FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions about the WOUGNET mailing list

Last Update: December 16, 2003

The purpose of this FAQ is to answer some of the most common questions regarding the WOUGNET mailing list, and to refer people left with unanswered questions to available sources of additional help.

The latest version of the FAQ can also be accessed on the WOUGNET website at:
http://www.wougnet.org/Support/list_faq.html

Submissions, comments, etc, are welcomed, and should be sent to WOUGNET Coordinator, Dorothy Okello, at dokello@wougnet.org.

1.1 What is the WOUGNET mailing list?
1.2 What are the posting guidelines for the WOUGNET mailing list?
1.3 How do I subscribe/post messages to the WOUGNET mailing list?
1.4 Is a daily digest available?
1.5 How do I unsubscribe from the WOUGNET mailing list?
1.6 Is there a WOUGNET mailing list archive?
1.7 How do I get a reminder of my list password?
1.8 Managing your e-mail
1.9 Where do I send administrative questions/complaints/requests?

1.1 What is the WOUGNET mailing list?

The WOUGNET mailing list is a space to share news, information and activities on women related issues in Uganda. Issues of information and communication technologies (ICTs) usage and application are also welcome. Any mailing list member can contribute news or begin a new discussion topic by posting a message to wougnet-l@wougnet.org. There are currently 200 list members, most of whom are Ugandan women based in Uganda and abroad.

The WOUGNET mailing list is a service of Women of Uganda Network (WOUGNET). WOUGNET is a non-governmental organisation initiated in May 2000 by several women organisations in Uganda to develop the use of information and communication technologies (ICTs) among women as tools to share information and address issues collectively. In addition to the mailing list, WOUGNET has website at http://www.wougnet.org that profiles women's organisations in Uganda and their activities. The website also contains practical information and documentation on topics of interest to women's organisations and the general public, and links to national and international projects.

1.2 What are the guidelines for posting on WOUGNET mailing list?

The WOUGNET mailing list is "unscreened" (or "unmoderated"). This means that all messages sent by subscribers to the list address wougnet-l@wougnet.org are immediately distributed to the entire list membership. When posting a message to the list, be sure to consider the following:

a) Write clear and meaningful titles.

If you're going to post an email to the list, the title of your message should be clear enough to convey the purpose of that message. For example, if I have a question regarding how to start an adult literacy program, I shouldn't title the message as "Question" or "Help." A much clearer title would be something like "Starting an adult literacy program" or "Experience with adult literacy programs?" Or, if you're going to post your first message to the list, you might want to say "Introduction: Jane Nakkazi" instead of just saying "Intro" or "Hello."

b) Try to avoid posting huge messages.

You should always say what you want to say, but don't post messages that drag on for pages unless you've got a really good reason for it. Long messages are slower to process and can cause bottlenecks and delays in the mailing list program.

c) Trimming older messages from your new message.

Often when there's a discussion on the list, people will post replies to a message and include the older message in their email. This is often a good idea if you want to let people know the context of your reply. However, you should always trim out as much of the older messages as possible - to prevent having a very long message.

d) Responding to another message: private vs. public posting.

Ideally, when a person posts a message to the list, we all like to see responses posted as well, assuming the original poster hasn't requested that the responses be private. When you respond to a message, the mailing list system is set up in such a way that your response will go automatically back to the WOUGNET mailing list and not the original author - please be aware of that when you compose your message.

e) Sign your messages!

All posts to WOUGNET mailing list should be signed with your name. Signing messages is especially important if you're asking a question or are asking people to contact you privately.

f) Do not post attachments or HTML-encoded messages

Attachments are the scourge of mailing lists everywhere because they can't be processed by every email reader. While it may seem nice to attach a picture, a business card or a WORD file to your messages sometimes, this means that many subscribers will get your attachment as pages of garbage data. In addition, some subscribers may be unable to download very large messages - typical of messages that include attachments. If you have a document you wish to distribute, you can request interested subscribers to contact you for a copy of the document. Alternatively, you can make the document available for download via your own website or via your profile on the WOUGNET website.
Similarly, messages in HTML cannot be processed by every email reader, so please be sure to always send your messages as "plain text" or "ascii text." This setting can usually be found in your email composer's "options" or "preferences" menu.

g) Don't send autoreply messages to the list!

Autoreply messages (like "I am out of the office until November 2....") are the scourge of mailing lists because since the mailing list is unmoderated, list members can be flooded with autoreply messages if the person using it is subscribed to the list. So if you must use an autoreply while you're away from your email, either set it up with a filter to avoid replying to messages with the "to:" address as wougnet-l@wougnet.org, or unsubscribe from all of your mailing lists first.

1.3 How do I subscribe/post messages to the WOUGNET mailing list?

1.3.1 Subscribing to the WOUGNET mailing list

There are two options for joining the list: email subscription and web subscription.

