Dear Mr. Momodou Camara:

Without reservations, one should strongly commend you for a job well done in
vividly spelling out the Gambia-L guidelines for members to consolidate and
be conversant with. And more significantly, the logical sequence and
simplicity of your presentation makes the guidelines absolutely
comprehensive. Who ever reads and follows your guidelines, it does depict
that there is a Management Team at the L who are not only committed to
smooth running of the forum, but also to the idea of collectivism and
tranquility on the L.

Having said that, I have one particular concern. That is, in your guideline
presentation, you have not covered  your Management Team's RESPONSIVE or
REACTIONARY GUIDELINES, or to put it more conveniently, you have NOT
highlighted the DISCIPLINARY MEASURES your Management Team would take in the
event one of the L members has violated the L RULES and REGULATIONS. I hold
the view that at this stage of the L's maturity when the L is not only
serving the Gambian Community, but also the entire World Community at large;
it then becomes particularly paramount that particular attention is paid to
the INTEGRITY and RESPONSIBILITY of the L forum. For, it is a forum for both
National and International Policy discussion. Consequently, the L finds it
self in an APPROACH-AVOIDANCE conflict, since even International Investors
frequently gather valuable information from the L pertaining to investment
and financial planning analyses if they so choose to invest in the country.

I do not want to dwell too much into the past incidents that had happened,
but taking into account the series of PERSONAL ATTACKS  which occurred
between MR.. ALIEU S. KEITA, MR.. BABA KEITA, MR.. EBRIMA CEESAY(though
Ebrima did not engage in the havoc), is a clear illustration of a situation
which could tremendously impinge on the L INTEGRITY and RESPONSIBILITY. When
ALIEU S. KEITA first began the PERSONAL ATTACKS on EBRIMA CEESAY and DR.
KATIM TOURAY, your Management Team was nowhere to respond to ALIEU'S
personal attack against EBRIMA and DR. TOURAY. To me, that was a serious
lapse in effective leadership on the part of your Management Team. And to
make the situation worst, when BABA KEITA(or who ever he was), responded in
fashion to ALIEU's, he(baba) was de-listed whiles ALIEU was allowed to
remain. This of course, does depict unfairness and lack of effective
leadership.

In conclusion, my contention is, in order to exercise effective leadership
and sense of responsibility and fairness, the Rules and Regulation MUST be
applied to each and every member. EVERYBODY MUST be governed by the same
Rules and Regulations. But if DOUBLE STANDARD is allow to prevail on the L,
it will destroy OUR Integrity and Responsibility. To that end, I once again
commend you for such a brilliant presentation.

Sincerely,
ANSUMANA KUJABI


>From: Momodou Camara <[log in to unmask]>
>Reply-To: The Gambia and related-issues mailing list
><[log in to unmask]>
>To: [log in to unmask]
>Subject: Gambia-l Guidelines
>Date: Mon, 19 Feb 2001 18:57:36 +0100
>
>Dear List Members,
>GAMBIA-L is not a moderated list, and for this reason, all postings are
>sent
>directly to subscribers without intervention or screening by list managers.
>For
>this reason, postings are the responsibility of subscribers, and not list
>managers or St. Johns University.
>
>Postings on Gambia-L are archived, meaning they are stored on the computer
>that
>runs the program runs the listserver that sends mails to all subscribers.
>Thus, you can obtain any and all postings that have ever been sent to
>Gambia-L
>since it’s launch at the current location through the Web-interface at:
>http://maelstrom.stjohns.edu/archives/gambia-l.html whether you are
>subscribed
>to Gambia-l or not.
>
>Subscribing to Gambia-L
>
>Gambia-L is a closed list, meaning that you cannot subscribe yourself to
>the
>list. Thus, someone, (any of the list managers and owners) has to subscribe
>you.
>When people send in their requests for subscription, it is received by all
>managers and the first one to have the chance adds the person. All managers
>can
>also see which manager added a new member. People can only un-subscribe
>themselves without the intervention of Managers and the Managers can also
>see
>who signed off.
>
>Participating in Discussions
>
>It can be very rewarding to subscribe to a mailing list.  This is even more
>so
>if, like Gambia-L, the list you subscribe to links people of the same
>nationality, or interested in the affairs of a nation and it's peoples.
>The
>constant exchange of ideas, information, greetings, and yes, harsh words is
>indicative of how helpful mailing lists can be to people all over the
>world.
