FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
by Bruce Schuman

Our USA.CAN network is very new, and some people have been surprised to receive email from us, or have other questions about this project or how we got here. This FAQ is intended to address these questions. As always -- thanks for being here.

1. GENESIS AND HISTORY OF USA.CAN
   • Who created USA.CAN?
     USA.CAN was originally created by Paul Currier, working within the "MyBO" (http://my.barackobama.com) web system, that is now becoming the framework for Organizing for America (OFA). Paul recruited the assistance of Lisa Lindo, and she and Paul worked together to build the USA.CAN network on MyBO, creating a "listserv" for every state in the USA, plus a national network.

   • How did this usacan.us web site come into existence?
     In April of 2009, it was decided by some leading members of USA.CAN on the MyBO system that the USA.CAN project needed its own platform and web space. Through an exchange of email and through phone calls and personal contact, it was decided to create a new system, outside the MyBO framework, and, insofar as possible, to migrate the existing USA.CAN membership into the new framework. We worked together on this task, and built our new network.

   • Who owns and manages USA.CAN?
     This question could be answered several ways. USACAN and the various state networks originally created by Paul Currier and Lisa Lindo are still operating on the MyBO/OFA site. Those networks are currently controlled and managed by OFA. Our new system -- where you are right now -- is managed independently by a small group of people who want to work together to follow and develop the vision and ideas of the founders of the network, plus add in new ideas as things continue to grow.

   • Why is there more than one USA.CAN email network?
     Actually there are many USA.CAN email networks. On the MyBO/OFA system, there are something like 51 "listservs", one for each state and one national listserv. On our new USA.CAN system, we have one "group" (includes an email "listserv", plus many other features) for each state, plus groups for each issue listed at http://www.whitehouse.gov, plus special groups on various special topics, plus groups organized within the state groups -- which adds up to a lot of groups. You can see a list of our USA.CAN groups here: http://usacan.us/groups.cfm One reason for having many groups is -- the groups are about different things, and not everybody is interested in everything. We are trying to create special networks for everything people are interested in.

   • What is the difference between a "listserv" and a "group"?
     A "listserv" is a simple email technology that allows a large number of people to "join a list", and "send email to the list". The "listserver" is a computer program on a server that receives the email messages "sent to the list", and then redistributes those messages to the people who have "subscribed to the list". A "group" is a more complex concept than a listserver, and might include everything a listserver is doing, plus offer many other features besides redistributing email messages to a list of subscribers. These features might include posting blogs, uploading documents and photos, listing links, etc. On our system, Bulletin Board messages are sent by email to members of the group who have chosen to subscribe by email, and are also posted on our web sites. You can view our USA.CAN bulletin board messages here: http://usacan.us/messages.cfm

   • How did I get subscribed to the USA.CAN email network?
     There are two ways you might have got subscribed to a USA.CAN email network. 1) You joined a USA.CAN network on MyBO, and when we migrated USA.CAN to its own framework, we brought you with us; or 2) You filled our a registration form on our system and joined the network on your own, selecting opt-in choices to subscribe by email.

   • How can I unsubscribe?
     To unsubscribe to a listserver that operates on the MyBO framework, you have to sign into MyBO and unsubscribe. If you are currently signed in on MyBO, you can unsubscribe by clicking an "unsubscribe" link in an email message from a MyBO listserv. On our USA.CAN networks, you can manage your email subscriptions (subscribe/unsubscribe) in several ways. In the email messages we send through our Lightpages network, you will see a "Subscribe / Unsubscribe" link at the bottom of the message:
     Click the Subscribe/Unsubscribe link, and you will go to a page on LightPages that allows you to change your subscription options (subscribe/unsubscribe). Click here for further detail on the Help page.

     If you are signed in here to usacan.us, you can click on your "My Profile" link the signed-in toolbar, and select the "Email subscriptions" link. This page allows you to manage your subscription to any USA.CAN email network or group where you are a member.

2. USA.CAN AND OFA / MyBO
   • What is the relationship between USA.CAN and OFA (Organizing for America)?
     USA.CAN supports OFA, and many of us are active in OFA projects. We believe in their vision, we support their objectives, we see ourselves as partners. The significant difference is that USA.CAN is an independent grass-roots network with an open agenda, listening to all voices and working with anyone (including Republicans, Independents, Greens, Libertarians, etc.) who wants to work with us in a constructive way.

3. WHY ARE THE EMAIL MESSAGES FROM USA.CAN MODERATED?

   Our Lightpages.net "Bulletin Board" is a combination email network (listserv) and web board (messages are posted and displayed from a web site, rather than through a personal email program). We are currently moderating the messages that are posted by our members through our Bulletin Board -- which means that the messages are reviewed before being distributed to the subscribers (persons who have chosen to receive these messages in their personal email inbox). We are doing this for several reasons:

   • To confirm that the messages are appropriate for our USA.CAN members, and are reasonably on topic
   • To avoid unpleasant messages that might contain vulgarities or other inappropriate material
   • To help avoid "email overload" and slow down the volume of messages sent through our system

   Our policy is simple and is not intended as a form of censorship. All messages posted by our members appear on the web, regardless of whether they have been distributed by email, and can be viewed here: http://usacan.us/messages.cfm

   Please bear in mind when posting to our system that all messages are visible to the general public and to internet search engines. You do have the option to conceal your personal contact information and your full name, and the default for new members is to conceal this information.

4. INTERNET COURTESY

   We take a a very simple approach to maintaining a courteous and enjoyable experience for our members. Messages posted through our Bulletin Board system (or Blogs) are expected to treat other members of the network with respect at all times.

   When composing your message, please bear in mind that the recipients may be your neighbors (and in the sense that it is a small world, they are), and may hold a different view on the question you are addressing, or be of a different party affiliation. We request a courteous tone and a willingness to consider that "reasonable people may disagree" on the many challenging issues we face today.