AZA Email Discussion Lists

Participation in AZA's listservers is a benefit of AZA membership. Not a member yet? Join now!

Some highly specialized lists are closed to new subscribers (membership by invitation only), but many general interest lists are open to all AZA members, including Distance Learning, Children's Zoo Interest Group, Education, Enrichment, Gift Shops, Targeting Senior Citizens, and Zoo and Aquarium Safety. Take a look at the list of all available lists and sign up for one today!

For Moderators

Go to the Moderators' login

What are the features for moderators?

You can — on your own — change moderators (i.e., transfer list moderation to someone else), individually and mass-subscribe and unsubscribe list members, customize your welcome message to new subscribers, and temporarily suspend and reinstate delivery for any member.

Bounce processing is easy. Instead of attending to each individual bounce, you can now set the number of bounces before a subscription is disabled and the number of days after which the bounces will be automatically discarded. If a subscription has been disabled, you can also send periodic reminder to the subscriber.

Download the Moderators' FAQ (in PDF)

For List Subscribers

If you want, you can simply send and receive list messages. However, the listserver system offers you options to create a password for your individual subscriber account, change your email address and other contact information, and customize your delivery options.

Here are some common questions.

How can I access my individual account?
If you know your list name, simply type in at http://lists.aza.org/cgi-bin/mailman/options/LISTNAME. Make sure you replace LISTNAME with the name of your list, e.g., http://lists.aza.org/cgi-bin/mailman/options/fishtalk.

Alternatively, here is a page with links to all of the lists. Click on one of your lists, type in your email address at the top and click on the Remind button at the bottom. Your password will be sent to you.

I belong to lots of lists. Do I have to get a password for each one?
No! Just pick one list and log in. From there, you be able to make changes to all of your lists at once, including creating one password for all of your lists. You can also update your email address for all of your lists simultaneously.

How do I know all of the lists I'm subscribed to?
Once you get your password and log in to your account for any of your lists, you'll see all of the lists you're currently subscribed to.

Questions?

Contact Aaron Tuttle, Administrative Assistant, or call 301-562-0777 x226.

Procedures

How to properly post messages to the list
If you want to post a message to the list server, simply e-mail your message, with a descriptive subjecting heading, to LISTNAME@lists.aza.org.

How to reply to a list server
If the list is Instant, you can respond to a particular message by clicking "Reply." The previous subject line will remain, as will the original message in your response. Otherwise, reduce e-mail clutter by posting your message directly to the list server. Also, remember that hitting reply will send your message to the entire list server.

If you are responding to only one person on a list server, please DO NOT post your message to the entire list server. Send it directly to that individual.

Policy Guidelines

AZA list servers are tools for furthering Association business. As subscribers, members post to lists directly. No one in the AZA Executive Office, the moderator, nor CCI, edits or censors these postings in any way. No messages are approved or sanctioned by AZA. However, the moderator has the authority to ensure that the guidelines are being followed, and the right to remove members if problems develop.

List servers are for professional communications of general interest. Nonprofessional language should be avoided if it might insult or seem offensive. Please keep communications that are or can be interpreted as personal off the list server. Messages intended for an individual should be addressed to his or her personal e-mail address only.

Postings that are a joke or satirical in nature should be labeled as such. Please keep such material to a minimum. For that exception that you cannot resist, inform your readers that the material is not authentic or is "off-topic." This will minimize confusion and allow users to hit "Delete" if they choose not to read it.

List servers also should not be used for placement notices that would ordinarily go through other communication venues, such as Animal Exchange Online. Exceptions might include a confiscated animal that needs an immediate home, or similar emergencies. Permission for posting exemptions must be requested from Kris Vehrs.

Please do not post or distribute items that have been marked "Confidential".

E-mail is neither confidential, personal, nor private. There is no good way to fully and finally erase every copy. Deleted messages can be easily recreated with special software. If you need to write someone individually, send a separate message to the private e-mail address.

Some other suggestions:

Use spell-check.
Don't use all capital letters for more than one word (this is equivalent to yelling).
Insert a blank line between paragraphs.
Don't use text styles (e.g. bold or italic) or text colors in mailing list messages. They won't be seen in the message received, and may appear as undecipherable symbols.
Unless it's necessary for clarity, avoid repeating the original message in your reply.
Review your message before sending it. If it is something that is not of interest to the whole membership, send it privately to the individual.
Keep your AutoSignature short. Include your name and affiliation only. If more information is needed, you can be contacted through your e-mail address.