>Along with all these and other benefits come some pitfalls, and drawbacks
>that
>must be borne in mind when you communicate with Gambia-L subscribers.  The
>following is aimed at providing you with a brief introduction to the do's
>and
>don'ts of mailing list usage and should hopefully help you make the best of
>the
>list.  Further, it is hoped that by using Gambia-L more efficiently, you
>will
>also be of even greater value to it's subscribers, and hence The Gambia and
>her
>friends.
>
>At First
>
>There's always a first time!  For this reason, we've all at one time or the
>other have felt excited, nervous, unsure or whatever about our first
>message to
>a mailing list.  Thus, you're not alone in feeling like a newbie, new
>computer
>and Internet users are called.
>
>Your first message to Gambia-L should be your self-introduction.  The next
>step
>after sending in your self-introduction is to do nothing!  Don't send any
>messages to the list.  This might sound bizarre advice, but your silence
>will
>help you learn about the atmosphere of the list, how people debate, and
>what
>issues are of concern to subscribers.  Just sit back and read postings that
>come your way.  This act of lying down low in a mailing list is called
>lurking.
>  Once you feel that you're comfortable with the list, you can start
>sending
>postings.
>
>How long should you lurk?  Well, it depends on a number of issues such as
>the
>amount of traffic when you subscribed, whether you've had experience with
>other
>lists, etc.  For example if you subscribe at a time when there's not much
>debate going on, it will take you a while to get a healthy number of
>messages
>that can be used to judge the atmosphere on the list.  On the other hand,
>if
>you join in the midst of a raging controversy, you can bet that the volume
>of
>traffic generated in a day will be enough to tell you what you've gotten
>into.
>
>One final note about lurking.  Even though it is important to keep quiet
>for a
>while, it doesn't mean that you should not send in replies to questions
>that
>are time-sensitive.  For example, if you just subscribed and someone asks
>about
>something you have knowledge of, please feel free to help and answer the
>question.  This is especially true if no other responses are forthcoming
>from
>other list subscribers.  You might very well be the only person who knows
>the
>answer to a question.
>
>Human Issues
>
>Perhaps the most important consideration in your mind is the fact that even
>though we are all communicating through the medium of computer networks, we
>are
>all human beings.  This means that we have feelings, a sense of justice,
>and a
>desire to be treated with respect.  For this reason, please ask yourself
>the
>simple question: would I appreciate someone telling me what I am about to
>say?
>This is especially important when you are inclined to respond to a posting,
>or
>send out one in a fit of rage.  In times like these, we are especially
>prone to
>say things we do not really mean, and live to regret.  And given that
>everything sent to Gambia-L is archived, you really can't take back what
>you
>said.
>
>It is important that you work toward mature and responsible postings.  This
>is
>for the simple reason that a lot of people on Gambia-L have nothing to
>judge
>you by other than your postings.  What you say reflects you a lot, and
>you'd be
>advised to make sure that it is the best of you that comes out.  And it's a
>small world.  You never know when you're going to run into someone who's
>been
>reading your postings on Gambia-L.
>
>We all like to be humorous, and even sarcastic sometimes.  However,
>desirable
>as these traits are, we should be very careful with them in e-mail because
>of
>the potential for being misunderstood.  Unless you use some well-known
>jokes or
>humour, you can be sure that some subscribers would either not get it, or
>be
>outrightly offended.  Even when you say you're just joking! So what's one
>to do
>to avoid being a bore?  Well, necessity they say is the mother of
>invention,
>and so some conventions styles have been developed to address the need for
>conveying emotions and jokes through e-mail.  ASCII art, emoticons
>(sometimes
>called smileys) all offer some means of being funny without being
>offensive.
>They are discussed in greater detail in the Power Usage section of this
>manual.
>
>Gambia-L is about sharing.  So it is important that you give back as much
>as
>you can.  It doesn't take much to send a short e-mail message with the
>address
>of a Web site you think might be of use to someone on the list.  Passing on
>such information will not only help people, but will also make you valuable
>to
>many people.  And you never know when they are going to feel obligated to
>return your kind gesture!
>
>You should also remember to never be personal.  At all costs, avoid getting
>dragged (downward) into fruitless arguments and wars of words.  Such
>personal
>verbal fights are called flame wars, and can only poison the atmosphere of
>a
>mailing list.  The best service you can do to Gambia-L, and indeed The
>Gambia,
>is to refrain from flaming.  If you get attacked anyway, you should respond
>to
>that person in private.  Between the two of you, you can engage in any kind
>of
>argument you want, and for however you want, as long as it is between the
>two
>of you.
