INFO: HWG-Business Admin FAQ 01/07/00

Hello, Business Members: :-)

This FAQ is sent to you each Friday to keep you up to date
with HWG information as well as to introduce the List Guide 
Program to our new members.  Keep the most current weekly 
FAQ in a convenient location for easy reference to the latest
Guild resources and information.

A happy, healthy and prosperous 2000!

Judith Kallos
List Guide/HWG-Business
Asst. List Guide Manager

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HWG-Business Administrative FAQ
Last Updated: 01/07/00
***************************************

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CONTENTS
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1.  Mailing List Reminders
2.  What are List Guides?
3.  Who are the HWG-Business List Guides?
4.  Can I subscribe to the list without getting so much E-Mail?
5.  How do I subscribe and unsubscribe?
6.  How do I send a message to the list?
7.  What if my messages are not posting to the list?
8.  What is the HWG-Business mailing list?
9.  What topics do NOT belong on HWG-Business?
10. What other lists are available?


1.  Mailing List Reminders
=====================================================

If you have just joined the HWG Business List, Welcome!  Our List is 
content rich and filled with good advice and wisdom based on the many 
experienced members on hand to share their experiences and ideas.

Before you post to the List, check the archives first.  The archives are 
located at:

<http://www.hwg.org/lists/archives.html>

Search for the topic that is of interest to you.  You then are able to view 
posts on the topic and are able to catch up with the Lists previous 
discussions.  Certainly, if questions still exist and you want to bounce 
some ideas off the List, feel free.  You will not be left without answers, 
possibilities, alternatives and suggestions! Your cooperation will help 
keep the List fresh with new conversation.

The HWG has put the quality of the Lists in each members hands.  
Let's work together to make this List one of valuable resources, and 
exhilarating debate for all members.  

2.  What are List Guides?
=====================================================

The List Guide Program was created to assist members on the HWG 
Mailing Lists to get the most from the lists. We perform the task of helping 
the lists get and keep quality, valuable, valid content. In addition, List
Guides provide assistance to all who request it and help enforce the HWG 
policies for the mailing lists.  Information on the List Guide program can be 
found at http://www.hwg.org/lists/intro.html .

We are here, always in the background, to assist you with your questions 
and concerns.  We do contact members, via private email, when we are 
concerned about a post that may have infringed on the Actionable Rules 
located at: <http://www.hwg.org/lists/rules.html>.   Please understand we 
will always err on the side off caution when it comes to these 10 rules and 
appreciate your understanding in this regard.  We do not _generally_ 
enforce Netiquette Guidelines.  

If you have a problem with what someone else has posted to the list, then 
you may freely respond to them in private email.  List Guides will address 
any violations of the HWG's Mailing List's Actionable Rules via private
email.  Refusal to abide by the Actionable rules can result in a member 
being removed from the mailing list permanently or for a period of time 
depending on the nature of the disturbance the member has caused.

The List Guide program is authorized and endorsed by the HTML Writers 
Guild Governing Board. If you have a problem with an action taken by a 
List Guide you may address that with their manager(s) by sending mail to 
lg-manager(at)hwg.org .


3.  Who are the HWG-Business List Guides?
======================================================

Individuals Currently Volunteering for HWG-Business:

HWG-Business List Guides:  <lg-business(at)hwg.org>
    Christopher Higgs   
    Judith Kallos 
    Nick Perkins
   
   
You can email the Business List Guides at <lg-business(at)hwg.org> with
any questions you may have in regards to the HWG-Business List.


4.  How do I subscribe and unsubscribe?
=====================================================

When sending out a subscribe or unsubscribe message, subject
information is NOT needed.  Do NOT include your E-Mail address in 
the subscribe message.  If you have any problems with subscribing 
or unsubscribing, please send E-Mail to owner-hwg-business(at)hwg.org 
or to the List Guides <lg-business(at)hwg.org> .

To unsubscribe from the HWG Business List
you need to send a message to:

hwg-business-request(at)hwg.org
In the body of the message type: unsubscribe

For information about subscribing to the list, please see:
http://www.hwg.org/lists/hwg-business/index.html#1

For information about UNsubscribing to the list, please see:
http://www.hwg.org/lists/hwg-business/index.html#4


5.  Can I subscribe to the list without getting so much E-Mail?
======================================================

A "digest" version of the list is available. By subscribing to the digest
version of the hwg-business mailing list, you receive a group of posts 
in one E-Mail message. That way, instead of getting 20 messages a day 
from the list, you would get 1 or 2 which contain all of the posts from that 
day. You can still participate in the hwg-business list like a regular 
subscriber, you just receive your messages in a more compact manner.

