ND Training Course:
The Neighborhood Deputy is the very foundation upon which a Neighborhood is built. Strong and effective Neighborhood Deputies ensure that the neighborhood itself is strong and well founded. It is the purpose of this document to help and guide Neighborhood Deputies in that which makes a strong block, and to inform them of policies and requirements of them as Neighborhood Deputies.
A strong Neighborhood is built upon the concepts of communication, training, hard work, and leadership. Communication is essential in any team framework including the team. Without communication we are greatly reduced in our effectiveness. As a Neighborhood Deputy, communication is necessary for the health of block and hood.
Neighborhood Deputies are required to keep in touch with their Neighborhood Leaders by using the inbox message system, to keep the ND updated of any changes and things that occur within this hood. This is then brought together at the end of each week by the ND report which is sent to the NL and CD so that an overview can be kept of how the Neighborhood is doing, and if problems arise, how we can ~ as a team ~ resolve them.
Neighborhood Deputies must also communicate effectively with their block staff for a fun and effective hood, as such; the Neighborhood Deputy is strongly recommended if not required to communicate at least three times a week with each Block Leader on their block. This communication may include but is not limited to box messages, meetings, email, and Instant messaging Programs.
Training is how staff members know what is required of them. Neighborhood Leaders are required to train each of their Neighborhood Deputies at the time of hiring, to ensure that each Neighborhood Deputy is aware of all of their duties, and can perform them sufficiently. A trial period of two weeks shall be instituted for all new Neighborhood Deputies in which training, and evaluation of the Neighborhood Deputies effectiveness shall take place.
Training for Neighborhood Deputies is to take place in the following areas: Policies and procedures within Adventure Colony and their Neighborhood, Hood maintenance and controls, Block maintenance and controls, Recruiting, training of Block Leaders, Security procedures, HTML for messages.
Policies and Procedures:
Security Check
A security check is required of all staff prior to employment, for Block
Leaders to have their Block Leaders checked; they need to either leave a message with the Neighborhood Leader, or their Neighborhood Deputy. No persons with a security record shall be employed in Adventure Colony. A record includes Bans and Jail time.
Free Spaces
The maximum number of free spaces to be opened within a block at any one time is two (2). If a block does not have a Block Leader then the Neighborhood Deputy is responsible for handling this. Free spaces should be rotated regularly, meaning that not the same one be left open for long periods of time.
House Deletions
Deletion of 'dead' houses (houses for which the owner has not visited for 32 days)
DO NOT DELETE ANY HOMES AT ALL
(this can only be done by the Colony Leader)
Communication
Neighborhood Deputies are required to leave inbox messages for both their Neighborhood Leader and their Block Leaders three times a week.
Milestone Announcements
Milestones consist of Virtdays, Birthdays, Anniversaries, Experience Points, and other achievements.
If a block is without a BL, it is the ND's responsibility to post these events on the Colony, Hood, and
Block message boards. If a resident is inactive (has not logged in for 32 or more days) than
posting an announcement for that resident is unnecessary. It is a good idea to maintain a list
of all block residents along with their milestones and last access dates. It is much easier to
review a list and see if a milestone is coming up than to visit each house. Milestones can
usually be found on a resident's house or listed in one of their boards.
A Virtday is a resident's immigration date.
Experience Points Milestones occur when a certain level is reached.(ex. 1,000 5,000 10,000 25,000 etc.)
Obscene
All staff should bear in mind that they are representatives of Adventure Colony and their Hood, and as such, their behavior reflects upon the Colony as a whole. Any staff which is found to have used obscenities to express themselves, flooded, or been banned for disruptive behavior shall find their employment terminated.
Boards:
Message to All
This feature is used to send a message to the message boxes of everyone living within the block. Please remember that once the message is sent, it cannot be corrected or erased.
Inbox to All
This feature should be used sparingly. It is meant for important annoucements. Continuous
posting of events is considered spamming. If a special invitations to an event is needed
for each resident then the Neighborhood Deputy should visit each active resident's house
and inbox the resident individually.
Message Boards
Message Boards are public communication centers.
Residential
Each resident has a message board. These boards need to be reviewed by block staff
periodically for appropriate content. If a block does not have staff, then the ND
must review the content.
Hood and Blocks
Messages need to be deleted after 30 days, and the links on
the board kept up-to-date, and on topic. It is recommended that all staff read their
block, hood, and colony messages.
Residential
Every Resident has an inbox. This is where personal messages are left. Every new
resident to the block should be left a welcome message in their inbox.
