Worlds.com

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Community Leader Training Plan

By Charlie May - Community Program Director

Table of Contents

  1. Mission Statement
  2. Community Leader Training Document Overview
  3. Why Have a Community Leader Program
  4. Building a World(s) Class Community
  5. Beta Testing and On-Line Events
  6. Worlds.com 3D Portal Guidelines and Terms of Service
  7. Worlds.com 3D Portal Content Guidelines
  8. Cover Letter Example
  9. Community Leader Contract Example
  10. Administrative Overview and Checklist Example
  11. Community Leader Do's and Don'ts
  12. Community Leader Basic Responsibilities
  13. Worlds Ultimate 3D Chat Content Guidelines
  14. How to Handle a Hostile Situation
  15. Worlds Community Leaders Schedule
  16. Worlds Community Leader Application Form Example
  17. Frequently Asked Questions

community \Com*mu"ni*ty\, n.; pl. Communities. [L. communitas: cf. OF. communit['e]. 1. Common possession or enjoyment; participation; as, a community of goods. The original community of all things. --Locke. An unreserved community of thought and feeling. --W. Irving. 2. A body of people having common rights, privileges, or interests, or living in the same place under the same laws and regulations; as, a community of monks. Hence a number of animals living in a common home or with some apparent association of interests. Creatures that in communities exist. --Wordsworth. 3. Society at large; a commonwealth or state; a body politic; the public, or people in general. Burdens upon the poorer classes of the community. --Hallam. Note: In this sense, the term should be used with the definite article; as, the interests of the community. Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary

 

Worlds Community Leaders Mission Statement and Guidelines

Mission Statement:
The goal of a Community Leader is to use Worlds ultimate 3D Chat to develop a community of people who feel comfortable and connected to one another and who feel a sense of ownership to the Worlds community. The Community Leader greets members, offers help when needed, monitors members' adherence to the terms of use, and helps new members join the community.

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Community Leader Training Document Overview

Internet chat programs have become a leisure activity share by young and old alike. They reach a widespread audience with diverse backgrounds from countries all around the world. The current sophistication and complexity of the programs demand some type of on-line real-time assistance and customer service in order to welcome the users and help them enjoy the program to the fullest.

Unrestricted, unmonitored use by immature members or those who use profane, sexist, hurtful, rude or racist language can create an atmosphere that is uncomfortable for members of the chat program, resulting in their defection to another service.

Our Community Leader Program was created to provide excellent Customer Service for these two reasons:

1.) To assist new members on how to enjoy the program
2.) To minimize profane, sexist, hurtful, rude and racist language

Internet chat programs should have in place some type of internal live moderators, monitors, community leaders or Hosts to greet, observe, assist and help users/members when needed.

Worlds.com, the worlds premier 3D Entertainment Portal, has chosen to call their program the "Community Leader Program" and the monitors called Hosts.

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Why Have a Community Leader Program

Once a chat program reaches beyond a few users and becomes a popular "hang out" place for members, there comes a time when the need arrises to put in action a mechanism that can and will assist new users and monitor the discussions and behaviors.

There are several things to consider:

1.) What do the owners of the chat program want it to look like?
2.) What constitutes acceptable behavior of the members?
3.) Identification, selection, training of Community Leaders
4.) What actions will occur when a member violates the "rules" of the chat program?
What do the owners of the chat program want it to look like?

Worlds.com determined they want a chat program that can be enjoyed by members from age 13 and above, from any country in the world. A program that welcomes new users into an environment that makes them feel comfortable and safe. We want to create an atmosphere that will bring together people with diverse backgrounds, interests, beliefs, education, and skills where they can chat, share with each other and have fun! What constitutes acceptable behavior of the members?

Acceptable behavior can be anything the owners of the chat program want. From unrestricted language and behaviors (XXX rated) to something closely monitored and electronically filtered (G-rated).

Worlds.com developed a list of do's and don'ts called "Guidelines and Terms of Service".

Identification Selection and Management of Community Leaders

Success of the Community Leaders Program depends on the selection of members who are enthusiastic, mature, articulate, emotionally stable with great experience in chat programs. Seasoned veterans that are not surprised or upset with issues, language, and actions of members that arise in a virtual environment should be considered in the first selection.

