**IMPORTANT: Change to Cooking Club Rules!!**

Faith

Hi folks,

We wanted to bring it to your attention that we're introducing a slight change here in the Cooking Club. We're into our third very successful year now, and I know we're all delighted with how it's going. As time goes on, we get a bigger following, and more people are looking forward to the recipe posted every week.

It's very disappointing when a recipe isn't posted one week. It's stressful for us mods because we're trying to sort it out behind the scenes, and it's disappointing for those of you eagerly awaiting it. Many times, the failure to post is unavoidable, but it's especially frustrating in instances when we could have arranged a stand-in if the poster had contacted us in advance. It seems as though some people sign up without realising the level of commitment that we have to the Cooking Club, and have forgotten about it by the time their week arrives. Unfortunately, reminder PMs don't always work - sometimes we're just ignored, and other times we don't get a reply in time to arrange a stand-in. So from now on, we're going to introduce a 2-week ban for users who fail to post a recipe without providing adequate notice. We hope that this will encourage newer posters to understand how important it is to all of us that a recipe be posted every week, and to act as an encouragement for signed-up participants not to let other committed forum users down.

We welcome feedback on this decision.

Regards,

Faith, the Hill Billy, and Mr Magnolia.

Dinkie

Is the ban just for the food and drink forum?

I would have thought a longer ban (preferably from the whole of boards) would be better. Most who fail to post for their week aren't frequent posters of the food and drink forum (I've checked).

I think it was suggested already that standby posters send you in their recipes. That way if someone doesn't post, there is one ready and waiting. With this in mind. People should be told that they need to post by (Friday -Sunday of their week). If they fail to post by Monday, an automatic ban should be handed out.

Speaking as someone who looks forward to the weekly recipe even if I don't always try it out... and someone who has posted a recipe 2 out of the past 3 years.

confusticated

Yeah I think a ban on food & drink/cooking club wouldn't be enough really - if someone's forgotten about their week then chances are they don't check the cooking club every week!

I know I haven't posted in it, but I check it every week, been looking in and out since Friday!

Since lots of people had asked to be backups, maybe the backups could be assigned a month? So say if someone misses their week in February, the February backup goes. Although this could mean people would be a bit more lax about it if they know someone else is there...

Faith

Well, we certainly don't have the power or authority to ban outside of the Food & Drink forums. We actually haven't really discussed whether the ban would just be from the Cooking Club or the whole F&D category. I was all for permanent bans, but that's probably a bit harsh :pac:.

I sent a PM to the next 8 posters (at the time) about 6 weeks ago, reminding them they were due to post on a fixed date. All read the PMs (I've got read receipts), but it's still slipping peoples minds.

I'll contact some people about preparing stand-in recipes in advance.

Keep the feedback coming!

The Black Oil

Not sure on the merits or necessity of banning people. I can understand the frustration of recipes not appearing without reasonable explanation, but I don't quite see what I ban will teach anyone - failure to turn up isn't 'ordinary' rule flouting such as trolling, muppetry, is it? Disrespectful at times, sure.

I do think the club being on a Friday is a positive since the working week is pretty much over for a lot of people and there's no scrambling to get something together on a Monday night.

Maybe the mods could also put a link to tCC schedule in their sigs, that way it may seen outside of posts in this forum *Are you on track with/this month in The Cooking Club? Don't forget your slot (link)*, etc.? Or once has a poster has put up a recipe their name could be crossed off in the main list.

BaZmO*

The ban is a bit pointless tbh. Most people that don't put up a recipe (when it's their turn) and fail to reply to PMs are generally done with the food and drink forum so a ban won't make any difference, especially a 2 week ban.

You can generally take a fairly educated guess of which poster will fail to put up their recipe and not bother to reply to PMs.

The Hill Billy

Hi BaZmO* - Unfortunately that is not the case. PM reminders have been ignored by both regular posters & n00bs that we have offered the opportunity to participate. As Faith mentioned - we discussed numerous options & varying length of bans. None of which are intended as punishment - rather that they are there to make people realise the importance of posting when they committed to.

There are now many followers of The Cooking Club - posters & lurkers. To not post when you committed to is very disrespectful to the other Club members.

