[EBB Sightings] Admin Message - Important changes to this List

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On Monday, we will be upgrading listserv software and making some 
important changes to the list's configuration.   These changes are 
important to anyone who posts messages or uses the archives. 


First, the mechanical part:

The upgrade requires that I re-subscribe all of you to the list. 
That doesn't require you to do anything, but it does mean that your 
password for accessing the archives will change.  That new password 
will be contained in an automated email message that you will get 
sometime between now and Monday.  Begin using the new password to 
look at the archives on Monday. 

On Monday, please do NOT send any messages to the list until I send a 
message indicating the upgrade has finished, which will be a short 
message if all goes well that day.


Next, the configuration changes:

1) Sightings posts that don't conform to the listserv's technical 
requirements will be automatically returned back to the person who 
posted it.    The list administrator will no longer be able to review 
messages that are held-up and decide whether or not to distribute 
them.  This change is mainly so that I don't have to weed through the 
150+ spam messages that arrive every week to find the one good 
birding message that is held up.   And just so we all know, here is 
what the listserv configuration requires:

---That you actually post from an email address that is subscribed to 
the list. 
---That the message is not huge, specifically no bigger than 30k.
---That the message does not include attachments or embedded images.
---That the message be overtly "to" the list, rather than "cc" or 
part of your own distribution list. 


2) Theoretically you will be able to send HTML formatted messages. 
The wisdom of doing so is another matter, and you are still limited 
to the 30k byte limit.  But we'll give this feature a test drive to 
see if it creates any complaints. 


3) Soon, the archives can (and will) become public again, just like 
they were two years ago, which means that anybody in the world can 
view them.   No password will be required.   We can do this because 
the archives will mask email addresses better so that spammers cannot 
readily capture them.   However, this change will be implemented 
LATER after I figure out the mechanics.  At that time, you will still 
need your password to view old messages, but no password will be 
required to view new messages.   I will notify you when this change 
happens. 


4) Soon, a second list will be available for discussions about Bay 
Area conservation, habitat, bird behavior, and other important 
birding topics.  I'll update you all when that list is available so 
that you can subscribe if you want to subscribe.  The assumption now 
is that the new list will be essentially un-moderated, which means 
any birding topic is fine.  Opening up that new list will benefit 
this Sightings list by allowing posts to remain on topic, which is to 
report unusual birds found in Alameda and Contra Costa counties. 


Regards,

Patrick
Mount Diablo Audubon Society
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be upgrading listserv software and making some important changes to
the list's configuration.   These changes are important to
anyone who posts messages or uses the archives. 

First, the mechanical part:

The upgrade requires that I re-subscribe all of you to the list. 
That doesn't require you to do anything, but it does mean that your
password for accessing the archives will change.  That new
password will be contained in an automated email message that you will
get sometime between now and Monday.  Begin using the new
password to look at the archives on Monday. 

On Monday, please do NOT send any messages to the list until I send a
message indicating the upgrade has finished, which will be a short
message if all goes well that day.

Next, the configuration changes:

that don't conform to the listserv's technical requirements will be
automatically returned back to the person who posted it.   
The list administrator will no longer be able to review messages that
are held-up and decide whether or not to distribute them.  This
change is mainly so that I don't have to weed through the 150+ spam
messages that arrive every week to find the one good birding message
that is held up.   And just so we all know, here is what the
listserv configuration requires:
post from an email address that is subscribed to the
list. 
is not huge, specifically no bigger than 30k.
does not include attachments or embedded images.
be overtly "to" the list, rather than "cc" or part
of your own distribution list. 
2) Theoretically you will be able to send HTML formatted messages. 
The wisdom of doing so is another matter, and you are still limited to
the 30k byte limit.  But we'll give this feature a test drive to
see if it creates any complaints. 

archives can (and will) become public again, just like they were two
years ago, which means that anybody in the world can view them.  
No password will be required.   We can do this because the
archives will mask email addresses better so that spammers cannot
readily capture them.   However, this change will be
implemented LATER after I figure out the mechanics.  At that
time, you will still need your password to view old messages, but no
password will be required to view new messages.   I will
notify you when this change happens. 
list will be available for discussions about Bay Area conservation,
habitat, bird behavior, and other important birding topics.  I'll
update you all when that list is available so that you can subscribe
if you want to subscribe.  The assumption now is that the new
list will be essentially un-moderated, which means any birding topic
is fine.  Opening up that new list will benefit this Sightings
list by allowing posts to remain on topic, which is to report unusual
birds found in Alameda and Contra Costa counties. 
Regards,

Patrick

Mount Diablo Audubon Society
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