FORUM or MAILING LIST?
The Mailing List feature allows 2 way communication via email, without having to login to the mc² website. All posts are archived on the website, but can only be responded to via email. To avoid confusion with the Forum, here are the differences:
| |
 Forum |
 Mailing list |
| Send Message |
Send Forum Messages via Website |
Send Mailing list Messages via email |
| Receive Message |
Receive Messages via email
[if elected to receive notification
of Forum postings via email]
but can't reply via email
|
Receive Messages via email,
no need to login to Website |
| Reply to Message |
Reply to Forum Messages via Website |
Reply to Mailing list Messages via email |
| Read Message Archive |
All Forum postings can be read
& replied to via the Website
|
All Mailing list postings
can be read on the Website,
[but can only be replied to by email] |
How to START a Mailing List
How to get a Mailing List working for your community
Firstly, by default, the new Mailing List feature isn't visible in the group. To turn it on, or activate it, the group owner/moderator needs to go to Group Settings and select YES to the Mailing List Website Function List, then save changes. When this is done, "Mailing List" apppears as an option on the left-hand side menu for the group, underneath Guestbook.
Note that whilst many members have elected to receive email notification of Forum postings [via My Communities], by default, the only person on the mailing list is the owner [indicated by an 
envelope icon on the members page of each group]. Moderators and Ordinary members have to opt in.
Therefore, before you post to the list, you need to get people to join the list, or subscribe to it. You can advise them to do this via a Forum posting, a message on the Group Info page, or via email. You might put the instructions into the Group Welcome Message (Email sent to New Member). You can edit the text of this email sent to New Members, via Group Settings.
How do people JOIN the Mailing List? (SUBSCRIBE)
- When members Login, or go to My Communities, they have a checkbox option to subscribe to the Mailing List of any group they are a member of, providing this feature has been previously activated by the owner/moderatorfor this group.
|
What is the List Name?
- The List Name is 4-10 characters, and is the same as the Group Webspace Name. It should be listed on the Mailing List section of your group, or mentioned on the top left of the Group Files page.
- If you have problems identifying your list name, contact us.
|
How do you SEND a message on the Mailing List?
- posts go to: listname@mc2.vicnet.net.au
- This means you can use your email program [Outlook, Eudora, Hotmail, Yahoo etc.] to send an email to listname@mc2.vicnet.net.au and it will go to the owner, plus everyone else who has elected to join the Mailing List [via My Communities].
|
How do you RECEIVE a message on the Mailing List?
- All messages sent to the mailing list are distributed via email, to those who've elected to join the list
(see: How do people join the Mailing List?).
- Emails are sent to the address you have registered with mc².
- You can change your email address in My Profile.
|
How do you REPLY to a message on the Mailing List?
- Just hit "reply" in your email program, or send a message to the list: listname@mc2.vicnet.net.au.
- You may need to quote a part of the original message for your reply to make sense - e.g. "I agree" is not as clear as actually stating what it is that you agree to, so your message makes sense out of context.
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How do you read old messges / access an ARCHIVE?
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How do I get off the list? (Unsubscribe)
- When members Login, or go to My Communities, they have a Mailing List checkbox option for any groups they are a member of, that have a mailing list. To unsubscribe, leave the checkbox blank.
- To resubscribe, or join, just click on the checkbox to tick it again.
|
List Management
- To find out who is on a list:
Send a message to listname-request@mc2.vicnet.net.au with a subject
of "who listname". You will receive a list of people subscribed
to the list
.
- All administrative requests should be sent to: listname-request@mc2.vicnet.net.au
- Our list management is Ecartis. Ecartis looks in both subject and message for commands.
- Official web site for Ecartis (formerly Listar) Modular Listserver/Mailing List Manager
Ecartis is a open-source (GNU License) software package that administers mailing lists (similar to Majordomo and Listserv).
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