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Thanks for opening the Official Welcome Squad's (OWS), Official Welcome Handbook! This book contains many insights for both current and s who may be interested in ing our committee. If something isn't covered in this book feel free to ask one of the Shift Leaders!

Hades Del Loud Mouth Snarky

Important Posts

Official Welcome Page

This post holds all relevant information for current deputies and leaders, as well as the templates we use when welcoming .

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CURRENT

This is the current and full list of within the Official Welcome Squad. We take care to be active, and are frugal in making sure we get our job done. Feel free to chat with any of our if you'd like to learn more about our committee!

OWS Host

Meaghan

Leaders

Hades, Phos, Del, Snarky

Morning Shift

6am-12pm CST

Leader - Hades

Deputy - Violet

Del

Cas

Yin Hanna

Day Shift

12pm-6pm CST

Leader - Phos

Deputy - Pepsi

Myla

Neptune

Briar

Afternoon Shift

6pm CST - 12am CST

Leader - Del

Deputy - Kat

Kassia

Meaghan

Wyatt

Sel

Jaskier

Debbie

Night Shift

12am-6am CST

Leader - Snarky

Deputy - Scarlett

SOS

Acid Fairy

Dev

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This book includes five main chapters.

What To Expect

How To Apply

Expected Behavior

System

ability

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As you may already guess, the OWS welcomes new ing Virtual Space. This is a great committee to be a part of, but here are some things you can expect from us.

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1) This isn't a staff role.

As a member of the Welcome Squad, you are expected to report to the s of Virtual Space. Being on our team does not give you any power over other s. despite having ‘Official’ in our title. Our job is to direct new s to staff, and help them navigate VS.

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2) It won't be an easy title.

Every member is part of a shift that lasts for six hours. While you do not have to welcome every day nor welcome the entire six hour shift, you are expected to check in consistently. A successful ‘check in’ means you have welcomed at least 5 new . It's not as hard as it sounds though, we promise! At the end of your shift, you are expected to ‘check out’, stating how many new you have welcomed.

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3) You'll meet a lot of nice people!

Since you are a person welcoming newbies, you will be meeting new people daily as you check in. A majority of the people you welcome will ignore you, but you will make conversation with a good few s who come on here. If you’re a bit socially awkward, and you struggle approaching people without reason: welcoming new s is a great way to cover that!

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4) You will meet negative people.

Not everyone you welcome will be kind and thankful. Again like stated before, most people will just ignore you but every so often you'll get a random insult or people getting confused and not wanting to talk. The best thing to do is realize when you need to back off from talking with a . Our job is to welcome: we can't make ourselves universally liked unfortunately.

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5) Not everyone likes the welcome squad.

This is mainly due to being an official committee: we tend to get a bit of tongue in cheek humor aimed at us, and sometimes it's not the nicest, though it is expected of us to be the bigger person and just laugh it off as long as it's just a joke. If you experience harassment as a member of the committee, bring it up to a shift deputy, shift leader, or a member of the CL team.

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6) You'll see some weird things.

One of the biggest jobs we have, is to report new s who started from the get go causing trouble. Some people have explicit images on their profile like nudity and gore. Some others just say something against the rules in their bio. We have to make sure we catch them, and send them off to the s before too many people see. Think of the OWS functioning like a gatekeeper for Virtual Space!

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7) Everyone's pretty friendly!

Most of the OWS is made up of really nice individuals. Not everyone talks all the time, but those that do are always up to make new friends. There are a lot of important things said in the main chat, as it is a hub for all the shifts, however it’s where we all can connect with one another. Shift chats are generally more serious and straightforward in getting our job done, but that mainly depends on the shift leader.

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Now that our expectations are covered, you may be interested in applying! If you are: keep your eyes peeled for when we host applications. They will always be posted on this , and are likely to be featured so you can see it.

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1) Study up!

You have many resources like the Virtual Space Guidelines and this handbook to go off of. Before applying make sure to read this and look over the new s tab to see how current are interacting with the new s! As an official committee, we act as the first representations of what to expect with Virtual Space so it’s ideal we can talk about our rules here, and are able to answer any question a new will have.

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2) Pick a Time

While it may seem advantageous to apply for the night shift or day shift because there is less competition, it’s not helpful at all if you are constantly going to bed or are busy with school or work! Pick one of our shifts where you are able to dedicate a chunk of your time to welcoming!

