The DPTJC (DuPage Peace Through Justice Coalition) Mail List

How can I join the DuPage Peace Through Justice Coalition mail list?

Just send an e-mail message to PeaceDuPage-request@instructionalservices.com with a "Subject:" line that contains the single word: subscribe.  The contents of the body of the message are ignored.  This message will be processed on the server and your e-mail address (taken from the "From:" line of the message) will be added to the Coalition mail list.  When you receive a confirmation, you may begin to use the list by sending messages to PeaceDuPage@instructionalservices.com.  Yes, that is a long e-mail address to use, but you may add it to your address book like any other address.  With many browsers, you can click here to subscribe to the Coalition mail list.

In the event of an address change, it is wisest to first send an unsubscribe for the old address (this can be done from the new address), and then a new subscribe for the new address (the order is important).

How do I send an e-mail message to everyone on the Coalition mail list?

Address your message to: PeaceDuPage@instructionalservices.com.  Add that entry to your address book.

I seem to have stopped receiving messages from the list; what's up?

Some people have been dropped from the listserv for various reasons. The list's administrator is working on the problems, but in the meantime, he advises: "Be alert. Be proactive. Our listserv does have a reasonably constant traffic so if you don't see activity for a few days, resubscribe." He sees all the bounced messages and periodically gathers the addresses that were unscubscribed and asks if they want to resubscribe, but if you don't want to miss messages, don't wait. Resubscribe if you have been unsubscribed in error. The list does not allow multiple subscriptions to a single address, so you don't have to worry about getting duplicate messages.

How can I remove my Name from the Coalition mail list?

When you want to remove your name from the mail list (because your e-mail address has changed or you no longer wish to receive Coalition mailings), send an e-mail message to PeaceDuPage-request@instructionalservices.com with a "Subject:" line that contains the single word: unsubscribe. Because your e-mail address is taken from the message, you must send the unsubscribe message from the same system from which you sent the subscribe message.  Note the -request in the address containing the unsubscribe request.  It insures that your message goes to the server program rather than to the entire list.  If you omit it, your name will not be removed and you will have sent a message to the entire mail list identifying yourself as a careless person.  With many browsers, you can click here to unsubscribe from the Coalition mail list.

What restrictions are there on the use of the Coalition mail list?

Users agree not to upload, post, email, or otherwise transmit through the PeaceDuPage list server:
  1. any unlawful, harassing, libelous, privacy invading, abusive, threatening, harmful, vulgar, obscene, indecent, tortuous, or otherwise objectionable material of any kind;
  2. any material that violates any applicable local, state, national, or international law or regulation; or
  3. unsolicited or unauthorized advertisements, promotional materials, "junk mail," "spam," "chain letters," or other forms of solicitation.
Users acknowledge and agree that the list owner may ban User from future use of the list server if User does not comply with these standards of conduct.

Finally

Most (un)subscription requests are processed automatically without human intervention.

Do not send multiple (un)subscription or info requests in one message.  Only one will be processed per message.

NOTE: The -request server usually does quite a good job in discriminating between (un)subscribe requests and messages intended for the maintainer.  If you'd like to make sure a human reads your message, make it look like a reply (i.e. the first word in the Subject: field should be "Re:", without the quotes of course); the -request server does not react to replies.


Still have questions?

What is a mail list?

A mail list is a list of e-mail addresses of people that are interested in the same subject, are members of the same work group, or who are taking a class together. When a member of the list sends a note to the group's special address, the e-mail is broadcast to all of the members of the list. The key advantage of a mail list over things such as web-based discussion is that as new messages become available they are immediately delivered to the participants' mailboxes. The Mail List is a service that will make it easy for you to communicate with other members of the Coalition.

Mail list terms

Before we look further there are some key terms that it will help to understand.

A mail list is a collection of e-mail addresses that will be receiving mail on a particular topic. Every mail list has a list name and a list address. For example: the mail list for the DuPage Peace Through Justice Coalition is named PeaceDupage and has the address: PeaceDuPage@instructionalservices.com. For historic reasons, mail lists are sometimes referred to as “listserves”.

The mail list is controlled by a Mail List Manager (MLM). The mail list manager is a program on a server that makes it easy to create and remove lists, to add or remove users from lists, and to do things such as make message digests or maintain message archives. As a list subscriber you will only be using the mail list manager to add and remove your name from the Coalition mail list. Examples of other list managers that you may hear about are Majordomo or LISTSERV.

Joining or being added to a list is called subscribing. When you leave a list it is called unsubscribing.

Why Should I Use A Mail List Manager?

The advantages of using an MLM become apparent when you consider the alternative.

Imagine that the mail list contains 100 e-mail addresses (many mail lists contain thousands of entries).  If one of the members of the list makes a change (e.g. if she changes her ISP or decides to process her email at home instead of at school or at work), and if all of the list members have private copies of the list in their own address books, then each of the 100 copies of the mail list must be updated.  On the other hand, if the mail list is kept on a server, there is only one copy that must be updated.  And this update is handled automatically by a program or (in rare cases) by a human administrator (Oliver).  Changes in mail lists are very common (large lists have 10's of changes each day).

Normally if I receive a message sent to 100 people it will contain the names and e-mail addresses of all those persons (in a To: list or a Cc: list.  Usually two addresses are displayed on a single line so that the message will contain 50 lines of data that are not the contents of the message.  Replies to and forwards of the message normally include all 100 addresses.  Messages that I receive from the Coalition MLM have a "To:" line of "Peace DuPage MailingList <PeaceDuPage@instructionalservices.com>" which is informative but not obtrusive. If I do a Reply to it, it will be addressed to the sender.  A Reply-All will be addressed to the mail list as well as the sender.

General info

Subcription/unsubscription/info requests should always be sent to the -request address of a mailinglist.  If a mailinglist for example is called "thelist@some.domain", then the -request address can be inferred from this to be: "thelist-request@some.domain".