Someone needs to be in charge of the Community Leader Program to receive applications, review them for the criteria required, observe the applicants on-line in the program, interact with them on-line, request recommendations from other members, and to make telephone contact with the applicant prior to confirmation.

Worlds.com has an online Community Leader Application Form that can be accessed and filled out by any member who so desires. While this is the prefered method of collecting applications, they must be reviewed carefully to eliminate those who apply for reasons other than the obvious. A virtual chat program is fairly anonymous and placing someone who has other agendas in mind in a position of trust and authority can only lead to disaster. Unfortunately, there are those that prey on the young and naieve. Those with virtual "revenge" motives. Those who would engage in criminal activity such as drugs, hacking, electronic fraud or sexual advances to the young or old.

In no way should the undesirable element creep into a Community Leader Program. Sometimes the telephone call will be enough to eliminate a potential problem, however if one slips by they must be weeded out as quickly as possible. Mere selection and putting a person into a Community Leader position is not enough. Observation and monitoring is a continuing part of the process.

As with any volunteer program, there will be scheduling changes, some turf wars where one Community Leader is upset about another one coming in on their shift. There will be jealousy, gossip, and those that go on an ego trip over being a Community Leader. Internal power struggles can develop and the program become unmanageable as the Community Leaders grow dissatisfied and unhappy. Someone must be in charge to handle these ongoing issues as they occur and they will occur.

A well managed Community Leader Program is essential to the health and success of a chat program and is Customer Service at it's best.

What Actions Occur When Members Violate the "Rules" of the Chat Program

When an observed violation of the Terms of Service occurs, we ask our Community Leaders to whisper to the member in violation and request they refrain from breaking the rules. We also can point them to the particular page on www.worlds.com web site so they can read the rules themselves. If the conduct or violation is serious enough our Community Leaders have full authority to "boot" the member off the server for the offense. If the member comes back and behaves, they they are allowed to stay. If they come back with an attitude and continue to violate the Terms of Service they can and will be "booted" again. Each "boot" of a member requires the Community Leader to send in a "Boot Report" to the Community Leader Director for review. Serious or habitual repeated offenses may result in the member's account being "Banned."

When a member's account is "Banned" that account linked with that email address will no longer work and they will not be able to return to WorldsPlayer until they re-register with another email address. If the member gets another account and comes back to Worlds, they are welcome to stay as long as they don't violate the Terms of Service.

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Building a World(s) Class Community

Worlds' Community Leaders are selected volunteer members who are trained to work with Worlds staff to help build the online Worlds community. You will recognize our Community Leaders online by their special yellow nametag and the word HOST- before their name. Communities are all about people. At Worlds, we view the fundamentals of community to be communication, relationships, camaraderie, commitment, contribution and commerce. Building community is like throwing a party. Worlds Community Leaders are the hosts, and the members are the guests. If you're walking into a room of people you don't know, you're a little nervous and uneasy. You want a human to meet you at the door, greet you, introduce you around, make you feel at home. That's the role of the Community Leaders. Our Community Leaders are there for our members:

·  Community Leaders hang out at entry points such as the Meteor and greet new members

·  Community Leaders help new members with questions

·  Community Leaders help members join the group by showing them around and introducing them to other members

·  Community Leaders test new program updates before they go live

·  Community Leaders help Worlds neighbors understand and follow the appropriate online behavior guidelines

·  Community Leaders communicate with Worlds staff as problems occur

Our policy on behavior is one of inclusion and persuasion, rather than exclusion and punishment. For this reason, the Community Leaders are charged with helping to engage problem members and draw them into the Community. When necessary, the Community Leaders will be asked to identify ongoing unacceptable behavior (as defined by our Community Guidelines) to the Community Director for further action. We ask that all our members cooperate with our Community Leaders.

If you are interested in more information about becoming a Community Leader, contact community@worlds.com, or you may fill out our Community Leaders Application form. You will be asked for information about yourself, for scheduling preferences, and for information relevant to accounting. You will be notified of acceptance soon thereafter, depending on available openings.

