Please note: this post is “sticky” and will remain at the top o’ the page until I say so. Scroll down for newer posts.

If your membership to Kansas City Freecycle is still “pending” and you don’t know why, please go see our brand-spanking new Application page for more details: www.kcfreecycle.org/application/

In short, we require pending members to return an “application” before we approve new membership requests. Until then, you’re stuck in pending member limbo…for approximately two weeks, at which time Yahoo auto-expires your membership request and you have to go through the whole rigmarole again.

If you didn’t receive a copy of the application, most likely it’s in your spam folder, or otherwise eaten by the internets. No problemo; you can find a copy here!: www.kcfreecycle.org/application/

If you did receive a copy of the application and returned it - but your membership request is still pending - then it’s quite possible that we didn’t receive your reply. (Those intertubes be hungry, yo!) Please resend it, to all four email addresses listed in the application (i.e., kcfreecycle-owner [at] yahoogroups.com, freecycler_sheree [at] yahoo.com, ann [at] kcfreecycle.org, kelly [at] kcfreecycle.org). This will help to ensure that it’s not lost a second time.

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Hey folks,

We’ve had this issue come up a few times in the past week, so we thought a clarification might be in order.

We welcome resellers on KC Freecycle, since reselling items fits in well with our mission - namely, keeping usable items (and even so-called “unusable” items) out of the landfill. However, not everyone wants to give their items to resellers; some would rather give them directly to the people who will be using them. Again, that’s fine with us - members are free to do what they want with their stuff. So all we ask of resellers is that they disclose their intentions up front, without first being asked. If you’re a reseller, this means stating this clearly on concisely in your “wanted” or in your reply to someone else’s “offer”.

We consider “scrappers” a form of resellers. Thus, if you plan on selling an item obtained on KCF as scrap metal, you must tell the offeror, up front, in your initial “wanted” email or your reply to their “offer”. The offeror is free to decide *not* to give you the item based on this info.

Again, we don’t have a problem with resellers or scrappers; but some members do, and we want to respect their wishes.

We have updated the list rules (www.kcfreecycle.org/rules/) to reflect this.

Thanks,

Kelly G.
KCF list owner
kelly [at] kcfreecycle.org

Note: this post is “sticky” and will remain at the top of the page until I say so. Scroll down for the newest entries.

The Problem

Hey there Freecycle members (pending, new and old)! Here’s the problem, in brief. Whenever you email the list moderators at our “generic” yahoo email address (kcfreecycle-owner [at] yahoogroups.com), Yahoo “reroutes” that email and sends a copy to each moderator at his or her personal email address. Lately, Yahoo seems to be having some problems with their email system, so that some of the email sent to kcfreecycle-owner [at] yahoogroups.com never makes it to our personal email addresses. Hence, we’ve had a number of emails go missing, especially the applications that require pending members to return before we approve their memberships.

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Hello Green Friends,

Your moderators hereby challenge all of you to find one thing in your possession that you can offer here between now and this Saturday, April 26th.

Anything! Big, small, pretty, ugly, working, in need of fixing, children’s items, adults’ items, pet goodies, anything.

Sometimes people list an item to give and say something like “pick up today or it’s going in the trash tomorrow!”

Let’s avoid that by offering it tonight or tomorrow.

Has your spouse been nagging you to get rid of something? Do your kids think you’re hanging onto an eyesore? Are you tired of the astronomical amount of toys cluttering the house?

Here’s your chance. Take the Earth Day/Week Challenge right now.

It’s so easy to do; just sweep through your house and you’ll probably find something in the first room you visit.

I double dare you all to meet this challenge.

Yes, all 11,196 of you could keep 11,196 items out of the landfill this week by offering something to your neighbors now.

Let’s go!

Shelly, KC Freecycle List Moderator
shelly [at] kcfreecycle.org

Hey all -

I just wanted to make everyone aware of a possible problem we’re having with Yahoo. We’ve had a number of pending members say over the past few weeks that they returned the “application” they’re required to fill out before we approve their memberships. However, none of us moderators are able to find the missing emails in our KC Freecycle mail folders!

Since all email sent to kcfreecycle-owner [at] yahoogroups.com is forwarded - by Yahoo - to each individual moderator’s email address, I suspect that something is happening on Yahoo’s end so that the email is not being forwarded to us.

So, if you need to contact a moderator; are waiting for your pending membership to be approved; or know of someone who’s having trouble getting into the group, please CC the individual moderators’ email addresses when you’re attempting to contact us.

Here are the email addresses, in a block, that you should use.

kcfreecycle-owner [at] yahoogroups.com, brooke [at] kcfreecycle.org, craig [at] kcfreecycle.org, danielle [at] kcfreecycle.org, shelly [at] kcfreecycle.org, sheree [at] kcfreecycle.org, kelly [at] kcfreecycle.org, shane [at] kcfreecycle.org

(Just replace the [at] with @ in order to make each email address valid.)