If a Neighborhood Deputy recruits a newbie, they should inform the newbie of their
inbox, and how to use it.
Neighborhood
This is a place where residents can communicate with Neighborhood staff privately. The
neighborhood inbox is also a place where staff can leave messages for eachother. For example,
if someone has an idea for an event, they can post it on the hood Inbox so everyone can review it.
*Note - if someone replies to a post on the Inbox, the reply will go to the origial poster's
residential inbox.
Residential Information Boards
The information board for each resident is found by clicking the button labeled
Information. The resident can customize their Information board, therefore; it needs to
be checked by the Block Leader. If a block does not have a BL then the the ND must
check the board. No obscenities or porn are allowed on Information boards.
Residential Links Boards
The Links button is found under the Message Board for each resident. As the links can
be customized by the resident, they need to be checked by the Block Leader for
appropriateness and content. If a block is without staff, then the ND needs to review
the links.
Hood Maintenance and Controls:
Hood Access Rights
This should only be accessed by Neighborhood Leaders and above. Any Neighborhood Deputy
discovered having changed hood access right will face serious consequences including but not
limited to employment termination.
Update
This feature should only be accessed by the Tech Colony Deputy or Colony Leader. Changing any
part of this can make the blocks inaccessible.
Block Maintenance and Controls:
Access Rights
The only part of the access rights screen that a Neighborhood Deputy is authorized to
change is where the Block Leaders and Block Deputies are declared. Changing any other
part can make the block inaccessible. If a Neighborhood Deputy needs to maintain or review
a block they can put themselves in access as a BD.
Update
The update feature is used to open free spaces in the block. If a block is without a BL or
the BL does not update the spaces within 3 days, the Neighborhood Deputy is to use this
function. A free space is opened by checking the tick box, and pressing the gray, square
update button under the map. To remove a free space, simply uncheck the tick box, and
press the gray, square update button.
Check
The Check feature is used by both the Block Leaders and Block Deputies to check the
resident's 2-d images. The guidelines for these images are no porn, no nudity, as well
as no images depicting illegal activity. The image should be something you would not
mind an 8-year-old or your mother seeing. If a block is without staff then the
Neighborhood Deputy is responsible for maintaining this.
House Deletion
When in block access, Neighborhood Deputies see this function on the right hand side of
the screen. It is located under each resident's box and message board. This function is
used to delete 'dead' houses of inactive residents. A house is considered dead if it
hasn't been visited by the resident for 32 days. If a house is dead the ND must inform
their NL or CD.
SPECIAL NOTE
DO NOT DELETE ANY HOMES AT ALL
Bots
If there should be a problem with how a bot is programmed, the Neighborhood Deputy must
inform their Neighborhood Leader. If the block does not have a Block Leader the ND must
leave a polite message with the resident saying that the bot is inappropriate for a
family oriented place like Cybertown, and they have 48 hours to change it.
Security and Security Procedures:
It is of the utmost importance for Neighborhood Deputies to know, and be able to follow the defined Security procedures in case of security problems within their hood, blocks, or where they are chatting.
Online Alert
In order to be notified when someone comes online, Neighborhood Deputies should configure
their Online Alert feature. To do so, click on the citizen's online link, go to the
bottom of the list, and click on Configure. Enter the names of the people you wish to be
notified for, and press update. Neighborhood Deputies should use this function to
personally welcome new residents to their block.
Flooding, Swearing, or Inappropriateness in Public Chat
In the case of a person being obscene or behaving inappropriately in a public chat room,
the correct response is to, first inform the person that what they are doing is not
right, and politely ask them to refrain from what they are doing. Often times a polite
request will solve this problem. If the person ignores the request to cease, the one
should contact Security. To do this, go to the Citizens Online link and at the bottom of
the list there is a Security Alert button. Press this, and into the message box, enter
what is happening, and where you are and press send. You may be asked to supply chat logs
or screen shots of what was said or done.
Inappropriate Pictures, Links, or Information Boards
If the Neighborhood Deputy finds or is informed of inappropriate pictures, links or things
on the information board, they need to obtain a screen shot, and contact their
Neighborhood Leader. If the Neighborhood Leader is unavailable, they should attempt to
contact an Adventure Colony Deputy. If it is an inappropriate picture, the Neighborhood
Deputy or Block Staff should make sure it remains locked. If the BL is unavailable, then
the ND should leave a polite message to the resident. The message should indicate the
image, link or information board is inappropriate, and they have 48 hours to change it.
A copy of all correspondence should be kept as a text file and send to the Neighborhood
Leader, and the Colony Deputy.