[MACEP] Discussion List Managers

[Mike Cullum]

Good morning,

We are looking at expanding our use of discussion lists.   We  
currently use Mailman.  We have been happy with it's performance, but  
have wished for some additional management features.  Among those new  
features we have discussed:

*  Some tools to simplify automated creation of lists from central  
databases.  We would like for instance to be able to create lists for  
teachers for parents in each of their classes from information in our  
student information system.  Or, have an updated list for all  
certified staff in the district where the data originated in our  
fiscal system.  We don't expect any package to do all of that, but  
are there some that come with better tools to support that automation?

* A web interface for list managers that is simple to use.  You may  
respond that the web interface for Mailman is quite good.  The  
problem I see is that it's almost to comprehensive.  Most list  
managers use 1/2 dozen of the available features at most.  The rest  
just confuse the issue!

* Better management tools for such things as reviewing logs.   
Currently we revert to increasingly rusty unix skills to review logs  
from the command line.  That works and it reasonably effective but it  
also limits those people who can take over those duties.  I'd like to  
be able to delegate these duties more easily.

* Better tools to build and maintain "templates" for list  
configuration.  I've got a bunch of text files that are being used  
now with Mailman and it works pretty well.  It would be much nice  
though to have templates that could be adjusted then applied to a  
group of lists as needed with a good set of management tools.

* Better organization of list archives that are easier for the  
average user make use of without additional training.

I guess the bottom line is a discussion list alternative that is  
simple to manage and use while maintaining the robust performance  
that we have gotten from Mailman.

Any ideas?  What are people using?

Thanks,

Mike

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Mike Cullum
Director of Infrastructure and Instructional Technologies
Northshore School District
3330 Monte Villa Parkway
Bothell, WA 98021-7215

Telephone:  (425)408-7751  Fax:(425)408-7777
Email: mcullum at nsd.org
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