NICEmail Guidelines

NICEmail is set up as an open discussion list for the members of the North Indiana Conference to share and discuss pertinent issues with each other. However, NICEmail list members are expected to follow these guidelines established by the Conference staff:

1. Nicemail is set up as an OPEN discussion list. However, we do ask that the items placed on Nicemail be relevant to the members of the Annual Conference in some way. This includes:
   • Discussions about issues related to the Annual Conference (or the UMC)
   • Notices of events of interest to members of the AC
   • Announcements that members of the AC might be interested in (items for sale, items needed, etc…)
   • Sharing of joys or concerns
   • Announcements and/or items from the Bishop or other Annual Conference leadership
   • Other items (including political ones) as they relate to members of the Annual Conference
2. Please do not use Nicemail as a "sounding board" for political issues in general (or any other topics that do not directly pertain to the Annual Conference). There are many, many other places to discuss those things.
3. Make sure that the subject of your message directly pertains to the item you're posting.
4. Do not assume that everyone on the list knows who you are. Introduce yourself in the email, or include a signature that explains who you are. There are many people on this list who don't know who you are.
5. Do not use the Nicemail list to "take a shot at" any particular individual or group (known in the online world as flaming). Jesus says in Matthew 18:15:

   "If your brother sins against you, go and show him his fault, just between the two of you. If he listens to you, you have won your brother over."

   If you have a problem with an individual's posting to Nicemail, please reply to them directly to resolve your differences with them if you must - do not do it through the Nicemail list.

6. The Nicemail list is to be used for discussion only. It is not to be used to advertise any particular product, personal web site, or agenda. Discussions must remain relevant to the purpose of the list.
7. We reserve the right to ban any member who continually abuses the Nicemail list.

If you have any questions or concerns about these guidelines, please direct them to any of the following conference staff: Mark Gough (mark@nicumc.org), Brent Williams (brent@nicumc.org), or Tim Lehrian (tim@nicumc.org). You may also call the Conference Service Center at 1-800-783-5138 and ask for any of the above.