Jamaat Mailing List FAQ

Subject: Jamaat Mailing List Frequently Asked Questions


=======================
Jamaat Mailing List FAQ
=======================

 Q1. What is this document?
 Q2. What is the purpose of jamaat lists?
 Q3. How do I subscribe to/unsubscribe from a jamaat list?
 Q4. Can I subscribe anonymously to a jamaat list?
 Q5. Who can subscribe to a jamaat list?
 Q6. Who can post to a jamaat list?
 Q7. What is acceptable as posts to the list?
 Q8. What about junk mail, humor, and other "leisure" email?
 Q9. Is there a subject prefix requirement as on the main list? 
Q10. How do I establish a jamaat mailing list for my community?
Q11. Who administers a jammat list?
Q12. How can I find out about other existing Jamaat lists?
Q13. How do I obtain a list of current members?
Q14. Where do I send comments on this document?
Q15. How do I obtain a copy of this FAQ?
__________________________________________________________________

Q1. What is this document?
A1. 
This is the Jamaat Mailing List FAQ (Frequently Asked 
Questions). It tells you about mailing lists set up for a 
jamaat, jamiat, or mohalla at the mumineen.org domain, on 
the NextGen server.

Q2. What is the purpose of jamaat lists?
A2.
A jamaat (or jamiat, or mohalla) mailing list is an email 
discussion list similar to the main Bohranet list, except 
its membership is (usually) limited to members of the 
specific jamaat. This is to promote and facilitate intra-
jamaat communication and serve as a single point-of-contact 
to reach all the members of that community. For a given 
city, the address of the mailing list will be 
'city_name@jamaats.mumineen.org'.

Such a mailing list is intended solely for communication
between members of the jamaat, regarding matters of 
importance to the local comunity. Information on majilis, 
darees, and social events, news about masjid/markaz 
construction, sabaq, Shabab/Burhani Women's events, birth,
death, and engagement/marriage announcements, and other 
such messages are typical traffic on such a list. 

Q3. How do I subscribe to/unsubscribe from a jamaat list?
A3.
To subscribe, send an e-mail to: 
-> cityname-subscribe@jamaats.mumineen.org
ex. mombasa-subscribe@jamaats.mumineen.org

To unsubscribe, send an e-mail to: 
-> cityname-unsubscribe@jamaats.mumineen.org
ex. chicago-unsubscribe@jamaats.mumineen.org

Q4. Can I subscribe anonymously to a jamaat list?
A4.
No. All subscription requests go through the jamaat 
list moderators for approval, and must contain the 
following information:
- full name (titles preferred but not neccessary)
- phone number
- jamaat affiliation
- postal mailing address (optional)

Q5. Who can subscribe to a jamaat list?
A5.
Usually, only members of a specific jamaat should join that 
community's jamaat list. However, there is no rule 
specifically against joining another list of a jamaat other 
than your own, and you are free to subscribe according to 
the usual method (see Q4). For example, someone who moves 
to a different city may wish to remain on the jamaat list 
where they originally lived, to keep in contact with old 
friends, or a frequent traveler may wish to keep abreast 
of community functions in cities where they often spend 
long periods of time.

Q6. Who can post to a jamaat list?
A6.
Anyone wishing to contact the entire jamaat can post to the 
jamaat mailing list, including non-subscribers. For example, 
a student or new family wishing to relocate may need to make 
initial contact. All messages to the list are moderated so
it is safe to have an open list.

Q7. What is acceptable as posts to the list?
A7. 
The mailing lists must have at least two, preferably three 
or more, moderators who are entrusted to screen messages 
posted to the list. Moderation is a responsibility that 
is accepted as a condition of obtaining the list from 
NextGen, and the moderators are expected to block messages 
with the following characteristics:

1) Any mail against the Dawat and Huzurala TUS. Originators 
   of such messages will be removed imediately.
2) Junk mail (including jokes, chain mail, ASCII art, 
   virus hoaxes, pyramid schemes, spam, etc.).
3) Flaming or any material deemed offensive by the 
   moderators.
4) Messages that are personal in nature.
5) Articles and essays from published sources (especially
   on-line news sources like CNN) that lack citation or 
   reference, to protect against copyright violation.
   Citing URL from online news sources like CNN.com is 
   acceptable.
6) Speculative messages about Ashara venue and Huzurala TUS
   itinerary. Members should rely on the main list
   at dawoodi-bohras@mumineen.org for any Akhbar. Re-
   posting such Akhbar mesgs from the main list on the
   jamaat list is encouraged.

