BOAF Members-Only Discussion Forum

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1 BOAF Members-Only Discussion Forum Welcome to the BOAF Discussion Forum. This members-only forum is integrated with the BOAF website. The forum is accessible to all State Members and is searchable. ACCESS Access the Discussion Forum from the Resources menu on the BOAF website. You may also bookmark the url: Login using your address and password. If you don t know your password, click the link to reset your password (be sure to use the address where you receive BOAF s and check your spam folder). BOAF Discussion Forum Information Sheet page 1 of 8

2 Additionally, when you are logged in to your member profile on the BOAF website, you may access the Discussion Forum from the Quick Links dropdown. Forum VS Thread A discussion board (known also by various other names such as discussion group, discussion forum, message board, and online forum) is a general term for any online "bulletin board" where you can leave and expect to see responses to messages you have left. Or you can just read the board. The forum is made up of threads that are topical discussion items contained in the forum. BOAF Discussion Forum Information Sheet page 2 of 8

3 Unlike antiquated listservs that are ed to subscribers, new members have access to the forum discussions that have already occurred and can quickly catch up. SUBSCRIBE TO INSTANT UPDATES OR DIGEST You may log in to the Discussion Forum at your convenience to check for new posts and discussion topics. Click on the Forum Actions dropdown menu to subscribe to Instant Updates or to a Digest that will be ed daily. On the Forum Actions dropdown, click on the Subscribe to Instant Updates link to receive an with each new post. To subscribe to the daily Digest or unsubscribe from Instant Updates, click on My Subscription & Settings. This page also contains a Forum Signature box for you to complete. BOAF Discussion Forum Information Sheet page 3 of 8

4 Populate the Forum Signature box with as much or as little contact information that you want included on your posts. After saving the Forum Signature, return to the Discussion Forum by accessing the Quick Links at the top of the customer profile. BOAF Discussion Forum Information Sheet page 4 of 8

5 Below is an example of two thread posts. One member has a completed Forum Signature, the other includes no contact information because it has been left blank. SUBSCRIBE TO THREADS Individuals that do not to opt in to Forum Instant Updates may subscribe to Instant Updates for individual threads. BOAF Discussion Forum Information Sheet page 5 of 8

6 NEW DISCUSSION TOPICS To start a new topical discussion on the forum, click the +New Topic link When starting a new topic, name the thread in the subject line. Make it count be specific enough that new readers will know exactly what this discussion item is about. Unlike the previous listserv, this discussion forum allows you to upload up to ten files of supporting documents. BOAF Discussion Forum Information Sheet page 6 of 8

7 VIEWING AND REPLYING TO POSTS When logged in, users may reply to posts by typing their comments and clicking the Submit Quick Reply button. To reply with the ability to upload files, click the Reply Using Full Editor Link. Subscribers to Instant Updates will receive an shortly after the item is posted that is specific to that post. Clicking the Permalink in the will take the user directly to that post on the BOAF Website. There is also a link in the Instant Update that will take the user to the homepage of the Discussion Forum. Users may unsubscribe through a link included in the . BOAF Discussion Forum Information Sheet page 7 of 8

8 Below is an example of an Instant Update . Below is an example of a Digest . The Digest is deployed daily and includes an overview of the discussion topics and threads. New items are indicated. BOAF Discussion Forum Information Sheet page 8 of 8