General Guidelines for Using
OCFSN Google Groups

What are the OCFSN Google Groups for?

The majority of communication through this network is managed through Google Groups. We trust our community and have not had to (in the last couple of years at least) have any formal guidelines. However, we heard from some of you that some clearer guidelines would be helpful. Let’s start with these, please continue to share your feedback with OCFSN staff (aka Shin & Andrew) if something isn’t working.


The goal of the Google Groups is to connect folks working in the food systems to community and to create a container for helping to organize conversations, coalitions, projects, and more!

  • Things we encourage:

    • Use the lists! It’s okay to reach out, you never know what unexpected connection could be made when you put something on the community list.

    • Best practices are to send emails with a clear “call to action” for the recipient. This could include but is not limited to:

      • Register for this event we are hosting

      • Please share xyz with your broader networks

      • Asking for support regarding a specific topic, project, etc.

  • Things to avoid:

    • Avoid replying all if your response is not relevant to the entire list. You can take a conversation offline by replying only to the person who has asked the question.

    • Immediately unsubscribing out of frustration at receiving too many emails. We encourage you to modify your subscription preferences to digest or none which will still allow you to access the group content if you may want to engage in.

Who can join the Google Groups?

  • Anyone can join the Google Groups, you do not need to be part of a formal OCFSN member organization or working group.

How do I join the Google Groups?

You can join any of the Google Groups below by simply sending an email which will automatically ask you to opt-into the Google Group.

  • community+subscribe@ocfsn.org

    • Full OCFSN Community list

    • This list is for anyone interested in general network updates, cross-working group collaborations, events, etc.

  • communications+subscribe@ocfsn.org

    • This list is for folks who manage the communications for their organizations. You’ll get access to directly posting events onto the public Oregon Food System Events calendar as well as a notification to add content for each month’s collaborative newsletter (this is the first newsletter we tried this with).

  • cfs-policy+subscribe@ocfsn.org

    • Community Food Systems at the Legislature Policy Subgroup

    • This list is for folks who are closely following or engaged in food systems policy in the Oregon Legislature.

  • food-hub+subscribe@ocfsn.org

    • Food Hub Working Group list

    • This list is for anyone interested in Food Hubs, the focus is within Oregon but we often have visitors from other States

  • public-policy@ocfsn.org

    • Public Policy Skills and Engagement Opportunities list

    • This list is for anyone interested in thinking more broadly about the how/what would impact “building members' individual and collective capacity to influence public policy” – for the Network as a whole, other working groups, and ad hoc collaborations (new example: “OCFSN and the U.S. Farm Bill”).

  • veggie-rx+subscribe@ocfsn.org

    • VeggieRX Working Group list

    • This list is for folks who are involved in Veggie Rx, Produce Prescription, or other food as medicine related topics. Program Operators, medical practitioners, etc.

  • voting-reps+subscribe@ocfsn.org

    • OCFSN Member Organization Voting Reps

    • This list is for Member Organization Voting Representatives and will be used for communications on any votes needed, annual renewals, etc.

  • farmingforthefuture+subscribe@ocfsn.org

    • Farming for the Future Working Group list

    • This list is for organizations working to support Oregon’s farmers and ranchers and the production side of the food system. Subgroups include: Beginning Farmer & Rancher, Climate Resilience & Stewardship, Farm & Land Viability, and Land Connection Technical Assistance.

I’m getting too many emails! But I still want access for connecting.

Update your subscription preferences from each email to “digest”, “abridged”, or “no email”.

How do I unsubscribe from a Group?

To unsubscribe from any Google Group, you can click on the unsubscribe link at the bottom of any of the emails received from the group. We also encourage you to modify your subscription instead of unsubscribing if the content is still relevant for you.