For your newsgroups file:
alt.support.anxiety-panic.moderated	Mutual assistance and help.. (Moderated)

Group submission address:	asapm@stump.algebra.com
Moderator contact address:	asapm-board@stump.algebra.com

Newsgroup alt.support.anxiety-panic.moderated has been successfully discussed 
in alt.config. We expect it to have large amount of traffic
soon. Please create this moderated newsgroup.

CHARTER:

alt.support.anxiety-panic.moderated (ASAPM) is a moderated newsgroup
for the discussion of all subjects concerning anxiety and panic
disorders, including related disorders such as depression and
self-injury.  It is intended for the support of sufferers of these
disorders and their families and friends.

Almost anything is on topic if it pertains to dealing with anxiety
and related disorders, medication, therapy, coping techniques, etc.,
including proven alternative approaches and leading edge research.

Off topic posts are a valuable contributor to community building and 
posts of this type are welcome. Humorous posts are doubly welcome.
To assist those who may not wish to read them, such posts should be
clearly marked with "OT" at the beginning of the Subject line.

The following types of posts are not allowed.

a.  All attacks, abuse, flames and provocation against any person or 
    group.  This would include posts severely critical of mainstream
    treatments such as medication and therapy. Flaming is defined as
    abuse, insults, harassment, suggestive slurs, and ad hominem
    attacks. Provocation is defined as content primarily intended to
    incite aggravation, indignation, or outrage. Comments pertaining
    to discussions in other newsgroups, web groups or email lists, or
    of members of these groups may also be seen as provocation.
b.  Posts skeptical of the general validity of anxiety disorders and
    proven treatments. Posts whose purpose or desired effect is to
    frighten people from continuing their prescribed treatment.
    Common sense advice based on proven or substantial anecdotal
    evidence as provided on general anxiety forums that is given with
    the purpose of supporting posters is permissible.
c.  Excessive discussion of moderation policy or performance.
    Reasonable discussion of moderation policy and performance will
    be allowed, so long as the discussion does not disrupt the normal
    operation of the group and all messages comply with the other
    posting rules. Any decision regarding changes to the charter or
    moderation guidelines will always be subject to a vote of the
    moderators. It is preferred that questions, comments or complaints
    regarding moderation policies or performance be mailed directly to
    asapm-board@stump.algebra.com. Questions, comments and complaints
    will be dealt with as promptly as schedules permit, usually within
    a few days.
d.  Abuse of moderators, either in posts submitted to this newsgroup,
    or in email, is strictly prohibited. See above for the current
    overview of what is considered abuse.

Since it is not possible for the moderators to assess compliance with 
copyright law of every post, liability for posting of copyrighted 
material lies with the poster.

The moderators reserve the right to cancel posts that are
auto-approved if at least two moderators agree that the post violated
the posting criteria. Posts which appear on the newsgroup that have
not been approved by the moderators will also be cancelled.

Other posting rules and criteria, as set out in the document entitled
"Moderators Guidelines for ASAPM" also apply. Interpretation of the 
posting rules, criteria and Moderator Guidelines are subject to the
judgment of the moderators.

The moderators have the right to modify rules stated in the 
"Moderators Guidelines for ASAPM", by a vote of the moderators where
two thirds of the moderators vote yes. The current moderation
guidelines and posting rules will always be available in this
document. This charter, and the "Moderators Guidelines for ASAPM" will
be posted to ASAPM every two weeks.  They can also be requested from
the moderators by emailing asapm-board@stump.algebra.com.

All new moderators will be subject to a period of probation of at
least four weeks, but not more than eight weeks. A probationary
moderator will be allowed to manually approve or reject a post and
vote on auto-approve and auto-reject status, but may not participate
in any other vote. If a probationary moderator is uncertain as to the
application of any posting rule, they are expected to consult with a
non-probationary moderator.

A new probationary moderator will be elected by a majority vote of
the existing non-probationary moderators. A probationary moderator
can be removed by a majority vote of the non-probationary moderators 
at any time. A probationary moderator will no longer be probationary,
and will become a moderator with full rights, by a unanimous vote of
non-probationary moderators. If unanimous consent of the 
non-probationary moderators cannot be obtained within a period of
eight weeks, then the probationary moderator will be removed.

An existing moderator may be removed by a unanimous vote of the other
moderators.

For the purposes of a vote, the words "majority", "unanimous", and 
"two thirds" are defined in relation to the number of moderators who
are present.  All votes must be taken via email.  A moderator is
"present" if they are available to respond via email.  If a moderator
will not be available via email for a period of time they should 
notify the remaining moderators when they leave and when they return.
A moderator will be considered not present from the time they leave to
the time they return.  If a vote is called, and a moderator does not 
respond for a period of 72 hours, they will be considered not present
for the vote.

Comments:
Moderation Relay Approved by moderators-request@isc.org  February 25, 2003

Justification:
A search of Google Groups (<http://groups.google.com>) over a ninety
day period from 01/01/2003 to 03/31/2003 for posts from posters
who have publicly indicated they will post at ASAPM produced 2,420
results for an average of approximatly 27 posts per day.

Proponents/Moderators:
Daniel R. Rhodes <asapm@drrhodes.org>
Vashti Thompson <vashti@chello.nl>
David Chamberlain <david.chamberlain@attglobal.net>
Anna S. <grexus@planet.nl>