The amount of effort that Faith especially puts in & the number of followers needs to be acknowledged. If posters are going to disrespect that - action needs to be taken.

That said - we are all ears. What do you suggest we do to ensure that recipes are posted on time every time?

The Hill Billy

Please note that this action has been suggested not because of any individual - but rather because of a recurring trend amongst posters who signed up, but left the club in the lurch over quite a number of weekends.

tHB

Mellor

The Hill Billy wrote: »

That said - we are all ears. What do you suggest we do to ensure that recipes are posted on time every time?

Maybe have a submission deadline a few days early. The forum is set to unapprove new threads. Say by monday night, posters should have submitted thier recipe/thread. And on friday you (the mods) approve the new recipe. If they miss the monday night deadline, then they get a ban and it gives you time to organise a stand in by friday. That way, the recipes go up regularly every friday even when its not the scheduled person.

There's no reason why people can't post threads a week or two early and they can sit there unapproved until they are ready to go

The Hill Billy

Thanks folks. Keep the suggestions coming...

olaola

Banning seems to be a bit over the top IMO! It seems to be going against the actual spirit of the thread. I can understand you're having issues getting people to post. But when you're scheduled quite far in advance, it's very easy to forget!

I agree with Mellor - submit your recipe a week in advance or something along those lines. Or maybe have a few ready to go in the back pocket for such emergencies. This banning suggestion seems rather dramatic!

The Hill Billy

This is why we are requesting your feedback. It is not like we are just implementing any solution without discussion.

But can I ask - what if someone doesn't post a week in advance & continues to ignore mod PMs - reminders of the forthcoming deadline & offers of trying to arrange a stand-in if the date is no longer suitable?

Please bear in mind that there is quite an amount of coordination that needs to take place behind the scenes. We are volunteers & we are trying to make The Cooking Club run smoothly for your benefit, but without increasing an already high workload on ourselves.

Keep those suggestions coming...

pleasant Co.

Would you consider giving a week cut off to no responsive PM's, instead of banning?

for example, PM member to remind about recipe 2 weeks in advance, if they don't reply within one week consider them out and get a stand-in?

BaZmO*

The Hill Billy wrote: »

Hi BaZmO* - Unfortunately that is not the case. PM reminders have been ignored by both regular posters & n00bs that we have offered the opportunity to participate.

Wow. I'm surprised at that. It’s a bit cheeky for a regular poster to sign up to do a recipe and then ignore requests to submit their recipe. Even more so if they then start posting again as if nothing happened. To me that would warrant a ban more so than a noobee that signed up and then just stopped using the forum. I couldn’t do my recipe last year because I was in hospital so obviously it wasn’t a great time for me but at least I had the decency to notify the mods.
I think people should be notified 2 weeks beforehand, if they don’t get back within a week of their recipe date they’re off the list. A standby list should be created but the standbys must confirm that they have a recipe ready to go. 5 people on the standby list should be enough for the year?

Faith

I try to pm everyone a few weeks before their week to remind them. It's ineffective in many cases. For example, I PM'ed this weeks poster a while back with a group of others. I know she read it because I have the read receipt. I PM'ed her again early on Monday and didn't get a reply, nor is there a recipe up. She's been online since, because I can see it in her profile. What are we to do in cases like that?

This year alone there's been a few missed weeks. I'm on my phone so I can't check exactly, but it's only April and it's already stressful.

I would estimate that there's 10-15 drop outs and substitutions each year. I agree that banning is fairly pointless, but we feel we have to do something to discourage dropouts. I don't think you guys realize just how much time we put into this behind the scenes! We mods have very busy lives and it can be a serious pain in the ass chasing posters every week. More than once, I've thought about throwing in the towel out of frustration.

We're taking all your feedback on board and theres some great suggestions so far. Keep them coming, and we'll try to come up with another approach based on them.

The Black Oil

The Hill Billy wrote: »

The amount of effort that Faith especially puts in & the number of followers needs to be acknowledged. If posters are going to disrespect that - action needs to be taken.

Faith wrote: »

I don't think you guys realize just how much time we put into this behind the scenes! We mods have very busy lives and it can be a serious pain in the ass chasing posters every week. More than once, I've thought about throwing in the towel out of frustration.

