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Questions About the Site
The Global Forum can be a complex place to navigate. We promise, it gets easier the more you use it. Here are some general tips to help you use the site.
About the Forum's Purpose
- The Global Forum on NGO Governance is a worldwide online forum that supports resource-sharing and idea exchange for all who work with, or serve on, the boards of nongovernmental (NGO) organizations. It is equally important to note what the Forum is not: it is not a site to raise funds or seek support for issues beyond governance. We appreciate that every organization has to raise funds. Think of the Global Forum as a place to strengthen governance so that your donors and funders will be more likely to support your organization, rather than a place to solicit funds.
About Membership
- Why should I become a registered member of the Global Forum site?
By joining, you can become part of a global community of NGO board practitioners. While anyone can read and download the resources offered on the site, only registered members can participate in discussion forums, access the member directory and list themselves in the Technical Assistance Directory. There is no cost to become a member. So why not join us?
- Who can become a member?
Anyone interested in NGO board governance is welcome to become a member; board members, NGO staff, volunteers and consultants working in the area of NGO governance.
Managing My Profile and My Account
- How can I add my photo to my profile?
Click on “my profile” in the green box to the right of the page, then click on “manage my account” in the box at the top of the page. Scroll down the page to find the area for posting your photo.
- How can I change my name that appears next to my postings in the site?
The name that appears when you post to the site is the “username” that you entered when you first became a member. To change your user name, click on the “my profile” link in the green navigation box, then click on “manage my account” in the box at the top of the page, which will take you to your account page.
- How do I update my profile?
When you have logged into the site, you will see a link to "my profile" in the green area to the right of each page. Click on that link and you will be taken to a page where you can update both your profile and account on the site.
- How can I have my profile included in the Technical Assistance directory?
After you click on "my profile" click on the link that says "manage my profile." This will take you to a page that lists all your information. About half way down there is a tick box that says "List me in the Technical Assistance Directory." You can check or uncheck that box.
- What if I can't remember my password?
In the green box to the right of the page, below the login box, there is a link to click to retreive a lost password.
- Can I change my password?
Yes, you can change your password by clicking on the "my profile" link in the right green bar and then choosing "manage my account."
- Do you share my email address and information outside this site?
No, we do not share your email outside of the site! Please see the Privacy Policy.
Site Content & Resources
- What content can I upload to the Documents area?
You can upload documents, links to useful websites and information about organizations that are related to NGO board governance. Please keep materials in tact and with full author attribution. If you have a question about the suitability of material you wish to upload, feel free to admin [at] ngoboards [dot] org (email us). The only thing we ask is that you have the permission of the author(s) of any documents you upload. Please do not upload material that is not directly related to NGO governance.
- What permission from original authors do I need to have to upload documents to the Resources area?
It is good practice to get permission for sharing any content, especially content that is not available elsewhere online. By uploading actual documents (rather than linking to material elsewhere on the web) you confirm that you have the author’s permission to share the document. All documents should include author information, and, if possible, date of publication.
- How do I upload material to the Resource Area?
Go to the Resources area and look in the green area to the right. There you will see links for adding a document, event or an organization. Click on the appropriate link, fill out the requested field and hit "submit" at the bottom of the page.
Ask and Discuss
- How do I ask or answer a question?
Click on the Community tab, then click on Ask and Discuss. There you will see a link on the top of the page and on the right in the green area that says "Ask a question. " This takes you to a page with a question form to fill out. At the bottom, hit submit and your question will be added.
- How do I read or answer a question?
On the Ask and Discuss page you can scroll down and view questions that have been asked. Click on the question and you will be taken to a page where you can fully read the question and any answers that have been posted. At the end of that page you can post your own reply.
- How do I follow a question after it has been posted?
You can bookmark the question page in your browser and check back, subscribe to the Ask and Discuss area to get an email alert, or if you use a RSS (which stands for "Really Simple Syndication" and is a way to subscribe to a site) or "feed" reader, you can use the "Track this Group: RSS" subscription link in the lower part green box to the right.
- How do I subscribe to any ask and discuss discussions?
