How to Become a Freecycle Moderator

By eHow Home & Garden Editor

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If you have been a Freecycle member for quite some time, you understand the benefits of being part of the group and the importance of having someone guide you in the beginning stages. For those who are natural leaders, it may make sense at some point to try out for a moderator position. While the post is voluntary, it is a great way to give back to the community and to the group.

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Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Step1

Become a member first. Most Freecycle moderators have been members of the group for quite a while and understand the ins and outs of the group. While this is not a rule, it does give you an advantage if there are other applicants, as you will be able to understand how Yahoo! Groups (Freecycle's base) work, how to deal with the people involved and how to manage minor everyday problems.

Step2

Talk to any present Freecycle moderator you know to see if there is a chance she may be stepping down from her post anytime soon. Having a direct recommendation or knowing in advance that a position will open can give you the advantage of applying early and improve your chance of getting the position.

Step3

Look into a Freecycle group in your area. In order to become a moderator, you need to live in the area you are applying for. This is common sense as well as practical, as you may need to address issues regarding pick-ups or safety that only make sense if you know the area well.

Step4

Look for open invitations to become a Freecycle moderator. When a moderator is about to step down from his post, he would usually post a recruiting letter (there is a standard one all groups use) calling others to apply for the position.

Step5

Respond to an open invitation with some basic details about yourself (your name and the area where you live), your Freecycle ID (so they can verify you are a member), and any information that will show your experience (past posts as a group or forum moderator) and your ability to handle the position.

Tips & Warnings

Before you become a moderator, make sure that you can devote at least an hour a day to deal with emails, answer questions and contact members. While this is not necessarily time consuming, it needs to be addressed daily in order to maintain the group.