TOPIC:

I have added a new optional feature for FreeToastHost email that inserts "Not a member?" links at the bottom of selected emails to members. Generally speaking, the affected emails are emails to members through the list server (sent from your email agent), emails sent via "Send Basic Email" in Membership Management, Agenda Emails, and Dues Notices. I am currently reviewing whether other emails should also have the optional link.

This is one of the code updates I am making to implement what could be considered as "Email Hygiene" functionality. In other words, we are taking actions to update the system to ensure we are not sending emails to bogus email addresses and to those people who do not want to receive emails. These actions help insure the long term viability of FreeToastHost email functionality and help insure that the server stays off of spam blacklists.

In my experience, larger more active clubs do tend to manage their member lists reasonably well in FreeToastHost, but sometimes struggling or smaller clubs do not keep them up to date. The clubs that do not need this feature can just shut if off in the Email and Contact Forms Module. For clubs that fail to promptly move former members to the former members list as they should, these links will enable people who are no longer members to make that happen so that they do not get member emails that they may not want.

Here is what the setting looks like in the Admin Console Email and Contact Forms Module--it is just a checkbox that is enabled by default.

Here is what the link looks like when it is inserted in an email -- note that this the HTML email version. The text email version looks a little bit different, but is similar.

If you click the link, you will be directed to the following "landing page" where you can confirm that you actually want to do this:

If you confirm that you are no longer a member on the landing page, then the system moves you to the Former Members list, and displays the following to you to confirm the move is completed:

Finally, a confirmation message is generated as an admin login message:

I am sure that many of you will have feedback on this and I look forward to hearing it.
Here are some things to keep in mind:

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1. Please do not think that I am saying that any particular club is lax in maintaining their member data in FreeToastHost. I know that most clubs try hard to keep up with it. This is just a "fall-back" feature for clubs that are having a hard time keeping up with the member admin stuff.

2. I purposely enabled the feature, by default. Not changing that. Please shut off this feature if you do not need it.

3. I am very open to wording changes in the link box text, the landing page, the confirmation text, or the notification message to the admin. Give me any thoughts you may have on wording improvements.

4. Give me your thoughts on what other emails should have the optional link. There are a *lot* of emails that members get, so some careful consideration is warranted.

5. Give me your thoughts on whether anyone other than the club admin should get a notification message if a link is clicked (VPM?). Should there be a setting for who gets the notifications?

6. Should the notification message instead be a notification email? (I am frequently uncertain about email vs login messsage.)

So...? Whomever gets these e-mails and doesn't want to receive them can click on the "Not a Member" box? Thus, we as e-mail senders don't need to do anything? It is out of our control? When an e-mail recipient clicks on this link, will it remove them from any FreeToast Host distribution lists, e.g. members, former members, guests, prospects? Nina Chace, 3941, 4818, 899228, and 1763170

Never Mind, I scrolled up? (after I landed on the above message?)