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3) Be Active!

One of the most important things we look for are s who are on Virtual Space a good amount of time throughout the week. We are pretty flexible, but being a part of OWS is something you need to make sure you are actually willing to put time into!

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The nature of the Official Welcoming Squad causes us to be the very first faces a new will see when first ing Virtual Space. With that in mind, there are a lot of behaviours we have to uphold as a member of this official committee, since what we do is a lot like other customer service jobs. A friendly reminder that we are not like the CL team and hold no actual power, but that does not mean we shouldn’t show our best face to these new s.

We have a couple of behaviour expectations from you once you’re accepted into the committee, and lack of following these expectations could result in you being spoken to from your respective deputy or shift leader.

Approachability

In being the first faces new s see, we have to be open and welcoming to them! This means being approachable to them in any way: when they have questions, answer them! If you ask the a question, try and respond yourself so you and the new can get acquainted. Talk with the , even if it feels a bit embarrassing at first! But, be sure to not overstep their bounds too. Consider each new member you welcome as a new bird under your wing: when they're interested in talking with you, respond as openly as you can.

Kind

When speaking with new , it is expected that you will go out of your way to make them feel welcomed. This includes being the kindest member possible to the new guys. Our purpose is to include them to Virtual Space, not scare them off! Practice kindness to make them feel cared for, and that you can be a friend to them since hopefully, that is what you'll eventually become!

Patient

Some new s have a lot of questions, or maybe ask a lot of questions you've answered already. It's wise to maintain patience when dealing with this, since they just want to know more about Virtual Space! There's absolutely no need to get snippy with someone, and if you don't have the time to fully respond to a new , let them know so your conversation can continue later. Being patient is the best way to ensure no discussion feels rushed, and that you follow through on giving the new the best welcoming ever.

Understanding

This is a skill that you will have to grow over time: as understanding comes to recognizing the signs of the new s when they do and do not feel like talking with you. It's perfectly normal for a new to be uncomfortable talking to a stranger. Don't force anyone to hold a conversation with you: if the convo flourishes, great! If it doesn't, offer them your help and leave it at that.

Model VS Member

Being an official committee, we have further expectations to uphold when it comes to the guidelines, and staying out of drama. We are the first people that new encounter, and it is in the community’s best interest that those who are a part of the OWS are s who do not get into much trouble, cause little to no drama, and are s that can be looked up to. If you frequently break the guidelines, or cause drama, you may be removed due to this expectation.

Respectful

When talking with new s, you eventually get a good eye for when they’re done trying to talk with you. Don’t try to force a conversation on new , since sometimes they get bored or annoyed by the conversation. That’s okay! We don’t expect everyone to be open for conversation, so respect their boundaries when it comes to it.

This also focuses with your fellow OWS , and other a part of VS. Treat everyone around you, how you wish to be treated!

Helpful

As a main part of welcoming new s, there are times when they ask you questions about Virtual Space, how the app works, what things to do on here. This is where you get your time to shine, and it is crucial that you understand you have to become the almighty guru, answering any and all questions that come your way.

This is where a lot of patience and understanding comes in handy. These new s will probably ask questions you have already answered multiple times, but that’s just because these new s want to understand our community. Everyone starts somewhere, and you are their guide in figuring out VS, even if sometimes they can get ungrateful or rude. Be prepared to answer a lot of the same questions!

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Keep in Mind

Patience -

Don't leave chats for no reason!

Politeness -

Never be rude to a new at any point in time!

Persistence -

Even if you have answered the same question a thousand times, continue to answer questions with the same kindness!

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How to deal with non-official Welcomers

s who aren't a member of the OWS are allowed to welcome as long they do not use our templates, or claim to be a part of the OWS. If this non-OWS welcomer uses one of our member’s templates or claims to be in the OWS, send that immediately to a Curator. They are not allowed to claim to be a part of our official committee or use our content, but they are fully allowed to welcome s of their own volition.

Even if they use your template, do not harass them. If they seem to be trying to get a rise out of you, mention it to a curator and stay cordial.

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How To Deal With Harassment

Again, because we are the welcome squad we have to do our best to appear welcoming! It can be hard sometimes but if you feel like you can't keep your cool in a situation the first thing to do is remove yourself from it before going to a curator or the welcome squad chat to report a harassing you.

