Gastric Bypass Surgery Support Group
Gastric bypass (GBP) is any of a group of similar operative procedures used to treat morbid obesity, a condition which arises from severe accumulation of excess weight in the form of fatty tissue, and the health problems ("co-morbidities") which result. If you are considering gastric bypass or have had it, join the community where we share our experiences and find support.
Hi Folks!
You may or may not know me, but my name is Jesse and I work here at DailyStrength. I'm writing to let you know that we're looking to add a Community Leader to the Gastric Bypass Surgery Support Group -- so we'd like to know if you want to become one!
In case you're not already familiar with what Community Leaders do, they're vibrant members who volunteer to greet new folks to the group, offer positive and constructive advice in discussion posts, and help steer negative topics back on track (and occasionally close a clearly abusive discussion post, which is very rare in this group). You can learn more by clicking here:
http://www.dailystrength.org/content/view/2071495
If you have any questions or are interested in becoming a volunteer CL, please send me a private message with the subject heading of "CL for Gastric Bypass". DS staff will then review the candidates.
To be considered for the role of a CL, we'd like to ask that you:
1. Be okay with having a profile privacy setting of either "Everybody" or "DS Members". That way new members can greet you back!
2. Have not received prior warnings from DS for violations of the Rules of the Road.
3. Have been an active member of the Gastric Bypass Surgery support group for at least six months.
I'll leave this post up for a few days, and I might bump it up every once and a while so it stays on the main page.
I hope everyone has a wonderful weekend. :)
Jesse
You may or may not know me, but my name is Jesse and I work here at DailyStrength. I'm writing to let you know that we're looking to add a Community Leader to the Gastric Bypass Surgery Support Group -- so we'd like to know if you want to become one!
In case you're not already familiar with what Community Leaders do, they're vibrant members who volunteer to greet new folks to the group, offer positive and constructive advice in discussion posts, and help steer negative topics back on track (and occasionally close a clearly abusive discussion post, which is very rare in this group). You can learn more by clicking here:
http://www.dailystrength.org/content/view/2071495
If you have any questions or are interested in becoming a volunteer CL, please send me a private message with the subject heading of "CL for Gastric Bypass". DS staff will then review the candidates.
To be considered for the role of a CL, we'd like to ask that you:
1. Be okay with having a profile privacy setting of either "Everybody" or "DS Members". That way new members can greet you back!
2. Have not received prior warnings from DS for violations of the Rules of the Road.
3. Have been an active member of the Gastric Bypass Surgery support group for at least six months.
I'll leave this post up for a few days, and I might bump it up every once and a while so it stays on the main page.
I hope everyone has a wonderful weekend. :)
Jesse
I am not sure how I feel about this.
I have always enjoyed this group because it seems we are all equals.
There are no leaders.
Additionally if I am not a leader does that mean I am a follower?
I don't want to be either.
Perhaps I am being naive, but the intentional manipulation of posts does not seem right to me.
Do we really need a "group leader"?
There will always be people trying to "lead" the group or "steer" them in the direction of their own chosing but thus far, at least in my view, it seems like we done well as equals here.
I personally do not need a leader. I believe we can conduct ourselves as adults here without that kind of intervention.
I realize someone needs to monitor the boards for abuse but this should be done by someone impartial not a participating member.
At least thats how I feel Hope
I guess I would point out that there are plenty of people here already who are "vibrant members who volunteer to greet new folks to the group, offer positive and constructive advice in discussion posts, and help steer negative topics back on track"
The group also enjoys it share of trolls, sock puppets, shills, loonies, and a few folks clearly suffering from Munchausen by Internet. In other words, it is like most real-world families. The problem I see here is with the definition of "clearly abusive". There is certainly drama here from time to time but that comes with the territory.
The real question here is, "quis custodiet ipsos custodes?"
Robin
I don't think a "class monitor" would help, nor an "authority figure," but I do think a professional person, a benevolent facilitator, who has had the surgery, could be invaluable.
I have always believed that sometimes the WLS issues, that emerge in this group, are more complex than a peer support group should be expected to respond to.
I love this group because no one is afraid to put forward their thoughts for fear of censorship. This group is an amazing resource and 'best friend', full of information, support, camaraderie and, yes, sometimes drama. I kind of like watching the drama sometimes (my guilty secret).
I am afraid of members being smacked down because of their opinions or (more importantly to me) how they express their opinions. This group is composed of people with different beliefs, cultures, and religion which make this site the great place it is. I may not always agree with everyone's opinions but I can respect them.
Like any family, we have a very wide assortment of personalities. I like that.
Just sayin'
Big Al (soon to be Small Al)
If any one or 2 individuals were to be successful in an attempt to "lead" this group, I believe it would change what has thus far been a winning dynamic.
I also agree that we have many Greeters here as well as intelligent, informed, well intentioned participants who chip in to help when needed.
IMHO the harmony this group experiences would be ruined by a board appointed " Community Leader" , Hope
Robin
What is a Community Leader?
A Community Leader is a member of DailyStrength who has exhibited continually sound judgment and a high level of positive support for other members, and has chosen to assist us in identifying problems and providing solutions that may arise within their primary Support Groups.
Because they are active within their Support Group, Community Leaders may be able to answer questions for members and help curtail obvious cases of abuse and spam. As DailyStrength grows, so will our population of Community Leaders. Please consider them as both a resource and a friend that wants to help.
What Special Tools do Community Leaders Have?
Community Leaders are able to close discussion posts, and have more methods available to communicate with TeamDS. They also have a blue CL badge on their profile. To dispel some myths, it should be known that Community Leaders do not have the ability to re-open discussion posts, delete content from the site, bypass a member's profile privacy settings, or warn/ban members.
How Do I Become a Community Leader?
We're always on the lookout for vibrant members to become Community Leaders. We will usually ask a member if he/she is interested in becoming a CL, or add a recruitment notice in a support group. You can also write to us if you're interested in becoming a CL.