotes and abets alcoholism (at least this is what I get as the gist of why people are morally opposed to bars, I am not 100% sure).  At any rate obviously there are some people who are opposed to them, or to casinos, or to brothels, or to weed smoking clubs, or to a zillion other things; sometimes they go as far as to say that these places should be outlawed but sometimes they just refuse to support them personally.

[eternalsummer]

It seems pretty funny for people on a communication platform funded by and advertising a commercial entity to be complaining about a different communication platform because it's hosted by a commercial entity.

 

 

Well, I think the thing is (and this seems really obvious to me so I must be missing your point) that people who participate on these forums have chosen to do so because they either don't mind the advertising, or don't mind what SWB does with whatever data she collects, or don't mind SWB as a person or Peace Hill Press as a company, or whatever other reason they've deliberately chosen to use this platform.

 

Choosing to use one company that does a certain thing (provides a communication platform, funded through advertising) doesn't mean that you'll automatically choose to use every company that does that thing.

 

For instance, I might buy shoes from X company that has a factory in China but pays a living wage and has decent working conditions, but be unwilling to buy Nikes or whatever.  Now if my kid's community basketball team insists that everyone wear Nikes, okay, but I might be unable to participate on the team (or I might ask for an exemption).  But to say that if I'm willing to buy this pair of tennis shoes, what's the difference, surely I'm happy to buy all tennis shoes?

[ErinE]

I've run a four-family group and assisted in running one much large (at least 30+ families). Running a large group was in many ways easier, because many parents understood the need to volunteer and helped out. When it was smaller group, it was me, by myself, doing everything. On top of my focus on the kids (planning meetings, finding venues, getting supplies), I had to deal with drama between families and complaints about communication. I gave out a newsletter every meeting, I sent emails, I sent group texts, and I had Facebook. I spent a ridiculous amount of time creating content for the different communication methods. How did everyone get their information? Facebook. They forget or lost the newsletter, didn't read emails, and turned off notifications on group texts (because they're annoying and hard to find the initial notification text among all the replies).

 

Returning to the original OP, here's my advice:

• Volunteer to take over the communication aspect
• Put the information on multiple platforms
• Listen to the complaints from people who use a different method
• Deal with the outcome

Otherwise, it's on the OP to accept the communication ways of the group and find a way to get access on your own.

Edited January 10, 2018 by ErinE

[hornblower]

plies).

 

Returning to the original OP, here's my advice:

• Volunteer to take over the communication aspect
• Put the information on multiple platforms
• Listen to the complaints from people who use a different method
• Deal with the outcome

Otherwise, it's on the OP to accept the communication ways of the group and find a way to get access on your own.

 

but then OP would have to be willing to be on FB if that's the way many people in the group want to get their notifications....

[Lang Syne Boardie]

I'm sorry, this is going to come across as insensitive, but I am getting the idea we've been missing something:

 

Is the "elephant in the room" regarding Facebook that the opt-outs and refusers are social media addicts? Is that what people mean when they talk about "undisclosed reasons?"

[eternalsummer]

I don't use any social media; I never have, so I am not sure if I would be addicted or not.  Danger of addiction is not why I avoid social media (or Facebook, which I see as a somewhat separate issue).

[ashfern]

I'm the secretary for the young women in my church (age range 12-18). Some of the kids have facebook, some have personal phones, some it's contact thru the parent. When I have to post a message about an event I post to our facebook page and then to an app called groupme. I just copy & paste and it really doesn't take very long. Groupme is free. Maybe look into it and see if it would work for your group.

[SKL]

but then OP would have to be willing to be on FB if that's the way many people in the group want to get their notifications....

 

Or OP could say communications are now by email.  Or OP could have a deputy copy and paste the emails on fb.

[ErinE]

but then OP would have to be willing to be on FB if that's the way many people in the group want to get their notifications....

 

She could take it over and suggest a change. Or prep the message and send it to another leader to put on Facebook. There are solutions here, but I don't think it's the leader's responsibility when the OP has chosen to opt out of the preferred communication method for everyone else. Prepping and editing messages takes time on each platform. It's not always cut and paste. Strange characters pop up, lines breaks are weird. So she should ease some of the burden on the volunteer leader and help out. 

