List serv Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is a ListServ and how does it work?

A ListServ is an electronic mailing list that is made up of e-mail addresses. When you post a message to a list, it is delivered to all of the subscribers on the list. When you reply to a message from the list, that reply goes back to all of the list subscribers as well.

How do I post a message to a ListServ?

You must be a list subscriber before you can post a message. You can generate and post an email by clicking on the available ListServ topics. To subscribe, sign up now

How do I know when I receive a message from a ListServ?

Depending on the e-mail program that you use to access mail, you may see the message addressed from an individual subscriber or from the list name itself. For example, if you subscribe to the Association's Human Resources ListServ, you may see the message addressed from: cuhrforum@nycua.org; and you may also see the e-mail address from the actual subscriber such as jdoe @nycua.xyz.

What if I subscribe to more than one ListServ using the same e-mail address?

In short, you'll probably be receiving a fair amount of e-mail. But you'll always know what ListServ the message is coming from by looking at the REPLY TO: field. NOTE: It is important to remember that whenever you hit the REPLY or REPLY ALL button on a message from a ListServ, that reply will be delivered to all subscribers on the list.

Is the ListServ open to the public?

No. All requests to subscribe go to the ListServ administrator of the respective list. If the subscription request comes from a non-member or non-affiliated credit union, the request is denied.

What is the benefit to me of subscribing?

You'll stay abreast of what your peers are talking about and can take part in the conversation. You have the ability to post a question to the ListServ and receive almost immediate responses. And, you can reply to a message and include the entire ListServ, or just reply to an individual.

How do I remove my name from a ListServ?

To remove yourself from any of the Association lists, simply send e-mail addressed to listname-request @nycua.org ("listname" refers to the mailing list you are subscribed to. You must add the "-request" after list name and before the "@" sign.) The subject line must contain the word "unsubscribe" + your list password (you must have a space between the word "unsubscribe" and your list password.). Your list password is sent via e-mail to you when you subscribe and on a monthly basis. Or you can click on the "Unsubscribe" link that is included in the "footer" of any message you receive from the list.

STOPWORDS
IMPORTANT! To protect subscribers, the ListServ rejects messages that include words and phrases commonly used in automated e-mail responses such as: "Cannot reply" "Delivery failure" "User unknown" "I am on vacation" "I am out of the office" "I am out of the credit union" "I will be on vacation" "Me too" "No longer employed"

Are there any etiquette guidelines about e-mail and ListServs?

YES:

• Be concise—long messages often lose their emphasis.
• The use of all capital letters is generally interpreted as SHOUTING.
• Since most electronic mail systems only use plain text for the display of messages, special character emphasis features such as bold face and underlining are not available. Use the asterisk and underscore characters around the phrase you wish to emphasize. For example: _this phrase is underlined_ and *This phrase is boldfaced*.
• Many people like to use a signature containing their name, address and a graphic or quotation. It is considered bad form if the signature is longer than the message itself. Usually, your name and electronic mail address are sufficient.
• If you have received a message as a part of a group of recipients (such as from a ListServ) consider a reply to only the author rather than to the entire group. This is especially true when the author is conducting a survey or asking a question of the entire group. If the responses are of interest to the group, the original author should post a summary of the responses after a reasonable length of time.
• As with any written form of communication, attention to proper grammar, spelling, etc. will convey your message most effectively. However, e-mail is often a very informal means of communication so don't complain publicly about another individual's mistakes.
• Remember that even though the medium is electronic, the recipient of the message is another human.
   

What happens if I send e-mail to a ListServ that I'm not subscribed to?

If you are subscribed to a list, but don't use that e-mail address when posting a message, the e-mail is not delivered to the list. It goes to the list administrator and usually is ignored or deleted.

Association ListServs are not moderated

Once you've subscribed to any of the Association's ListServs, all messages that are correctly addressed will be posted to the list. The New York Credit Union Association does not censor any mail. But the ListServ administrator does hold the right to remove individuals who abuse the list in any way.