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What is GIFT-PL?

GIFT-PL is an e-mail distribution list. The list is maintained by a program called a list server. The server does two things: it holds e-mail addresses of subscribers and then accepts messages and routes them to subscribers. There is no charge for subscribing to or using the list server, other than charges you ordinarily incur for access to the Internet.

How does it work?

Subscribers to GIFT-PL send an e-mail message to the list server which automatically resends the message to all subscribers on the list. Each subscriber is then able to read the message and respond either to the entire list or to the sender only. Sometimes activity is relatively low and other times a specific topic can cause a long series of messages, inquiries and answers.

To Subscribe to GIFT-PL via the Web:

You can subscribe to GIFT-PL by visiting here. Click on Join or Leave GIFT-PL the List (or change settings), then enter your e-mail address and name and click Join the List. Your subscription request will be forwarded to the list owner so that your PPP membership status can be verified. If you are a member, the list owner will add you to the list and you will receive a welcome message from listserv@iupui.edu. Please note that confirmation is not immediate, as some time is required for the list owner to respond to subscription requests. In general, your subscription will be confirmed in 24 hours.

Note that you can also perform most of the following e-mail commands from the web link provided above. This link is also provided at the bottom of each message you receive from GIFT- PL.

To Subscribe to GIFT-PL via e-mail:

address: listserv@iupui.edu
subject: leave blank
message: subscribe gift-pl Your Name

To Send a Message to All Other Subscribers:

address: gift-pl@iupui.edu
subject: brief and descriptive of message content
message: questions, suggestions, job postings, good and bad experiences, or anything else you'd like to share with colleagues.

When you use the "reply" function to answer a GIFT-PL message, your reply will be sent to all subscribers. If you really only want to reply to one person, be sure to create a new message using that person's e-mail address, which you can usually find in the header of the message to which you're replying.

To Temporarily Stop Mail Delivery via e-mail:

address: listserv@iupui.edu
subject: leave blank
message: set gift-pl nomail (to resume delivery, "set gift-pl mail")

To Receive a Digest via e-mail:

(one message containing all postings for the day)
address: listserv@iupui.edu
subject: leave blank
message: set gift-pl digest (to resume receiving individual messages, "set gift-pl mail")

To Receive a Current List of GIFT-PL Subscribers via e-mail:

address: listserv@iupui.edu
subject: leave blank
message: review gift-pl

To Cancel Your Subscription via e-mail:

address: listserv@iupui.edu
subject: leave blank
message: signoff gift-pl

To Search the GIFT-PL Archives:

Go to www.listserv.iupui.edu/archives/gift-pl.html and click on Search the Archives.

To Contact the LIST Owner:

TWO CAUTIONS!

• The volume of e-mail you receive from a list server is theoretically unlimited. Although GIFT-PL has yet to generate huge amounts of traffic, it is common for other list servers to pile up dozens of messages for their subscribers over a weekend. This may be a consideration if you are using an ISP that charges for each message delivered to you. Check with your carrier to determine if it's possible to view the "subject" of messages without being charged, and then choose to receive (and pay for) only those you want to read.
• You should be aware that nothing is private on GIFT-PL. Anyone who is also subscribed to the list will be able to see that you are a subscriber and read your messages to the list. In addition, keep in mind that your message may wind up stored on hundreds of computers around the world.