>
>Gambia-L is not just about agreeing all the time.  By all means, feel free
>to
>disagree with postings sent to the list.  However, you should be aware that
>you
>are most helpful to the list if your criticism is constructive and helpful.
>Shouting down people, personal attacks, and the like help no one on the
>list,
>including yourself.  Also, you should cite references to support any claims
>you
>make in your postings.  Or at the minimum, be prepared to give people who
>ask
>evidence to support whatever it is you are claiming.
>
>E-mail Style Guide
>
>E-mail is a wonderful medium, no doubt, but it also is different from other
>forms of communication in many respects.  For this reason, it is important
>to
>be aware of certain issues when you do e-mail.  This would not only save
>you
>trouble, and embarrassment, but it will also save a lot of people a lot of
>trouble.
>
>Perhaps the most important habit to develop in using mailing lists is to be
>brief.  Gambia-L subscribers receive an average of 10 messages a day from
>the
>list.  Considering that people subscribe to a number of mailing lists, it
>is
>easy to see that many people are barely coping with a lot of e-mail
>already.
>
>For this reason, you'd be doing everyone a great favour if you are brief,
>and
>to the point.  People who want more detail about whatever it is you're
>talking
>about can always ask that you send it to them in private.  Toward this end,
>it
>is advisable that you always indicate in your posting that you can send
>details
>to anyone who asks for them, if that is, you have any more details to give
>out.
>
>You can also help people a lot by using descriptive titles in your Subject
>headings of your e-mail to Gambia-L.  An e-mail with a Subject titled
>"Request
>for help on locating Gamtel's phone number" is much more informative than
>one
>that simply says "Help!."  The first heading will help people decide faster
>than the second whether they can be of any help or not.  And every second
>saved
>is a second that can be spent doing something else, or helping people!
>
>Gambia-L has a diverse base of subscribers.  This should be an important
>consideration as you compose your e-mail to send to the list.  Thus, you
>should
>avoid being too technical, because not everyone is, or too casual (because
>not
>everyone is your acquaintance), or too for this reason, you should think
>about
>your audience.
>
>You should avoid being redundant, or repetitive.  Because people get a lot
>of e-
>mail, you should not waste their time by repeating what's already been
>said.
>Although most e-mail packages will append a copy of the mail you are
>replying
>to to your reply, you should not include all of it when replying to a
>posting.
>You can summarize what you are following up on, and if you have to quote
>the
>original posting, do not quote everything. To indicate that you're leaving
>material out of your quote, uses ellipsis (...) or *SNIP* as shown in the
>examples (culled from the ListProc Info file - the former server of
>Gambia-l)
>below:
>
>a) full quote
> >
> > Keep in mind that when referring to a <list>, that list may be of two
> > kinds:local or remote, unless otherwise noted. When referring to a
> > local list, your request will be immediately processed; when referring
> > to a remote list (a list served by another ListProcessor(tm) which this
> > system knows about), your request will be appropriately forwarded.
> > Issue a 'lists global' request to get a listing of all local and known
> > remote lists to this ListProcessor(tm).
> >
>
>b) shortened quotes (first, using ellipses, and tben using *SNIP*)
>
> >
> > Keep in mind that when referring to a <list>, that list may be of two
> > kinds:
>
> >
> > Keep in mind that when referring to a <list>, that list may be of two
> > kinds:   *SNIP*
>
>Note the dramatic reduction in the amount of reading you have to do when
>the
>shortened quotes are used.  Also, because people reading these shortened
>quotes
>already received the original message, they still can follow your argument
>with
>just one sentence long reference to the  posting you are responding to.
>
>Another important issue to be constantly aware of is the fact that Gambia-L
>is
>a public forum.  This means that there's no privacy in the e-mail you send
>to
>the list.  Indeed, everything sent to the list is archived, meaning that it
>is
>stored in a computer at the St. Johns University, and can be retrieved by
>anybody with Internet access.  This sounds so obvious that it seems dumb to
>talk about it.  However, it is important to emphasize the point, for the
>simple
>reason that some people think that it is enough to delete an e-mail message
>to
>ensure that it's gone for ever.  Nothing is further from the truth.  A
>simple
>rule of thumb when using e-mail is that because of the lack of privacy, you
>should not write anything you would not want to find in the newspaper
>tomorrow.
