Socially and Ecologically Responsible Agriculture Network

[Socially and Ecologically Responsible Agriculture Network <seranet AT lists.ibiblio.org>]

Joel Gruver wrote:

JG> I am proposing that it may be a good time to take stock in what
JG> SANET has accomplished

People with similar perceptions and commitments related to
agriculture and the environment have had an opportunity to post
information, seek information and share opinions; and that's an
accomplishment.

JG> "and discuss potential changes that can help SANET accomplish even more"

Sanet is part of SARE and if SARE has asked saneters for their
opinions in order to modify sanet, I'm not aware of it.

That understood, the subject: 

  What form should a listserver or forum open to the public take, in
  order to accomplish a defined set of goals involving Sustainable
  Agriculture and related issues?

is a topic worthy of discussion (but it isn't about sanet).

No matter - The first step would be to define the group's goals:

If information is the primary goal, a database anticipating the
needs of subscribers should be created - unless that already exists.
(If so, what would come closest? ATTRA)?

If Mutual support is the primary goal, the Forum Format not only
directs queries to a Forum specialized in a given subject matter, it
also means that expert members of the Sustainable Agriculture
Community have agreed to provide this service. (Otherwise, there's
no point to having a forum).

If several specialized, expert group members are in fact available
for this purpose, in some ways a Sustainable Ag. Forum might be an
improvement over sanet, as it is today.

If collective action is the principal goal, forming a non-profit
Political Action Committee may be in order.

Any and all of these changes are feasible, but unless the servers,
the cash and the presence of experts committed to the task are
available, the best you can hope for is sanet in it's present form.

-- 

Douglas