elchorro Listserv FAQ

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The elchorro Listserv

Frequently Asked Questions regarding elchorro-list, the official listserv of the California Part-time Faculty Association

1. What is a listserv?

A listserv is an electronic discussion group in which you exchange comments with other participants who have subscribed to the particular group. Despite the connotation of subscribing, there is no charge to join the elchorro-list listserv or to participate in the discussion beyond the annual dues that you pay to join The California Part-time Faculty Association.

2. Why is the CPFA listserv called elchorro, not CPFA?

The listserv was created in September 1998 before the official name of this organization was CPFA. Since the organizational meeting was held at Rancho El Chorro in San Luis Obispo, the listserv took that name.

3. Is the elchorro a moderated listserv?

No.

4. Can non-members send messages to the elchorro listserv?

No. It is a closed listserv. Messages from non-members are automatically bounced (rejected) by the managing software.

5. How do I subscribe?

The elchorro listserv is a private listserv available exclusively to members of the California Part-time Faculty Association. If you are a CPFA member but are not currently subscribed to this listserv and would like to join, please e-mail your request to rsutter@cuesta.edu. As soon as your membership is verified, your e-mail address will be added to the listserv. The process usually takes several days.

In the event that you are not currently a CPFA member but would like to join, you'll find the membership application at http://www.cpfa.org/membership.html. The CPFA dues are currently as low as $30 per year for individuals.

6. I want to use an AOL address for the elchorro listserv. How come I can't?

AOL uses sloppy procedures for detecting spammers. It identifies as spammers closed listservs whose members choose to subscribe. AOL then files a complaint against the Internet Service Provider where the listserv is hosted. Lunar Pages, the ISP where the elchorro listserv is hosted, has threatened to freeze the CPFA account if it receives any more complaints of spamming. The ISP indicated that it cannot, by law, reveal who filed the complaints. It further indicated that the complaints generally stop when list keepers remove all AOL addresses from the listserv.

Rather than attempt to shine the light of reason in the black hole of the AOL universe, the Keeper of this listserv will not honor requests to join the listserv from those who wish to do so with an AOL address. Those would-be subscribers join the listserv through another e-mail address. You may obtain a free e-mail address from Hotmail or numerous other providers.

7. How come I can't just subscribe myself?

This is a closed listserv. In order to assure that only CPFA members have access the list, members must ask to be subscribed.

8. What is the address for sending messages to other CPFA members via the elchorro-list listserv?

The address is elchorro@cpfa.org

9. I am subscribed to the elchorro listserv but my messages are still rejected. Why?

If you e-mail the listserv from an e-mail address that you have not registered with the listserv, you will not be recognized and the listserv software will bounce your message. If you wish to send and receive messages from multiple addresses, you must ask to have all you e-mail addresses subscribed.

If you send the message to many recipients, whether on the TO line, the CC line or the BCC line, the listserv software will bounce your message.

10. I used to get messages from the elchorro-list listserv but no longer do. I didn't unsubscribe. What happened?

If you have changed your e-mail address and you want to continue receiving postings from the listserv, you will have to send a change of address notification to rsutter@cuesta.edu. If you have not changed your e-mail address, you may have been removed from the listserv because of problems with your e-mail account.

When the listserv fails to deliver messages to your e-mail address, the listserv software automatically notifies the keeper of the listserv of the failure. When these notifications continue for days, they flood the in box. At that point, The listkeeper then unsubscribes your e-mail address from the listserv in the interest of self-preservaton. Since your e-mail address doesn't work, the listkeeper has no way of informing you of this action. If you would like to resubscribe once that you have a working e-mail address, please send your request to rsutter@cuesta.edu

11. Can I send attachments?

Yes. However, the software that runs the listserv has a file size restriction. The maximum file size is 60k. Many attachments exceed that number. Perhaps you can provide a link to the information that you wish to make known. As a rule of thumb, 40k is equivalent to 700 lines of plain text but less than one page of formatted text (as in a Word document).

12. Is there some place that contains more information about this listserv and its various options?

Yes. Point your browser to the elchorro-list General Information Page at cpfa.org/mailman/private/elchorro_cpfa.org/ There you will be able to view the listserv archives, set digest options and unsubscribe from the listserv.

13. How exactly do I get off the listserv?

To unsubscribe to the elchorro-list listserv, follow the directions that appear at the bottom of every message sent via the listserv. If you are unable to do so, use the URL listed in question 12 above.

In order to unsubscribe successfully, you must send the request from the same e-mail address that you wish to unsubscribe. If you send the request from another address, the software that runs the listserv won't find the address that you are trying to remove from the listserv.

14. I sent a message to elchorro asking to get off the list and I'm still being deluged with messages. How come?

Please reread FAQ Question #13. You can unsubscribe yourself from the listserv, but you don't send the request to the same address as you do to e-mail the elchorro. Sending unsubscribe requests to the general listserv only delays your request while reminding everyone else on the list of the level of your technological ability.

15. I tried everything you suggested. Nothing works. What now?

Send your request to be removed from the elchorro listserv directly to rsutter@cuesta.edu.

16. Who maintains the elchorro-list?

CPFA member Ralph Sutter

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