Edited January 10, 2018 by ErinE

[ErinE]

I don't use any social media; I never have, so I am not sure if I would be addicted or not.  Danger of addiction is not why I avoid social media (or Facebook, which I see as a somewhat separate issue).

 

FYI, this platform is considered a form of social media.

[SKL]

Given how popular fb is, I think it's time to suck it up and deal, honestly.  Unless you're cool with being on the fringe (yourself and your kids).

 

I mean, I might not like a lot of things about cars, so I could opt out of having one.  Do I then get to demand all my kids' activities to be within walking distance to our house, or do my kids just have to be left out of most activities?  I don't love driving a half hour each way to get to some of my kids' activities, but I do it because the pros outweigh the cons.  I personally don't see the cons of fb outweighing the pros of participating in an otherwise good organization, but if it came to that, then so be it.  We would opt out.

[eternalsummer]

FYI, this platform is considered a form of social media.

 

Ah, I didn't think of online forums as social media!  In that case,  I use social media :)  (this forum and a couple of business teams on Etsy, although there is little to no socializing on those).  

[eternalsummer]

Given how popular fb is, I think it's time to suck it up and deal, honestly.  Unless you're cool with being on the fringe (yourself and your kids).

 

I mean, I might not like a lot of things about cars, so I could opt out of having one.  Do I then get to demand all my kids' activities to be within walking distance to our house, or do my kids just have to be left out of most activities?  I don't love driving a half hour each way to get to some of my kids' activities, but I do it because the pros outweigh the cons.  I personally don't see the cons of fb outweighing the pros of participating in an otherwise good organization, but if it came to that, then so be it.  We would opt out.

 

It's not like cars.  "Cars" isn't a company.

 

I don't know that Facebook is quite ubiquitous enough to be a public utility as yet, although I agree that it does function like one in some communities.  

[school17777]

My old co-op had two forms of communication. One was in person at the opening before classes began, and the second was email. Ironically, the same people who always ran late and missed the announcements were the same people who for some reason or other couldn’t read the emails. It was very frustrating.

[goldberry]

I wonder if Facebook will continue to be a preferred form of communication now that so many of the younger generation don't use it.  I got laughed at recently asking a high schooler if they have a facebook page.  :mellow:

[gardenmom5]

I have already said, if I know upfront that FB is the only way to communicate....I wouldn't join. 

 

and you're not the OP, who joined a group that does use FB, and then complained she wasn't being kept in the loop.

if you don't want to join - don't.  just don't join a FB group and complain about not being in the loop.

 

4-H is run by the agricultural cooperative extension in each state.  Usually that's part of the state flagship university.  So, it's a quasi-government entity.  They do not make any rules (at least in my state) about how groups communicate with their members except pictures and/or names cannot be shared on public spaces without written permission from families.

 

I don't think everyone uses Facebook, but I think someone who is concerned about ads, and data mining, and addiction to screens better just stay off the internet.  Because I'm getting that crap from just about everyplace I go - Amazon, AOL (yes, I still have AOL), gmail, Yahoo groups, some site I have to use for swim team (can't remember what it's called, it's for sports), meet-up.  They all seem to be selling your information so you get the right pop-up ads everywhere you go.

re: the bolded- I would assume it's the state university associated with their agricultural programs.   usually - the main "___ State University", as opposed to "University of ___".

ours is.

 

eta:  online shopping - I can go directly to the site, never use my email, etc. - and go to a NEWS SITE (even local news) and get ads on the side about the item for which I was just shopping.

so - if you don't want ads, you'd have to clean your browser multiple times per day, use an in private web service that shields you from everything.

my brother is now sending me stuff because the men in black helicopters are watching everything - and the government has kill switches, and control the weather . . .thunk. (so that's why we had a record dry summer last year despite being 20 INCHES ahead for rain for the year! /)

 

 

Furthermore, we cannot afford to have unlimited data plans, so texts cost me for everyone I recieve which in groups are often "ok" "got it" x however many people they are.  Most people have access to e-mail and internet based groups. It is unreasonable to ask people to spend $360 on up per year for group texts to get communication.