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Beta Testing and On-Line Events

Community leaders are a rich source of enthusiasm, ideas, talent and willingness to assist in any manner possible. They give freely of their time and energy and have an internal desire to make the chat program successful in any way they can.

It is these attributes that are valuable in two major ways:

·  Beta Testing

·  On-line member participation events

Beta testing is critical as new and innovative worlds and features are added to the program. We have enlisted the assistance and help of our Community Leaders as part of the recruiting and application process. Those that are willing (and over 95 percent are) have agreed to be the first to upgrade, test and report on new features, new worlds and changes to the program.

Using the Community Leaders as Beta Testers provides testing on a wide variety of computer configurations, internet connectivity, and operator expertise levels that otherwise would not be possible. The Community Leaders are an excellent choice as they are enthusiastic, responsible, and willing to report the data to our programmers giving us the "good, bad and ugly" as quickly as possible.

On-line member participation events such as Poetry Night, Comedy Night, Trivia Contests, Avatar Contests, and Tours to WorldsMarks provide the members with more than just plain old Chatting. Community Leaders have stepped up to the challenge of not only suggesting these events but also to providing the leadership and being incharge of the event.

Poetry night is an opportunity for members of any age and skill to stand up on the stage and read their own brand of Poetry. It can be their own prose or that of someone else if they give them credit. It can be good or bad, happy or sad, light or dark but the point is that it's fun and interesting and a way to spend two hours with your friends.

Comedy Night is another event that has drawn a faithful crowd. The Community Leader organizers of this event spend hours online gathering information about a particular commedian and then portray them in a virtual environment throughout the evening as regular members come on stage to deliver their own brand of comedy! We have had Rodney Dangerfield, Carrot Top, and Billy Crystal to mention a few virtual guests our Community Leaders impersonated. Great Fun!

Trivia is the standard question and answer situation with points awarded to the top three correct answers. There are two separate hour long sessions that allow members young or old from anywhere in the world to log on and participate. Unlike Poetry or Comedy night, you don't have to stand before a crowd and deliver a joke or read poems you only have to think you know the correct answer to play and be one of the top three to score points!

We held a very successful avatar contest that the members enjoyed very much. We had judges and several categories of contest entries: Unhacked, Cute & Cuddly, Bold & Beautiful, Creepy & Scary, Abstract & Avante-Garde. It is amazing how creative the members can be given a forum to display such talent.

Worldsmarks are places of interest the Program doesn't take you directly too. It could be something as simple as standing on a wall, or more complex like going beyond the normal boundaires of the program, floating up in the room, or behind the mirror in the avatar galleries. There are an unlimited number of possibilities and each week one of our Community Leaders gathers those interested in seeing some of the lesser know worldsmarks and take them on tour for about an hour or longer if they so choose. The feedback is very positive and anyone can participate.

Some upcoming events will include Holiday Themes for Poetry and Comedy nights, Parties for Halloween Christmas and New Year, and a Halloween Avatar contest.

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Worlds.com 3D Portal Guidelines and Terms of Service

ENTERING A CHAT SESSION AT WORLDS CONSTITUTES YOUR ACCEPTANCE OF THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF THIS AGREEMENT. IF YOU DO NOT AGREE TO ABIDE BY THESE TERMS, PLEASE DO NOT ENTER WORLDS.COM.

Worlds.com 3D Portal gives the Worlds community a place to meet, chat and share ideas. As in a real community, respect of others is expected, and the following rules have been sent forth to this end. You are entirely responsible and liable for all activities conducted through your chat session. Violating these rules may result in Worlds terminating your chat session, or terminating your account.

