Well then it is working as you have intended it to.  I thought you were seeking collaboration tools for problem solving. I am not against your group :)  I am  only speeching from my experience of having groups in Gather. Gather it self works against you in this way. I click on a story in Windmills; the story pops up, but it is not displayed in the Windmills group. This diminishes group solidarity and cohesion. Now I like that you are using the Conversation space as a minny blog. This is a great idea you have here as it may draw members back to the group page.

In an effective group dynamic. Members come to a post, they read, comment and hopefully empathies with the content.  Beyond this the group has limited access to effect change.  So an example would be that on your story many people talked about advocating for there kids. In your Group page here you have a "Featured" section. This is a good place to feature a how to advocate post. Or how to connect with people in the group who have advocated.

Peace

PS the post to comment would not work so I posted here.

To My Fellow Windmill Fighters:

This message is long over due. Many of you will have noticed that for about 3 months almost no new posts were approved. It was not because i didn't still believe in this group, it was the fact that I had gotten way behind on so many things at school where I teach and at home where I was moving. For that gap please accept my humble apologies. It won't happen again.

For those who have sent religious posts, for the most part I have denied these posts in this group for fear of offending Windmill fighters who are not religious but have come to the conclusion that if being religious, having faith helps some in their windmill fighting then I need to allow these posts. These posts will not be limited to just Christian type posts but will include Muslim,Judaism,Hindu, Wicca and others. At the same time when someone posts a post where religion is a Windmill such as the Westboro Baptist church it will be posted.

This is a support group to offer encouragement. It is not a forum to argue, to be controversial, it is not a place to make people angry. Posts like that will not be a part of this group. Before submitting a post here ask yourself. :Will this post help others even encourage others in their windmill fights?  Does my post describe a windmill battle I am having? Does my post tell others that I need their help even as I am discouraged in my windmill fighting? Does my post offer a rest for others from windmill fighting? Have I found a new way to fight windmills that I can share? Am I fighting a windmill that is a new windmill, that others might not know about?

If your answer is yes than send it to "Windmill Fighters United" and it will be posted. If in doubt send it anyway and I will review it and allow it to be posted if it meets the criteria. Keep in mind once again this group is to help one another not to make anyone angry or upset. We are from all walks of life from politically left to politically right. Please keep the posts to fighting windmills. I may not always understand the windmill you fight or even that they are windmills but if they are to you I will always support you in your fight. Fight on my windmill fighting friends fight on.

As you can see your group has no real direction. it is a post all group, this is both a Gather problem and a moderation problem. However I and an other Gather member are open to working with you on this issue. in your Gather inbox you will find my personal email. We will teach you how to use All of Google's free software tools.  We had a program here once before called Gestalt it is still a usable concept. Sometimes windmills can generate a new power supply and lead to renewed energy opening new pathways of collaboration.

Sometimes fighting one windmill can lead to others. Today my day started in such a way it could only get better. I cam to work sick and wasn't feeling so well. How bad could it get? I was about to find out. At breakfast one student went ballistic and threw his tray full of food to the floor. 3  minutes later another student too violent to take to the cafeteria threw part of her breakfast to the classroom. Just as I got that cleaned up another student walked in to the classroom with a knock you over odor. He had dried human feces on his pants, shirt and coat. He said he had eaten beans the night before and had an accident at home this morning. I told him his problem wasn't beans. I told him he was sick. When his grandmother came to take him to the doctor she leaned close to me and whispered "can I borrow $10.00?" and then things started getting better....

Celebrating Windmill Fighters who protect out city streets, county roads and state highways. Celebrating men and women in blue, police officers, sheriffs and state patrolmen and women. The windmills they fight include  the fear of every day injury or worse when they begin their work shift, public distrust and or outright hate, accusations of using too much force, of using not enough force, fear of arresting the wrong person, the seeming lack of progress in their fight against the windmills of crime no matter how many arrests are made, the windmill of of being needed so desperately but never being a valued part of the community and a whole lot more.

To all of the windmill fighters in this group; our deepest respect and our thank you. To the men and women in blue:............. Fight on and fight well.