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CalSPRA ListServ

One of the most coveted benefits of membership is the ListServ, a quick way to broadcast information or ask a question within the organization. The ListServ is a network of subscribers who can post a single e-mail that is sent to all who are a part of the system (currently more than 140 CalSPRA members are on the ListServ). The wealth of information available through this tool is immeasurable, and the opportunities to learn are infinite. The ListServ is monitored by Tony Ellis at the the Contra Costa County Office of Education and is strictly for those who are CalSPRA members.
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ListServ FAQs

What is a ListServ and why do I want to join one?

A ListServ enables you to send an e-mail message to one address and have that e-mail message broadcast to everyone on a particular e-mail list. CalSPRA has operated a ListServ to facilitate communication among members since November 1996. CalSPRA's ListServ currently has 145+ participants. 

What do I need to participate?

All you need is an e-mail account. You may use your school district e-mail account, a private account with a provider like AOL, or an online, Web-based account with a provider like Yahoo or Hotmail. 

Must I be a CalSPRA member to participate on the ListServ?

Yes. 

What kinds of things can be posted on the ListServ?

First of all, the ListServ is great for sharing resources. Describe your new publications and let CalSPRA members request copies. Share newspaper articles, World Wide Web sites, great speakers, PR ideas, and survey instruments -- we can all learn from each other.  Secondly, the ListServ provides a forum to have friendly conversations with your colleagues. From writing grants to explaining SAT scores, somebody in CalSPRA has been there, done that, and will be happy tell you about it. Pooling our collective experience, talent, and wisdom (and, yes, borrowing and adapting each other's best work) helps us all do a better job. Some excellent guidelines appear at the bottom of the page.

Can I attach documents to my e-mail messages?

Given the number of people using the ListServ, anything other than very short attachments are not recommended.  If formatting is not an issue, paste the text of your attachment into the body of your e-mail message.  If formatting is important, post the document on your school district's Web site and provide the URL. 

Are messages posted to the ListServ private?

We should always bear in mind that we request confidentiality of our members, but cannot guarantee that each member will honor that confidentiality. If it becomes apparent that a member of the listserve is not willing to respect that confidentiality, his/her listserve privileges may be suspended.

Does the ListServ run 24 hours a day?

Yes.

Finally, some excellent ListServ guidelines...

1. The listserv is for the use of CalSPRA members who want to know the news from CDE, get help with a communications problem they're facing or find out early about a school issue that might be headed their way. We also use it as a way to let you know the doings of CalSPRA and its members.
2. It is confidential and though you may use news from it to stun your superintendent with how proactive you are and warn him/her of things on the horizon, the content is not to be forwarded blindly to non-members. As we all know from this past year, serious ramifications can happen if this confidentiality is not honored (especially when the news is embargoed). Abuse of this will lead to your listserv membership being dropped.
3. The listserv is for non-commercial and non-political use. No member is to use it to pursue a personal agenda or profit from its use. Abuse of this can also lead to your listserv membership being dropped.
4. All that said, we are a friendly, collegial group. If you have a question to ask or an answer to share, please post it. Just remember when you hit "reply" its going to over 200 people (and they can include supes, board members, neighbors or your boss) so think about it.
5. Because of the size of the listserv, if you ever want to share something please try to keep its size to a minimum. Better yet, if you can refer people to your Web site with a link and they can download it themselves-- even better!
6. And finally, if the volume coming over your email is overwhelming you can mark your mail as 'digest" and only receive the messages once a day. And, if for some reason you find yourself not receiving any of them, please contact Tony Ellis, tellis@cccoe.k12.ca.us or myself. The listserv will disable your address automatically if it gets too many bounces-- either your mailbox is full or your district is reading the listserv as spam.

Know that this is a low tech operation. Contra Costa County hosts the CalSPRA listserv and the Web site but if Tony or I aren't sitting at our computers we're not going to see a message from you. So it does no good to SCREAM:) And, although we might know that srvusd.k12.ca.us and srvusd.net are the same, the listserv doesn't and you will get a "no post allowed from non-member". We can add an extra address for you if your agency has changed your domain name or if you sometimes respond from your personal email (this is how some members get around their district's spam filters). You just have to remember to let us know.

Welcome to the listserv. We look forward to "hearing" from you! Joan Ski