While I agree that Randy has made it as clear as ozone that the TB does not have purview over moderation or moderation policies, I am disappointed that there is not better communication and a more formalized relationship between the TB and the moderators. Perhaps this is because so many of the current TB members ARE moderators.

To my mind, there ought to be FAR better communication and a more formal relationship in place. I think the TB ought not wait around to be asked to attend the moderator-only do's. I think they ought to ask to be invited and participate. After all, how can the TB know what is working and not working in terms of their responsibilities if they are not interacting with the folks who are making daily judgment calls in the various forums.

I think the S.P.A.M. dust-up this year is a perfect example of what happens when this issue is left to fester. A forum, ANY forum can become NOT what the TB intended, but whatever a moderator will allow. That being the case, the TB could create a forum meant to talk about travel with furniture but if the appointed moderator allows free talk about travel with ottomans but strictly enforces the TOS with regard to travel with sofas, well, you've got the will of the TB subverted by the mod. A more common occurrence, though, is that a lenient moderator allows a forum to go and stay off topic and become something it is not meant (by the TB) to be. This was the case with S.P.A.M. It was created to talk about alternate points and mile currencies. But lax moderation allowed it to become about free samples of laundry detergent without the TB ever actually taking this decision.

So while there is no direct purview, clearly the duties of TB and the duties of moderators are RELATED.

I believe that to perform their duties with due diligence, TB members should be granted access to the moderator forums and discussions and should ask to be invited to the moderator-only Dos where moderator guidelines, best practices and training are developed. This way TB members can track for themselves the implementation of the decisions that they are making by the moderators and adjust forums and forum definitions as necessary.

And to close the loop, TB members should be reporting back to the average poster about this process.

If I am elected to the TB, I guaranfreakingtee you that I'd endeavor to do this.