Starting a Private Mailing List

Hello,
I'm not sure where to post this question so I will start here to see if someone can help me.

We are a community of a large number of people (approx. 150) in our area that would like to keep informed of the news, such as, deaths, dates of events, happenings, etc. It seems as though we just do not manage to get the information to everyone when someone passes on or other pertinent news that most of our friends and acquantances would like to hear about.

I suggested that we should start a mailing list when anyone in the community can subscribe or unsubscribe to the list.

My problem is that I'm not sure what would be appropriate in this instance. I would like the mailing list to be private so spammers cannot send to it and clog the person's email account.

I am subscribed to a mailing list called nxport.com and it is from a group of my retired co-workers from my previous employment. I'm just not sure if this is the way to go or not.

Please help me decide what would be the right path to take to form a news group for our community.

Thank you.

Jean

 

For myself, a group account should work fine (example Yahoo / gmail groups). They maintain themselves and each member can decide what degree of involvement they choose to participate. If gmail groups was chosen, would allow group members a choice of web or email client view(s). Also gmail's label filtering and strong search features could be very handy for a group this size.
Addition
Gmail also has Calendar available (beta) which could bring in additional features to the group. Don't know how well it interfaces into the group email account.

 

Thank you for the information. I will try to read and understand all about Google groups and starting a mailing list.

This may really work for us and as long as it is a "private" group, that would do the trick.

Thanks again.

Jean

 

Dennis,
I did create a group in Google but I'm afraid that this probably will not work for us. I see where the person invited has to create a google email address and are not able to use the person's primary address.

We have many senior citizens here and they are just barely getting along checking their one email address.

What we need is to be able to have a group that people post to the newsgroup and the members will receive the posting in their own personal mailbox. Do you know of one like this?

I haven't tried the Yahoo groups but I'll bet it will be the same way, that the user will have to have a Yahoo address.

Thanks again for the help.

Jean

 

You might consider a message board instead of a mailing list.
Here is one service you can try: http://www.quicktopic.com/

 

Yes, this might be all that we need. I appreciate your help and I'll get back with you after I try to set it up.

Thanks
Jean

 

Hi,
I've been trying to work with quicktopic.com but for some reason I just don't quite understand what is going on. I think I need an easier bulletin board or mailing list to work with. I wouldn't even mind paying a small amount to get something that is easy for others to use.

Do you have any other suggestions.

Jean

Thank you.

 

Could look again at Google groups.
ONE person creates the group.
You then send out Invitations to potential members.
You can keep the group PRIVATE.
Members do NOT have to have or use email (but option is available).
Take a Google Tour
Create a group in 3 steps.

Also, you could look at Yahoo! Message Boards

MORE message boards

 

Thank you for all your help. The Google and Yahoo groups just didn't work out for us. It was too complicated for the senior citizens here. I am now working on getting a mailing list with the Aplonis Corp. There will be no ads in the messages and the members will be able to receive the email in their email program without worrying about the internet interface.

We do have to pay for this service but I'm sure with the help of the members after they see the benefits, they will chip in to pay for it.

Thank you again.

Jean