Publicize the leader handbook?

['Souls Assemblage]

Hi 'Souls!

For quite a while now, the 'SA has been debating whether or not to publicize the Leader's Handbook. The 'SA itself is kind of torn, and became more so following a poll to the leaders themselves. o: So, we've decided to put it to a general membership poll, and also open up for comments and questions to try and glean some ideas from everyone. We won't necessarily act accordingly with the outcome of this poll, but we're seeking input and would like to hear your thoughts! <3

So, let us know what you think -- please vote, and feel free to comment below (or privately via a PM to the 'SA, or anonymously via Tumblr)!

What is the Handbook?
The Leader's Handbook is a forum with various topics. These topics detail what it means to be a leader, how leaders should behave, leaders' duties, rules and procedures for running a pack, and various other information regarding leadership, pack formation, pack websites, etc.

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Why publicize? [*]It may simplify pack formation information: all of our information will be in one place. We won't have a separate Pack Formation topic anymore -- this topic will be contained within the Handbook itself. We won't have to repost information from one place to the other, and we won't have to make sure information on both documents is the same.[*]It may enable members who are thinking about leadership to get a better or more complete idea of what leadership is about. What duties, workload and problems can one expect? Well, currently, you don't know until you're actually a Pre-Leader (e.g., your pack's first application has been approved). If all members can see the handbook before they even think about a pack idea, we believe pack formations will be smoother, and new leaders won't have quite so much adjustment to do.[*]It may help our members understand when to turn to a leader for assistance, and when not to. Leaders are often mistaken for forum staff, and issues are brought to them which are not their jurisdiction. This in turn causes some issues to be lost to the 'SA, and some leaders to be overworked -- we'd like to reduce this! [*]It may increase accountability and transparency overall. By allowing members to view the the handbook, they will know better what they can and cannot expect from their leaders.

Why not publicize? [*]It's a lot of information the average member doesn't necessarily need to know. It's tons of extra reading, and people may get lost within the Handbook.[*]Although lacking in "sensitive information," the Handbook does provide some suggestions for dealing with troublesome packmembers, and some players may become offended.[*]Members may try to act out of their stead and in a leader's position (although this would certainly be against the board-wide rules and incur consequences from the 'SA -- we'd also include warnings that the information is meant to be used by leaders, but we cannot say we'd absolutely be able to prevent this from happening).[*]Members may attempt to pressure or disagree with leaders over things in the handbook (though leaders are free to set their own pack's procedures in many cases)

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Questions
Will non-members (e.g., unregistered guests and wanderers) be able to see the Handbook?
No. Only titled members will be able to see the Handbook. This is primarily because we don't want new joiners to look at the Handbook at all, and mistake it for rules or a document they have to read.

Isn't there sensitive information in the Leaders' Handbook?
Nope! We'd be giving it some revisions before we rolled it out, of course, but even in its present state, the Leaders' Handbook contains no sensitive information.

Will all members have to read the Handbook?
Absolutely not. We definitely wouldn't mandate it for reading -- there is a lot of information in there, after all. It's only there if you'd like to read up about what leadership is like. Of course, if you are thinking about becoming a leader or are a leader, it becomes mandatory. ;D