Listserv Etiquette

The Legislative Information and Communication (LINCS) listserv is an e-mail forum and information exchange for legislative staff who have partisan or nonpartisan public information, public relations, or media responsibilities. LINCS listserv subscribers post messages to the list that are then sent out (reflected) to all other subscribers to create an electronic discussion group.

NCSL staff use the LINCS listserv to distribute the LINCS Newsletter and to post meeting announcements, agendas, and other association information. Discussions on the LINCS listserv should revolve around legislative information and communication topics. Some subscribers have posted survey questions on the listserv.

Here are some hints on how to properly use the LINCS listserv. They will help keep the group user-friendly for everyone.

When sending your message:

Think before you press "REPLY". Remember that when you press "reply" to a listserv message, you are sending your message to the entire listserv, not just to the author.

To reply just to the author, address your email to the individual's personal Email address.

• Use descriptive titles in the subject line.
• Be brief. As you know, legislative information and communication staff have busy schedules and may not have time to read your version of War and Peace. Also, the computer police like small e-mails because they take up less space.
• Include your name and your e-mail address. This will enable someone to respond directly to you, instead of the entire listserv.
• When responding to a posting, summarize the message to which you are responding in the first part of your message.
• Please be considerate of others. For example: do not SHOUT (e.g. use ALL CAPS) at people; do not post message correcting someone else's spelling or grammar; be careful with humor and sarcasm as e-mail is easily misinterpreted. In short, remember the golden rule.
• Proofread your message. Once a message is sent, it can't be retrieved. So, make sure you proofread it before pressing "send."
• Be patient. There is a learning curve for people who have not used a mailing list before. If you want to post a response to an error, send them a message using their personal e-mail address. Do not post your response to their error to the entire listserv.
• Most importantly...never forget that you are communicating with human beings, not computers.

Subscribe

To subscribe to the LINCS Listserv, send an e-mail message to press-room@ncsl.org. In the body of the email, please identify yourself, your legislative affliliation, your address and phone number. Please make note if you would like to receive the LINCS newsletter and information on the annual Professional Development Seminar for legislative information and communication staff. You will receive an e-mail message confirming your subscription and describing how to post messages and unsubscribe.

Posting Messages

To post a message to the LINCS Listserv, send an e-mail message to LINCS-ALL-L@NCSL.ORG with your questions or comments about legislative information and communication (describe the message briefly in the subject field). Please include your name and contact information at the bottom of every message so others can contact you individually if they choose. Your message will be sent to all subscribers on the list.
Remember that replies to messages posted on the LINCS listserv will also be sent to all other subscribers. To reply privately to the person who posted a message, do not reply to the listserv message, but send a new message to the sender's personal e-mail address.

To Unsubscribe

To be taken off the LINCS listserv, send an e-mail message to LINCS-ALL-L-REQUEST@ NCSL.ORG and in the body of the message put only one word: unsubscribe.

For more information, contact: Jon Kuhl, NCSL Staff Liaison.