The Discussion Group Is Launched

I've created a Google group to invite discussion from the Business Support community within Sheffield City Council and our wider customers.

As with this blog there are decisions to be made when creating it.
Some stuff is seemingly trivial but probably will turn out to be desperately important.

"Name your group"
I've no idea where this will appear until I've created the group or what relevance it has. I did a quick search for "BaSS Induction Training In Social Care" just in case 58 porno sites use the same phrase.
Nothing unacceptable/illegal/immoral appeared

"Create a group email address"
Seems that we get an address whether we want it or not.
I picked "BaSSInduction" google added "@googlegroups.com"

We also get a web address http://groups.google.com/group/BaSSInduction
(which you can't visit - see below "Choose an access level")

"Write a group description"
This seemed really important - it's probably the first thing after a title that people will see.
You get 130 characters to say everything.
Good practice for my brevity.
Here's what I came up with
"Sheffield City Council's Workforce Development Unit currently offers induction training for Business and Support Staff (BaSS) who work in the Council's Social Care services.
We want to review this training and also extend it to our customers outside the Council.
Please help us by joining in here. "
(I've got one character left!)

Nudity Warning
This is the next decision I had to make (not just a way of waking you up)
I didn't tick the box which would make people declare their adulthood.
We've said elsewhere that we anticipate anyone joining in so we must try to make the content universally acceptable.

"Choose an Access Level"
Google offers 3 levels

1. Public - definitely not.
   This group is for a specific group on a specific subject.
   All and sundry are not welcome to add, change or view the content


2. Announcement-only - nearly but it still allows everyone to see the content


3. Restricted - The one for us.
   I'll invite people via their email addresses and no one beyond those people is allowed in.