 

usually there is a limit on per text charges then it switches to the flat fee.  

but still - there are people who don't want to pay for texts, and shouldn't have to do so.  

 

I don't text much - I had one person with whom I had to deal, that's how she communicated.  she made me nutty.  (for other reasons - the texting just added.) I finally was able to end that association.

Edited January 10, 2018 by gardenmom5

[Lady Florida.]

OP, I don't mean to pile on, but you really don't have the right to be "fuming". Regardless of whether or not you told others that you don't do facebook and regardless of your reasons for not even making a dummy account, that's how the group communicates. You either should suck it up and join or tell your ds he can't be a part of that group. 

 

 

 

 

re: the bolded- I would assume it's the state university associated with their agricultural programs.   usually - the main "___ State University", as opposed to "University of ___".

ours is.

 

 

 

 

In our state it's the opposite. The University of (Florida) has the agricultural department and therefore is the parent to extension services (and 4H) throughout the state. (Florida) State University was once a woman's college. 

[hornblower]

I wonder if Facebook will continue to be a preferred form of communication now that so many of the younger generation don't use it.  I got laughed at recently asking a high schooler if they have a facebook page.  :mellow:

 

 

my dd didn't have fb when in high school but now in college, her nursing degree cohort is all on facebook; they use the groups and messenger to communicate with each other. Some of the profs are on there too. 

 

They also use whatsapp but she was actually just recently saying that anyone not on fb would be really struggling as that's where they plan out tons of stuff. 

 

ds is in first year of college & just set up a fb page a couple months ago. It's still an easy way to keep track of new acquaintances from classes & many clubs use it for announcements. 

[vonfirmath]

OP, I don't mean to pile on, but you really don't have the right to be "fuming". Regardless of whether or not you told others that you don't do facebook and regardless of your reasons for not even making a dummy account, that's how the group communicates. You either should suck it up and join or tell your ds he can't be a part of that group. 

 

 

 

In our state it's the opposite. The University of (Florida) has the agricultural department and therefore is the parent to extension services (and 4H) throughout the state. (Florida) State University was once a woman's college. 

 

Texas A&M is the agricultural college. University of Texas is not. (Texas State University is an also-ran, recently (2003, then again 2013) renamed to that from Southwest Texas State University)

[Word Nerd]

Land-grant universities are affiliated with Extension and 4-H.

[Sandwalker]

HUH?

 

Sure, I could use it to play games or whatever. But I use it to communicate. One can use it ONLY for groups like in the OP if they want. There is awful stuff on Facebook, but there is awful stuff everywhere. I get lots of spam emails for crap I don't want including total scams, but that doesn't make email bad. Some people abuse it, sure. And if the OP has that issue where it is an addiction issue or some other very important reason she can try communicating that to the leader. But the Facebook gremlins aren't going to eat a person up or steal their soul if they use it to plan a community picnic or whatever.

 

It's simple enough to be on there and have zero friends, not click the ads, not play the games that collect your data, etc. Just like I screen my calls to avoid sales calls and don't make prank phone calls, etc.

https://lifehacker.com/facebook-isn-t-recording-your-conversations-but-it-may-1820193946

 

HUH?

 

 

"...But would they do it? Facebook does have a history of disrespecting users’ privacy. In 2010 they changed everyone’s default privacy settings, and in 2007 they notified people about their friends’ purchases on other sites with a tool called Facebook Beacon, triggering public outcry and eventually paying a $9.5 million class action settlement.

 

And Facebook is cagey about how much information it collects from people. For example, says Gizmodo’s Kasmir Hill, “Facebook does what it can to underplay how much data it gathers through contacts, and how widely it casts its net.†"

 

https://lifehacker.com/facebook-isn-t-recording-your-conversations-but-it-may-1820193946

[Lady Florida.]

Texas A&M is the agricultural college. University of Texas is not. (Texas State University is an also-ran, recently (2003, then again 2013) renamed to that from Southwest Texas State University)

 

 

Land-grant universities are affiliated with Extension and 4-H.