We’re very sorry for any inconvenience this may have caused, but trust me when I say that Yahoo’s sub-par performance has been insanely frustrating for us mods as well.

Kelly G.
KC Freecycle list owner
kelly [at] kcfreecycle.org

——————

Tagged: kcfreecycle yahoo email admin pending members pending memberships

Hey fellow freecyclers -

Your holiday moderator here, with a general reminder about requests for information and other intangibles. Keep in mind that this email is NOT directed towards any one individual, but rather is being sent to the list as a whole as a general reminder.

As always, requests for “intangibles” - such as information (”Does anyone know where can I buy this widget?”) and services (”WANTED: Ride to Colorado”) - are not allowed on Kansas City Freecycle. Requests that involve money or trading, even if indirectly (again, such as asking where an item may be purchased) are not appropriate for a Freecycle list, either. Copied below are the relevant rules that explain why this is.

When in doubt, please read through the list rules (www.kcfreecycle.org/rules/) and Netiquette (www.kcfreecycle.org/netiquette/). If you’re still questioning whether a post is acceptable, please email the moderators. All our contact info is available on the main Yahoo group page (groups.yahoo.com/group/kcfreecycle/).

And, of course, never assume that something is ok just because you saw another list member do it. Most of the list is unmoderated, meaning that these members’ posts are sent to the board without first being reviewed by the moderators. Rest assured that we handle all incorrect/inappropriate posts as they come to our attention.

Thanks for another year of freecycling. Here’s to a happy, clutter-free 2008!

- Kelly G.
KC Freecycle list owner
kelly [at] kcfreecycle.org

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Update, 11/1/07:

Also, please be aware that teflon can be toxic to birds, as well as some other commonly kept pets.

See, for example, Teflon Toxicity (PTFE Toxicosis) in Birds.

Birds are susceptible to a respiratory condition called “teflon toxicity” or “PTFE poisoning/toxicosis.” Deaths can result from this condition, which is due to the noxious fumes emitted from overheated cookware coated with polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE). This chemical is found on most non-stick cookware and appliances, some stain repellant products, and other household items.

(Or just Google teflon and birds.)

Thanks to list member Michael for the reminder.

———————-

Hey folks,

Just passing along an email from a concerned list member regarding teflon pans. As always, we urge you to use caution when giving or receiving items via Freecycle, whether it’s a car seat, dog food, baby toys, etc.

For more info, please see our Safety Tips at www.kcfreecycle.org/safety/. We also have a list of recall and safety links on our website at www.kcfreecycle.org/ (look to the right hand sidebar).

- Kelly G., KCF list owner
kelly [at] kcfreecycle.org

—– Original Message —–
Sent: Saturday, October 27, 2007 10:05 PM
Subject: Kc Freecycle Concern

I know its a common practice to give away used teflon pans but it really worries me that people are not informed about the danger of the practice of using a teflon pan that the coating has been damaged or is peeling off.

I can be toxic and can make someone seriously ill. I have seen these given away lots of times on here but I just wanted you all to get together and decide if a warning to others should be issued, so that they could make an informed decision before offers or recieving.

Here are a few links I searched out for you, so that you could see for yourselves and make a choice. At least, I feel better knowing that I tried to get the word out to others of the potential danger this poses to their health.

www.care2.com/greenliving/dangers-of-teflon.html
answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20070226232707AAQ5eOG
www.hsibaltimore.com/ealerts/ea200507/ea20050713.html

Thanks for listening.

———————-

(Read this ADMIN message on Yahoo…)

———————-

Tagged: kcfreecycle safety teflon pans freecycle recycle reuse

(Crossposted from the KC Freecycle Yahoo Group.)

Greetings, KC Freecycle Members! After a short time off for maternity leave, I am pleased to announce my return, and I’ve brought someone along with me to help out as new moderator.

I would like to introduce my husband, Craig, as one of the new moderators to KC Freecycle. He will be handling Fridays and helping
me with problem resolution, among other things.

As always, if you have any questions or comments, please e-mail ALL the mods at kcfreecycle-owner [at] yahoogroups [dot] com OR personally at:

Ann: ann [at] kcfreecycle [dot] org
Brooke: brooke [at] kcfreecycle [dot] org
Danielle: danielle [at] kcfreecycle [dot] org
Dawn: dawn [at] kcfreecycle [dot] org
Sheree: sheree [at] kcfreecycle [dot] org
Shelly: shelly [at] kcfreecycle [dot] org
Craig: craig [at] kcfreecycle [dot] org

Shelly, KC Freecycle™ Co-Moderator
shelly [at] kcfreecycle [dot] org

(Crossposted on kcfreecycle)

Hey there folks -

Your lurking list owner here, just popping in to tell y’all what’s new on the Kansas City Freecycle website, www.kcfreecycle.org.

