All About Us
Mutualfriends.org is a program of Wildflower Resource Network (WRN). WRN is a non-profit organization that was founded in 1997 by Michele O'Mara, a local therapist specializing in work with GLBT folks, and Celia E. Busch who has a long history of advocating for gays and lesbians.
WRN seeks to "support the dignity and spirit of gays, lesbians, bisexuals and transgendered (GLBT) people." Toward this end, we have created a program, mutualfriends.org, that offers GLBT folks the opportunity to enhance their spirit and socialize with dignity.
Other services available through WRN include a national database of gay-friendly mental health professionals and supportive resources for mental health professionals who seek to provide the best care possible to their GLBT clients.
How We Work:
1. Sign-up: Mutualfriends.org offers a newslist to members who have signed up by sending an email to mutualfriends-subscribe@mutualfriends.org. You will not be able to benefit from our service without first signing up.
2. Receive Messages: Once you have signed up, you will begin receiving emails from other members who post. Typically you should expect 3-10 emails from mutualfriends.org members a day. If you opt for the "digest" version, you will receive all of the daily messages in one email rather than having them come to you one at a time. These posts are currently not accessible on the web site - if you don't read them when they come to you, they are no longer available. We hope to add a function to the site, eventually, where we are able to make previous posts accessible on-line for a period of time.
3. Send Messages: If you care to submit a message to other members all you need to do is write an email and address it to: mutualfriends@mutualfriends.org. This email will go out to all of the over 1,000 members. Those who are interested in what you have written will reply to you directly, rather than to the whole list.
POSTING GUIDELINES
If you are considering posting to mutualfriends.org, please be aware of the
posting guidelines. Our guidelines are intended to:
Keep unrelated mail out of our member's mailboxes
Uphold the mission of mutualfriends.org which is to connect GLBT
folks for the purpose of friendship only.
Guidelines: All posts are to be related to social interests, activities,
and requests to organize and gather with others who share your interests with
the intention of developing friendships.
Some examples of appropriate posts would include:
introduction of self and social interests, hobbies or other information
that will inform potential friends of your common interests (please use a
non-dating format) NO VITAL STATS PLEASE (such as height, weight, eye color, etc...)
providing non-commercialized info about social events happening designed to
bring people together that are personalized and include information about how
to meet you at these events (rather than generic plugs for local events)
inquire about organizing a social event with other members and generating
new clubs, social groups, or gatherings
Common mistakes made in posts are:
attempts to sell services/items/tickets
attempts to seek services (such as "looking for a gay friendly doctor" etc...)
conversation starters (posts that pose questions that invite a dialogue)
political issues/causes or advocacy issues (posts requesting political action or awareness)
sexual overtones to messages that infer interest in more than friendship
attempts to gather information unrelated to social activities
requests to find roommates, find homes for pets, etc...
TO POST, SEND YOUR EMAIL TO: MUTUALFRIENDS@MUTUALFRIENDS.ORG. Each of our
over 1,000 members will receive your email and interested members will reply to
your post directly at the email from which you write.
Alternatives: We are asking those who have posts that fall outside of these
guidelines to consider posting on gayindy.org, or simply rewording your post
so that it actually does follow the guidelines.
