SWE Mailing Lists

What is a List Serv or Mailing List?

A mailing list is basically a collection of e-mail addresses linked to a single "list" e-mail address. When an individual sends e-mail to the list address (known as posting a message to the list) the message is sent to everyone who has subscribed to the list. This allows for everyone on the list (and therefore has an interest in the topic) to receive e-mail anonymously without exposing their current e-mail address to the world, at least until they respond back to the list with a posting of their own.

The process of adding your name to the list of e-mail addresses is called subscribing to the list. When you make a request to join a list your e-mail address is added to the list and you start receiving messages people send to the list. If you wish to stop receiving messages you must unsubscribe from the list (have your address removed from the list).

Lists have two key attributes: who can post to the list, and who can subscribe to the list.

Lists can be used for multiple purposes, some of which may restrict posting and subscribing. SWE lists normally comprise one or more of the following uses:

• Contact E-mailing Lists for SWE Leaders – In this case a list, which is maintained by a chairperson (or designate), contains the e-mail addresses of committee members or participants. Rather than each participant having to keep track of the current list composition and current e-mail addresses for individuals, all group correspondence can be sent to the list for distribution. These lists are normally closed to outside subscribers, but may allow posting to the list by anyone if the purpose of the list is to gather outside comment or input.

• Conversational Lists - This is a traditional use of a list serv in which a group of individuals send e-mails to the list of voluntary participants who have subscribed to the list. As e-mail volume has increased, use of lists in this manner has become less effective. An alternative to such a list is a web-based threaded group or "Discussion Board". SWE has implemented Discussion Board capabilities as an alternative to generating the large volumes of e-mail that this type of list typically creates. For additional information on Discussion Boards, please click here.

• Announcement Lists – The most common use of a list serv is one in which members voluntarily subscribe to the list in order to receive an occasional newsletter or informational update. Generally these lists are closed to non-subscriber posting or can be moderated by the list owner to make sure SPAM is not posted to the list. Sometimes, an Announcement List may be posted to ONLY by the list owner or designated list members.

• No list should be used to distribute documents or files to large numbers of users. SWE, at its discretion, will provide other web-based solutions for providing access to documents that are to be distributed to large numbers of users.

What Lists are currently available to subscribe to?

Current SWE Lists

Access to the SWE Lists page is password protected and requires you to login with your member service center login to reduce list accessibility to SPAMMERs.

How do I join a mailing list?

The SWE mailing lists are managed using list serv software. You interact with the list serv software by sending commands to the SWE e-mail address, This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it . The command to join a list is known as the subscribe command. The e-mail should have a blank subject line and must have only the following in the body of the e-mail:

subscribe {listname} {subscribername}

where {listname} is the name of the list to which you want to subscribe and {subscribername} is your name (for example, Jane Doe.) Note that regardless of the subscribername entered, you will ONLY BE SUBSCRIBED FOR THE E-MAIL ADDRESS THE MESSAGE COMES FROM.

Some other list serv software packages allow you to specify the e-mail address as part of the subscribe command; SWE’s list serv does not support this to reduce the likelihood that SPAMMERs will subscribe and post unwanted messages to the list.

How do I get myself removed from a mailing list?

Getting yourself removed from a SWE mailing list is called unsubscribing. As you did when you subscribed, you send an e-mail to the This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it . In order to unsubscribe successfully, you MUST send this e-mail from the same account that you used when you subscribed to the list. The e-mail should have a blank subject line and must have only the following in the body of the e-mail:

unsubscribe {listname}

where {listname} is the name of the list from which you wish to unsubscribe.

The list serv will send you an e-mail confirming a successful unsubscribe.

How do I remove myself from a mailing list if I subscribed using an alias (under the previous list serv system) or no longer have access to the e-mail account I subscribed under?

Send an e-mail to owner-{listname}@swe.org (where {listname} is the name of the list in question) requesting that you be unsubscribed and specifying the e-mail address that is to be removed.

I tried to remove myself from a mailing list and got a message with the subject line "Unsuccessful Unsubscribe".

This message means the list serv software was unable to match the e-mail address you sent your unsubscribe request from to an e-mail address existing in the list serv. This can occur for several reasons. First, you may have originally subscribed from one e-mail address but attempted to unsubscribe from another -- for example, if you originally subscribed from your company e-mail but tried to unsubscribe by sending an e-mail from a personal account. In this instance you will want to reattempt your unsubscribe command from your other e-mail account. A second reason may be because you originally subscribed using an alias or an e-mail account to which you no longer have access. If this second scenario is the case, send an e-mail to owner-{listname}@swe.org requesting that you be unsubscribed and specifying the e-mail address that is to be removed.

How do I find out if I’m on a mailing list?

simply add yourself back in with the subscribe procedures above. Keep in mind that you could be on the list with a different e-mail address than you tried to unsubscribe from.

How do I send a message to the mailing list?

To send a message to a list simply address your e-mail to {listname}@swe.org where {listname} is the name of the list.

It is good netiquette to sign your e-mail messages and list your e-mail address at the end of the message so list readers can easily respond to your message.

How do I get additional help as a list user?

• Send a message to This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it . In the body of the message type only the word "help" without quotation marks to receive a return e-mail with a short summary of commands and procedures.

• Contact owner-{listname}@swe.org where {listname} is the list you have questions about. This mail will go to a real person who is the list owner and can tell you more about the purpose of the list as well as assist you with basic list commands.

• If you do not receive a response from the list owner, send an e-mail to This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it who may be able to assist you.

What are the basic protocols for using a list serv?

When you post to a list, put your name and e-mail address at the bottom of your message so that others may reach you privately if they need to.

Be careful to send subscribe and unsubscribe messages to the proper e-mail address, This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it , not the list serv e-mail address itself! If you are having trouble understanding how to subscribe or unsubscribe, contact the list owner at owner-{listname}@swe.org where {listname} is the name of the list you’re having trouble with. This e-mail will go to a real person who can assist you.

Keep to the topic of the list so the number of messages posted to the list remains manageable.

If you change e-mail addresses, don’t forget to unsubscribe your old e-mail address from any lists you might have joined.

On occasion you may post a message to the list and get back a message saying the e-mail could not be delivered to a specific individual. This is a bounced message and typically happens when a subscriber changes her e-mail adress but forgets to unsubscribe from the list. If this happens, simply forward the bounced e-mail to the list owner at owner-{listname}@swe.org where {listname} is the name of the list you had posted to. The list owner can then remove the problem e-mail address from the subscription list.

What are the SWE Terms and Conditions for list serv use?

What do I do to request creation of a new list serv?

Request a new list serv

I am a list owner (administrator). Is there additional information available to help me administer my list?

SWE List Serv Administrator FAQ

To become familiar with typical tasks and settings a list owner needs to know, please see the Quick Start List Serv Guide. Comprehensive information on SWE list servs is also available in the SWE List Serv Administration Documentation . The Quick Start Guide and Administration Documentation provide detailed instructions on how to use the administrative web interface to subscribe and unsubscribe individuals, and to modify list serv settings to best meet the goals of your list serv. Please contact This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it for additional assistance