A mailing list is a technology that transfers e-mail from one list member all other members of a list. The transfer and the list itself is managed by special types of software or through a web-based interface wherein activities for the mailing list can be manipulated by a list manager or owner. It comes in forms of journals, digests, discussion groups and announcements (or newsletters).
The importance of the mailing list lies in the fact that it allows one person to communicate with many people all at the same time. On the reverse, it allows any person listed on the mailing list access to the information solicited by other members on the list.
Looking back, we will recall that POLISCY needed an inexpensive technology that would allow communication among members and between officers and the members of the organization. The officers of the organization decided to implement a mailing list in the form of a discussion group to supplement its operations in the hopes of fulfilling the goals and objectives that they have set out for the organization.
Implementation and maintenance of the mailing list is inexpensive both for the officers and for the members. Internet companies such as Yahoo! offer mailing list services for free on the Internet! (Yahoo! Groups). POLISCY used this company's mailing list service for the organization. The process of implementation required the moderator to accomplish some registration forms online, indicating a name for the new mailing list. After completing all requirements of the server, the moderator sent out invitations to members of POLISCY. Recipients of the invitation have the option of accepting or rejecting the invitation. Upon subscription to the mailing list, the member can now send and receive messages from the mailing list.