Electronic 4-H
List-serve   Safety   Web sites  

• E-mail
• Individual
• List-Serves
• Web Based
• Web sites
• Weblogs/Blogs, News Groups

• Options for those without computers
• Print-outs from those with computers to those without
• Phone calls from those with computers to those without
• Access public websites (no e-mail required) from libraries or schools
• Get free e-mail account from providers like www.hotmail.com to use from any computer with internet connection. Use to access e-mail and websites or blogs that require a subscription.

E-mail

If you receive individual e-mail addresses when involved in 4-H activities, please ask permission from individuals before using for personal use.

When e-mailing to several people, consider using a blind cc (bcc) to protect e-mails from unintended use.

Li-Adams 4-H List-serves:
A message to a list-serve goes to ALL the subscribers at once. Only the sender’s e-mail shows up in the “header” – recipient’s addresses are protected by the server. Subscriber must send from the e-mail account provided to the Extension Office.

Purpose of a 4-H list-serve

• share announcements
• information or
• discuss topics or issues related to 4-H.

l-a4h@lyris.cahnrs.wsu.edu       General Lincoln - Adams 4-H List-Serve. The Extension Office
                                          subscribes leaders (who list e-mail address) when they enroll.
                                          ANYONE can ask to subscribe by e-mailing robertk@wsu.edu
                                          People can UN-subscribe at anytime by e-mailing robertk@wsu.edu  

l-ahorse4h@lyris.cahnrs.wsu.edu  Lincoln-Adams 4-H HORSE List Serve. The Extension Office
                                             subscribes one person from each horse project member or leader’s
                                             when family when they enroll. ANYONE can ask to subscribe or
                                             UN-subscribe by e-mailing robertk@wsu.edu  

• Subject Line: Use a short but descriptive subject line in your message headers.
  Some people don’t open messages without subject lines. Others use "subject" to store/file messages. It’s ok to edit the subject line in reply – especially if you change the main topic.  
  
  
• Replies will go just to the person who sent the message you are responding to.
  If you want a “discussion” (all subscribers see your reply) then insert the "list-serve address" after “to” in the e-mail header.  
  
  
• Include “Who,”  “What,”  “When,” and “Where” in your message ! Not everyone knows what you're writing about!
  
  
• Avoid the use of the 4-H list-serve to promote a business, commercial service, product, or trade name.
  If you mention a non-4-H event that might be of interest or reference a trade-marked product - include a brief statement:
  Provided for information & eduational purposes. No 4-H endorsement is intended or implied.
  
  
• Attachments: If possible, avoid sending attachments (especially large ones) to a list-serve.
  - Send flyers or extra info ahead of time to Karen to post to the web. Include web link in message.
  - Include overview including contact info in e-mail message.
  - Some readers can't open attachments or won't follow links to web.
  - Describe attachments in e-mail so people will know they're safe to open.
  
  
• Some flies, such as MS Publisher, will not open on computers with a different version.
  
  
• HTML (fancy lettering, sizes, bold, graphics, active web and e-mail links, backgrounds, etc.) may not display in some peoples e-mail.
  - Some people may get a bunch of code instead of the nicely formatted piece that you sent!
  - large graphics – especially animated ones – may crash some systems!!
  - Anti-spam programs may block e-mails with lots of HTML formatting or web site links.  
  - Avoid using punctuation immediately before or after a web address (URL).
    The address will not work if pasted with an extra comma or period.
  

Sharing: Be sure everyone in your group has access to information!
4-H leaders should especially make sure that ALL members receive important announcements (deadlines, rules, policy)!  Delegate an adult or teen leader in your group/program to forward/provide information to individuals. Request replies, make phone calls and/or snail mail or hand deliver print outs.