[Ma-pta-enotes] eNotes information

[ma-pta-enotes at listserv.seq.org]

Several people have called me at home and asked why I did not respond to their email or that they sent a submission in and did not see it in eNotes.

The people who then go to their sent email and hit forward and forward it to me almost always has one of two errors.

1 they hit the reply key and sent an email to ma-pta-enotes at listserv.seq.org

This goes to the garbage and no human sees any email sent to the list serv.  The list serv is a one way list serv only.  Messages can not be replied to.

Dont hit that reply key.

Open a new email and address it to the person in the submission
or send it to m-apta at seq.org

Your message will be read by a real human and they will be able to take action on it.

2 they send a blank email with an attachment.  Please do not send attachments.  

The eNotes email has been the same for four years.  The submission email address has not changed.

This started by myself but now I have 4 people who work on eNotes so this is the only email address submissions are processed through.

Submission & Information about eNotes

Submissions - Please email submissions to M-Apta at seq.org and in the subject type "eNotes submission."  Submissions should only be sent to that email address so that any one, who sends out the eNotes in my absence, will receive your submission. 

Deadlines - eNotes is usually sent out on Monday and Thursday afternoons. I am not locked into those days, but it seems to work best for notifying everyone of upcoming meetings and weekend events. 

Content & Format - As eNotes has evolved so have the guidelines for submissions. I use two documents to guide me now - the California State PTA Communications guidelines and the M-A PTA eNotes guidelines, which I will post on the web shortly. (Trivocis bulk mail info requirements may also be found in the CA PTA document.) 

The school name is Menlo-Atherton High School. It does have a hyphen and you should include one in any submission as well as when only using the initials (M-A). 

When sending eNotes, I only use text format. HTML -formatted newsletters are incompatible with some email systems and may break on arrival and, in some cases, may overload the user's system. In addition there are some e-mail users who will automatically ignore or delete HTML-formatted messages. I also rarely include bold or colored print since some email filters prevent delivery of these messages by flagging them as SPAM.

I NEVER open ATTACHMENTS, so please do not send ANYTHING as an attachment. Type your text in the body of your email and I will generally just cut and paste it into eNotes.  eNotes does not send attachments but will include URLs to items listed on the school or boosters web sites. I only include links to pictures on our PTA Shutterfly account or PTA Printroom account and never insert pictures or .jpgs into eNotes. Pictures can never include individual names or class identifications (i.e. Strub's 3rd period English class) - see the CA PTA guidelines. 

M-A PTA is a non-profit organization, and cannot advertise for anything other than the PTA. No one can advertise in eNotes or receive personal gain from a submission in accordance with the Noncommercial Policy.  While you may express thanks to a merchant for donating services, etc., you cannot ask readers to patronize that merchant. 

Occassionally I may say no to a posting request. Please know I always forward that submission to the PTA Presidents and Vice Presidents so they may contact the sender and explain the reason(s) for rejection.  For instance, while the dance team raising money for the cancer society may seem like a good event to put in eNotes, it does not meet the requirements, nor does a parent offering tutoring services.  But a request by the Boy Scouts or Girl Scouts for a donation of time or materials for a project to be donated to M-A does. 

Where do I get my information? From the school's Bear News, Trivocis and people sending me emails. Parents have complained about repetition so I try not to repeat the same submission more than twice in the exact same format. If you need it repeated, please change it and resubmit. 

How to join eNotes? You may send an email to M-Apta at seq.org.  In the subject type "Subscribe" and in the message include your name, the year your student will graduate and his or her name if it is dissimilar to yours.  You may also click here, which will require you to submit your information on the page and then respond to a confirmation email. 

Need to view past eNotes? You may view past eNotes archives by clicking at the bottom of this email. They are listed by month. Simply click on the word "date" for the month you want to review, then click on the date that you want to review. 

Any questions?  Please send an email to M-Apta at seq.org

Sincerely,

Maria Flaherty