User:AngelinaBelle/SMF team manual/Policies

Privacy and Discretion

Remember that what is posted in the Team Boards is for Team Members only, and respect the privacy of all Simple Machines members.

Don’t spread everything we talk about, some times we need to manage the communications and avoid misinterpretation.

Competitors

Treat our competitors and their products with respect. Do not make fun of them. We don’t have any desire to start up a board war.

There is nothing wrong with finding out more information about our competition. Feel free to install their software and let us know what they have and don’t have. This could provide us with good information on how to change SMF for the better.

Recommending Service Providers

Everything you do as a team member of SMF reflects on the credibility of the team. When you recommend an outside service provider, be sure to explain why, and any limitations. If you are part of a referral program for that provider, or receive a discount or referral fee from a provider, you must disclose this when you provide a referral.

Moonlighting

Moonlighting is ok as long as it follows these guidelines

• Don’t accept paid “side jobs” for efforts that are covered by Simple Machines as a paid service– this would be a conflict of interest
  • Ok Services:
    • installing or writing a mod,
    • developing a custom theme,
    • modifying an existing theme,
    • custom configuration of boards & permissions,
    • hosting a forum
    • forum conversions
  • Not Ok Services:
    • installing SMF,
    • upgrading SMF
• When advertising you services or responding to a request for paid help, be sure to indicate that your paid services are completely separate from the team support efforts

Keep in mind that any side jobs you take will reflect on the team – even when you have the above disclaimer

Finally, keep in mind that providing free help is ALWAYS ok and is NEVER frowned upon. Remember the Charter Membership program isn’t a “you only get this help if you pay” program, it’s a “we look to help you first” program

Accepting Gifts

Gifts are sometimes offered as a way of saying “thank you” to a team member. Here are notes governing them:

• Do not solicit gifts in any way
• Do not advertise that users sometimes provide gifts, or that you have received them in the past
• If someone asks, “How can I thank you” the correct answer is to point them to the SMF Donations page and/or the Charter Members signup page. In this case they haven’t explicitly offered you a concrete gift. Pointing them to a wish list, or a personal donation page is soliciting a gift.
• If someone asks, “I’d like to send you a movie from Amazon as a thank you!” the correct answer is “yes”. Congratulations! Typically, this means you have gone above & beyond the call of duty.

Gifts are always nice to get – we don’t want to rob team members of them, but similarly we don’t want to neglect the other team members that assisted you in providing the support but may not have been the face of SMF to the user. Similarly, sticking your hand out to ask for a personal gift can seem crass at times, and no one wants to be crass, after all.

Attendance

We realize that everyone on the team is a volunteer; however this doesn’t mean you can’t be around. It is expected that you visit the board on a regular basis. You must also remain active in whatever team you are on. Attendance to the team mettings is also highly encouraged. If you aren’t able to attend, read the minutes so that you can get caught up on what is going on.

“Unwritten” Rules

• Enjoy what you do for SMF... HAVE FUN!
• Just because something is in another team's child board doesn't mean your input is not important. Feel free to get involved
• Make a post if you're going to be gone for any length of time that others will miss your presence. It is different for all members, some are here weekly others daily. If you're going to be gone long enough for others to notice (and worry) you should post first
• Try to make the best out of the time you're in the SMF team, as long as it's not at the expense of others
• No fighting or personal attacks
• Everyone should feel free to meddle with others affairs, but should respect each others opinions
• Make sure to mention it to others when you're planning a 6 months vacation
• We are friends with the other forum packages - especially YaBB
• Please use full words - saying "pls hlp me - ur da best" will not get you any help
• No swearing in public (It is offensive to some, and not professional. Also, please keep it to a minimum in the private boards.)
• Always show respect (fake it if necessary) to the members of the forum. (They are the customer and without the customer, we have no need for the product.)
• Remember you represent SMF and behave in accordance.