  1. Do not under any circumstances divulge personal information about yourself such as your real name, email address, address, or telephone number to other members, even if they claim to be Worlds employees or representatives. Worlds employees, Chat Monitors and Community Leaders would NEVER ask you for personal information online.
  2. Do not harass, threaten, embarrass or abuse another Worlds.com participant.
  3. Do not use of blatant expressions of bigotry, racism, hatred or profanity.
  4. Do not use Worlds.com 3D Portal for commercial or advertising purposes, or for transmission of promotional materials, or any other forms of solicitation.
  5. Do not post copyrighted content without permission from the owner.
  6. Do not impersonate in Worlds.com any person, including but not limited to, a Worlds staff member, community leader, monitor, host, or other participant.
  7. Do not participate in any activity that causes a disruption in the normal delivery of the Worlds.com 3D Portal service, such as but not limited to, using invisible screen names or cloning screen names.
  8. Do not disrupt the normal flow of dialogue, cause a screen to "scroll" faster than other users of the Service are able to type, or otherwise hamper other users’ ability to engage in real time exchanges.
  9. Do not harm minors in any way whatsoever.
  10. Do not transmit any Content that you do not have a right to transmit under any law or under contractual or fiduciary relationships (such as inside information, proprietary and confidential information learned or disclosed as part of employment relationships or under nondisclosure agreements).
  11. Do not use Worlds.com 3D Portal for the purpose of promoting, soliciting or participating in multilevel marketing or pyramid schemes.
  12. Do not solicit, collect or distribute personal information about other Worlds members.
  13. Do not provide instructions for illegal activities or otherwise harmful activities including but not limited to, instructions on how to assemble bombs, grenades and other weapons, providing satellite TV cracks, etc.
  14. Do not transmit information regarding pirated computer programs or links to such programs, or information used to circumvent manufacturer-installed copy-protect devices, including serial or registration numbers for software programs, or links to pirated music files.
  15. Do not create a username that is racist, bigoted, profane, violent or otherwise offensive.

LIMITATION OF LIABILITY

YOU EXPRESSLY UNDERSTAND AND AGREE THAT WORLDS SHALL NOT BE LIABLE FOR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, CONSEQUENTIAL OR EXEMPLARY DAMAGES, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO, DAMAGES FOR LOSS OF PROFITS, GOODWILL, USE, DATA OR OTHER INTANGIBLE LOSSES (EVEN IF WORLDS HAS BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES), RESULTING FROM: (i) THE USE OR THE INABILITY TO USE THE SERVICE; (ii) THE COST OF PROCUREMENT OF SUBSTITUTE GOODS AND SERVICES RESULTING FROM ANY GOODS, DATA, INFORMATION OR SERVICES PURCHASED OR OBTAINED OR MESSAGES RECEIVED OR TRANSACTIONS ENTERED INTO THROUGH OR FROM THE SERVICE; (iii) UNAUTHORIZED ACCESS TO OR ALTERATION OF YOUR TRANSMISSIONS OR DATA; (iv) STATEMENTS OR CONDUCT OF ANY THIRD PARTY ON THE SERVICE; OR (v) ANY OTHER MATTER RELATING TO THE SERVICE.

MEMBER CONDUCT

USERS ARE SOLELY RESPONSIBLE FOR ANYTHING CONTAINED IN THEIR CHAT SESSIONS. WORLDS DOES NOT VERIFY, ENDORSE OR OTHERWISE VOUCH FOR THE CONTENTS OF ANY CHAT SESSION. USERS MAY BE HELD LEGALLY LIABLE FOR THE CONTENTS OF THEIR CHAT SESSIONS, AND MAY BE HELD LEGALLY ACCOUNTABLE IF THEIR CHAT SESSIONS INCLUDE, FOR EXAMPLE, MATERIAL PROTECTED BY COPYRIGHT TRADEMARK, PATENT OR TRADE SECRET LAW WITHOUT THE PERMISSION OF THE AUTHOR OR OWNER, OR DEFAMATORY COMMENTS.

Worlds reserves the following rights:

  • To immediately and without notice disconnect and/or ban a member who is in breach of these terms.
  • To release current or past member information in the event Worlds believes that accounts are in violation of the terms of service or content guidelines, used to commit unlawful acts, if the information is subpoenaed, or when Worlds deems it necessary and/or appropriate, or in response to substantiated complaints.
  • To deny membership to repeat offenders of these guidelines or terms of service.
  • To amend or change these guidelines at any time and without notice.

Please be informed of the following:

  • For your protection, Worlds' volunteer Community Leaders may be online to help ensure the safety of our chat rooms, and members adherence to the terms of agreement.
  • Be aware that by disclosing personal identifying information such as your actual name, member name, e-mail address, etc., in a chat room, the information may be collected and used by others to send you unsolicited e-mail from other parties, outside Worlds.

