I have recently created a Yahoo!
Group for anyone interested in the San Juan 23.
I enjoy participating in the SJ23 Internet Fleet and appreciate the
efforts of those that maintain the web site. I do not wish to re-create the
wheel or ruffle any feathers but Yahoo! Groups offer some features that do not
seem to be currently available through the Internet Fleet web site or
majordomo e-mail list unless I am just missing something (it has happened
before!). I see the new Group as an enhancement to the communications
capabilities available to SJ 23 enthusiasts, not as a
replacement.
The San Juan 23 Yahoo! Group, http://groups.yahoo.com/group/sanjuan23
allows members to interact on several levels. The only potentially
objectionable issue, for some people, is that you must register with Yahoo!
and the group pages contain a few advertisements (typical of all free web
forums, my internet security software blocks them so it’s not an issue for me
at all). Registering with Yahoo! is free and easy and I have never found that
I receive any unsolicited mail, etc. as a result of my participation in
several such groups.
Members have access to the
following features:
Message
Board. E-mail messaging is a
capability that already exists with the SJ 23 majordomo list and thus is
somewhat redundant but you may find that you prefer one format or the other.
One feature that I particularly like about the Group mail setup is that
members can elect to receive either individual e-mails each time a new message
is posted or only a single daily digest, containing all messages for that day.
Alternatively, you can elect not to receive e-mails at all and just view the
messages on the Group site any time that you log in. I haven’t found a way to
elect a digest with the majordomo list and I really don’t like getting
numerous daily e-mails.
Polls.
Members can create polls to solicit “voting type” responses from other
members. I have used this feature to poll members about interest in sailing
get-togethers, opinions on the best way to do a project, preferences for
materials, etc. It differs from posting a message on the message board
in that you do not receive individual e-mail responses, just a tally of
“votes”. This is cleaner and easier if you don’t need detailed
responses.
Chat.
Members can schedule times to log
in and “chat” in real time in the Group chat room.
Upload
Files. Members can upload digital files
directly to the Group. Files can include scanned copies of brochures,
word processing documents, or any other files that might be of interest to
other members.
Photo
Albums. Members can create their own
photo albums and upload photos of their boat, cruise pictures, etc.
directly.
Links. Members
can add their favorite SJ 23 or other sailing links directly to the
Group.
Calendar. Members
can add dates for events of interest to other members to the Group
calendar.
Databases.
Members can create databases for
the Group. I have started a Skippers List where members can add their
name, boat name, sail/hull # and home port.
If you would like to see how a
Yahoo! Group can work, I have an existing Group that I started for trailer
sailors at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/scbtrailersailors
(the San Juan 23 Group is brand new and does not have much on it yet, although
I’m expecting that to change soon!).
Please check out the new Group if
you are interested: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/sanjuan23
.
Raleigh
Martin
“Liberty
Call”
#437