 

 

The differences among states are interesting. Florida A&M was a historically black college and also a land grant college.

[Guest]

FYI, this platform is considered a form of social media.

 

...and has addictive potential, says she with 18,000 posts.

[wintermom]

I have never been expected to use two forms of communication for any kind of activity, no matter how important.  

 

I gather you've never been part of a military organization. They use what they want to, and you use that don't participate. My son's cadets groups use website, e-mail, phone and facebook. He and I need to stay on top of them all, and if we don't then it's too bad for him. No excuses for missing a mandatory event because we missed a message. He phones in his absences at a certain time, if and when they occur.

 

It may be annoying and inefficient, but it's reality. I see this as a learning opportunity. He's learning to take responsibility for his participation and his life. 

 

 

Edited January 10, 2018 by wintermom

[retiredHSmom]

Equally puzzled here. Are people really saying that they think yahoo and gmail are more secure than FB?

 

 

I am reasonably certain you can find an email platform (which you may have to pay to use, I don't know) that doesn't mine your info or serve ads.

 

Exactly.  I do not use gmail or yahoo mail for the same reasons.  We pay for our email address.

[Sandwalker]

I am reasonably certain you can find an email platform (which you may have to pay to use, I don't know) that doesn't mine your info or serve ads.

Protonmail

[gardenmom5]

...and has addictive potential, says she with 18,000 posts.

 

you're slacking. . . .

 

(says' she with 20,300)

[magic]

I have not read all of the responses.  I am a 4H club leader, activity leader, and county volunteer.  My daughter is our club VP, county 2nd VP, and county senator elect.  This is our 7th year in 4H and there are rules that the leaders have to abide by.  Our county requires a leader from each club to attend yearly training and to agree to the by-laws of the county and state.  We are required to take attendance at each meeting and, if a quorum is not met, no votes can be taken.  That said, leaders want their members present.  We, as leaders, can email, text, and/or use social media to communicate with our members and their families.  However, we must also provide written or telephone communication if a family requires it.  In our county, one must contact the extension office to tell them that mail and/or phone communication is preferred for county information and contact club leaders for individual club information.  We must provide this option to families.  Another requirement is to post the next meeting date, location, and time on the previous months minutes and inform the extension office of any date,location, and/or time changes.  Our club has over 45 members and there are 12 clubs in our county.  We have 3 members who are on our calling committee and they are responsible to call the night before the meeting with a reminder.  A leader or officer also sends out a text and email the weekend before with reminder information.  Finally, I am in charge of posting on social media information about upcoming meetings and events, as well as pictures from past meetings and events. 

 

I would contact your local extension office and ask them what needs to be done so that you are communicated with. 

[justasque]

The other issue with the "two methods" approach is that you need to make sure they are completely in sync.  Redundancy only works if you can rely completely on one of the two methods.  That means every single time you update one, you have to update the other.  Unless it is automated (like you have an app that tweets the link whenever you post to FB or Insta), then there is a certain amount of overhead involved to make this happen.  Like a PP said, formatting can be different, and it's not always a simple copy/paste.  You also then need to keep up two different lists of current contact info - adding people to the FB group and adding their email address to your email list, for example.  

Many homeschoolers who have had children do activities at the local public school have found that there will be times that important info is given in ways they are not privvy to - homeroom announcements and such.  My friends in this position don't like it, obviously, but they go in understanding that they are outside of normal communication channels and accept that there will be times when they will miss a message because of it.  They are extra-vigilant about important events and unusual circumstances (snow days, etc.), and double-check with the appropriate person on critical things.  And when (not if, because it's bound to happen) they miss something, they are annoyed of course, but they quickly let it go, knowing that they are still getting a lot out of the program.

OP, I do respect your desire to avoid FB.  Why not just make a point of being in contact  with your friend in the group, and get your updates that way?  And accept that there will be times when you will be out of the loop, and just let it roll off your back when that happens.  It would be setting a good example for your children, too.  Or, if you are someone who really needs every detail to be perfect when participating in an activity (and that's ok), perhaps you need to avoid this kind of volunteer-run, grass-roots activity, and seek out more formal kinds of things for your children to do, such as those at for-profit organizations who employ paid workers to get the details right.  