Email subscription
To subscribe via email, send an email message to wougnet-l-request@wougnet.org. In the body or subject of the message write the following: subscribe
Web subscription
You can also join the mailing list through the WOUGNET website - http://www.wougnet.org. At the bottom of the far left column of each page, under the WOUGNET heading, you'll see a link for 'Mailing list'. This link takes you to the WOUGNET mailing list information page at: http://lists.wougnet.org/mailman/listinfo/wougnet-l
The list information page provides the 'Subscribing to WOUGNET-L' section with instructions on how to subscribe to the WOUGNET mailing list.

Whether you subscribe via email or via the web, you'll first receive a 'confirmation of subscription' email from the mailing list server. Reply to this email according to the simple instructions provided and you will then be subscribed.

Upon successful subscription, you will receive a welcome message with a brief on the WOUGNET mailing list. This message will also include your list password and list subscription page, so do save a copy of this email for easy reference whenever you wish to change your subscription options.

1.3.2 Posting messages to the WOUGNET mailing list

When you join the WOUGNET mailing list, please post an introduction of yourself to the group, and feel free to suggest any discussion topics.

List members may post messages at any time by sending an email to: wougnet-l@wougnet.org

1.4 Is a daily digest available?

Because the WOUGNET mailing list can be a high-volume list at times, you can choose to receive its postings in one large batch each day.

You will need your list password in order to request for digest service. To receive the digest, send a message to wougnet-l-request@wougnet.org and in the subject line or body of the message write:

set digest on [your list password]

You'll then receive your list messages in a daily digest instead of individual postings. If you'd ever like to switch back to individual postings, send another message to wougnet-l-request@wougnet.org with this command:

set digest off [your list password]

and you'll have your settings changed appropriately. See Sec 1.7 if you need a reminder of your list password

1.5 How do I unsubscribe from WOUGNET-L?

To unsubscribe, send a message to wougnet-l-request@wougnet.org and in the subject or the first line of the message body write:

unsubscribe [your list password] [email address to be unsubscribed]

Or, you can go to the WOUGNET mailing list information page at:
http://lists.wougnet.org/mailman/listinfo/wougnet-l

From the list information page, take the following steps to unsubscribe:

At the bottom of the page, under the 'WOUGNET-L Subscribers' section, enter your email address in the form provide and click the 'Unsubscribe or edit options' button.
The step above will take you to your list subscription page where you will find the 'Unsubscribing from WOUGNET-L' form.
Click the box 'Yes, I really want to unsubscribe' and then click 'Unsubscribe' to have your email address unsubscribed.

Whether you unsubscribe via email or via the web, you will receive an email confirming that you have been unsubscribed.

1.6 Is there a WOUGNET mailing list archive?

The WOUGNET-L mailing list archive is accessible to all list subscribers. You can access an archive of messages from November 2001 onward here: http://lists.wougnet.org/mailman/private/wougnet-l

Enter your email address and your list password, and then click 'Let me in' in order to access the archives.

1.7 How do I get a reminder of my list password?

Upon subscription to the WOUGNET mailing list, you receive a welcome message that includes a brief introduction of the list as well as a list password. You must know your password to change your options (including changing the password, itself) or to unsubscribe.

To get a reminder of your list password:

Go the WOUGNET-L list information page at: http://lists.wougnet.org/mailman/listinfo/wougnet-l
Scroll to the bottom of the page where you will find the 'WOUGNET-L Subscribers' section. Enter your email address in the form provided to change subscription options and click 'Unsubscribe or edit options'
The step above will take you to your list subscription page. Then, under the section 'Your WOUGNET-L Password', click 'Email My Password To Me' and your password will be sent to your email address.

1.8 Managing Your E-Mail

While e-mail is a great tool for information sharing and gathering, for convenience and for saving time and costs, sometimes e-mail can waste more time than it saves. The article "Managing Your E-Mail" on the Business Know-How site provides guidelines and helpful hints to maximize your time and minimize needless SPAM e-mails and administrative tasks. Suggestions such as sorting & prioritizing, using subject headers and knowing when not to e-mail can help you to streamline your work and manage information overload. "Managing Your E-Mail" is at http://www.businessknowhow.com/growth/manemail.htm.

You should also be aware of online scams and spam. With a whole new electronic world in which to practise their tricky trade, fraudsters have dusted off dozens of seasoned scams and repackaged them for presentation via email. Even if it's not cash they're after, today's tricksters have discovered plenty of ways to turn technology to their advantage. Click the highlighted links to read more about 'Messages that are not a joke' and 'Online scams and spam'.

1.9 Where do I send administrative questions/complaints/requests?

If you experience any administrative problems with the list or need assistance with changing your subscription options (including unsubscribing), please contact Dorothy Okello directly at dokello@wougnet.org

Last update: December 16, 2003