[Lvas] Mailman subscription options

[Douglas Phillipson]

The designated mailman administrator has full control over user 
subscriptions.  Here are the available subscription options:

1) Confirmation only

The user simply has to visit the mailman subscription page and enter his 
or her email address and a password.  They press the subscribe button 
and will then receive a confirmation email.  They reply to the email and 
are subscribed automatically with no administrator intervention.  This 
has the advantage that the administrator doesn't have to expend any 
effort to subscribe users.  The other aspect of this is that ANYONE can 
subscribe.  Now, our Linux user group allows this type of subscription 
because we have found that shy people will subscribe and just read the 
emails but not post anything.  It makes them feel more comfortable that 
they can watch and learn about the group and when they feel confident, 
will start to contribute without having to get permission from anyone. 
We have found over many years that this helps us gain membership in a 
friendly and comfortable way.  People can "Lurk" on our mailing list and 
just learn about us without "Big brother's" permission required.  We of 
course know they subscribed and can cut them off our list at any time 
via the administrator's interface if they start abusing the list. But no 
one ever has.

2) Approval required

This method starts out the same way, the user initiates the subscription 
but the mailman administrator is notified and must manually approve the 
subscription.  This is seen as not as friendly as the "Confirmation 
only" method but some closed groups do use it.  The user doesn't have to 
reply to anything and is notified via email they have been subscribed to 
the list.

3) Confirm and approve

This method combines both the above methods.  The user initiates the 
request, must get administrator approval and then reply to a 
confirmation email.

4) Administrator  enrollment

The administrator manually enrolls users by entering their email address 
in a form and submitting it to the mailman system.


I strongly suggest or club considers method #1.  In the same way that 
you don't have to be a member to attend meetings, star parties, or 
outreach events.  Why should you have to be a member to see what the 
club is doing and talking about?  Some people might shy away if having 
to become an official member.  Without membership required you might 
even get some astronomy experts to join the mailing list and contribute 
their expertise to our group.  Draconian control of the mailing list is 
not necessary, advisable, or as friendly to the outside world.  We still 
have full control over every subscriber if there is a problem but we 
will seem to the outside world as being a Open and friendly group if we 
don't force everyone to be a member to join our mailing list.  I know 
this is a new philosophy for the club and the old email list just didn't 
allow for this kind of openness.  We have new opportunities with the 
mailman system.  Lets give it a shot!

Just my humble opinion JMHO

Doug P