AARC Electronic Mailing List Procedures and Guidelines

This document describes important functionality of the AARC Electronic Mailing lists.

An electronic mailing list is an e-mail network of people. You can write one e-mail message that will be delivered to all the people on that particular network. You must “subscribe” to a list to become part of that network, but once you do you are on an e-mail “party line.”

If you are on an electronic mailing list, you will receive messages that are addressed to the entire group. Some of these will seem not to be addressed to you and may cause you confusion. Just be aware that whatever is written to the electronic mailing list is seen and read by all of the people on that list. Be careful of what you say and send because everyone will read it.

If you hit your reply button, your reply will not go to an individual person, but to the entire list. Type a new message with a person’s individual e-mail address if you wish to address them privately.

If you type a new message, send it to the list address and it will go to everyone on the list.

These rules and guidelines will also apply to the AARC's online community, AARConnect.

Disclaimers

• The AARC is not responsible for the opinions and information posted on AARC email lists; postings represent the viewpoint of the writer and are not endorsed by the AARC. Anonymous postings are prohibited.

• Sexual harassment, use of defamatory language, dissemination of materials in violation of copyright and other intellectual property laws, and other activities prohibited by law are prohibited on AARC email lists.

• Posting of any commercial material, or contacting any member to advertise, sell, or solicit or otherwise promote any commercial product or service, is prohibited.

• By subscribing to an AARC email list, you agree to release and indemnify the AARC from legal actions and penalties arising from messages you post on the list.

• Because the AARC reserves the right to monitor this list, users of the list do not have a personal right of privacy in any messages in the list, including messages marked “privileged,” “confidential,” etc.

• Posting of a message to this list does not constitute the official “filing” of a complaint, appeal, or grievance.

• The AARC reserves the right to make changes and modifications to this list and these disclaimers, terms, and conditions at any time for any reason.

• In the event that any violations of the rules listed above or other activities that violate the law or jeopardize the AARC’s legal standing are brought to the AARC’s attention, the AARC will take appropriate action, at its discretion. The AARC reserves the right to terminate, without prior notice, the list access of any user who does not abide by this policy.

• The AARC reserves to the right to remove anyone for any reason from an AARC electronic mailing list.

Unacceptable Use

• Please focus on content relevant to the intent of the electronic mailing list.

• Do not post advertisements or notices for products, services, jobs, organizations, or events on this list.

• Do not post jokes, poems, chain mail, pornography, or virus warnings.

• Do not post copyrighted material from a source other than the AARC.

• Do not conduct surveys or build a link to a survey form unless expressly given permission by the AARC.

• Do not engage in discussions relating to pricing or cost of goods, as this may be considered price fixing and is a federal offense. For more information on anti-trust, please review this Department of Justice statement.

List Etiquette

From time to time we receive comments requesting cleaner, more effective communications on the AARC lists. Here are some netiquette rules and tips on the polite usage of our electronic mailing list.

• When you are the person posting a question, be sure that you entitle it with a good, concise, explanatory title in the subject line.

• If your message is an informative response to someone’s questions, from which everyone can learn, you should respond and send your reply message to everyone. However, try to avoid re-sending the entire message you are replying to. Cut and paste the relevant parts when replying.

• If your reply is simply a request to receive a copy of what someone has offered to share, or simply to agree with someone (such as: “Me, too”), please do not reply to the entire group. Instead send your response directly to the e-mail address of the person who posted the message by clicking on your “Forward To” button, and typing in or cutting and pasting in the e-mail address of the individual to whom you are responding.

• Please don't type in all caps.