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How To Deal With Infighting

As you the OWS, we hope that you are able to feel welcomed, and that you’re able to make friends among your welcome co-workers. That being said, it is plausible that you don’t get along with someone else. We hope to never see it, however, if you do get into a dispute or a fight with another OWS member, please bring it up to a shift deputy or leader. It’s good to to keep the issue inside the OWS and private while your shift deputy and leader try to find a solution for both parties. Avoid making a scene in the main chat, and do not bring the drama to the community. If you are reporting a member harassing someone else, be it within the OWS or in the community, message a shift leader or a moderation member.

If you are having troubles with a shift leader, bring it up to another shift leader so that we can discuss the best course of action. It is unacceptable that one of our shift leaders is causing trouble with one of their , and we will try to handle it as soon as we can. If the issue is not resolved by our intervention, bring it up to a moderation member.

It is important to that we are an official committee. We strive to mitigate as much discourse within our team as much as possible as we are the prime examples of what the community has to offer to new . We do not tolerate harassment, drama, or bullying — failure to adhere to these requests of cooperation in solving or compromising with the situation can result in removal from the OWS.

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The Official Welcoming Squad has three tiers of leadership: deputy, leader, and head. These roles are in place to keep the OWS running smoothly every day, and are held able to the same duties and expectations of regular . While they have more tasks to do, and are responsible for the underneath them: treat them as another member of our committee.

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OWS Head

This is a new position we have within the OWS ranks to cooperate with new official committee structures and rules. The OWS Head functions as a go-between for our official committee, and the CL Team. With this position, there are a lot of expectations and rules they have to ensure everyone follows within the OWS while allowing everyone to continue on with their jobs. have this role only through CL Team appointment.

While the Head helps out the Shift Leaders around the place, it is not this position’s role to take away from the expectations that currently exist of the shift deputies and leaders. Mainly, the OWS Head acts to give monthly check-ins with the CL Team, ensure every month inactive are removed, and that those who create trouble within the community are no longer a part of the OWS. Consider this position as a who keeps everyone in line in according to the official committee standards.

Duties include:

:black_small_square: Welcoming

:black_small_square: Answering difficult questions

:black_small_square: Demanding change when necessary

:black_small_square: Making difficult calls of removing s

:black_small_square: Checking in with shift leaders on performance

:black_small_square: Keeping everything up-to-date (including links)

:black_small_square: Ensuring the OWS adheres to CL Team requests

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Shift Leader

We have four shift leaders corresponding to our four, six hour period, welcoming shifts during the day. These shift leaders earn their position typically after serving time as the deputy of a shift and the leader of that shift has left.

These four leaders function as the oligarchy of the OWS who decide on many things such as: the direction the OWS goes, dealing with issues, keeping everything up to date, and making sure that everything runs smoothly.

Duties include:

:black_small_square: Welcoming

:black_small_square: Answering difficult questions

:black_small_square: Checking who was on shift that day

:black_small_square: Helping decide and come up with ideas for OWS

:black_small_square: Being one of the leaders of the OWS as a whole

:black_small_square: Managing conflict between two of the shift

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Shift Deputy

Every shift additionally has a deputy who is typically chosen by the leader of that shift. Consider the deputy as a vice president of your shift. They hold the same duties as shift leaders, however are mainly present within this role when the shift leader is absent on a given day. They function as you rely on with general questions about the OWS, smaller issues within the committee, or if they need help answering a question from a .

Duties include:

:black_small_square: Welcoming

:black_small_square: Answering smaller questions

:black_small_square: Helping shift leaders on projects for OWS

:black_small_square: Making sure the duties of the shift leader get done in the event the shift leader is absent.

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Who Should You Ask?

Assuming both the shift deputy and leader are online, here are some sample questions you could ask them.

Questions/Problems For Shift Leader:

:black_small_square: Getting your welcome message/post approved

:black_small_square: An issue with another member of welcome squad

:black_small_square: Hiatus’ or about missing a day

:black_small_square: Explaining significant time missed (a week +)

:black_small_square: ‘This member’ of OWS is breaking OWS rules

:black_small_square: ‘This ’ is breaking OWS rules

:black_small_square: Switching Shifts (need to ask other shifts leader as well)

:black_small_square: Should I go to a Curator with this?