Worlds.com 3D Portal Content Guidelines

Worlds has carefully developed the following content guidelines to promote the free-flowing exchange of ideas about your interests, activities and hobbies, while maintaining standards consistent with the Internet community and the societies of the world.

Worlds does not discriminate based on sex, age, gender, sexual orientation, ethnicity, culture, religion or socio-economic status.

Worlds does not allow any chat content in Worlds.com 3D Portal that is:

  1. Providing material that is grossly offensive to the online community, including blatant expressions of bigotry, prejudice, racism, hatred or excessive profanity;
  2. Committing acts of copyright, trademark, patent, trade secret or other intellectual property infringement;
  3. Providing information used to circumvent manufacturer-installed copy-protect devices, including serial or registration numbers for software programs;
  4. Defaming any person or group;
  5. Using Worlds for the purpose of gathering personal identifying information from individuals for commercial or unlawful purposes;
  6. Engaging in commercial activities or Worlds-approved affiliate programs;

This includes, but is not limited to, the following activities:

    • Offering for sale any products or services;
    • Soliciting for advertisers or sponsors;
    • Conducting raffles or contests that require any type of entry fee;
    • Promoting, soliciting or participating in multilevel marketing or pyramid schemes.
  1. Promoting or providing instructional information about illegal activities, promoting physical harm or injury against any group or individual, or promoting any act of cruelty to animals;

This includes, but is not limited to, the following activities:

    • Providing instructions on how to assemble bombs, grenades and other weapons;
    • Disseminating personal information about another individual for malevolent
    • Providing computer software viruses or software designed to create a virus;
    • Providing satellite TV cracks;
    • Facilitating the delivery of "spam" e-mail;
    • Soliciting passwords from other members.

We reserve the right to suspend or remove any member from the system which is brought to our attention and which we find, in our sole discretion, violates any of these chat content guidelines or otherwise is in violation of the law.

Members who are in violation of the Worlds Content Guidelines or Terms of Service may have their membership revoked.

ENTERING A CHAT SESSION AT WORLDS WILL CONSTITUTE ACCEPTANCE OF THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF THIS AGREEMENT. IF YOU DO NOT AGREE TO ABIDE BY THESE TERMS, PLEASE DO NOT ENTER WORLDS.COM.

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Cover Letter Example

Dear Community Leader: HOST-Care

It was good to chat with you Diane!

Thank you for joining our Worlds Community Leaders Program. We are delighted to have you on board!

The attached packet contains documents that will help you better understand your role, our expectations of you, and our product. We greatly appreciate your willingness to help us, and hope these documents help you. Please review these materials, and contact us with any questions you may have at community@worlds.com. We ask that you print, review and initial the checklist and sign the contract at the bottom, and mail us the signed copies to:

Worlds.com
Attn: Charlie May
P.O. Box 35
Walla Walla, WA 99362
USA

The enclosed materials are:
1. Administrative overview and checklist. (Please sign and return to Worlds.com)
2. Worlds' Community Leaders mission statement and guidelines.
3. Worlds Terms of service and Contents Guidelines.
4. Worlds Ultimate 3D Chat FAQs.
5. How to handle a hostile member
6. List of Worlds Ultimate 3D Chat versions
7. List of Community Leaders and Current Community Leader schedule
8. CL online meeting notes and CL updates (to give you a sense of history of the program)
9. Worlds.com/Community Leader Contract (Please sign and return to Worlds.com)

We look forward to working with you to build a World(s) class community!

Charlie May (SirGemini)
Worlds Community Leader Program Director
P.O. Box 35
Walla Walla, WA 99362
USA
clprogram@worlds.com
Worlds.com

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Community Leader Contract Example

Worlds.Com (www.worlds.com) P.O. Box 35 Walla Walla, WA 99362

Dear Community Leader:

This letter sets forth the terms and conditions of the agreement between Worlds Inc. d/b/a Worlds.com and you with respect to your service and compensation as a Worlds Community Leader. It is agreed and acknowledged that:

1) You have read and accept the terms and conditions set forth herein and agree to act as a Community Leader for Worlds.com.

