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The AOG has space for you to place your class home page on the WWW. This service is provided at no charge to enhance communication between AOG and classes. The AOG also provides, at a minimal fee, class-specific domain names (http://usmaXXXX.org, where XXXX is your class year). Each class should designate a “web master.” A web master’s most important contribution to a homepage is providing interesting and informative content so that readers will add it to their “bookmarks” or “favorites.” We can help with the mechanics. You can participate in the coding process or make it simple and send in things you already have published for scanning and posting. We already have the capability to do lists for you. Lost classmates, e-mail addresses, and personal profiles are examples. We have class leader lists and regional rosters for classes to use to coordinate their local activities. We also provide a free professional list server capability to allow class leaders to send immediate messages to their classmates. |
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The easiest way to get started is to send in your prepared documents through e-mail or on a disk through the mail. Your HTML files are all in simple ASCII text so they can easily be sent to us as an internet e-mail message. Graphic files require special handling. Once we have your files, we will work with you to ensure everything looks good before we turn it on. If you want to maintain your site elsewhere, we can point to it from the Classes Home Pages here at the AOG, whatever is easiest for you. You also may create your HTML documents using FrontPage, Dream Weaver, or any other HTML editor and upload them to your directory with a user ID and password issued by the AOG Webmaster.
Please read the AOG WWW Policy.
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» DISTRIBUTION LIST VS. LIST SERVER
Typically, we use distribution lists for low-quantity, high-quality messages that would be of direct interest to a great percentage of members of the list. For example, reunion plans would be a good message for a distribution list. Discussions of the merits of walking the area, however, will generate many messages that would indicate a list server should be used. The list server software allows individuals to remove themselves from the stream of messages with an e-mail message containing specific commands to the list server. The AOG address department will manage membership of distribution lists on an exception basis — all will be included unless they ask to be removed.
» CATEGORIES OF DISTRIBUTION LISTS
Distribution Lists for classes currently available fall into one of the following basic categories:
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The lists containing whole classes will be moderated lists to ensure the messages on the list are high quality, low quantity. Moderation will be performed at the AOG or by an individual designated by the list’s leadership. Lists by class or company are typically small, tight-knit groups. On those lists, moderation of messages will be implemented only at the request of the list members. Miscellaneous lists may or may not be moderated depending on the size, composition and level of activity of the list. For guidance on list moderation, see Moderator Guidelines.
Everyone who meets the criteria for the list is added. Each message released through the list server tells the recipient how to get off the list. In all cases, they must send a message to address@aogusma.org with the name of the list from which they want to be removed. Getting back on the list will then require another message to address@aogusma.org.
» MODERATOR GUIDELINES
The AOG distribution lists for classes are all managed using Lyris software. If the name of the list follows the format distroXX followed by @aogusma.org, then the list is actually run as a Listserver which allows you to screen messages before they are posted. The person who screens the message is usually called the “moderator.” This is done to ensure the messages which are sent to the list are high quality and of low volume. If this is done, the maximum number of people will stay on the list. When the lists were initially set up in July of 1998, they were all made to require an approval before a message would be released. The Director, Class Support Program and the VP for Information Systems were put on every list as the moderators, so there would be someone to receive the request for approval for messages sent to the list. As moderators are designated we will relinquish that control. Class Presidents/Chairmen have the ability to post messages to their class list without moderator approval. If Class Presidents/Chairmen would like to become or nominate a moderator, simply send a message to Class-support@aogusma.org or to the Director, Class Support Program.
» APPROVING A MESSAGE — THE MECHANICS
As a moderator, you will receive a preview copy of any message someone other than yourself (or another moderator) sends to the list address. To approve this message for the list, simply hit “reply” and follow the instructions in the message.
Be patient after you send back the preview message. The list server marks these messages as bulk mail with the low priority on the Internet. This means that individually addressed messages will be sent first. Also, if you return the preview message during a high-traffic period when others are also using distribution lists, the messages may take a few hours before being distributed to all.
» APPROVING MESSAGES — THE CONTENT
Here are some rules of thumb which will help you decide if a message should be sent to the list members:
Each message’s content should be directly related to the class. Every message should support class information or efforts in some way.
The message should be relevant to the majority of the people on the list. Using the whole list to get the word out to a small subset will be considered as spam to some folks. Double-check messages to ensure they are complete. If more information is needed but unavailable, recognize that in the message with a note about when the remaining information will be made available to the addressees.
Shorter, to-the-point messages are better than lengthy, wordy messages. Also, use BLUF — bottom line up front. A good subject is the ultimate application of BLUF and it will help the reader get through his/her inbox faster.
Before approving a message, also ensure that the intent is not in opposition to AOG policy (see “WORLD WIDE WEB POLICY,” paragraph 5.).
World Wide Web Policy
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