This article explains how the Discussion Board works.

Please read the the rules for posting messages on the board.

The Discussion Board allows you to share information and experiences with other governors.  You do not need to be logged in to read the items on the discussion board, but you do need to log in if you wish to contribute to a discussion or start a new topic.

The list of discussions default to date order, with the most recently posted or replied-to discussion at the top.  You can use the search facility near the top of the page to search 'This section' to find subjects of interest within the Discussion Board, alternatively, you can sort the articles by author, date, (number of) replies or topic by clicking on the drop-down arrow, selecting the appropriate category and clicking on Go.

The topics will include some subjects that are no longer live but have been archived for reference � a lock icon appears next to these � you will be able to read these, but not add a reply.  You would need to start a new Topic if you wished to �continue� the locked discussion, alternatively, email the GovernorNet team, who may reactivate it for you. Topics that receive no replies after 3 months will be removed.

To view a message and its replies, click on a discussion�s title under the Topics column.  NF: On the new screen that appears, if you select an author�s name, you will be shown a list of all of their contributions (this new facility also enables you to check for your own contributions) and the ability to view the discussions that they created or were involved in.  

To contribute to a live discussion, you will need to log in by using the email address and password that you have registered with. To register (free) with GovernorNet, either click on the blue �Register� word, or the Register Here button at the top of the screen.  You will need to complete the form and then enter your email address and password in the login boxes.  Once you have logged in, you should see a message: Welcome back XXX and the option to logout.

Once logged in, the Register Here button changes its name to User Profile.  If you select this, you are given the following options:

• Display email address with posts: Yes/No
  
• Receive a notification if your Topic is replied to: Yes/No
  
• (Subscribe to the) Mailing list: Yes/No. 

All of these options default to �No� unless you alter them and �Save all changes�.  They will then retain the changed settings when you login in the future, until you amend them further.

If you select �Yes� for Display email address with posts, when you start or reply to a topic, your email address will appear below your name under the Author column, allowing other users to email you directly. Beware: if you select this option, you do so at your own risk - since your email can then be seen by anybody that visits the site, other agencies may pick up the email address from the live site by using automated robots/spiders and you may be susceptible to receiving Spam.  Our developers are currently looking into a way of resolving this issue. 

If you select Receive a notification if your Topic is replied to, you will receive an email at your registered email address, notifying you when somebody replies.

If you select Mailing list, you will receive Update Emails about new additions to GovernorNet.

Once logged in, you are given the option to Create a new topic � click on the blue text and complete the form.
 
If you wish to reply to someone else�s topic, you open their discussion and are given the option (in blue text) to Reply: Add a Reply to the post.  Complete the form and submit.

As long as you are logged in, you have a facility to Edit any text that you have entered, throughout the discussion board.  This appears under your name in the Author column.

If you experience any problems with the Discussion Board, please email the GovernorNet team.