>
>Do not type your e-mail message all in UPPER CASE LETTERS.  For one thing,
>it
>is much harder to read stuff in ALL CAPS than in regular mixed-case format.
>While you might be tempted to use all caps to emphasize a point, this is
>not
>the way to do it.  You should sparingly use caps for emphasis.  For
>example,
>the sentence: "I would like to express my strong DISAGREEMENT with the
>fellow"
>is much better than: "I WOULD LIKE TO EXPRESS MY STRONG DISAGREEMENT WITH
>THE
>FELLOW" Obviously, the point you are emphasizing is lost in the second
>format
>of the same sentence.
>
>Gambia-L Etiquette
>
>There is no point in sending certain messages to the list.  Anything that
>should be taken care of by list management should not be sent to Gambia-L.
>They simply would not be able to help.  For example, sending a "Please
>unsubscribe me" message to the list would not do you, or any one any good.
>Such issues are best addressed to list management, if you want to save
>people
>trouble, and have your problem dealt with.
>
>Do not send your response to a posting to Gambia-L if it is not going to
>benefit others on the list.  In this case, send your response privately to
>the
>person who sent the posting you are replying to.  An example of this is if
>one
>writes to ask if anyone knows of the whereabouts of a friend he or she
>would
>like to contact.  Obviously, there is no need to send the friends phone
>number
>to Gambia-L.
>
>In the same vein, do not send private replies to Gambia-L without the
>consent
>of people who sent them to you.  If some one sends you information, it is
>safe
>to assume that they meant it for your eyes only, and it would be polite to
>seek
>their permission before sending it to Gambia-L.
>
>Replying to Gambia-L can be a potential source of embarrassment.  The list
>is
>setup such that if you press the reply button of your e-mail program, it's
>going to send your reply to Gambia-L.  Thus, make sure that e-mail you are
>sending is going to where you think you want them to before you press that
>send
>button.
>Otherwise, you'll find all of Gambia-L being privy to what you thought was
>strictly between you and the person you wanted to send your e-mail to.
>
>It is common courtesy and professional to sign your postings.  This is
>especially important given that you can use almost anything as your
>username
>and e-mail address, rather than your real name in e-mail messages.  For
>example, if your e-mail address is [log in to unmask] how would anyone know
>that your postings are from Lamin Sanneh of Juffureh if you don't tell
>them?
>
>Besides your name, your signature can also include other information such
>as
>your address and phone number.  It might even include what's called ASCII
>art,
>an artform that uses characters and numbers to draw pictures.  Whatever you
>want to include in your signature, please keep it short (5 to 6 lines), and
>do
>not include any blatant advertising of commercial products and/or services.
>It's just plain bad taste.
>
>You might, from time to time, come receive files appended to postings on
>Gambia-
>L.  It is safe and sound policy to exercise caution with attachments.  This
>is
>especially true of executable files (with the extension ".exe", ".bat" or
>".com") since they are the most common ways for viruses to be spread.  To
>save
>people the trouble of deciding whether to download an attachment or not,
>and
>prevent spreading computer viruses, you should not send any executable
>files to
>Gambia-L.
>
>Try limiting the number of questions you ask in a posting to one or two.
>This
>is for the simple reason that it's a lot easier to deal with one issue at a
>time given the large number of subscribers on Gambia-L.  The practice of
>limiting the number of questions you ask per posting not only saves you
>trouble, but also makes it easier for subscribers to follow the progress of
>debates on the list.
>
>Still on the issue of asking questions, it is also good citizenship to
>summarize responses to a question and send it back to the list.  For
>example,
>if I ask about choosing a school for my child, it would be great if I
>summarize
>all responses I received to the question and post it on the list.  This
>will
>not only provide a neat synopsis of what the responses were, but it would
>also
>foster a spirit of cooperation and collaboration on the list.  And that's
>what
>it's all about in the first place.
>
>No matter what, DO NOT ever, ever post "Me too" or "I agree" type messages
>to
>the list. If you agree with what someone says, please reply to them in
>person,
>and not send out a two word message to the list.  This practice is
>especially
>annoying if you quote the original message you are replying to, only to add
>"I
>agree" at the end of it.  And it's not enough to say "I disagree" either.
