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Moonlady News FAQs
The resolution for some of these FAQs involves going to the Moonlady News page at the YahooGroups web site, or to your MyGroups page at YahooGroups. To do this, you have to register as a member of YahooGroups, just the usual web-site registration song and dance: you fill out a short form and get a password.
List Background FAQs
Notice Format FAQs
FAQ #1: Who in the heck are you?
I'm Amy Martin and have lived in Dallas almost all my life. I now reside in the eastern part near White Rock Lake with my husband. Scooter Smith, and a number of critter companions. Fifteen of those years were spent as a journalist based in this city. I started the music and nightclub coverage for the Dallas Observer. After that I was an entertainment reviewer and feature writer for the late, lamented Dallas Times Herald, and an essayist for KERA's Morning Edition.
Then I got into environmental journalism – better for my health than the entertainment beat! I started as a recycling columnist for The Dallas Morning News, and later on as a contributing editor and columnist for the national environmental magazine Garbage (now RIP).
I think of Moonlady News as being like a newspaper. You scan the subject lines in your inbox (or digest email) like one does a newspaper, reading only those that interest you. On any day you'll get a variety of stuff: event notices, classified ads, public service info, travel featurettes, etc. So it's true: Old journalists never die -- they just get their own list serve.
Old journalists also hope to grow up to be book authors. I was one of four writers, including Jeff Davis, in John McMurphy's book, "Speaking of Mother Earth," published a few years ago. Now I'm developing a couple of book projects. One is a personal story of my healing through the divine mothers of Mexico, and the other is about the pre-Native American earthwork builders and their animist philosophy. A few years ago my husband and I took on a set of abandoned farms northeast of Dallas that we are rehabilitating into wildlife habitat. That, too, will become a book. Someday.
When not writing, I produce seasonal gatherings with an informal and diverse group of associates. I used to do a number of events each year, but now just focus on Winter SolstiCelebrations. In 2007, I and several key volunteers formed a nonprofit group called Earth Rhythms to present the events. We’ve now branched out into Moonlady Fests every spring and fall, a concert and lecture series called Earth Rhythms Presents, and a green cemetery project.
I also was associated with several drumming enterprises, such as a Tuesday night drum circle I hosted at the Cosmic Cafe, but now just drum for fun.
For the full scoop – oh gosh, there’s more?! -- see About the Moderator.
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FAQ #2: How did Moonlady News get started?
It began in the late 1990s as me obsessively collecting email addresses to send notices about my seasonal events, women's and drum activities. I couldn't have done it without my Eudora Pro software program. After a while, I figured since I had a system set up that I might as well send other folks' notices, too. Soon a community web had been spun.
In the beginning it was called the Goddess List, because almost all members were women. But I started hearing from wives who said their husbands' were reading their emails on the sly. Evidently the dudes couldn't bring themselves to subscribe to something called the Goddess List. So I played the semantic game and changed the name.
In April 2000, when the list went over 250 members, it became difficult to manage, so I switched it to eGroups, a list-serve management service for special-interest groups. In 2001, eGroups was absorbed by YahooGroups.
After requests by members, I split off the hand drum and percussion notices into BigDBeat. There are two other lists: SeasonsCRC for only notices on local seasonal and lunar events, and Death Matters, a national list on dying, death, funerals and grief.
By mid 2007 there were over 2700 Moonlady News members, and a few more join each week.
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FAQ #3: How much time does it take you to do the Moonlady News list?
This is an interesting question and I wondered why I'd never asked it before myself. Then I realized that I was afraid to know the answer. Sure enough… yowsa!
The answer is: at least two hours a day! And folks, I am very fast and efficient on a computer. I do it in dibs and dabs throughout the day and had never added it up. But I kept track of it for a week and averaged it out.
Where does the time go?
Surprisingly, most of the time goes into correspondence: rerouting misdirected emails, dealing with list members' subscriptions gone awry, problems with incomplete notices, and answering a myriad of questions.
Next comes processing emails, which takes a lot or a little time depending on how considerate people are. An improperly formatted notice* takes two to ten times as long to process compared to one that is done right. (*Proper format is simply a good headline and the inclusion of your email address at the top of the text.)
Maintenance takes some time every week: cleaning out my in and out boxes and trash, and maintaining the files at the YahooGroups web site.
And finally, quite a bit of time is spent generating notices for the list, including FAQ notices like this.
The time it takes to do Moonlady News does negatively impact my ability to generate income. I hope folks understand why I now request fees, especially when my efforts help others make income, as well as donations from readers.
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FAQ #6: Why should I include my name and email address in the text?
Although your name and email address are visible when the message is delivered to list members, when they forward that email your your name and email address often disappear, depending on their browser system. Make it easy on people – include it right up top.
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FAQ #7: Why must the event date be included in the subject line?
If I can see the date in the headline, I can tell that the email needs to go out by a certain day. Notices are run in the order they are received. But I will boot an event notice up the que at times.
Plus people tell me they appreciate event dates being in the headline. They especially like the day of the week included.
If I have to read the message to discern the date, it greatly increases the time it takes me to do the list. And if I don't have time to fix it, your notice could be delayed.
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FAQ #8: Why is there a length limit on email notices?
I ask people to keep messages to two screens in length. Exceptions are made for the lists of recommendations and some non-profit notices.
The reason: I get an earful from those on Digest format (in which all messages in a day are combined in one big email) that long messages make it hard to scan.
