Dorshei Derekh Listserv Posting Policy

Dear Dorshei

I am pasting below the Code of Conduct for the Dorshei Derekh Listserve, which was ratified on June 6, 2011 by a minyan meeting and was e-mailed out to the listserve last year. It is also posted on the Dorshei bulletin board.

Since the Pennsylvania primaries are coming up (next Tuesday, April 24), I would like to remind you particularly of point #2 below, which says, "Do not endorse for office or solicit funds for any political candidate or political party."

We have interpreted this to mean that you should not even give your personal opinion of a particular candidate on the Dorshei listserve. We realize that this limits free speech, but we are doing this to protect the greater good. Apparently, GJC's tax-exempt status could be jeopardized if the shul itself were to endorse a candidate, so we are building a very wide wall around this.

If you have any questions about this, e-mail me back and I'll try to find out the answers.

Thank you

Mikael Elsila

See below....

CODE OF CONDUCT FOR THE DORSHEI DEREKH LISTSERVE (Ratified June 6, 2011)

The Dorshei Derekh listserve is meant to facilitate the work of the minyan and to build community among the members of the minyan through an exchange of information and opinions. To further that purpose, those who post to the listserve are required to abide by the following rules:

1. Avoid using l'shon hara (negative, disparaging or unkind language) and rechilut (language that causes strife or acrimony).

2. Do not endorse for office or solicit funds for any political candidate or political party.

3. Repeated advertisements to promote businesses or commercial activities are not acceptable.

4. Any statement on a controversial subject must be expressed as a personal view.

5. Any statement endorsing an organization or suggesting participation in any of its activities must disclose the basic nature of the organization.

6. Only paid-up members of Dorshei Derekh may post opinions and activities on the listserve that are unrelated to Dorshei Derekh.

7. Inquiries asking for off-list responses are welcome.

8. Every posting should include a clear, concise subject line.

9. A forwarded email should begin with a sentence or two explaining why the sender thinks the email is important to post to the list.

If you believe any of these rules have been disregarded, please contact the Minyan Coordinator, who will respond appropriately. Repeated violations of these rules will result in the violator being barred from posting to the list.

The committee suggests that this statement, once approved initially, get posted to the listserve and thereafter to every new person who joins the listserve. We also suggest that a statement that these guidelines exist appear automatically at the bottom of each posting along with a link to the guidelines, which can be placed on the Dorshei Derekh blog.

What Do Ants Have to Do With Community Building?

Well, ants live in community, that we know.  When I recently posted about our ant invasion on the Dorshei Derekh listserv, I was astounded to receive a dozen+ helpful responses.  Several people asked for the information.  Hence I am posting it all, with a paean to community.  It's really wonderful that we can share info on anything from ants to tshuva!  Though we hope that the ants will not return....
First, a report from our house.  We put out the ant traps from Weavers Way, which I presumed were screened for eco-friendliness.  The ant population multiplied.  We then added ant traps from the hardware store.  Yet more multiplication.  While waiting for the ant trap magic to work (the ants are attracted to the chemical in the trap, take it back to their nest, where it eventually kills them), we used sticky tape to catch ants, and eventually we vacuumed them up, too.  Suddenly, just as we were about to resort to calling an exterminator, their numbers plummeted, and now there are just a few.  It took about ten days.

The following advice is predicated on the idea that you see how the ants are getting into your house (which we couldn't).
These ant-repellent eco friendly products were recommended:
1. Boric acid, laid out on the floor where ants feed. - From a few people
2. A temporary fix is Orange Guard. It's available at Whole Foods. It's completely safe and ants won't go near it. It won't destroy the nest, but if you're vigilant, you can keep your kitchen relatively ant-free. - From Gina.
3. Try wiping  Citrasolve cleaner (orange peel extract) full strength at doorways and other places they enter and traverse. - from Anna.
4. Use lavender oil or mint oil or cinnamon oil in a spray, and spray any entry points you can find.  This can kill them directly, but they also won't want to cross where the oil is sprayed.  So spray away (nice smelling & toxin free), and refresh it about once each day. -From Morissa in Boston.

A number of people recommended exterminators:
1. Natural Pest Control -- GREAT and responsive -- advice on ant invasion

 1915 West Olney Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19141-1112 (215) 276-2962 ‎- You get a discount as a Weaver's Way member.  Several people made this recommendation.

2. A good exterminator originally recommended by Steve and Beulah:  PTC  215-643-2750.

3. Arrest-A-Pest Termite & Pest Control  109 Northwood Rd , Newtown Square, PA 19073, Phone: 610-356-7600

4. We are happy with Orkin Pest Control.

Shai Gluskin gets the helpful neighbor award.  Here's his household's DIY approach:

We had an ant invasion this summer.
If you are willing to go the toxic approach... spraying the spray on the outside of your house where your wall meets the dirt. If you have a single house it might take 2 - 3 cans to make it all the way around your house. You can also spray on the outside in major cracks you see. For us, that provided almost instant results. In terms of prevention, we got the outdoor traps (from Killian) and put them around the outside in addition to the indoor traps.
We did not need an exterminator for this. We pay a guy to inspect our house for termites every year. He was the one who told us that spraying on the outside of the house was the key.

Sunday Sundaes to Celebrate Neysa!

Who among us does not like ice cream?
We wanted to honor our listserve manager Neysa Nevins for her quiet, efficient work keeping track of the Dorshei e-mail list. We proposed a kiddush in her honor, but she counter-proposed an ICE CREAM PARTY!
(If you'd like to join our listerv, email Neysa).
So, announcing the very first Dorshei Derekh end-of-summer ICE CREAM PARTY in honor of Neysa Nevins.

WHEN: SUNDAY, AUG. 28
TIME: 4 P.M. UNTIL ???
WHERE: TROLLEY CAR DINER (the "ice cream trolley" -- outside!)
INSTRUCTIONS: Show up, have a good time, eat ice cream*

(*This is a "buy-your-own" ice cream party. So you can show up whenever you want, buy your own ice cream, and look around for your friends.)

In order to add to the festive environment, please dress outrageously and have as much fun as possible* to celebrate the end of summer and to celebrate Neysa's work.

(*within reason)

SEE YOU THERE!

Sincerely,

Your Dorshei Derekh leadership team (tm)