For information about subscribing to the Digest version, please see:
http://www.hwg.org/lists/hwg-business/index.html#2

For information about UNsubscribing to the Digest version, please see:
http://www.hwg.org/lists/hwg-business/index.html#5


6.  How do I send a message to the list?
=====================================================

Each list has a different feel and different general community rules. 
Please spend some time listening in ("lurking") before posting in 
order to get a feel for the way in which conversations take place.

To send a message to the hwg-business list, send mail to:
   hwg-business(at)hwg.org


7.  What if my message is not posting to the list?
======================================================

First troubleshoot the following items:

*Did you subscribe to the Business List and receive confirmation the 
subscription was processed?

*Are you sending your post to: hwg-business(at)hwg.org?

*Are you sending using the email address you originally used to subscribe
to the list?

*Does the email you subscribed with have an autoresponder attached to it? 

It is not uncommon for members to change email addresses and inadvertently 
forget that the "new" address was not the one they used when they subscribed 
to the list.  The new address would not be recognized by the mail server and 
therefore your messages would not be forwarded to the list.  

Also, autoresponders and ISP problems that create bounced messages may
cause the list's filters to automatically unsubscribe you from the list.  If
after
checking all the above possibilities out you still are experiencing
difficulties,
email the List Guides for assistance.


8.  What is the HWG-Business mailing list?
======================================================

The HWG-Business list is used by the HTML Writers Guild to discuss 
matters related to the business/financial/marketing aspects of running 
an HTML shop. Discussions about contracts, ethics, copyright, marketing, 
sales techniques, etc. are most appropriate. 

The Frequently Asked Questions for the HWG-Business List is located at:

<http://www.hwg.org/lists/hwg-business/faq.html>

 
9.  What topics do NOT belong on HWG-Business?
======================================================

Messages sent to the entire list that are just "Thanks for your help"
messages, should be sent privately, not through the list. Although it is a 
courteous thing to do, it is best to keep messages like that off of the
list. If you want to, when you post a request for information or help, you 
can thank members "in advance".  You may notice that some members 
write "TIA" in their messages, which means "Thanks In Advance".

If you would like to have your web site looked at by other members of the 
Guild and get feedback from them, please post requests to the hwg-critique 
list. Requests for feedback (critiques) are not allowed on the hwg-business 
list.

Discussion of pricing is NOT allowed on any HWG Mailing Lists. More 
information about the HWG's policy on pricing discussion can be  found at: 
<http://www.hwg.org/faqs/priceFAQ.html> .   If you ever have a question in 
regards to the pricing policy, please do not hesitate to ask one of the List 
Guides at lg-business(at)hwg.org *before* posting.

Finally, discussion about the operation or administration of the HTML 
Writers Guild should not be posted on the hwg-business list.  There is a 
Membership Suggest Box area on the HWG Web site for you to make
constructive and helpful suggestions directly to the Governing Board.  This
service also gives you the opportunity to submit your ideas on what kind of 
services you would like to see from the Guild, your feedback on current 
Guild projects, and ideas for new Guild programs. 

<http://www.hwg.org/opcenter/suggest/>

To ensure that members feel their needs are being met, the Governing 
Board has created a new position on the Board, Guild Ombudsman. 
The role of the Ombudsman is to assist in resolving any difficulties 
between members and the Guild's administration, and to serve as a 
primary contact for members who want to make their opinions known.

Note that the role of Ombudsman is not a general complaint desk; 
each HWG program has a way to present problems and those should
be used first -- for example, questions about the Logo program can go
to the Logo manager. The Ombudsman's role is to resolve problems if 
you feel the normal methods haven't worked to your satisfaction.

Frank Boumphrey has been appointed to the position of Ombudsman, 
to serve from now until the Board's annual meeting in February. If you 
would like to speak to him about any questions regarding Guild 
services, you may write to him at:

mailto:ombudsman(at)hwg.org

As always, the members are what make the Guild strong -- we're here 
to help you!


10.  What other mailing lists are available?
======================================================

The HWG offers a plethora of list selections for members to choose from 
depending on their areas of interest.  For an overview of all the general and 
topic specific lists offered by the HWG please visit:

<http://www.hwg.org/lists/mailinglists.html>

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