VH Town Hall Minutes December 14th 2013

The stepping down of Jag, Kaelis, and Timber from the moderator team was announced. The winner of the Logo Contest was presented. Requests for site experience improvements and features were taken. The policy regarding profile character artwork was re-emphasized. Feedback was accepted for a number of moderator nominees. Progress in the roll-out of the Mentor Plan was announced. General discussion, concerns, and feedback were invited.

Moderator departures

• Jay announced that Jag, Kaelis, and Timber have personally decided to step down from the mod team.

Logo Contest Winner

• Jay announced that Kajiru's submission to the Logo Contest has won in the vote amongst the site's users. At the time of this writing, the logo could be viewed here.

Login page feedback

• Jay opened the floor to user feedback on what improvements could be made to the login system. The following user suggestions were raised. Suggestions with a +++ after them were 'seconded' by multiple other users.

1. - The login page should have a link to this wiki. +++
2. - There should be an account-logout button (relevant for shared computers).
3. - The login page should display 'current events', like the VH Twitter account does, perhaps even just embedding the VH Twitter feed itself. +++
4. - There should be a design for the VH page.
5. - After account-login, the user should be navigated to the character-login page rather than having to navigate there manually. +++
6. - It should be possible to edit characters without logging them in. +++
7. - There should be a 'contact a mentor' button.
8. - It should be possible to view PUB messages without logging in a character. +++
9. - There should be a muffin button. (This was the only suggestion for which multiple users expressed support AND multiple users also expressed dislike.)
10. - There should be a 'meet the chat' section in which a few randomly-selected (possibly opt-in) character profiles rotate on a perhaps-weekly basis, only displayed after the user has logged in and confirmed that they are of age.

Policy regarding Character Profile Images

• Jay reiterates the standing policy that any character image which is embedded in the character profile page must be either:

1. - Created by the player
2. - Created for the player
3. - Used with explicit permission from the creator of the image

• Other images may still be linked from the character profile, with artist-attribution and disclaimer as needed, but may not be embedded directly in the profile page.

Moderator Nominee Feedback

• The names of prospective moderators were provided, along with a short introduction from Jay including some of the reasons for thier consideration for the position. Each introduction was followed by a ten-minute period for public feedback from the users present. A venue for providing private feedback was provided; this summary DOES NOT include any of the feedback that was provided privately.

• Rina: Identified as positive, friendly, capable of organizing and communicating, respectful, and often willing to step up as needed.
• Feedback for Rina: Various users attest to her coolness and tastiness. Some users express uncertainty in her ability to discipline users when the rules are broken; other users attest that while her character's personality is withdrawn, they believe the player will not struggle with this.
• Wasd: Identified as prominent in the community, affable, friendly, very VH-oriented, a driving force behind the Mentor Program, willing to try and get things done and work out the kinks in new ideas, polite yet firm when necessary, and dependable.
• Feedback for Wasd: Users largely express feelings that Wasd is cool, approachable, and has a good personality for the position.
• Arokha: Identified as having been a longstanding presence in the vore community, willing to speek up when need arises, generally levelheaded, and having demonstrated willingness to contribute already.
• Feedback for Arokha: Various users expressed general positive sentiments. Some users expressed concern that she is often not seen around; others attested that she is often present on alts, and she would also be available to be present in moderatorial capacity at those times.
• Kajiru/Vynx: Identified as having demonstrated willingness to contribute via the logo contest; active and sociable, responsible and respectful, able to work things out and diffuse situations.
• Feedback for Kajiru/Vynx: Various users expressed general positive sentiments. Several attest specifically to the player's level-headedness and conflict resolution.
• Landon: Identified as laid back, easy to talk to, able to handle social situations, active, amiable, willing to listen and willing to do what's necessary.
• Feedback for Landon: Various users expressed general positive sentiments. Several users mention his stepping forward to help, to organize, and to be a positive force in and out of the chat.
• Cantara/Krasnya: Identified as being candid, approachable, and a frequent contributor, as well as being positively invested/dedicated to the chat.
• Feedback for Cantara/Krasnya: Various users expressed positive sentiments. It is mentioned that at some times she has been gone for the chat for periods of time, but this is not taken as a strong negative. Various users attest to their level of respect for her.

Open recommendations and feedback for other potential moderators

• The floor was opened for suggestions from the users present about other potential candidates for a moderatorial position, as well as questions about moderator appointments generally. The only name specifically raised during this portion of the townhall was Poojawa's, who confirmed that she would not mind such a position.
• User feedback for Poojawa: Various users expressed general positive sentiments about Poojawa's viability as a moderator. She is characterized as dependable, approachable, and fun. One user mentions that most of her interactions seem to be with an in-group; she responds with an explanation of how that's just a roleplay lead-in thing.
• General questions about moderator appointment: It is asked whether there are a limited number of moderator-'slots' open. The response is that there is not: selection of moderators will be based on how well they are seen to fit the role, though appointment of individual moderators may be delayed to ensure that each appointed moderator's transition goes smoothly.

The Mentor Plan

• Kaoru announces that the Mentor Plan is scheduled to proceed, providing links to the Mentor Guide and Mentor Contact List. Users who are already listed on the Mentor Contact List are asked to take some time to fill out their short bio on that page.
• The floor is opened to discussion of the Mentor Program, and some uncertainties are raised. With the purpose of Mentors being to help people fit into the community and its community spirit, the question of just what that desired spirit is is asked, since the chat has changed over time. Kaoru reaffirms the community principles laid out in the Vulpine Hollow Guide. Other users express approval that there is a defined plan to propagate the sense of community that we collectively want, rather than just leaving it as an intention without concrete implementation. Discussion of the role of mentoring ensues, with the recognition that the role of RP in mentoring may vary from mentor to mentor, and that mentoring is not just for new users but also for established users who would benefit.

Open Discussion

• The floor is opened to all topics; ad-hoc question-and-answer occurs.

1. - Question: What are the next priorities for improvement in the chat: Kaoru identifies improving aesthetics, improving the front/login page experiences, and working on community events and icebreakers. Jay identifies the subjects discussed at this meeting as carrying the high priority.
2. - Some users suggest that the 'Status' system be improved, such as allowing 'Lurker' status, and adopting per-room statuses as suggested in past townhalls. Some discussion of the meanings of OOC vs DND vs Lurking ensues, without concrete conclusions.
3. - Vynx mentions willingness to tweak the winning site-logo if necessary to meet the needs of any aesthetic site-changes.
4. - Question: Are the issues raised in past townhalls still going to receive attention, such as occasional imbalances between chatting and RPing in the lounge: Kaoru affirms that past-townhall issues are still to be considered and addressed, though this specific issue does not receive further discussion.
5. - Some users express a desire for functionality like an 'away message' or configurable message on hover, more flexible than options enumerated in an overall Status.

• The meeting was subsequently dismissed.