[Meadowlark]

I have not read all of the responses.  I am a 4H club leader, activity leader, and county volunteer.  My daughter is our club VP, county 2nd VP, and county senator elect.  This is our 7th year in 4H and there are rules that the leaders have to abide by.  Our county requires a leader from each club to attend yearly training and to agree to the by-laws of the county and state.  We are required to take attendance at each meeting and, if a quorum is not met, no votes can be taken.  That said, leaders want their members present.  We, as leaders, can email, text, and/or use social media to communicate with our members and their families.  However, we must also provide written or telephone communication if a family requires it.  In our county, one must contact the extension office to tell them that mail and/or phone communication is preferred for county information and contact club leaders for individual club information.  We must provide this option to families.  Another requirement is to post the next meeting date, location, and time on the previous months minutes and inform the extension office of any date,location, and/or time changes.  Our club has over 45 members and there are 12 clubs in our county.  We have 3 members who are on our calling committee and they are responsible to call the night before the meeting with a reminder.  A leader or officer also sends out a text and email the weekend before with reminder information.  Finally, I am in charge of posting on social media information about upcoming meetings and events, as well as pictures from past meetings and events. 

 

I would contact your local extension office and ask them what needs to be done so that you are communicated with. 

 Oh wow, THANK YOU for sharing this information. It's so nice to know that there are parameters for communication! I am going to contact the extension office asap. 

[catz]

 We, as leaders, can email, text, and/or use social media to communicate with our members and their families.  However, we must also provide written or telephone communication if a family requires it. 

 

One could argue someone who was already receiving FB communications and no longer is by their own choice does not actually require it.

 

I don't know.  Going over the leader's head sounds like a good way to alienate the leader of a small grassroots group.  I wouldn't do this if this your only issue with this leader.  And if she's bad in other ways, why do you want to participate?  Look for another group. 

[Lang Syne Boardie]

One could argue someone who was already receiving FB communications and no longer is by their own choice does not actually require it.

 

I don't know.  Going over the leader's head sounds like a good way to alienate the leader of a small grassroots group.  I wouldn't do this if this your only issue with this leader.  And if she's bad in other ways, why do you want to participate?  Look for another group.

 

No kidding! "Requires it" should not be interpreted as "demands it rather than be bothered by the method in place, so she went over your head and found a way to control you anyway."

 

Color me unimpressed.

[teachermom2834]

One could argue someone who was already receiving FB communications and no longer is by their own choice does not actually require it.

 

I don't know.  Going over the leader's head sounds like a good way to alienate the leader of a small grassroots group.  I wouldn't do this if this your only issue with this leader.  And if she's bad in other ways, why do you want to participate?  Look for another group.

Oh man. I would totally find another group before I did this. My 9th grader is pretty into 4H. His leader is one of his most important adults outside family. 4H is hard to navigate and having a leader who you have a good relationship with is key. I'm not sure what your goals are for 4H but for my family's goals 4H would be pointless if we had an adversarial relationship with our leader.

 

My ds asks alot of his leader. She helps him with his portfolio, recommends him for things, makes him aware of opportunities that are good for him that come up. I expect one day she will be writing LOR for him and she will definitely be a job reference we he tries to get his first job.

 

I would never go above her head and think that would be the our family's benefit.

Edited January 10, 2018 by teachermom2834

[teachermom2834]

One could argue someone who was already receiving FB communications and no longer is by their own choice does not actually require it.

 

I don't know.  Going over the leader's head sounds like a good way to alienate the leader of a small grassroots group.  I wouldn't do this if this your only issue with this leader.  And if she's bad in other ways, why do you want to participate?  Look for another group.

Oh man. I would totally find another group before I did this. My 9th grader is pretty into 4H. His leader is one of his most important adults outside family. 4H is hard to navigate and having a leader who you have a good relationship with is key. I'm not sure what your goals are for 4H but for my family's goals 4H would be pointless if we had an adversarial realationship with our leader.

