Help:Posting

Posting to a UVLists list is just sending an email. You write a message in your usual email program, address it to the list, and the list sends a copy to every subscriber. You do not need to visit a website or sign in.

This page explains how to send a message, how to reply, what to expect after you send, and what to do if your message does not appear.

Before you post

You must be subscribed. Only subscribers can post. If you have not joined yet, see Join a list.
Send from your subscribed address. The list recognizes you by the email address you subscribed with. If you send from a different address, even one that arrives in the same inbox, the list treats you as a stranger and holds your message.
Read the list's guidelines. Each list's page in the list directory describes what the list is for and its rules, including how often business announcements are welcome.
Remember that your message is public. Your message goes to every subscriber. On most lists it is also saved in a public archive on the web that anyone can read. Your name and email address appear with it.

Find the list's posting address

Each list has one address for posts. It looks like this:

town-discuss@lists.uvlists.org

For example, the Norwich list's posting address is norwich-discuss@lists.uvlists.org.

You can find the posting address:

On the list's page in the list directory, under Posting Address.
In the welcome message you received when you joined.
In the list's contact card (see below).

Other addresses belong to the list but are not for posting:

Address ends in	What it does
`-join`	Subscribes you to the list
`-leave`	Unsubscribes you from the list
`-owner`	Reaches the volunteer list administrators, not the members

Save the list to your contacts

The easiest way to always use the right address is to add the list to your address book. Each list has a ready-made contact card (a vCard).

Open the list's page in the list directory.
In the Mailing List Info box, select the link next to VCard File. It looks like https://go.uvlists.org/norwich-discuss.vcf.
Accept when your phone or computer offers to add the contact.

After that, start typing the list's name (for example, Norwich Discuss) in the To line, and your email program will fill in the address for you. Having the list in your contacts also helps keep list messages out of your spam folder.

If you used a Vital Communities list before, delete or update your old contact for it. Old addresses ending in @lists.vitalcommunities.org no longer reach the list. See Renaming Lists.

Send a new message

Open your email program and start a new message.
In the To line, enter the list's posting address, or choose the list from your contacts.
Write a clear, specific subject. "Lost dog near the town green" is more useful to your neighbors than "Help!" or "Question".
Write your message.
Sign your message with your name. Many lists ask members to use their real names.
Send it.

Tips for a good post

One topic per message. If you have two unrelated things to say, send two messages with their own subjects. This makes them easier to find and reply to.
Paste links in full. Copy the whole web address (for example, https://www.example.org/events/fall-fair) into your message so readers can see where it goes. Avoid shortened links.
Do not attach photos or files. See Keep messages small below.
Check before sending. A message cannot be taken back once it has gone out.
Put the list in the To line by itself. Do not send the same message to the list and to a long list of other people at once, and do not put the list address in Bcc. Messages like that are held for review.

Reply to a message

When you reply to a list message, decide who you want to reach.

To answer only the person who wrote, use Reply. Your answer goes only to them, not to the list.
To answer everyone on the list, use Reply All. Your answer goes to the list (and a copy to the person who wrote).

UVLists sends ordinary replies only to the person who wrote, so that private replies do not accidentally go to the whole community. If your reply did not show up on the list, you probably used Reply instead of Reply All.

When replying:

Keep the original subject so others can follow the conversation. It starts with a tag in brackets, such as [Norwich-discuss]. You can leave the tag; the list will not add it twice.
Delete most of the quoted message below your reply. Keep only what readers need to understand your answer.
If you are changing the subject of the conversation, start a new message instead of replying.

Keep messages small

Messages larger than about 40 KB are held for a moderator to review. That is enough for several pages of text, but a single photo, a large logo in your signature, or a long chain of quoted replies can go over it.

To keep your message small:

Do not attach photos, flyers, or documents. Put them online (for example, on a town or organization website, or a photo or file sharing service) and paste the link into your message.
Delete old quoted text before sending.
Remove images from your email signature.
If your email program offers a plain text option, use it.

What happens after you send

Messages from subscribers normally go out within a few minutes. The list sends a copy to every subscriber and adds it to the archive.

Some subscribers receive messages in a digest, a single email that bundles several messages together. They will see your post later than everyone else.

Seeing your own message

Most people get a copy of their own posts, so you can tell they went out. Exceptions:

Gmail hides your own list messages because it already has the same message in your Sent folder. Other people still received it. Check the list archive to confirm.
You may have turned off Receive own postings in your list settings. See Changing your settings.

When a message is held for review

A volunteer moderator reviews a message before it goes out when, for example:

It was sent from an address that is not subscribed.
It is larger than about 40 KB.
It is addressed to many people at once, or the list address is only in Bcc.
It looks like a request to join or leave (for example, a message with just the word "unsubscribe"). Send those to the -join or -leave address instead.
The list administrators have chosen to review your posts.

You may receive an email saying your message is waiting for approval. You do not need to send it again. Because moderators are volunteers, a review can take some time. If the moderator declines your message, you will usually receive a note explaining why.

When a message is rejected

Occasionally a message is turned away entirely, and you receive an error message back. This can happen if the message looks like spam or contains a virus. If this happens to an ordinary message, forward the error to helpdesk@uvlists.org.

Correcting a mistake

A message cannot be recalled or edited after it is sent. It goes to every subscriber right away.

If you make a mistake, send a short follow-up to the list with the correction, using the same subject. If something must be removed from the archive, for example private information posted by accident, contact the list administrators using the -owner address on the list's page.

Being a good neighbor

Be civil and respectful. Disagree with ideas, not people.
Stay local. Town lists are for matters that affect that town. For events or items that concern the whole Upper Valley, use a regional forum instead of posting to many town lists.
Keep promotion occasional. Business announcements are usually welcome now and then, but not more than about once a month.
Do not forward private messages to the list without permission from everyone involved.
Lists are not for emergencies. Many subscribers read in a daily digest or check email only occasionally. For urgent safety matters, call 911 or contact the town directly.
Have a concern about another member's post? Do not reply on the list. Write to the list administrators using the -owner address on the list's page. To report spam, harassment, or abuse, email abuse@uvlists.org.

Common problems

My message never appeared: Check the list archive first. If it is not there, make sure you sent from your subscribed address, to the posting address, and used Reply All when replying. It may also be waiting for review. See Your message did not appear.

I got an automatic reply saying the list has moved: You sent to an old Vital Communities address. Send your message again to the new address, and update your contacts.

I got a notice that my message is waiting because I am not a member: You sent from an address that is not subscribed. Send from your subscribed address, or subscribe the address you want to use.

My replies go to one person instead of the list: Use Reply All. See Reply to a message.

Still need help?

Email helpdesk@uvlists.org. Please include the name of the list, the email address you subscribed with, the date and time you sent your message, and its subject. If you received an error message, forward it to us.

For questions about a list's rules or a moderation decision, contact the list administrators using the -owner address on the list's page.

Need help?

For problems receiving messages, see email delivery help.

For other assistance, see contact UVLists.