To be fair, I think some people recognise it and the club wouldn't be as successful as it is without the mods. Anyone here who is also involved in a club/organisation in real life also knows the annoyance of drop outs and no shows (unless there's a legitimate reason). Am curious to know how you can see the place has more lurkers and followers. That's good to hear.

How about, if you don't turn up this year, you can't sign up for the following one? That way, you're benched without being banned.

confusticated

If forgetting or not planning ahead is an issue, maybe don't take signups for the full year at once, maybe do 3 or 4 months at a time? Although this does mean a lot more work for mods I know, so maybe not!

ElleEm

Faith wrote: »

I try to pm everyone a few weeks before their week to remind them. It's ineffective in many cases. For example, I PM'ed this weeks poster a while back with a group of others. I know she read it because I have the read receipt. I PM'ed her again early on Monday and didn't get a reply, nor is there a recipe up. She's been online since, because I can see it in her profile. What are we to do in cases like that?

This year alone there's been a few missed weeks. I'm on my phone so I can't check exactly, but it's only April and it's already stressful.

I would estimate that there's 10-15 drop outs and substitutions each year. I agree that banning is fairly pointless, but we feel we have to do something to discourage dropouts. I don't think you guys realize just how much time we put into this behind the scenes! We mods have very busy lives and it can be a serious pain in the ass chasing posters every week. More than once, I've thought about throwing in the towel out of frustration.

We're taking all your feedback on board and theres some great suggestions so far. Keep them coming, and we'll try to come up with another approach based on them.

Apologies, you're referring to me!

My laptop has been acting up and I don't PMs on my phone. Only had the chance to sit down at a computer today and do out the recipe.
I know I was given plenty of notice but sometimes things happen!

I think it's a good suggestion to get posters to submit their recipes earlier than due.

Also, is it made clear anywhere that the recipes go up on the date you're given? I only ask cos I wasn't sure if my recipe was to go up ON Friday 20th or during the week starting Friday the 20th? Also, the previous Cooking Club recipe went up late too so I wasn't too sure.

Faith

Thanks ElleEm . Please don't take my post as an attack or anything, I was just using this week to highlight how we're powerless after a certain point.

I'll post a proper reply to everyone's posts this evening when I'm back on my laptop.

ChewChew

I don't think to have the recipes submitted at an earlier time (say Monday for Friday) is very fair on the mods. It means then the responsibility is passed to them, and they have to be free on that Friday to chase the poster and then post their recipe because they are unable to do it themselves for whatever reason. At the end of the day, we as the users of tCC, signed up to this so it is our responsibility to make sure we make note of our date and post when we have agreed to!

I think maybe an idea could be if someone is a no show, they don't get considered for anymore years. That's it. You blew it.

Also, it might be an idea to have some people who are due to submit a recipe down the line to also be a stand in? Someone reliable and willing to help out? Not that noobs aren't... I'm just saying it might be an idea to get the names of a few people who are regulars and the mods can identify as being regular poster and reliable!

Just my 2c

reallyrose

I'd be only a little forgiving of people forgetting. I have a reminder set up on my phone and email for a date a little ahead of my week! (Cue reallyrose disappearing from the web and forgetting her recipe week. :pac:)

Stand-in recipes are a good idea. Perhaps, now, this week, (or whenever you have time! ) mods could contact the folks that said they'd be available in case of drops outs. Then a little stock of recipe posts could be kept somewhere all mods can access it, on pastebin or similar. If there's a no show, then a recipe can be seamlessly posted! Hurrah! I'm sure other posters would also be willing to contribute. At the end of the year, if there's recipe posts left, they could be posted all at once. An omnibus edition!

Would it be possible to pm all CC participants for the rest of the year to ask if they are still up for it? Perhaps say something like "It's fine if you no longer want to take part but please let us know so we can offer someone else the opportunity."

I agree with the banning idea. I don't think it's fair to say people are not regular users of this forum when they don't post. I read C+R every single day. I rarely post because I don't have much to say.
I'd notice if I were banned and I couldn't come in to drool at the Food Porn What Are You Cooking thread. I would be sad!
If someone doesn't regularly read or post in C+R, then they probably only put themselves down for the CC on a whim and don't care anyway. We can do little about that! (except throw things at their houses.)

