Original Constitution - Leytonstone Life

Constitution:

Leytonstone Life was created specifically to be administered according to a published set of written rules. The rules in this section were adopted on 25 July 2014 after an open vote over three months in which 89% of those voting agreed.

General:
- The group was created to share information and thoughts about what's going on in Leytonstone.
- The Group is owned by its members collectively, and not by any individual or sub-group.
- The group will be a 'Closed' group. Anyone with a genuine interest in Leytonstone may be a member.
Constitution:
- This constitution may be amended only through a vote which is visible and open to all members for at least 7 days, and where 75% of those voting are in favour of the proposed change.
Admins:
- The group will aim to have at least one in fifty of the membership as Admins, who assist with the practical necessities of the group.
- No-one who has been an Admin of the 'Leytonstone' group may be an Admin of this group.
Content of posts:
- Members must treat each other with a basic level of respect and courtesy.
- Unmitigated adverts, preaching and canvassing are not allowed unless they “bring something” relevant or newsworthy to the group, at the discretion of Admins. Offending posts may be removed after warning.
- Otherwise, anyone may freely express, or challenge, any view they choose. It is up to members to challenge views to which they object. Admins must not remove or otherwise censor posts unless there are exceptional circumstances, and must make it public to the group when this is done, who is affected, and why.
- Challenges must be about ideas or opinions, and not about individuals or groups.
Exclusion process:
- Any Admin may warn (publicly) any member apparently contravening these guidelines that they risk exclusion, and why. All members are encouraged to object to any warnings they feel are inappropriate.
- If a previously warned member is apparently guilty of some further 'misconduct' then they may be excluded once a majority of all Admins responding within 24 hours agree, after a proposal to exclude the member has been posted publicly.
- Blatant spammers and blatant trolls may be blocked/excluded by any Admin acting alone at their discretion, but they must summarise to the group their actions, and must identify users affected.
Appeal process:
- There will always be the right to appeal to the membership after exclusion.
- Any Admin must assist the member concerned to communicate promptly the grounds of his/her appeal to the group membership.
- Exclusion can only then be confirmed after a vote of the full membership, with 75% of those responding within 48 hours concurring.

Admin guidelines:

Many of the provisions in the constitution rely implicitly on the judgement or discretion of the admin team. In the interests of fairness and consistency, the guidelines below will normally be applied. This section may be amended by agreement within the admin team.

Adverts are not allowed, other than (if local) one post giving:
- Notice of a bona-fide event.
- Notices of an accommodation vacancy (other than from agencies)
- Notice of an employment vacancy (other than from agencies or network-marketing organisers)
- Notice of the beginning of an instructional course term.
- Notice of availability for a full-time or part-time job (but not more general offers to provide services)
Bona-fide recommendations of businesses are allowed, as are replies from traders to relevant enquiries.
New requests for membership will not be accepted from profiles which are not "personal" profiles of individuals, or which appear to be profiles used primarily for trading.
Requests for membership may be ignored where there is no discernible connection to Leytonstone in the profile concerned, but a message will normally be sent and the name posted publicly in case other members can vouch for the person.
Harassment and bullying have no place in Leytonstone Life. Posts which admins judge to be harassing or bullying will be removed, and repeat offenders will be excluded.
Posts and comments judged by admins to have been posted with the intent of provoking offence or distress may be removed, and repeat offenders will be excluded.
A member who can reasonably be assumed to reject the rules of the group, or the prerogative of admins to apply them, is eligible for exclusion, by consensus of admins.
There is no subject which cannot be touched on in the group, provided it is done with appropriate care, regard and respect for the views and feelings of others.
Other than as provided in the constitution (including amendments) and these guidelines, the values and views of admins do not carry any more weight than those of other members.
Where an intervention becomes necessary in a thread, this should be dealt with, where possible, by admins who have not already participated.
Posts or comments which infringe on a member's privacy beyond what is readily accessible, or which appear intended to cause distress, will be removed at the discretion of admins.
Admins have agreed to apply Amendment 1 ("shame or accuse") only to photos of people.
Posts which contain taunts or slogans, or posts which are predominantly about political rivalries, politicians or parties will not be allowed.
Any post may be deleted where admins agree this is necessary for the safeguarding of a vulnerable person.

Leytonstone Life

Constitution:

Constitution – amendments:

Admin guidelines: