UVLists:Get involved

UVLists is run entirely by volunteers. The town lists keep working because neighbors give a little time: moderating a list, answering a question, fixing a wiki page, or helping the organization make good decisions.

You do not need technical skills to help. There is room for people who can give an hour a month and for people who want to take on more. This page describes the ways you can take part and how to get started.

Right now we are especially looking for:

List administrators and moderators for town lists.
Programmers and other technical volunteers.
Marketing and communications help.
People to get the word out and help the lists grow.

Stay informed

The easiest way to follow what UVLists is doing is the UVLists-Announce list. It is a low-volume, announcements-only list for news about meetings, progress on the list migration, new lists, and calls for volunteers.

To join by email, send a blank message to uvlists-announce-join@uvlists.org.
Or subscribe on the UVLists-Announce web page.

You can also read the news and announcements on this wiki, and the agendas and minutes of board meetings.

Be a good list member

Every subscriber helps keep the lists useful.

Read your list's guidelines, and post with a clear subject and a little context.
Answer a neighbor's question when you know the answer.
Keep conversations civil, and take disagreements about a post to the list administrators rather than to the list.
Report spam, harassment, or misuse to abuse@uvlists.org.

See Send a message for more tips.

Spread the word and grow the lists

Lists are only as good as the people on them. The more neighbors who join, the more useful every list becomes. If your neighbors do not know about your town's list, tell them.

Every list has a short, phone-friendly page at go.uvlists.org, with a QR code you can print on a flyer or poster for the town hall, library, general store, or school.
Share the list directory with new residents.
Forward the joining instructions to anyone who asks how to sign up.
Mention your list at town meetings, in newsletters, on community bulletin boards, and to local groups and businesses.
Help people who are not comfortable with technology get signed up.

If you would like to help with outreach in a more organized way, email the executive committee at exec-comm@uvlists.org.

Help run a list

Each list is looked after by volunteer list administrators and moderators from its community. They are the people who know the town and its conversations best.

Moderators review messages that are held for approval, such as posts from people who are not yet subscribed, and decide whether they go out.
List administrators also help subscribers who are having trouble, look after the list's guidelines, and keep the list's page on this wiki up to date.

You do not need to be technical. UVLists provides the tools, written guides, and a helpdesk to back you up. See the list administrator guide and Services for List Administrators for what the work involves.

If you would like to help administer or moderate your town's list, or you would like to request a new list, email list-requests@rt.uvlists.org. Tell us which town or list, and a little about yourself.

Join a committee or the board

UVLists is a Vermont nonprofit led by a volunteer board of directors. The current officers are listed on the Executive Committee page.

We want the people who guide UVLists to reflect the communities the lists serve, and we welcome people from every town and background. Skills that would help right now include:

Business, finance, and legal experience: forms, filings, policies, and keeping the organization in good standing.
Community leadership: people who are known and trusted in their towns and can help UVLists stay connected to them.
Marketing and communications: writing announcements, editing, and helping people understand what UVLists does.
Web and design: improving this wiki and the list pages.

That list is not complete. If you have another way to contribute, we would like to hear from you. Email the executive committee at exec-comm@uvlists.org and introduce yourself.

Improve this wiki

The help pages, list pages, and guides on this wiki are written by volunteers. If you spot something that is wrong, out of date, or hard to understand, you can help fix it.

To suggest a correction, email webmaster@uvlists.org with the page name and what should change.
To edit pages yourself, email the same address to request an editor account.

Plain, friendly writing is especially welcome. Many people come to this wiki because something is not working and they need clear instructions.

Help with the technical side

The lists run on open-source software, including GNU Mailman, on servers maintained by volunteers. We are looking for programmers and other technical volunteers. Experience with any of these is helpful:

Programming, especially Python.
Email systems and deliverability.
Linux server administration.
Web development and design.

If you would like to help, email the technical committee at tech-comm@uvlists.org and tell us a little about your background.

Support UVLists

Running the lists has real costs, including servers, domain names, insurance, and the paperwork that comes with being a nonprofit. UVLists has no advertising and does not sell anyone's information, so it depends on the people and communities it serves.

You can support UVLists by:

Making a financial contribution. To find out how to give, email the treasurer at treasurer@uvlists.org.
Offering in-kind help, such as printing flyers, providing meeting space, or professional services.
Encouraging local organizations that rely on the lists to support them.
Giving your time in any of the ways described on this page.

Come to a meeting

The board publishes meeting agendas and minutes on this wiki, and the first annual meeting will be held on or before January 31, 2027. Meeting announcements are sent to the UVLists-Announce list, so subscribe to hear about them.

Not sure where to start?

Email helpdesk@uvlists.org and tell us what interests you and how much time you have. We will help you find something that fits.