[TN-Bird] IMPORTANT NOTICE TO ALL TN-BIRD SUBSCRIBERS

TN-Birders,
It may have been years since a message like this was necessary
to send list subscribers.  I regret taking your time and
space to address growing concerns.

We have several TN-Bird subscribers who are not following the posting 
format which requires that the location of birds be specific as to county 
as well as town or city or nearest town or city of reports.

Abbreviation of bird names like TV, BV, R-t Hawk, GBH and alpha codes
are not allowed on TN-Birds Net.  These are not always used the same
way for the same birds.  New birders sometime find it difficult to pick up
on such shorthand.  Alpha codes for bird names are simply made up by
those who post.  The actual alpha code for a Great Blue Heron is
GBHE and not GBH.  Most of our birders do not know how to structure
alpha codes, have no list to follow and simply just make up abbreviations.
Alpha codes are specific, have specific rules and are structured. Please
do not use them on this list.

We also have some who are not including their first and last names as well
as the town or city and state from which they are posting.  This may not
seem to be important.  If a subscriber wishes to post to TN-Birds, it is
absolutely important that the complete name and location be stated. 

County names for where birds are seen are extremely important.  The
Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency once stated in a meeting that they
had searched through more than 30,000 bird sightings from TN-Birds net
and such to get data for an important management document.  Those
preparing data for publications need to be able to search by counties.

These are important elements that make our postings specific, clear and
useful to every subscribers.

More recently I have been contacting persons individually but the lack
of cooperation has begun to increase to the point that is becoming less
practical.

The problem happens because some new subscribers haven't taken note of what
is required.  Some subscribers drift to the INSIDER MENTALITY and think
everyone knows who and where "that needs to know."

Some just do not want to conform.  They convince themselves that this is not 
needed.
Some feel embarrassed to be so specific when the perceive they are writing to 
those who already know.

We constantly have new subscribers who have recently moved to the state, 
and those who are new birders and don't know the localities.  Some live in 
surrounding states.

We are not an INSIDER LIST.  We are not a list serving just those who are in
the know.  We are not a list just for experienced birders who can read and
understand our alpha (four-letter) codes if we don't  explain what they
mean.  We are not a list of persons who have all been birding so long we
know all the lingo and slang.

No location in Tennessee is so well known that not one subscriber doesn't
know where it is.

Please help us.  Please help your fellow birders.  Please keep TN-Birds a
clean, neat and birder-friendly list.  We have always worked hard to keep it
that way.  The best birders on this list and some of the best known and most
talented birders in the state are the ones who always work to be very
specific and follow the format.

Let's not let TN-Birds degrade into the tragic mess that some state lists
have become.  We are looked to by some states as a model.
Let's keep our standards high and useful.

Let's go birding.....

Wallace Coffey
Moderator TN-Birds Net
Tennessee Ornithological Society
Bristol, TN

=================NOTES TO SUBSCRIBER=====================

The TN-Bird Net requires you to SIGN YOUR MESSAGE with
first and last name, CITY (TOWN) and state abbreviation.
You are also required to list the COUNTY in which the birds
you report were seen.  The actual DATE OF OBSERVATION should
appear in the first paragraph.
_____________________________________________________________
      To post to this mailing list, simply send email to:
                    tn-bird@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx
_____________________________________________________________ 
                To unsubscribe, send email to:
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______________________________________________________________
  TN-Bird Net is owned by the Tennessee Ornithological Society 
       Neither the society(TOS) nor its moderator(s)
        endorse the views or opinions expressed
        by the members of this discussion group.
 
         Moderator: Wallace Coffey, Bristol, TN
                 wallace@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
                ------------------------------
                Assistant Moderator Andy Jones
                         Cleveland, OH
                -------------------------------
               Assistant Moderator Dave Worley
                          Rosedale, VA
__________________________________________________________
         
          Visit the Tennessee Ornithological Society
              web site at http://www.tnbirds.org
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                          ARCHIVES
 TN-Bird Net Archives at http://www.freelists.org/archives/tn-bird/

                       MAP RESOURCES
Tenn.Counties Map at http://www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/states/tennessee3.gif
Aerial photos to complement google maps http://local.live.com

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