Questions/Problems For Deputies:

:black_small_square: What should I say to this

:black_small_square: Help with something a asks that you don't know

:black_small_square: Should I go to a Curator with this?

Questions/Problems For Curators: (OWS Specific)

:black_small_square: ‘This ’ is violating VS guidelines

:black_small_square: ‘This member’ of OWS is breaking VS guidelines

Outlying Questions/Issues:

ing Shift Leader of a Different Shift:

:black_small_square: When Switching Shifts

:black_small_square: If a shift leader is harassing you or breaking rules

:black_small_square: If neither your deputy or Shift Leader are on/active

Ask in main chat:

:black_small_square: Questions into the main OWS chat should be light questions that you just need clarification on.

:black_small_square: I think this profile breaks the rules can a curator help

:black_small_square: Does anyone have a link to 'xyz' a needs it

:black_small_square: Does the 'xyz' shift need help? No one is being welcomed!

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How to report a problem

While knowing where to go when reporting a problem is all fine and dandy, knowing how to do it is also beneficial!

Always be sure to report an issue with a calm and collected head. This ensures that you are able to deliver all the facts possible, with a well-thought out message. When you’re sending the report, whether it’s to a shift deputy or leader, the OWS head, or a moderation member, that you do not insult the person or people involved.

It is wise to understand that when you report something, we and the moderation team take measures to approach both sides of the situation to get a clearer picture of what occurred. You have to be alright with giving your part of the story, and allow the other party to give theirs. Being level-headed in this situation, and not lashing out during an investigation, allows the best outcome to occur. Causing a scene in any way only leads to excess stress, and some frayed bonds as well — putting OWS in a worse light.

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The Complaint Box

This should be used for NON time sensitive issues only.

We understand that everyone on our team means well, however, sometimes feel more comfortable submitting their issues anonymously rather than approaching a deputy or a leader. That’s totally okay! Feel free to follow the same guide for reporting, but you submit it to the complaint box we created instead of messaging any given . You can find it in the description of the main chat!

Please note that if it is a serious issue, we may approach you in private to solve the situation.

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Despite being an official committee holding a big claim in welcoming s, this is a reminder that the Official Welcome Squad still has to remain able for our actions. We are humans that can make mistakes. Our duty is to help new s feel welcomed into our home of Virtual Space, but the best way to learn how we can best help VS is recognizing where we went wrong, and trying to improve based off of the situation.

With the following offenses, there are three different stages in how it gets handled. You will get warned first, and if it persists, warned a second time. After that, you will receive a suspension, and afterwards: if the issue continues, you will be removed from the OWS. As a member, please keep this in mind when you decide to skirt on your OWS duties, as there are consequences. These are the most commonly dealt with issues within the OWS.

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1) Check ins

As stated above in "What To Expect", check ins are something you have to do so we can keep track of everything. The minimum accepted number of welcomes is anywhere from 5 to 10, and anything lower does not count as a proper check in. Consistent failure to check in by that definition will mark you as "inactive" if it persists for a week.

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2) Lack of Activity

If you are inactive for a week, a shift deputy or leader (most likely your shift leader) will message you to make sure everything is alright. If you need a break, hiatus’ are acceptable, but before you can take one, you have to warn your shift deputy or leader.

If you do not respond to your shift deputy or leader, or are not active enough, you will be warned. After that, you will be temporarily suspended or removed from the team.

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3) Continued Failure to uphold Expected Behavior

that show too much immaturity, paint the OWS in a bad light, or neglect adhering to our expected behaviour rules will receive the aforementioned consequences. This is because we are the introduction to Virtual Space for many new s, and it is our job to set up a good example.

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4) Continuously Creating Issues with Other

s who are found to be disrespectful, disruptive, or generally rude will not be tolerated. Harassment is never ok. If you don't like a , do your best not to be in situations with them. If problems persist, the appropriate consequences will be dealt out when handling the situation. You risk being ed by the CL Team and removal from the OWS if you are causing drama with other of Virtual Space.

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I know this is a lot to take in, so if you read it all, thank you very much for getting to the end!

Thanks to everyone who previously worked on this handbook, and the current who assisted in editing this to current standards. To any prospective , recently ed or even looking to freshen up their info, good luck!

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