Back in January 2006, a couple of concerned citizens from another forum cast their eyes across the Pacific to two successful immigration forums SACanada and SAUSA for South Africans going to Canada and the USA respectively. These two forums had been going for a couple of years and seemed to have a good handle on how to manage South African immigrants and their needs. The team approach appealed to them especially since the forum they were using at the time was managed by one individual who lives in the UK, and was not at all responsive to members' pleas for maintaining order on a forum that was getting overrun by trolls and abusers.
The forum admin, Hendie, agreed to help them get a new forum for Australia off the ground, and to mentor the new team on how to successfully manage a South African immigration forum. On top of that, both the host teams from the existing two forums also chipped in with advice and assistance, something quite exemplary in the South African diaspora. A small volunteer team of host(esse)s was quickly assembled, and SAAustralia was born in February 2006.
So, who is in control?
Since its inception, SAAustralia has been governed by a local host team (as well as some Coffee Club hosts still in South Africa). The success of the forum is largely due to that fact. This model of recruiting South Africans local to the target country to staff the host team is key to running the forum with local interest and dedication, and to be of specific help to fellow South Africans aiming to that country as an emigration destination. All decisions about life on the forum, actions regarding unacceptable behaviour, new features, or any other decisions pertaining to forum life are made by discussion and vote by the host team. Not any one host team member is considered the "chief honcho" or boss over the rest. Hendie is still involved with all three forums in a technical capacity and as "grand mentor" to the respective host teams, but we run the show here!
Who gets to be a host?
Anyone can apply to be a host. Members are encouraged to read the Help article on Host Responsibilities and Powers to familiarize themselves with what being a host entails on the forum. Any application will again be discussed and voted on by the host team, taking into consideration the member's posting history, knowledge of their general attitude towards immigration to Australia, and a general perception of their ability to contribute positively to the host team.
As a host team we are here to make forum life informative and fun for our members and visitors alike. We are all volunteers, no-one gets paid for their services here, and we do this as a form of "paying it forward".
Question
Pippa
Some background
Back in January 2006, a couple of concerned citizens from another forum cast their eyes across the Pacific to two successful immigration forums SACanada and SAUSA for South Africans going to Canada and the USA respectively. These two forums had been going for a couple of years and seemed to have a good handle on how to manage South African immigrants and their needs. The team approach appealed to them especially since the forum they were using at the time was managed by one individual who lives in the UK, and was not at all responsive to members' pleas for maintaining order on a forum that was getting overrun by trolls and abusers.
The forum admin, Hendie, agreed to help them get a new forum for Australia off the ground, and to mentor the new team on how to successfully manage a South African immigration forum. On top of that, both the host teams from the existing two forums also chipped in with advice and assistance, something quite exemplary in the South African diaspora. A small volunteer team of host(esse)s was quickly assembled, and SAAustralia was born in February 2006.
So, who is in control?
Since its inception, SAAustralia has been governed by a local host team (as well as some Coffee Club hosts still in South Africa). The success of the forum is largely due to that fact. This model of recruiting South Africans local to the target country to staff the host team is key to running the forum with local interest and dedication, and to be of specific help to fellow South Africans aiming to that country as an emigration destination. All decisions about life on the forum, actions regarding unacceptable behaviour, new features, or any other decisions pertaining to forum life are made by discussion and vote by the host team. Not any one host team member is considered the "chief honcho" or boss over the rest. Hendie is still involved with all three forums in a technical capacity and as "grand mentor" to the respective host teams, but we run the show here!
Who gets to be a host?
Anyone can apply to be a host. Members are encouraged to read the Help article on Host Responsibilities and Powers to familiarize themselves with what being a host entails on the forum. Any application will again be discussed and voted on by the host team, taking into consideration the member's posting history, knowledge of their general attitude towards immigration to Australia, and a general perception of their ability to contribute positively to the host team.
As a host team we are here to make forum life informative and fun for our members and visitors alike. We are all volunteers, no-one gets paid for their services here, and we do this as a form of "paying it forward".
Enjoy!
Link to comment
Share on other sites
1 answer to this question
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.