Also, messages with excessive included text and replies, 
non-ASCII text (ie. HTML which is incompatible with many 
email programs), file attachments (to distribute files, 
put the file on a website and distribute the URL for 
download), terse subject lines, and other violations of 
standard Netiquette & the limited bandwidth resources may 
be rejected at the moderators' discretion. 

Note that moderation is not a means for moderators to 
enforce their own ideology or politics, but rather a 
responsibility that should not be abused. If you have 
a complaint please alert NextGen at help@mumineen.org 
and we will investigate.

If a jamaat mailing list consistently violates these terms 
of use, NextGen reserves the right to disable the list until 
a solution can be worked out. Subscribers to jamaat mailing 
lists are expected to abide by these rules as well for the 
greater good of the community.

Q8. What about junk mail, humor, and other "leisure" email?
A8. 
Junk mail and other "leisure" mail is not permitted on 
jamaat mailing lists (see Q7). These mailing lists are 
hosted on the mumineen.org server and must share bandwidth 
and resources with many other jamaat lists and other 
internet services for the benefit of mumineen worldwide. 
Because these are limited resources, junk mail and spam-
type email are not allowed on these lists, out of courtesy 
to the other users on Bohranet. Distribution of such mail 
should be limited to private email aliases, or restricted 
to other mailing lists or on-line forums devoted to such 
informal topics. 

Q9. Is there a subject prefix requirement as on the main list?  
A9.
No. Jamaat mailing lists have no subject heading 
requirements.

Q10. How do I establish a jamaat mailing list for my community?
A10. 
1. Obtain raza from your local Amilsaheb
2. Send email to NextGen at help@mumineen.org with the 
   following information:
   - name of the city which will use the list (if the city 
     has multiple mohallas in a city, such as Karachi and 
     Bombay, then the subdivision should be specified, for 
     example shabbirabad or badri-mahal).
   - copy of raza from Amilsaheb
   - full name, titles, postal address, & phone/fax/email 
     of all moderators (minimum two required, minimum three 
     recommended)
        
NextGen will then setup the list and inform the requester 
when done. The requester will be designated "list owner"
(see Q11) and the address of the jamaat list will be listed
on NextGen's webpages for reference. The moderators will 
be sent detailed information on how to run the new list.

Q11. Who administers a jamaat list?
A11. 
The list owner is the official designated contact 
person for their jamaat mailing list, but how each list 
is actually administered is up to each individual jamaat, 
as long as it does not conflict with NextGen's terms of 
usage (see Q7).

Q12. How can I find out about other existing Jamaat lists?
A12.
NextGen will make that information available on our website
at http://www.mumineen.org - If you have specific questions, 
contact us at help@mumineen.org.

Q13. How do I obtain a list of current members?
A13.
NextGen does not divulge membership rosters of any lists 
run on our server for reasons of privacy and protection 
from spammers and other groups. Subscribers may freely 
join any public list they choose. 

Q14. Where do I send comments on this document?
A14.
Direct your comments and suggestions directly to 
NextGen at help@mumineen.org

Q15. How do I obtain a copy of this FAQ?
A15.
        Send a blank email to faq@jamaats.mumineen.org

______________________
DISCLAIMER & COPYRIGHT

  This FAQ is provided as is without any express or implied 
  warranties. While every effort has been taken to ensure the 
  accuracy of the information contained in this article, the 
  authors assume no responsibility for errors or omissions, or 
  for damages resulting from the use of the information contained 
  herein. The views expressed in the list are of the originator 
  alone. NextGen does not accept responsibility for the views 
  expressed by users of its facilities. 
     
  Bohranet Copyright (c) 1997 by NextGen; all rights reserved.
  It may be freely redistributed in its entirety provided that 
  this copyright notice is not removed.  This FAQ may not be 
  distributed for financial gain, nor may it be included in 
  commercial collections or compilations without express 
  written permission from the authors.