Setting Email Filters

This is definitely the best option (and the one I use) because it allows you to continue recieving each announcement. Since the messages aren't combined in a digest, you can still reply directly to the author / organizer with any questions you have. Plus, with most email software you add filters which keep particular announcements which may interest you most in your Inbox. This is great if you're most interested in events with keywords like "Colorado Springs", "Springs", and "Manitou" or maybe "African", "Cuban", "Tribal".

Instructions for Microsoft Outlook 2002

1. From the "File" menu, select "New" and specifically "New Folder".
2. Name your folder after the list, say "Drumming Spirit", and set it to contain "Mail and Post Items".
3. Click okay. You'll probably want to let it add a shortcut to your Outlook Bar.
4. Now, from the "Tools" menu, open the "Rules Wizard".
5. Click "New..." to create a new filtering rule.
6. Follow the steps to create a rule which looks something like...
   Apply this rule after the message arrives
   with Mailing-List: list DrummingSpirit@yahoogroups.com in the message header
   move it to the Drumming Spirit folder
   except where my name is in the To box
     or except where the subject or body contains 'Springs' or 'Manitou' or 'Shaman'
   (The last line would keep events in Colorado Springs or Manitou plus any Shamanicevents there in your Inbox. After reading them you can manually drag them over to the list's folder.)
7. The final step gives you the option to run the rule now. You can select this to clean out the messages already sitting in your Inbox if you'd like. When you are ready, click "Finish".

Once you have done this, most messages will be neatly filed away. Then, when you're in the mood, you can open that folder and catch up on what's new in the community.

Instructions for other email software and services

Most popular email systems today offer some variety of this feature. They may not offer as selective a filter as the one described above, but they can ussually do the job.

1. Explore your email program looking for your various folders and how to create your own. Create one for the list you want to filter.
2. Look under your Options or Settings for the feature. (Custom Filters, Rules Wizards, Email Sorting, etc)
3. Often, you can only filter based on a few basic parts of a message (To or CC box, Subject, From, etc). If you cannot base your filter on the hidden message header (like the above example does) you should be able to base in on whether or not the "Subject" actually "contains" the name of the list in brackets (e.g., "[Drumming Spirit]" or "[Ethnic Rhythms]"). Just keep in mind that even messages not sent from the list but containing that tag in the subject will be filed away! For example, you might miss seeing a friend's personal reply to an announcement you previously forwarded to them.
4. Then just indicate that you want all those messages delivered or moved to the folder you created in step 1. Be careful not to simply delete the messages!
5. Finally, make sure the rule is enabled or active (if you see such a option) and click Ok or Save.

Further help

Anyone who'd could provide specific instructions to do this with other email clients would be well appreciated. Please email them to me. I'll happily put them up for others to use.

If you think you should be able to do this but jus' can't seem to get it to work send me an email. If you can, let me know what settings your trying to use and which list you are trying to manage. I'll do my best to help you through it if I can.

You can email me at doug+dw@darkwaters.org

Good luck!