Flyball E-mail List

Since its inception in 1995, the Flyball E-mail list has been managed by a Mail List Manager (MLM) called Listproc. It has worked quite well but there has not been a freely available update to listproc since that time. It is lacking many features that will continue to help the list run smoothly as we surpass the 1000 member threshold this year.

Not only is the list getting a new software manager it is also getting a new home (flyball@flyballdogs.com).

I am happy to announce that the Flyball e-mail list will managed by an open source MLM called Ecartis. Ecartis has an active user base and development community and I am sure that it will continue to serve the Flyball community for many years. Here is a quick snapshot of the features that Ecartis will add to the pleasurable experience of participating in the online Flyball community.

• Automatic detection of MIME messages and attachments. Before rejecting such messages, it attempts to strip attachments and convert the message to plain text. This should make those users with AOL 6.0 very happy.
• Per user moderation - this allows me finer control over people in "probation" mode. Furthermore, all subscribers will be initially placed in moderated mode which will go a long way to stopping problems by people subscribing under a temporary account for the sole purpose of posting an inflammatory e-mail.
• Web interface for managing subscriptions. The LSG/2 web interface allows people to manage subscriptions in a manner much easier than the e-mail interface (which is still available). LSG/2 is available at http://www.flyballdogs.com/cgi-bin/lsg2.cgi.
• Spoof detection: Ecartis uses a mechanism of e-mailing a confirmation message to your e-mail account that all you need to do is reply to in order to confirm your request. This will spoil those silly people who used the old non-secure web interface to subscribe other people to the list.

Some common Ecartis commands

All the following commands are processed by sending an e-mail to ecartis@flyballdogs.com. Leave the Subject blank or put in something like (none). If ecartis finds a valid command in the Subject, it will process it and ignore the body.

Unlike listproc, ecartis allows you to place a single command in the Subject!!!!

TO SUBSCRIBE:

In the subject field, enter "subscribe flyball". Or, you can send a message to flyball-request@flyballdogs.com with a subject of subscribe.

Note: The flyball list should be configured such that a confirmation e-mail is sent to the address being subscribed. You will have to reply to this message in order to complete your subscription.

POSTING:

After subscribing, send an e-mail to flyball@flyballdogs.com

TO UNSUBSCRIBE FROM A LIST:

Enter "unsubscribe flyball" in the subject field. You can also send a message to flyball-request with a subject of unsubscribe. While you should NOT send your unsubscribe command to the list itself, Ecartis will attempt to trap such erroneous postings and forward them to the list administrators for proper handling.

TO GET A DIGEST EVERY DAY:

Send a message to the ecartis account on the server with a subject of set flyball digest. This will turn on digests, and you will receive a digest however often the server is configured to send them.

Note: digests are sent out once per day (around midnight)

TO STOP GETTING A DIGEST:

Send a message to the ecartis account on the server with a subject of unset flyball digest. This will turn off digest mode, and instead you will receive an eMail every time something is posted to the list.

TO GET A DIGEST AND NORMAL POSTS:

Send a message to the ecartis account on the server with a subject of set flyball digest2. This will activate digest mode with normal posting. As each message is posted to the list it will be sent to you, and you will receive a digest as well. This flag should be used instead of digest, not in addition to. To stop receiving digests in addition to normal posts, send a message to the ecartis account with a subject of "unset flyball digest2". You will go back to receiving normal posts.

TO GO ON VACATION:

Send a message to the ecartis account on the server with a subject of set flyball vacation. You will remain subscribed to the list but will not receive any eMail as long as this flag is set. To come back from vacation, eMail the ecartis account with a subject of unset flyball vacation.

TO CHECK ON YOUR OWN STATUS:

Send a message to the ecartis account on the server with a subject of stats flyball. You will get a list of all the flags currently set on your account.

TO GET A LIST OF FLAGS AVAILABLE:

Send a message to the ecartis account on the server with a subject of flags. An eMail will be sent to you with the available flags that you can set on your account.

TO GET A LIST OF COMMANDS AVAILABLE:

Send a message to the ecartis account on the server with a subject of commands. An eMail will be sent to you with all the commands that the server and any installed modules offer.

The Flyball e-mail list has been serving Flyball enthusiasts from all over the globe since 1995. We have over 800 subscribers with more people joining every week.

Charter

1. The flyball e-mail list is run by Kathryn Hogg and managed by Ecartis. You must be subscribed in order to sent messages to the list. The list address is flyball@flyballdogs.com and you must subscribe with Ecartis before you can send messages to the list.
2. This list exists to discuss Flyball and related topics.
3. A e-mail must be correctly formatted as plain text.
4. The list can be very busy (40+ messages per day). If that's too much for you, consider digest mode or don't subscribe.
5. Occassionaly messages sent to the list may be flagged for moderation. Moderated messages need to reviewed before they will be forwarded to the list. The content of the message will not modified except to remove excessive quoting. In rare cases, headers (including the Subject) may be corrected.

Message Topics

1. Flyball training and problem solving
2. Equipment, including requests for sources
3. Flyball governing bodies including NAFA and BFA
4. Tournament announcements and results
5. Rules
6. Merchandise Ads by Individuals (if kept to a reasonable limit and pre-approved by the list owner)

In general, posting puppy for sale ads is not appropriate. However, rescue postings will be allowed as long as the priviledge is not abused.

Due to the ever decreasing signal to noise ratio on this list, messages posted on the following subjects are not allowed and voilations will result in suspension of posting privilidges:

1. Responses to requests for list admininstration help (i.e. How to unsubscribe)
2. Off topic (i.e. non-Flyball) messages
3. Virus alerts unless pre-approved by the list owner.
4. Excessive chattiness. If you want to "chat", visit the #flyball channel on IRC. More info can be found by looking at Flyball Chat.
5. Postings of a commercial nature unless approved by the list owner.
6. Anything else deemed inappropriate by the list owner.

If in doubt about a subject, check with the list administrator (kjh@flyballdogs.com) first.