When you became a member of the site, you were automatically subscribed to the Ask and Discuss area of the site, so you should be receiving emails when new questions are asked. You can change or stop your subscription by going to the Ask and Discuss area, then looking in the green box to the right and click on "My subscription." This will take you to a page where you can adjust or stop your subscription.How do I find older questions and answers?
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The first place to start is to use the Search box in the upper right hand corner of the page. Or you can scroll through the questions on the Ask and Discuss page.
Working Groups
- What is a working group?
A Working Group is a place on the site where you and a group of your colleagues can have a focused discussion, or work together on a paper or new resource. To form a group, you need a a person who has agreed to lead and facilitate the group (a group facilitator), and a specific purpose for the group (such as a focused discussion or developing a paper collaboratively). Your group can be pre-existing, or if you would like to form a new group, you can invite other Global Forum members to join your group through this site. To learn more about forming a group, please admin [at] ngoboards [dot] org (email us) and we will get back to you shortly.
- How do I join/subscribe to an existing working group?
Simply go to the Working Groups page, browse the listed groups and when you find one of interest, click on the title. Look in the green bar to the right for a link that says "subscribe" which takes you to a page where you can join the group. Some private groups require that the group facilitator approve your membership. You will receive an email when your membership has been approved.
- I see a listing of "my groups" in the Community area. What does that mean?
That is a list of all the groups you have subscribed to or joined. You were automatically subscribed to "Ask the Community" when you joined the Global Forum.
- How do I start a Working Group?
To start a working group, admin [at] ngoboards [dot] org (send us an email) stating the purpose of the group, the expected duration, the name and email address of the group facilitator (if it someone other than yourself) and if it is public or private. We suggest that you identify at least a few other members to participate in a group before you start it. This provides important momentum to get the group started.
- What are the responsibilities of starting and leading a working group?
After getting a group started as noted above, the group facilitator is expected to recruit additional members (if desired by the group), facilitate the work of the group, and share back any work group results to the Global Forum community. This may be a summary of a conversation, a document the group created or ideas they developed and want to share.
- How are working groups different from the Ask and Discuss area?
The Ask and Discuss area is a great place to quickly ask or answer a question, or for short-term discussions (e.g. 1-2 day discussions). The Working Groups area provides for more in-depth and/or focused discussions, and a place where members can work on online projects collaboratively. The idea for a Working Group may start out as a contribution to the Ask and Discuss area.
Email Subscriptions
Subscribing, Unsubscribing. Individuals may participate on The Global Forum forums by email or on the forums section of the Global Forum web site. To participate in the discussions on the website, you must be a registered member. To participate in discussions by email, it is necessary to both be a member and to subscribe to any/all of the discussions.
- How do I subscribe to any discussion or Working Group?
In any Working Group or Ask and Discuss area there is a link in the green box to the right to subscribe or change your subscription.
- How do I unsubscribe to everything on the site that I have subscribed to?
In the green box to the right of any page, click on the "my profile" link, then click on "manage your account." Scroll down to the section labeled "Organic Groups" and untick the subscription box. This means that you will not be sent ANY email alerts from any area on the site. So make sure this is what you want to do before you untick the box!
- How do I know if I am subscribed to a Working Group?
On the Working Groups page in the green box to the right, towards the bottom, will be a list of all the Working Groups you have subscribed to.
- What if I am having problems with unsubscribing?
Occasionally problems arise in unsubscribing, usually due to a change in the configuration of the subscriber's email system some time after subscribing. When that happens, you should contact us by using the contact page on the The Global Forum web site.
How to Post to a Forum
There are two methods to post to a forum: the email method and the web-based method.
- Web-based Method.
First Visit to Web-Based Forum System? If this is your first visit, you will be prompted to submit your username and your system password. Then you can navigate to any Working Group, or Ask and Discuss topic. Click into the topic and towards the bottom you will see a box where you can add your response.
- The email method.
If you have subscribed to any Ask and Discuss or Working group, you should be receiving an email for each additional post made to that area. Simply hit reply to that email, strip out ALL old material in your email response box, type your response and send the email. Stripping out the old message is really important, so please take a moment to do that.
Getting Help
Use the web-based contact page . The Global Forum team shall endeavor to respond within 48 hours to requests for assistance. In most cases, response is substantially more prompt.
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