 

My ds asks alot of his leader. She helps him with his portfolio, recommends him for things, makes him aware of opportunities that are good for him that come up. I expect one day she will be writing LOR for him and she will definitely be a job reference we he tries to get his first job.

 

I would never go above her head and think that would be the our family's benefit.

[eternalsummer]

requires can mean needs or it can mean requests.  My interpretation in this instance was requests (since the next sentence talks about "preferred communication") but I could be wrong.

[SKL]

One could argue someone who was already receiving FB communications and no longer is by their own choice does not actually require it.

 

I don't know.  Going over the leader's head sounds like a good way to alienate the leader of a small grassroots group.  I wouldn't do this if this your only issue with this leader.  And if she's bad in other ways, why do you want to participate?  Look for another group. 

 

I agree, I would do what I could to work with the local leader before reporting her to the leadership.

 

Also I am not sure what "require" means, as in, is this a family that does not have internet because of poverty or location or a physical disability?  Or does it mean everyone gets to demand communication the way they want it?

 

I would also like to point out that the issue in the OP seems to be that a meeting started early to accommodate some younger kid activity, it was not canceled; it was going on during the time OP's son expected it to be, and as far as I can tell, those who did not know about the change were not prevented from doing what they set out to do.

 

Finally, if someone told me I had to call every member the night before every meeting, I would quit.  I think that is ridiculous.

[regentrude]

 Oh wow, THANK YOU for sharing this information. It's so nice to know that there are parameters for communication! I am going to contact the extension office asap. 

 

to offer your volunteer services as communications coordinator for the activity?

[eternalsummer]

As for going over the leader's head, I dunno.  It depends, I guess, and the OP is the person best suited to determine if it's the right thing to do for her situation.

 

I have had a classroom teacher, for instance, in a public school, with whom we wanted to have a good relationship and planned to have a good relationship, but sometimes something comes up that needs to be addressed with the next level up, especially if it isn't being addressed at the current level.  It doesn't make for as good a relationship as if everything is hunky dory with the classroom teacher, but it makes for a better relationship than me resenting the classroom teacher for whatever it is and my kid suffering because of it (obviously it depends on the situation itself whether it is worth pursuing).

[Lecka]

I would take that as meant for people who have no computer access or internet access.

[lauraw4321]

to offer your volunteer services as communications coordinator for the activity?

 

If GS told me I had to telephone members, I would have just resigned as a leader.

[elegantlion]

Interesting discussion. I lead a student organization and communicate via facebook, email, and text (only to officers). It's a pain, and it take probably a hour of my time each time (create event on facebook, double check email list to make sure all current members are on it. Craft email, craft more succinct text). I do it because I prefer email, but I have a few officers who are horrible about checking email, plus our faculty advisor has his facebook on lock down and doesn't want his personal cell number given out to anyone else. Texts sometimes say to check email. Facebook makes it the easiest to provide all the information I need. This is a group that doesn't warrant much two way communication between meetings. I would not do all three platforms for a large group that required back and forth communication. 

 

I also posed this question to ds, who is not on Facebook by choice, and also has never run any type of organization. He doesn't like facebook and thinks communication should be in two ways. He had some good arguments, so I see his point. 

 

However, I think if you've been getting information one way and you voluntarily remove yourself from that platform, the onus is on you to ensure you're getting all the communication. IOW, you need to the be the one to reach out to the leaders, not the other way. I certainly wouldn't want someone to assume that I'm going to do more work when the previous method was working fine. 

[Bambam]

I have not read all of the responses.  I am a 4H club leader, activity leader, and county volunteer.  My daughter is our club VP, county 2nd VP, and county senator elect.  This is our 7th year in 4H and there are rules that the leaders have to abide by.  Our county requires a leader from each club to attend yearly training and to agree to the by-laws of the county and state.  We are required to take attendance at each meeting and, if a quorum is not met, no votes can be taken.  That said, leaders want their members present.  We, as leaders, can email, text, and/or use social media to communicate with our members and their families.  However, we must also provide written or telephone communication if a family requires it.  In our county, one must contact the extension office to tell them that mail and/or phone communication is preferred for county information and contact club leaders for individual club information.  We must provide this option to families.  Another requirement is to post the next meeting date, location, and time on the previous months minutes and inform the extension office of any date,location, and/or time changes.  Our club has over 45 members and there are 12 clubs in our county.  We have 3 members who are on our calling committee and they are responsible to call the night before the meeting with a reminder.  A leader or officer also sends out a text and email the weekend before with reminder information.  Finally, I am in charge of posting on social media information about upcoming meetings and events, as well as pictures from past meetings and events. 

