[Ger-Poland-Volhynia] Housekeeping issue - bouncing messages

[Jerry Frank]

As administrator of this list, I must deal with ALL messages that bounce 
back to me.  It is important that you know how I deal with them.  Bounced 
messages occur typically for one of three reasons.

1.  Glitches in the Internet system or on a receiving server will at times 
cause a message to bounce back. These are easier to figure out.  I ignore 
them and the problems resolve themselves in short order.

2.  If you discontinue an email address the message will bounce back to 
me.  The bounced message usually indicates that the address is no longer 
valid.  I usually wait a few days to ensure that this is not a system 
problem.  If messages from that address continue to bounce, I will 
UNSUBSCRIBE that address.  We will not try to track you down to determine 
if you wish to continue your subscription at a new address.

3.  FULL  EMAIL  BOXES  is the most common reason for a message to bounce 
back to me.  If this happens:
- I wait one week to see if the problem persists.
- If it does, I send a personal message to that address from a different 
server to ensure that the problem is not with the system.
- If I get no response or if that message bounces back to me, I place all 
mail to that address on administrative HOLD.
- Every couple of months or so, I go through the list and UNSUBSCRIBE all 
addresses that remain on administrative hold.

When that last step occurs, one last automated message goes out announcing 
that you have been usubscribed.  If you get such a message because you 
cleared out your mailbox, you will have no other recourse than to go to 
http://eclipse.sggee.org/mailman/listinfo/ger-poland-volhynia and resubscribe.

While administering this list is not a heavy chore, it does take time to 
deal with issues like bouncing messages so I have no alternative but to 
handle them in this way.  You can help yourself to avoid this problem by:
a)  Ensuring that you keep your server mailbox clear by picking up all 
messages on a regular basis.
b)  Putting your own address on hold (at the above link) if you are going 
on vacation or cannot pick up your mail for an extended period of time.


Thank you and happy ancestor hunting.



Jerry Frank - List Administrator for [Ger-Poland-Volhynia]
GPVListAdmin at sggee.org
http://www.sggee.org/listserv.html