Also, few things are more precious to people than their time. Save them time and you've won a loyal patron. Short emails do just that. For events, people want an email they can easily print, preferably on one page. This is important!
This means you have to prioritize your info. Put the who-what-where-when-how much at the top. Synopsize the event and featured performer/presenter. Then invite people to send for more info, or better yet, refer them to a web site.
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FAQ #9: Why did the email I submitted look so odd after it was sent?
Emails works best with ASCii text, which means anything you can create on a keyboard using the shift key to modify fonts (rather than the option or control keys). Create an email that way and you know it will look the same as when you sent it out, no matter what types of computer receive it.
To avoid having your lines of text break, (e.g. when you're reading an email and every other line of text is only 1 or 2 words), use around a 12 point type and set your email message format for 50-60 characters per line.
But YahooGroups is getting less strict on what they’ll allow. Text enhancements like large letters, centered text, borders, photos can be included, as can be small photos and graphics.
However, sometimes they go through just fine and other times come out scrambled. I wish I knew why. Folks tell me that when they post their notice at the web site rather than by email YG messes with their formatting less.
Try this technique. Create the document in a word-processing program with all your text enhancements and graphics. Highlight [control/command A] the document and copy it [control/command C]. Then go to your browser and open a blank email, or go to the posting page at the YG web site (same as above), and paste [control/command V] the whole thing in. Create a headline (see Easy 1-2-3) and you’re good to go.
Frequently the problem is whether HTML programming was used. Some people set their browser to not read HTML programming – it’s a spam-control thing – so they won’t see anything at all.
Cover all bases if you post graphics-heavy notices and include a URL to a web page where the info is also posted.
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FAQ #10: Why won't my daily digest do all the cool things my friend's does?
AYahooGroups recently spiffed up the daily digest form of Moonlady News. That's the format where all the messages in a 24 hour (more or less) period are combined into one long email. The subject lines are compiled into at table of contents at the top followed by the notices.
It used to be you had to scroll scroll scroll to get through all the messages. Finding them in the swath of text was hard.
Now you can just click on the one you're interested in and go right to it. A nifty "back to top" link takes you back.
BUT...
That only works if you have your YahooGroups preferences set to receive Fully Formatted emails. Look for a link at the bottom of any Moonlady News email to click and switch formats.
Or since you’re here, go to http://groups.yahoo.com/mygroups. To access that page, you will need to sign up with YahooGroups if you haven't already.
All your YahooGroups will be listed. Click on "Moonlady News."
At the very top left in teeny type you'll see "Edit Membership." It's above the blue bar that says "Moonlady News."
Click on that, scroll down to "Message Preference" and click on "Fully Featured."
Ta da!
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FAQ #11: What determines the order they are run?
Notices submitted to Moonlady News are run in the order that they are received. That’s the only fair way to do it.
It can take from 1 to 4 days to run, due to a backlog of notices. The backlog gets worse when I go out of town, which I often do, so send dated notices in early! The number one complaint I get is that someone did not receive the notice in time.
As for sequencing of notices the Digest mode, YahooGroups will often shuffle the notices differently from the order I send them out.
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FAQ #12: How often can my notice run? How come you won't run it once a week?
Dozens of groups and hundreds of people send notices through Moonlady News. If I allowed everyone who desired it to run their notices weekly, I'd be sending about 50 Moonlady News messages a day! I try to cap the number of notices at 20 per day. So I have to place limits.
Notices for services, shops and spaces for rent are limited to once a month.
Event notices must be spaced at least 2 weeks apart. If an event is having trouble getting attendance, I'll make some exceptions.
Items for sale run one time only.
If it is a long event, such as a weekend or day-long workshop, you should submit a notice several weeks before and then again closer to the date.
Those hosting weekly events are suggested to submit notices once a month, perhaps every two weeks if the event is just getting off the ground.
You must resubmit the notice each time you want it run.
The feedback I get from folks is that they really like MONTHLY calendars. Easy to P&P, or Print & Pin, to bulletin boards. That's a HUGE plus. If you send a lot of individual notices, they can't do that.
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FAQ #13: Why can only Moonlady News members submit notices?
First of all, a Moonlady News member is simply someone who has signed up for the list and is receiving notices.
So why is Moonlady News for members only? Because if someone is not on the list, they are usually unaware of the correct format and address to use. Invariably, the notices submitted by non-members are in the wrong format and create lots of work for me. If it is NOT concerning a profit-making enterprise, you can submit a notice for a friend – if it is in the right format/etc. I prefer to make exceptions to the members-only rule for charitable and educational causes only. But you can always ask.
However, here's the real reason:
Moonlady News isn't just a list serve. It's a community structured on reciprocal giving. I send members' notices for free (except for profit-making enterprises which are requested to pay a token fee). But members are expected to give in return. Participate in the charity drives. Help find homes for animals. Support the SolstiCelebrations. Compile a list of replies to a request for information. You get the drift. If you are unable to give in that way, you are encouraged to give me money and I'll give that to a different local non-profit each month.
If someone is not in the Moonlady News network or web, then it can't be reciprocal. If you request something – rent my house, buy my stuff, attend my event – you must be on the list to give in return.
Speaking of reciprocal, since I am here for you for at least an hour every day, I expect something from you in return, namely to read the "MSG from AMY" emails. So I appreciate you doing just that – thanks!
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