Yahoogroups
are the best thing since....no, on second thoughts, they are better! Read
on to find out why...
Yahoogroups:
Are email networks plus much more.
Are free, easy and convenient.
Save on paper, ink, postage and fuel.
Enable like-minded people to form communities, regardless of their whereabouts.
Unlike traditional meetings, don't suffer from attendance problems caused
by lack of transport, busy lives or even disabilities.
Are a great starting point for a new group.
Only need one person to set up and run, although it does help if others
join!
As well as sending and receiving emails, you can:
Create a database - local vegetarian establishments?
Share files - download posters and information sheets?
Keep a diary - dates of events?
Polls - decisions to make?
Links - to interesting and/or useful websites?
Chat room - have an online meeting?
Announcements - set up a news list?
Web mail - members can choose to write and read their messages on Yahoogroups'
website. (There are also various offline options.)
Taking the plunge:
Before you begin it is worth taking the time to decide on the following:
The name of your Yahoogroup. This will be used in your email address.
(You can use dashes but not dots!)
Is it to be listed in Yahoogroups' directory or not?
The type of Yahoogroup: Announcements only? Open or restricted membership?
A short description or key words for Yahoogroups' directory search.
A longer description for your homepage.
Useful bits of information:
Yahoogroups' directory is similar to the main Yahoo system. If your Yahoogroup
is for vegetarians and vegans, the most suitable path will probably be:
Category: Top: Shopping: Health and Beauty: Nutrition: Food: Vegan and
Vegetarian.
After it is set up, you can choose how your Yahoogroup will operate
(and change your mind again!). There are lots of options to choose from
so choose a time when the telephone rate is cheap!
When your Yahoogroup is formed, the following addresses will apply:
(Replace myveg with the name of your Egroup).
Homepage: groups.yahoo.com/group/myveg
Email to: myveg@yahoogroups.com
To subscribe: myveg-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
To unsubscribe: myveg-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
Email moderator (you): myveg-owner@yahoogroups.com
Setting up your Yahoogroup:
- Go to groups.yahoo.com
- On Yahoogroups' homepage you will see a section headed 'new member'
where you will be invited to 'sign up', learn 'about Yahoogroups', and
'take a tour'. Accept all!
- Still on Yahoogroup's homepage, click on 'start a yahoo group now'.
(You will be glad you made all those decisions earlier!)
- Congratulations!
Places to promote your Yahoogroup:
The Vegetarian
VegSoc website- this page!
World Vegetarian Forums (IVU)
Your website, newsletter, and application forms
Signatures on emails/replies to local veggies/enquirers
Libraries and health foods shops/cafes etc (usual places for posters).
Some suggestions for organisers:
- Some people are wary of their details and messages being made public
so it can be better to only allow subscribers to access back mail and
other information on the website.
- Maybe ask for names, addresses and phone numbers, kept in a book and
treated as confidential, to ensure subscribers really are local, to
put off any odd-bods, and to help keep track of the group.
- Welcome each new subscriber - just with a 'Welcome .....!' and gently
encourage them to introduce themselves.
- Try to hold back and let them answer each other's questions - that
is not easy but comes with pratice! If no-one answers after a day or
two, reply so they don't feel they have been ignored.
- Initially some people expect the list owner to be Super(wo)man - i.e.
know everything about anything from vegetarianism to computers, click
the mouse and produce wonderful events for their amusement (all on singlehanded!),
and click twice to create interesting conversations for them to 'listen'
to but not participate in! Try to overcome that misconception with humour
and by finding out who is good at what and asking for their help.
Whether your area is rural or city, try setting up a Yahoogroup. But
why settle for just one when you can easily manage two? If you know of
an area near by that doesn't have a vegetarian presence but is too out
of your way for you to physically take on, how about setting up another
egroup for there also? This has been done and it works.
May all your e-veg networks be lively!
from: V-Link Info Centre (Peak
District)
Local Network Index
