Midwest Ontario Freecycle is leaving the Freecycle Network and will become Full Circles Kitchener Waterloo. We will become affiliated with many of the existing networks out there in order to publicize the existance of this group and what we do. In answering the question of why, I am replying to a post by Deron Beal, CEO of the Freecycle Network (TFN). My replies are intermixed within his letter.
On 19/07/07, Deron Beal <deron@freecycle.org > wrote:
It would appear that the "Interim Moderation Mutiny" people set this up.
Guess they are true to their mutiny wishes... :-)
He was referring to another new organization for ex-FreecycleTM groups, ReUseItNetwork.org. It is truly wonderful how so many different groups and networks have appeared and grown out of and beyond the Freecycle Network during the past few years. We are growing beyond the original concept of keeping things out of the landfill and networking with many different organizations who focus on that and many other environmental issues.
Speaking of the "Mutiny", how about all the Interim Mods who were fired after the "Mutiny"? People were removed from the Interim group, people who had no part in the 'Mutiny". When asked for any reason or hint or proof of wrongdoings, nothing was provided. Emails were just never answered. The Freecycle Network just jumped in and took over. They removed mods who had worked hard for hundreds of man hours without any warning or comment and no answer to questioning emails.
It is a bummer. Despite the manipulation of local members by these mods, my
personal inbox is full of pleas to not let them do this and to give back
*their* local Freecycle group, or set up a new local Freecycle group because
that is what they signed up for, etc. There's nothing we can do but start
over which is what we'll do.
Isn't it more accurate to say manipulation of the local members and moderators by TNF? Deron, since you claim that your personal inbox is full of pleas, let us see them. Would you be so brave as to publish these emails publically on OIDG?
According to all the mods that I know of that have left TFN, there has been very few complaints to the owners of the groups. In fact, the numbers I have heard have been way under 1%, and more realistically .03%. All most people want is a place to get rid of their unused items and find things that they could use and keep things out of the landfill. They don't really care about the name of the group. What matters is all the people volunteering countless hours to keep a group running well. FreecycleTM is going to keep undermining all the volunteer moderators, then yes, many will choose to leave TFN.
It just bums me out that members make up a strong local Freecycle group and
they believe they are part of Freecycle and then someone takes that group
and does whatever they want with it. That just doesn't seem right to me.
Well, it bums me out that
TFN has changed so much that I feel compelled to leave. When
Freecycle started out, it was all about local groups and the 'grass
roots'. The right to the use of the name was gifted to the local
moderators/owners. It was all about local empowerment.
However, I also believe the great deal of
empowerment that all local mods
have, and all local members have,
make the risk of such losses worth the
massive benefit of helping
so many people partake in their part of "changing
the world
one gift at a time."
The "great deal of empowerment that all local mods have" is quickly being taken away. When Deron started TFN, except for a few very basic rules, like keep it free, legal and family friendly, it was up to local discretion to make local rules. Local owners were to make rules that would work for their comminity. That has really changed. Groups are being given more and more rules all the time. Some of the rules just don't work well in certain locations and discussion about that is almost impossible.
The information about EF said that it would never be used to remove a mod. It was only there for backup, in case the group became ownerless. EF has now been used to demote many owners to regular members and even used to remove them as members. The group they did all the work on, in many cases started, has been taken over by EF. So much for local control.
There have been many Cease and Desist letters sent out. When mods reply, asking how they are not trademark compliant, they never receive an answer. They usually end up delisted, and then have Yahoo sicced on them.
No longer can anyone who starts a new Freecycle TM group become the group's "owner". Only EF can own a group now. Where is the local empowerment?
When people on large military bases want to have a FreecycleTM group, as a local group, they are told no. The fact is that both civilian groups and military groups could co-exist when there is sufficient population in the area to justify both. It doesn't matter, that regular civilians have a hard time getting on a base to pick up items, the answer is no. Arbitrary. Again, where is the local empowerment?
Local groups are told it they can't have a moderator out of the 'local area' and then told what that local area is. It doesn't matter, if most people living in that area would consider an entire area "local', FreecycleTM decides what it thinks is local. Local empowerment? Where?
Thanks guys! Gotta keep rolling with the punches.
FYI: we are currently
adding an average of over 25,000 members a
week to The Freecycle Network, so
there's a feather for your cap!
With so many groups
bailing out and memberships leaving by the thousands, you still
insist that the Freecycle Network is growing? I think, Deron,
that it is time for you to wake up and smell the coffee! Just
in the last few days alone, we have seen the lost of Cowichan
Valley, BC - 862
Hants County Nova Scotia - 1036
Edmonton,
Alberta - 11,977
Sherwood Park-789
Ottawa - 9107
Barrhaven
/ Nepean 887
K-W MidwestOntario - 4024 with many more to come.
Those are just the beginning. Many, many more Canadians
are jumping your ship, declaring independance. Just these few groups
account for more than 14% of the total Canadian membership. Many,
many American groups have already fled as well as UK and Australian.
And to think.. It's only just begun!
All my best and my deep appreciation of the good
each of you are making
possible locally...
Deron
I should think so! Considering the fact that my group, and many of the other groups at the time, had been gifted with the name.. had done all the work on the promotion in order to provide the growth to their group.. for you to take credit? For what? You came up with a brilliant name. It was catchy, it flowed, it was easily remembered. Was it your idea? No... This version of FreecycleTM started in 1998!! All of five years before Deron did it. http://www.twincitiesfreemarket.org/ Deron brought in many believers who started up their own local groups. For him to turn around and claim ownership of the groups and of the membership lists and to take credit for it all too? I don't think so, Deron. TFN was and still needs to be a grass roots movement, not an organization that marches only on orders from above.
I urge all owners/mods to think about a couple things. First of all, you might want to remove EF as an owner of your list, if you can. He has been used many times to remove owners. Second, think long and hard before commiting to the new server. Once you move there, you will lose all local control. Just think about the results of the new server. You will no longer be an owner and can be removed at the slightest whim.
Deron... I will leave you with a few additional words. First: I warn you... should you or your 'cronies' spam my membership, there will be consequences. Spamming is still frowned apon in internet and legal circles. Second: I dare you... leave this post up on the message board, and allow an uncensored discussion on the points that I have made. For all the other members here.. if you want any further information, I will not be here. I will be signing off immediately after I hit send.
I have, until the last few months, enjoyed my time within TFN. I am sad to leave and wish those that chose to remain the best.
Carol-Ann
Full Circles Kitchener Waterloo
CA@fullcircles.org