>If
>you disagree with the contents of a posting, you should elaborate, to keep
>the
>discussion going.
>
>People sometimes ask questions that have been answered before on the list.
>This might be because they joined after the question was asked, or simply
>forgot.  Such questions should be answered in private, or left to less busy
>people to deal with.  Don't worry about the question going un-answered
>because
>the person asking it will repost it in the event no one answers it.  If
>it's
>asked a second time by the same person because no one answered it the first
>time, send the poor fellow a reply to their e-mail address.
>
>Gambia-L is not for chain letters.  Please save us the trouble and refrain
>from
>sending chain letters to the list.  Obviously, you can send petitions for
>to
>raise funds for charitable and philanthropic causes and the like, given
>that
>Gambia-L is for helping Gambian progress.  If you have chain letters that
>you
>think are interesting, please send them to your friends, and not to
>Gambia-L.
>If you must inform us, you can post a brief description of it and ask
>people to
>request that you send them copies of it privately.
>
>With regards law, never post copyrighted material on Gambia-L, unless you
>have
>permission from the copyright owner to do so.  Although it is common
>occurrence
>to find copyrighted material being distributed at will on the Internet,
>Gambia-
>L cannot afford to openly flout laws that regulate these issues.  We are
>being
>hosted by St. Johns University on the understanding that our list will not
>be a
>forum for people to break laws.
>
>If you really want to inform people about material that's copyrighted, the
>best
>thing to do would be to send the Web address of the publication or
>information.
>  Gambia-L subscribers can then visit the Web site on their own to access
>the
>information.  For those that don't have direct Web access, (e.g. in The
>Gambia), you can fax or mail them the information, or by whatever other
>means
>at your disposal.  But positively NOT via Gambia-L.
>
>Power Users
>
>You've by now seen them all: IMHO, BTW, FWITW, ;-), RTFM, and on and on.
>Welcome to the Internet lingo called netspeak.  These abbreviations and
>symbols
>are useful tools not only because they save a lot of time, but also because
>they have provided a means to convey emotions over the Internet. To get you
>started, here are a few common abbreviations that are used on the Internet:
>
>Abbreviation    Translation
>IMHO    In My Humble Opinion
>BTW     By The Way
>FWITW   For What It's Worth
>RTFM    Read The Freaking Manual (you'll get this when you ask a question
>that's
>answered this manual!) Smilies, or emoticons, are also often used on the
>Internet to convey emotion in e-mail.  Smilies are composed using ASCII
>characters such as the colon, hyphen, and left and right parentheses.  The
>following are a number of commonly used smilies.
>
>Smilie  Translation
>IMHO    In My Humble Opinion
>BTW     By The Way
>FWITW   For What It's Worth
>RTFM    Read The Freaking Manual (you'll get this when you ask a question
>that's
>answered this manual!)
>
>
>LIST MANAGEMENT
>Gambia-L is managed by volunteers.  Gambia-L managers are responsible for
>subscribing new members, and helping them make the best of the facilities
>offered by the list.  They should be contacted if you have any problems
>with
>your subscribptions.  But before you contact them, please make sure that
>your
>problems are not originating from your e-mail provider but from Gambia-L
>server.
>
>The following are the current people responsible for the management of
>Gambia-
>L.
>
>List Managers
>
>Momodou Camara <[log in to unmask]> or <[log in to unmask]>
>Dr. Amadou Scattred Janneh <[log in to unmask]>
>Sarian Loum <[log in to unmask]>
>Soffie Ceesay <[log in to unmask]>
>Ndey Jobarteh <[log in to unmask]>
>Awa Sey <[log in to unmask]>
>Anthony  Loum <[log in to unmask]>
>Malanding S. Jaiteh <[log in to unmask]> or <[log in to unmask]>
>
>All the List Managers will receive mails sent to:
>[log in to unmask]
>
>Thank you reading.
>
>The above is an edited version of an extract from the Gambia-l user manual
>by
>Dr. Katim Touray a couple of years ago.
>
>
>Best regards,
>
>Momodou Camara
>Copenhagen - Denmark
>
>------- End of forwarded message -------
>
>----------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
>To unsubscribe/subscribe or view archives of postings, go to the Gambia-L
>Web interface at: http://maelstrom.stjohns.edu/archives/gambia-l.html
>You may also send subscription requests to
>[log in to unmask]
>if you have problems accessing the web interface and remember to write your
>full name and e-mail address.
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