2) As a Community Leader you shall devote at least three hours a week signed-on to Chat, welcoming new users and acquainting them with Chat as well as identifying ongoing unacceptable behavior (as defined in Community Guidelines and Worlds.com Terms of Service http://www.worlds.com/help/worldsterms.html) by users to the Community Director for further corrective action.

3) You will not hold yourself out or permit yourself to be regarded as an employee, officer or agent of Worlds and shall strictly avoid any act or omission that could reasonably lead to a contractual or tortious claim against or liability to Worlds.

4) During your continuous service as a Community Leader (and after a 90 probationary period with a review of your performance), so long as you are in compliance with the terms of this Letter (such compliance to be determined solely by Worlds, in its discretion), you will receive free V.I.P. subscription to Worlds.com.

5) All information, knowledge and data relating to or concerned with the operations, business and affairs of a Community Leader or Worlds which are exchanged by the parties hereto in connection with the performance by a Community Leader of his or her duties hereunder shall be the property of Worlds and be treated as confidential information. A Community Leader shall not disclose or divulge such information to any firm, person, corporation or other entity other than as required by law or in connection with the performance of his or her duties hereunder. Your obligations under this Section shall survive the termination of your service as a Community Leader.

6) Either of us may terminate your service as a Community Leader at any time, with or without cause, upon notice to the other. Upon such termination, our respective obligations to each other shall cease, except that you shall continue to be bound by the obligations set forth in Sections 3 and 5.

7) You consent to Worlds conducting, in its discretion, a preliminary check on your background, which could include a check of any criminal history. You authorize Worlds to use your social security number or other National Identification Number set forth below solely for such purpose. You also authorize any employer, business associate, educational institution, government unit, court, financial institution, military service record center, or consumer credit reporting agency to release to Worlds and their legal representatives or agents any information they may have about your occupation, avocations, associations, educational achievements, character and general reputation.

8) This Letter contains the entire agreement between the parties with respect to the matters herein contained and any change or modification must be in writing and signed by the party against whom enforcement of the change or modification is sought.

WORLDS.COM

By:______________________________
Name:
Title:

Accepted and agreed to:


________________________________
Name:
Address:
Social Security #:
Date:

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Administrative Overview and Checklist Example

Administrative Overview and Checklist
¨ Your Host (Community Leader) username is HOST-Care-----------------------
¨ The password for your Host account is the same as your -Mother-Earth- account
¨ Your assigned Shift is Monday 11am - 2pm GMT (BST) (6am - 9am EST)
¨ Your Community director is Charlie May (community@worlds.com)

Please print out this page, check the following items, sign below and return to Worlds:

____ I have read, understand, and accept the Community Leaders guidelines and related training materials provided by Worlds.
____ I understand that while I am signed in with the HOST username, my Worlds avatar name tag is a special yellow tag, that will enable members to identify me as a Worlds authorized Community Leader. With this Host tag I also have ability to have 100 friends on my friends list, instead of usual 30, and I have the ability to boot members (see How to handle a hostile situation).
____ I understand that I cannot edit the Host account, and need to have any changes made by community@worlds.com.
____ I understand that my HOST username will be published on a Worlds Web page, but that my personal information will not be divulged. The purpose of this page is to authenticate our Community Leaders.
____ I agree to allow a short biography (of my own writing) be published on this page at a future time.
____ I understand that while I am signed in with my HOST username, I am considered to be on duty, and must adhere to the Community Leader guidelines. We encourage you to log in as a host as often as you like, but this is not required. In the event you log in as a Community Leader and it isn't your scheduled time, please be courteous to the on-duty Community Leader and let him/her know you've joined him/her.
____ I understand the importance of trying to get coverage for shifts for which I am scheduled but can't attend, and understand my obligation to notify community@worlds.com when I am not able to cover a shift, whenever possible.
____ I am willing to help with internal Beta tests of the Worlds Ultimate 3D Chat software, and will edit my worlds.ini to add the line testautoupgrade=2 and testworldautoupgrade=2 in the gamma section.

