Online Forum FAQ

Want to know how to use MCF's online forums? You've come to the right place. Try out the instructions below. If you have further questions, contact the webmaster or call 612.338.1989.

Navigate to an Online Forum

Onlineforumnavigate Each MCF network has a corresponding online forum where network members can post questions and share resources.

You must be part of a network before you can view or participate in the network's online forum. To join a network, visit the network page.

How to navigate to a network forum:

Login to the website by selecting "My Login" at the top of the screen; enter your user id and password
Select "Dashboard" at the top of the screen
Select the desired network from the "My Groups" list at center
From the network page, select the latest topic thread from the "Online Forum" list at right, or select "More" to view all topics

Reply to a Forum Topic

How to reply to a topic via the website:

Select the desired topic thread by clicking on it
Type your response in the "Reply to topic" box
If you want to format your reply, click on "Formatting Help" for instructions. To work properly, all links must start with http://
Select "Save Reply"

Once submitted, your reply will show up in the online forum and be sent to users via e-mail, provided they have selected one of the options in their e-mail preferences.

If you have subscribed to receive "All-Activity" from an online forum, you can also use e-mail to reply to individual topic threads.

You can return and edit your online forum reply, using "edit post," but information sent via e-mail cannot be changed once sent.

Example:

Replytotopic

Start a New Topic

How to start a new topic:

Go to the network page
Go to the network's online forum by selecting "More" from the "Online Forum" list at right
Once in the forum, select "New Topic"
Enter a descriptive "Title" (be more specific than "I've got a question for the group")
Enter your question or conversation in the "Body" area
If you want to format your post, click on "Formatting Help" for instructions. To work properly, all links must start with http://
When you're ready to submit your topic, select the "Post Topic" button

Your topic is now displayed on the online forum and will be sent to users via e-mail, provided they have selected one of the options in their e-mail preferences.

You can return and edit your online forum post, but information sent via e-mail cannot be changed once sent.

Share a Link

To share a link and have it work properly, it must start with http://

If you want to create a textual link, use this format:
"This text will display as a link.":http://www.mcf.org

After publishing, the link will look like the blue text below; it will link to the MCF home page.
This text will display as a link.

Format a Post

For instructions on how to format posts, including how to bold, italicize and create bulleted or numbered lists, click on "Formatting Help" for instructions. Or see all editing options on Wikipedia.

Edit or Delete a Post

You may only edit a reply or topic that you posted. To edit a post:

Navigate to the thread on the online forum
Select "Edit post." (Editing a previous post will not change information that has been sent via e-mail to other network members.)

Only MCF forum moderators have permission to delete a topic thread from an online forum. If you want to delete something you created or have MCF edit or delete a post you believe is inappropriate, please e-mail the webmaster or call 612.338.1989.