BaZmO*

reallyrose wrote: »

I agree with the banning idea. I don't think it's fair to say people are not regular users of this forum when they don't post. I read C+R every single day. I rarely post because I don't have much to say.
I'd notice if I were banned and I couldn't come in to drool at the Food Porn What Are You Cooking thread. I would be sad!

Getting banned doesn't stop you from viewing a forum, it just takes away your ability to post on the forum.

reallyrose

BaZmO* wrote: »

Getting banned doesn't stop you from viewing a forum, it just takes away your ability to post on the forum.

Oh... then I don't get it at all! :pac: If I were banned, I mightn't notice.

The Hill Billy

A banned poster must log out before they can access a forum that they are banned from. Not the end of the world, but a damn inconvenience for the duration of the ban - particularly if they are regulars.

Padraig Mor

I think some form of a ban is appropriate as well. The Cooking Club is very much over subscribed and its simply not fair on those who didn't get on the list to see some of those who did simply not bothering doing their week.

Faith

BaZmO* wrote: »

You can generally take a fairly educated guess of which poster will fail to put up their recipe and not bother to reply to PMs.

Honestly, you can't. It's impossible to tell. I've been *convinced* someone will fail to post a recipe, and then they've gone on to post a fabulous, popular one. Equally, I've seen very reliable posters pull out at the 11th hour.

Mellor wrote: »

Maybe have a submission deadline a few days early. The forum is set to unapprove new threads. Say by monday night, posters should have submitted thier recipe/thread. And on friday you (the mods) approve the new recipe. If they miss the monday night deadline, then they get a ban and it gives you time to organise a stand in by friday. That way, the recipes go up regularly every friday even when its not the scheduled person.

There's no reason why people can't post threads a week or two early and they can sit there unapproved until they are ready to go

This is a possibility. We'd have to soft-delete them though, and then bump them when we restore them. But it's a good idea.

confusticated wrote: »

If forgetting or not planning ahead is an issue, maybe don't take signups for the full year at once, maybe do 3 or 4 months at a time? Although this does mean a lot more work for mods I know, so maybe not!

We thought about doing this year in 2 halves, but it's very complicated. I'm moving country and starting a Masters this summer, so there's so way I'd have time to organise the whole thing at that point.

ChewChew wrote: »

I don't think to have the recipes submitted at an earlier time (say Monday for Friday) is very fair on the mods. It means then the responsibility is passed to them, and they have to be free on that Friday to chase the poster and then post their recipe because they are unable to do it themselves for whatever reason. At the end of the day, we as the users of tCC, signed up to this so it is our responsibility to make sure we make note of our date and post when we have agreed to!

This, to a degree. It is the poster's responsibility, and we already chase people a lot. Unless we ask the next, say, 4 posters to submit their recipes as soon as possible, and soft-delete them until the correct week.

I think maybe an idea could be if someone is a no show, they don't get considered for anymore years. That's it. You blew it.

I certainly agree with this. Although, if someone fails to post a recipe, they almost never sign up again the next year anyway.

reallyrose wrote: »

Stand-in recipes are a good idea. Perhaps, now, this week, (or whenever you have time! ) mods could contact the folks that said they'd be available in case of drops outs. Then a little stock of recipe posts could be kept somewhere all mods can access it, on pastebin or similar. If there's a no show, then a recipe can be seamlessly posted! Hurrah! I'm sure other posters would also be willing to contribute. At the end of the year, if there's recipe posts left, they could be posted all at once. An omnibus edition!

I like this. We might consider asking stand-ins to actually post their recipes as soon as they can, and soft-delete them until they're needed.

neuro-praxis

Would more mods help? I'm sure several regulars would be willing to help out and lighten the load.

In the schedule for 2012 Faith asked if all posters listed could please thank her posting of the schedule to indicate their acceptance of the date offered. There are 48 dates and only 40 thanks.

That's 8 that can get the boot right away. That post is months old.

I think the banning is a fair idea. I'd also make it a month long, so that they properly notice. We already know that you mods are fair and should someone find themselves in hospital or in an emergency of some kind, that would be the exception.

But there is no excuse for not giving notice of dropping out.