Your comments are welcome!
__________________________________________________________________

Signature____________________________
Name: _____________________________
Date:_______________________________

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Community Leader Do's and Don'ts

First, a community leader should:

1. Read and obtain a comprehensive understanding of the chat terms and conditions for chat rooms.
2. Read and understand the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ's) in the HELP in order to assist the other members effectively.
3. Not violate any of the Worlds terms and conditions.
4. Not use their position to advertise there own business, organizations, or affiliations, or to carry on their personal vendettas.
5. Focus on community effort while 'on duty' and not become "involved" with another member while they are on a hosting assignment.
6. Be friendly, kind, polite, and engage members in a positive manner.
7. Be 'Above reproach' - don't use deragotory terms even if they seem harmless.

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Community Leader Basic Responsibilities

A Community Leader should:

1. Meet and greet all members when they enter in the chat room.
2. Answer basic functionality questions on how to use the software (i.e. how to send a private message, change rooms, change avatars, become a VIP, etc.)
3. Direct chatters to the HELP to answer any software related questions that you do not have the time or knowledge to answer.
4. Encourage the chatters to contact us with their recommendations, suggestions, or problems related to the chat rooms or the software. They can email us at support@worlds.com.
5. Report any consistent software problems that they observe during the host assignment to community@worlds.com shortly following the assignment.
6. Maintain contact with the Community Director about your general chatting experiences as well as make recommendations and suggestions for improvements to the Worlds community, software features, and the Volunteer Community Leaders Program.
7. Inform the Community Director if you are no longer able to participate as a host or wish to take a sabbatical from hosting.
8. Participate in beta testing of new upgrades. To become a beta tester, follow these instructions: Using Notepad, while WU3DC is NOT running, edit the worlds.ini file (in Worlds directory) to include the following lines in the Gamma section:
TestAutoUpgrade=2
TestWorldAutoUpgrade=2
9. Participate in future hosted events such as discussion forums, word games, trivia games etc.
10. Inform the Community Director about changes to your schedule or of a desire to host in a different or additional room or community. We ask that whenever possible you give us a 24 hour notice regarding a missed session, and that you try to find a backup from the other Community Leaders.

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How to handle a hostile situation

Our policy on behavior is one of inclusion and persuasion, rather than exclusion and punishment. For this reason, the Community Leaders will not be asked to exclude members from the Worlds Ultimate 3D Chat environment. Instead, they are charged with helping to engage problem members and draw them into the Community. When dealing with offensive users, the Worlds Community Leader should follow these guidelines:

1. Address any user that is in anyway aggravating or harassing other users or making inappropriate remarks in the room. It is best to do so in a whisper, and in a polite manner. Something along the lines of : "Hello, I am HOST-X and am a Worlds Community Leader. You are violating Worlds Behavior Policy as described at …….Please refrain from using this type of language.", or other words you feel appropriate. 2. Advise the offended party that they can mute the offending member. 3. If possible, keep a log of the exchange and/or a print screen of the offensive chat. 4. Sometimes an offender just does so to get attention - try to engage them in a positive way instead, distracting them by offering to show them one of your cool WorldsMarks, for instance. 5. If the member refuses to cooperate, do not get into an argument with them, and boot them if they continue to misbehave (see below). 6. Abstain from making hostile or harassing comments to any of the users under any circumstances. 7. Ask any members with offensive user names to change their username, and report them to the Community Director if they refuse. An offensive name includes vulgar terms, swear words, private body parts, etc. 8. Warn chatters not to use profanity, offensive language or racial slurs, or sexually explicit conversations. 9. Advise users who constantly use caps that in chat etiquette, CAPS mean yelling, and are disruptive to the flow of conversation. 10. If a member floods the chat screen, ask them to stop. If they continue, please boot them. 11. Advise users about safety issues, such as never giving personal info online.

Booting a hostile member:
First, remember to try the other options prior to resorting to booting someone. To boot a hostile member immediately (and prevent relogin for 15 minutes) choose Boot on the Options menu, type the member's username, and click OK.

