BAHS EMAIL

The following three guidelines are put into place to respect the members of our group.  We want to ensure emails sent within our email list are on topic and relevant to BAHS and our group's mission ("to strengthen home educating families by fostering relationships, providing activities, and inspiring learning").  As email is our group's main form of communication, it is also essential that families can trust our email list.  If families choose not to participate in Google Groups (our email list), it affects their ability to receive and access essential info such as our newsletter, announcements, and other updates & deadlines.

1. Homeschool related posts only.

Posts requesting medical recommendations are also allowed as this impacts many of our homeschool families. Please refrain from non-homeschool topics related to selling items, contractor referrals, political topics, parties, and non-homeschool events.

Examples of emails that are considered Homeschool Related include:

• emails directly related to any events in our newsletter

• emails that ask questions or seek information pertaining to curriculum, tutors, medical info/doctor recommendations

• emails that share about other homeschool events happening in the community (i.e. field trip opportunities, co-op open houses, class opportunities, library events, etc...)

Examples of emails that are considered NOT Homeschool Related and should be avoided include:

• emails related to political events, candidates, policy, etc...  

If there is a situation where an exception should be made (e.g. info about homeschool bills or legislation), please send the info directly to the leadership team (barringtonareahomeschoolers@gmail.com).  The leadership team will then decide whether or not the information is pertinent to the group and share accordingly.

• emails seeking to sell or buy items that are not homeschool curriculum.  (This includes pets, furniture, cars, and other goods & services...)

• emails looking for referrals & recommendations for mechanics, contractors, and other service personnel. (An exception would be tutors, art teachers, music teachers, drivers ed classes etc...)

• emails advertising non-homeschooling events & parties

2. Reply to the original post author … not the entire group.

If you are using email to reply, use “reply” instead of “reply to all” to message the post author. If you are logged into Google Groups select “reply privately to author”.

In most situations it is best to reply only to the sender as this limits the number of emails our families receive each day.  Where an email is collecting information that can be pertinent to the whole group (e.g. curriculum recommendations), we suggest the author asks respondents to reply directly to them.  Once all the recommendations have been received, the author can send a follow up email with the complete list of recommendations.  This way the whole group can benefit from the information shared, without an excessive number of emails being sent to the group.

3. This is a private group.

It is not permissible at any time to forward information from this group to any outside group unless you have contacted and received permission from the person who posted the information. 

BAHS FACEBOOK

Beginning with the 2023-2024 School Year, the BAHS Facebook Group can be used as a "classifieds" platform.  This means members can now share information and ask questions which are relevant to the group but not as clearly related to homeschooling. This includes asking for recommendations & referrals, and the selling of household items that are not necessarily homeschool related.  Think of this much like a neighborhood group.  

Guidelines for the Facebook group are as follows:

• Posts should be limited to information that is deemed relevant and beneficial to the group.

• Members are to be respectful and tasteful in all posts -- respecting both other members and our Membership Agreement.  

• Posts related to political events, candidates, and policy are prohibited.  

Although sharing some political posts can feel relevant & beneficial to our group, please understand that the diverseness of our group and the very real temptation to debate political policy makes this an area we should refrain from within our group at this time.  This guideline is put in place to protect our group and our relationships we have with one another.  If political posts are shared, or a topic is deemed to be of a political nature (e.g. related to covid policy), the Leadership will remove the post.

• The BAHS Facebook group should not be used as a place to solely express opinions and/or rant.

Using Google Groups

Once your membership form and dues are received, you will receive an email saying that you've been added to the Google Group email list, called bahsmember.

(Option 1) Email based community group

To contact the group, send an email to BAHSmember@googlegroups.com. You can also reply to posts you received in your inbox to communicate with the original author.

(Option 2) Online community

You can post and reply on the web-based Google Groups community as well as view older posts. To use the online community go to https://groups.google.com/forum/?hl=en#!forum/bahsmember. You will need to login to Google using the email address associated with your BAHS membership.

Did you know?

You can modify how often you receive BAHS emails.  Subscription settings can be updated from "each email" to "abridged" or "digest" by going to "My Membership Settings" at groups.google.com.  

Facebook Marketplace

For selling homeschool related items only.

We allow sellers to post curriculum and educational resources for sale. No digital products (which includes printed copies of digital files). Please no toys, household items, clothing, etc.

Open to all northwestern Illinois homeschool families.

If you’d like to join this group you may click the JOIN button at https://www.facebook.com/groups/BAHSmarketplace