The listserv is really basic, it hardly ever gets posts anymore. I thought the listserv was a great idea, but it basically just mass emailed every single message, so you'd check your email in the morning and have ten emails from different people saying "yeah, me too" or whatever in response to someone's message. Or else people would be responding to messages that were sent out before you signed up and you couldn't keep up with the conversation because there was no way to retrieve the previous messages. I think that kind of system can eventually wear itself out because people either tire of reading every subject regardless of their interest in the topic, or they unsubscribe because it's swamping their inbox.

Brett and I created this on tribe because it has a lot more features. You can send private messages back and forth to long lost and new friends, and read every post or just a few if you are so inclined. Plus you can add unlimited photos on tribe, which I think is a great added benefit and makes the conversation come alive.

Kirk, I think there is a way to set up email alerts- I think somewhere in the options there's a button that will allow you to receive a notice in your email inbox every time there's a post in here.

I'll try to see if I saved that email, it was really straightforward, just reminding people that this tribe exists. It's not a bad idea to be on the listserv, too, but it's slow and wonky and I think it's run by someone at the school, and every message needs to await approval by whoever admins the site.

I like that this is run by and for alums, and you don't have to clear anything with anyone to speak your mind.

I'm glad everyone is here who came so far, and the more the merrier!

The listserve is ok for occasional updates, but it's annoying because I seem to always get long strings of gibberish mixed up with the text. Don't know why. But it's how most of us found the tribe so it works for that!

I'm really happy Iomi and Brett set this tribe up. Not only can we see who's joined and look back at total conversations, I discovered tribe and a few groups I really enjoy participating in.

As I do things on the Web I often think about how different the FWC experience might have been with access to these tools. Just e-mail would have been so great for staying in touch with family. Now I have e-mail and can send photos, I have VOIP and can call overseas friends for a few cents a minute, and I can set up blogs and on-line albums and post video and.....
It really connects the world in a whole new way.

Done my ramble. Peace!