NL Training Course:
A Neighborhood is a "bridge" between the Colony and the blocks. An effective Neighborhood Leader will keep this bridge running smoothly by communicating with colony, hood, and block staff as well as ensuring the hood and blocks are well maintained. To be an NL one must have good time management, organizational skills and human relation skills. A trial period of one month shall be instituted for all new Neighborhood Leaders in which training, and evaluation of the Neighborhood Leader's effectiveness shall take place.
It is the purpose of this document to help and guide Neighborhood Leaders in that which makes a strong Neighborhood, and to inform them of requirements and policies.
Requirements:
- Be on line often, at least 15 hours a week.
- Promote the Vision of the Colony as well as adhere to the Colony Guidelines.
- Coordinate and communicate with the Companion Colony Deputy or Colony Leader if there is no Companion CD.
- Assist the neighborhood in any way possible. This includes holding events, posting games, posting information, and posting advertisements.
- Be familiar with all neighborhood and block duties and job requirements.
- Hire or dismiss staff according to the Colony Guidelines.
- Train hood staff.
- Coordinate and communicate with Neighborhood Deputies and block staff on at minimum a weekly basis.
- Attend and hold staff meetings.
- Maintain the hood message board and inbox.
- Hood Sweeps (ie: reporting any homes over 32 days old to the Companion CD or CL if no CD is assigned)
- NLs are responsible for the maintenance of both their hood and blocks. If a block does not have an active Block Leader; and no neighborhood deputy was assigned to the block, then the NL must perform the BL duties for that block. For more information on BL duties see the BL Training Guide.
Policies and Procedures:
Security Check
A security check is required of all staff prior to employment, for Neighborhood Leaders
to have their staff checked; they need to either leave a message with their Colony Deputy
or Colony Leader. No persons with a security record shall be employed in Adventure Colony.
A record includes Bans and Jail time.
Neighborhood Deputy Block Assignments
A Neighborhood Leader can assign Neighborhood Deputies a supervisory role over one or more
blocks. An ND receiving such as assignment, is responsible for the hiring, dismissing,
and training of block staff as well as maintenance of the block. This does not negate the NL's
responsibility to see that all blocks are well maintained.
Free Spaces
The maximum number of free spaces to be opened within a block at any one time is two (2).
Free spaces should be rotated regularly, meaning that not the same one be left open for long
periods of time. This is normally the duty of a Block Leader or Block Deputy.
House Deletions
Deletion of 'dead' houses (houses for which the owner has not visited for 32 days).
When in block access, a Neighborhood Leader sees this function on the right hand side of the
screen. It is located under each resident's box and message board.
DO NOT DELETE ANY HOMES AT ALL
(this can only be done by the Colony Leader)
Milestone Announcements
Milestones consist of Virtdays, Birthdays, Anniversaries, Experience Points, and other
achievements. These events should be posted 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. This is normally a
Block Leader duty.
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 will send a message to all block MBs within a hood. If this option is used
at the block level, a message will be sent 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 announcements. Continuous
posting of events is considered spamming. If a special invitation to an event is needed
for each resident then the NL or ND should visit each active resident's house
and inbox the resident individually.
Message Boards
Message Boards are public communication centers. 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.
Inboxes
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 ND or NL 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 each other. 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 original poster's
residential inbox.
Hood Maintenance and Controls:
Hood Access Rights
The only part of the access rights screen that a Neighborhood Leader is authorized to
change is where the Neighborhood Deputies are declared. Changing any other
part can make the hood inaccessible.
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.
Opening, Closing, or Renaming Blocks
A Neighborhood Leader can request a block be opened, closed, or renamed. A NL must discuss
the request with their Companion Colony Deputy. If no Companion CD has been assigned to the
hood, the request must be forwarded to the Tech CD or CL.
Blocks considered for closing, should not be closed until all avenues have been
attempted to revive it. If closing a block is deemed necessary, all residents must be
notified and given at minimum 30 days to move. An additional two spaces per active block
must be opened within the hood so residents may relocate.
A block name should only be changed if it does not thrive and prosper. The purpose of changing
the name is to make it more attractive. Themes of blocks should fit with the Hood Theme.
Themes of "occult" are strictly prohibited.
Block Maintenance and Controls:
Access Rights
The only part of the access rights screen that a Neighborhood Leader 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 Leader needs to maintain or review
a block they can put themselves in access as a BD or BL if none exists.
Security and Security Procedures:
It is of the utmost importance for Neighborhood Leaders 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.
Inappropriate Pictures, Links, or Information Boards
If the inappropriate material is a picture, the Neighborhood or Block Staff should make sure
it remains locked. For any inappropriate material, if the BL is unavailable,
then the ND or NL should leave a polite message to the resident. The message should indicate
the material is inappropriate, and they have 48 hours to change it.
A copy of all correspondence including a screen shot should be kept and sent to the Colony
Deputy or Colony Leader.