What about putting the onus on the scheduled poster to pm and confirm in advance that they are going to put up a recipe? If they don't, they lose their place? Even as I type this I see the problems with it. This is a difficult one.

I also like the idea of stockpiling a few emergency recipes with pictures. I would be happy to submit a recipe in the coming weeks for such a stockpile.

Huge thanks for all the hard work, mods. Most of us appreciate it a lot! C&R is without doubt one of the nicest forums on boards.

The Black Oil

Possibly 7 people since Faith can't thank her own post and she already has a recipe up.

How about for the future schedule if you haven't thanked the list after a certain time, say a month after it's posted, you're out and a stand in is put in place. Might overcomplicate things.

Padraig Mor

neuro-praxis wrote: »

What about putting the onus on the scheduled poster to pm and confirm in advance that they are going to put up a recipe? If they don't, they lose their place?

This could be an idea alright. PM, say 2 weeks, before your date. No PM? - you get one reminder with 3 days to reply. No reply to the reminder - someone from the 'reserves' gets 10 days or so to formulate something.

I also like the idea of stockpiling a few emergency recipes with pictures. I would be happy to submit a recipe in the coming weeks for such a stockpile.
.

I can knock one of these together if required. Pictures are already taken.

Faith

Okay, I've fired off a PM to several people who offered to be stand-ins, asking them to prepare recipes in advance. That should help.

We've confirmation that this week's and next week's posters are ready to go.

If you have a recipe that you'd be happy to supply as a stand in, could you send me a PM to confirm, please? Don't include the recipe, just let me know that you're willing.

Hopefully then we can amass a few "spares" that are ready to be activated if someone fails to post .

Kimia

neuro-praxis wrote: »

Would more mods help? I'm sure several regulars would be willing to help out and lighten the load.

In the schedule for 2012 Faith asked if all posters listed could please thank her posting of the schedule to indicate their acceptance of the date offered. There are 48 dates and only 40 thanks.

That's 8 that can get the boot right away. That post is months old.

When I read this I immediately got the fear and raced over to see if I had thanked the post, Thank god I had! :pac:

I want to echo the thanks from others - I love this forum and the cooking club and I'm already thinking about what to do for my recipe (which is in November!).

I don't know about bans only because the 'banned' can still view everything, they just can't post. Unless you're very active, you're not going to care really. I don't know what the answer is. I agree that having back ups is a great idea. Call on me if you need a stand in too.

Muirgheal

I'm going to break in here to say thank you to the mods- the work load must be huge! For one, I really appreciate what ye put in to TCC.

I don't post at all regularly, but I love TCC, and I am one of the people that looks forward to a new recipe each week.

gra26

I don't think I've posted here before but I'm a very very regular lurker and avid reader of the recipes and have tried a few.

Basically I want to jump on the mini bandwagon and thank all you mods for all your hard work.

There has been some good suggestions given by regular posters so I don't think there's much point in me throwing my 2c in as well.

So well done on all the hard work and keep it up (please!)

amandausa

I also agree that the C&R forum is one of the best so thanks to all! I guess I do more lurking than posting but I really enjoy the recipes on the tcc as well and often search around the old posts for ideas.

A lot of good suggestions were already posted and honestly I personally don't think they are too harsh -- its not that big of a committment to remember to post and if you don't then pay the consequences. Simple as that. Most people will eventually forgive you

The only other idea I could come up with is this: since the club is so popular, why not increase the volume so a slip up here and there is not missed as much. For example, assign 2 people to each week, instead of one. This may not be possible if there are not enough people willing to participate, but perhaps some people would even do it twice a year (a year's a long time!)... I know this creates more work, but possibly can be delegated to a volunteer to put together.

Just some more food for thought

lilymc

I would love to join in if that is possible?

MissFlitworth

Hey lilymc,

You're too late for the first intake unfortunately but you could stick your name down for the second intake. Keep your eyes peeled in a couple of months for the sign up. You'll need a minimum of 100 posts to take part and if some of them could be in the Food & Drink forum so much the better! (Just because we know people who post here even occasionally are much more likely to post a recipe when the time comes for their go, so they get preference for slots).

Oh! and feel free to add a recipe to the Random Recipes thread any time you'd like!