haha, ok since this topic is determined to go off topic (anyone still wanna say bye speak up now
) i'll put my small oppinion in.
The first time i was a mod on a forum was when i was 11, it was a free hosting board (of course lol) and that kinda shaped the whole way i did things from that point. Ive been "working" on there for about 3 years now and really does show you how different some people can be. The people (exisiting staff) helped me a lot and told me when i was doing something wrong.
Key point one: Tell people when they are wrong. If someone moderates something craply, tell them.
OK, achually, im finding this hard to type out correctly. Ill get to the point.
IMO experience is key if its going to be a big board and ust starting out. Hence i agree with you on only picking experienced people. However, leave a margin there, sometimes accept new people and dont be afraid not to accept someone as a mod just becauise of there age or experience. If they are contricuting well, go with it. Of course manage age with maturity (sp?) but you get what i mean. (e.g. im 14 and am admin on 2 boards [including the previously mentioned one] and have been mod on countless boards (ok, maybe not countless, but after 2 cheesecakes its hard to think).
Play people to their strengths as well, Global mods (more experienced), coding teams etc etc.
I'm gonna end this now cuz im finding my point hard to put accross in text, i think it all boils down to attitude.