 

I would contact your local extension office and ask them what needs to be done so that you are communicated with. 

 

This is very different in our state.

 

And quite frankly, I'm glad. I can see the county agent (paid position here) having to provide either written or telephone communication.

But as a volunteer, I would not appreciate being dictated to that I must provide up to 5 different methods of communication to communicate with the members in my groups. That is onerous. 

And with our local reduction of volunteers, this level of additional work could not be sustained. We are losing volunteers regularly - they burn out from doing the volunteering, people complaining, people not helping, people wanting special treatment, general lack of appreciation, etc. 

[wintermom]

The issue isn’t primarily security.

 

I missed what the primary reason for not joining fb was then. I assumed security and privacy.

 

What is the OP's primary concern with fb? If she was already on fb, then what is the issue? 

Edited January 10, 2018 by wintermom

[goldberry]

 We have 3 members who are on our calling committee and they are responsible to call the night before the meeting with a reminder.  A leader or officer also sends out a text and email the weekend before with reminder information.  Finally, I am in charge of posting on social media information about upcoming meetings and events, as well as pictures from past meetings and events. 

 

I would contact your local extension office and ask them what needs to be done so that you are communicated with. 

 

Wow, that is nothing like 4H is run around here.  Do different states/counties have different requirements?

 

And this part....We have 3 members who are on our calling committee and they are responsible to call the night before the meeting with a reminder.  A leader or officer also sends out a text and email the weekend before with reminder information. 

 

I have never been part of an organization with that much handholding.  You must have plenty of volunteers to take care of all that.  

[wintermom]

Wow, that is nothing like 4H is run around here.  Do different states/counties have different requirements?

 

And this part....We have 3 members who are on our calling committee and they are responsible to call the night before the meeting with a reminder.  A leader or officer also sends out a text and email the weekend before with reminder information. 

 

I have never been part of an organization with that much handholding.  You must have plenty of volunteers to take care of all that.  

 

:iagree:   The more handholding a leader or an organization does, the more they have to keep doing. And this certainly doesn't promote personal responsibility for participants.

[Ausmumof3]

I'm sorry, this is going to come across as insensitive, but I am getting the idea we've been missing something:

 

Is the "elephant in the room" regarding Facebook that the opt-outs and refusers are social media addicts? Is that what people mean when they talk about "undisclosed reasons?"

Possibly. Alternatively could be that they or someone close had been bullied over social media in some way.

[regentrude]

We have 3 members who are on our calling committee and they are responsible to call the night before the meeting with a reminder.  A leader or officer also sends out a text and email the weekend before with reminder information.  Finally, I am in charge of posting on social media information about upcoming meetings and events, as well as pictures from past meetings and events. 

 

Wow. That seems like a ridiculous amount of handholding and such a waste of everybody's time.

If the expectation for adults to follow a posted schedule is so low, that explains why my students cannot manage to remember the assignments on the syllabus. 

Edited January 10, 2018 by regentrude

[goldberry]

This is very different in our state.

 

And quite frankly, I'm glad. I can see the county agent (paid position here) having to provide either written or telephone communication.

But as a volunteer, I would not appreciate being dictated to that I must provide up to 5 different methods of communication to communicate with the members in my groups. That is onerous. 

And with our local reduction of volunteers, this level of additional work could not be sustained. We are losing volunteers regularly - they burn out from doing the volunteering, people complaining, people not helping, people wanting special treatment, general lack of appreciation, etc. 

 

I think it's totally reasonable that a paid county agent has different requirements than a volunteer.

 

OP, going over the leader's head just to get emails may prove your point but lose your leader.  You might consider if it's really necessary.  Half the volunteers I know are one camel's straw away from walking!