The short version:

I decided to scrap the KC Animal Shelters & Rescue Orgs and KC Charity Database sections of the website; while the Charity Database is gone, I have created a new “Animals & Freecycle” page to replace the old database. I’ve also started a delicious account to keep track of “green” links and share them with readers of our blog (which is located on the main page of the website).

The long version:

1) The KC Animal Shelters & Rescue Orgs page (formerly located at www.kcfreecycle.org/shelters) used to house a searchable database of local KC area animal rescue groups and shelters. However, I hadn’t updated it in a loooong time, so the info was woefully out of date. Since creating it (years ago now), I’ve also discovered a number of national websites that provide similar services; for example, Petfinder allows users to search for an animal to adopt (by species, breed, sex, size, age, region, etc.), as well as view a list of local rescue orgs in any given area. So now, instead of maintaining our own database, I have a list of links to such websites; just look to the right hand sidebar under “Animal Adoption”, and you’re good to go.

The explanation of our no-animal policy, which also used to be located at www.kcfreecycle.org/shelters, has been updated, expounded upon, and moved to our NEW “Animals & Freecycle” page at www.kcfreecycle.org/animals-and-freecycle/. In addition to explaining why we don’t allow animals, it also provides info on how to rehome an animal yourself; adoption resources; and, perhaps most importantly, a list of contacts who can help you find an animal to adopt, rehome an animal you can no longer care for, find affordable veterinary care, deal with animal behavior issues, and more.

*** Now comes our call for “Animal Outreach Volunteers”.***

If you’re involved in the local animal rescue community, and you would like to offer your expertise to the Kansas City Freecycle community, please email me at kelly [at] kcfreecycle.org.

It’s pretty simple: I’ll just list your name, affiliation, and contact info (email address, phone number, or whatever else you feel comfortable providing) on our website under the question “Help! I’m having trouble finding a good home for my dog. Is there someone I can talk to?” (www.kcfreecycle.org/animals-and-freecycle/#animalads09). Then members can email you with any questions or concerns they have regarding finding or rehoming a pet/animal (or otherwise caring for one).

Please, though, I’d like to limit this to folks with animal rescue experience. A love for animals, while admirable, isn’t enough here!

2) I decided to scrap the KC Charity Database (www.kcfreecycle.org/charity) for the same reason - not enough time or resources to update it. In lieu of our own database, I compiled a list of links to similar websites. Again, they’re listed on the main page of our website, on the right hand sidebar, under “Find a Charity”.

By the by, there are a ton of other links up there too; local enviro groups, KC Buy/Sell/Trade sites, Recall and Safety info, Reduce/Reuse/Recycle stuff - you’ll find it all! If you know of something that should be up there but isn’t, shoot me an email.

3) On the main page of our website are the latest blog entries. As you can see, we don’t post much; there have only been 20 posts since we started the blog last May! Even though I find tons of links and stories I’d like to share, I don’t really have much time to write a whole long entry. So. I’m going to try saving interesting “green” links I come across with delicious (del.icio.us/), and then setting my delicious account up so that it posts those links to the KCF blog daily.

Until I get that set up, you can view the Kansas City Freecycle delicious account here: del.icio.us/kcfreecycle.

Any questions?

Direct any website-related inquiries to me, the webmistress.

- Kelly G., Kansas City Freecycle List Owner
kelly [at] kcfreecycle.org

Due to a rash of animal postings, I thought a reminder might be in order. Animals are still not - and never will be - allowed on Kansas City Freecycle.

As always, when you have a question or concern about the rules, you can:

1 - Read up on the latest version on our website at www.kcfreecycle.org/rules/

2 - Email the moderators at kcfreecycle-owner [at] yahoogroups.com

DO NOT

1 - Assume that a rule has been changed, or that something is a-ok, just because you see other members doing it. Most members are not on moderation, meaning that their emails are sent directly to the list when they post them. I.e., the mods do not read and review *every single message* before it’s allowed on to the list. Thus, you’ll occasionally see some inappropriate postings…which the mods also see, and deal with privately, off-list. Just because you didn’t see someone receive a strike/warning and/or be put on moderation, doesn’t mean it didn’t happen.

2 - Post your questions and/or snarky comments to the list. Please email the mods off-list rather than start a discussion here.

3 - Email members who post inappropriate messages privately to castigate them. Just let us know what’s up (if we haven’t gotten ’round to it already), and we’ll handle it.

If you need an animal that you need to place in a new home, or if you’re looking for a furry friend to adopt, please see our list of shelters/rescue groups at www.kcfreecycle.org/shelters. Petfinder.com is also an excellent resource.

Now, back to your regularly scheduled freecycling!

- Kelly G.
KC Freecycle List Owner
kelly [at] kcfreecycle.org