Whenever you boot someone, send a report describing the reason and the chat log to community@worlds.com. The Community Director will review the reports, and ban member permanently by terminating their account, if deemed appropriate. Watch for the offending member, and see if he/she re-logs after 15 minutes, and if he/she continues to misbehave. You may continue to boot the member for continued violations of the Terms of Service until they either comply or you can make contact with Community Leader Program Director for guidance and assistance.

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Community Leaders Schedule

A current schedule and list of authenticated Community Leaders can be found at http://www.worlds.com/help/clnames.html. If you would like to switch to another time slot, please email me at community@worlds.com.

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Worlds Community Leader Application Form Example

Worlds Community Leaders Application Form

Thank you for your interest in our community leaders program. We have had an exceptional number of applicants to the program, and at this time require 8-12 weeks to process new applications. Please note that you must be 18 years or older to be a Worlds Community Leader. Please fill out the following information about yourself, your scheduling preferences, and the information relevant to compensation, namely, your social security number and mailing address. Please fill out the form thoroughly, and err on the 'too much info' side: Remember, good communication skills is an important criteria for being a good community leader.

Full Name

Worlds Username(s)

E-Mail Address

Mailing Address

Phone Number

Time Zone

Birthdate (month/day/year)

Gender Female Male

Social Security Number

Are you currently employed? Yes No

If employed, name of employer

Occupation

Number of years at current employ

Please answer the following questions in as much detail as you like:

Why do you want to be a Worlds Community Leader?

What do you think the duties of a CL are?

How would you handle a hostile member?

List your technical strengths, if any:

List your interpersonal strengths:

Tell us a little bit about yourself:

Preferred time slot:

Once your application is approved we will contact you and ask you to take up a slot in our schedule. This is a preliminary questionnaire as to what time slots may work best for you.

First Choice

Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
Sunday

9:00 AM - 12:00 Noon EST
12:00 Noon - 3:00 PM EST
3:00 PM - 6:00 PM EST
6:00 PM - 9:00 PM EST
9:00 PM - 12:00 Midnight EST
12:00 Midnight - 3:00 AM EST
3:00 AM - 6:00 AM EST
6:00 AM - 9:00 AM EST

Second Choice

Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
Sunday

9:00 AM - 12:00 Noon EST
12:00 Noon - 3:00 PM EST
3:00 PM - 6:00 PM EST
6:00 PM - 9:00 PM EST
9:00 PM - 12:00 Midnight EST
12:00 Midnight - 3:00 AM EST
3:00 AM - 6:00 AM EST
6:00 AM - 9:00 AM EST

Remember, being a Community Leader is an important responsibility. The personal information you will be providing is being sent to and collected by Worlds staff, for the purpose of evaluating your application to become a Community Leader, and determining whether you should be accepted as a Worlds Community Leader. In order to assure as safe and friendly environment as possible, Worlds may conduct routine background checks on prospective candidates. This information will also be used for administrating accounting records as applicable. It will be kept confidential.

Following are quotes from some of the applications that came in that represent Worlds vision for the Community Leader role:

·  "Help make people feel welcome and let them know we are happy they are with us on worlds chat!"

·  "Introducing them to some current friends that I have and setting them loose. "

·  "To answer questions people may have with regard to ultimate chat, some of the language of chatting (lol, rofl, : ), "*grin*, etc.), how to change your avatar.

·  "Test updates as they occur; create and help others create Worlds community homepages; assist in determining the users that cause Worlds Chat to have complaints and always participate, participate, participate! "

·  "Intermediate contact for existing worlds clients to discuss their suggestions and/or concerns"

·  "If they did not buy the VIP package show them how much more fun they will have buying it."

·  "I think the duties of a CL is to be there as a guide, to show new people how it all works and make them feel very welcomed. To make WorldsChat a nice place to be and to make people wanting to come back to it."

·  "I have a lot of nice and visually interesting places marked on my WorldsMarks, and I would be more the willing to instruct and show them off to others."

·  "Also to assure the safe family oriented atmosphere that a community like this should be."

 

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FAQs

It is important that the Community Leaders read and understand the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ's) in the HELP in order to assist the other members effectively. Click here to view the FAQs.

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Updated 10/24/00        All Content © Worlds.com, 2004