Every so often I repeat the Welcome Message that all subscribers
to the mailing list receive (and usually don't read) because it
is worth re-reading, and members who use rec.arts.bonsai don't
see it otherwise -- and it applies to them as well. It has been
slightly revised.

Jim Lewis - - Tallahassee, FL -- Bonsai List
manager

=======================================
PLEASE READ THIS MESSAGE

Welcome! You are now an official member of the Internet Bonsai
Club (IBC). Along these lines you have the following
responsibilities:

1) Listen. Read. Then, when you feel you are ready, be an active
participant
in the discussions
2) Be helpful at all times.
3) Be polite!

* If you are new to bonsai we suggest that you sit back and watch
for a while to get a feeling for the discussions and the
membership.

* Should you have an immediate question, We suggest that you
search
through the archived discussions. These can be found at the
following URL:
http://home.ease.lsoft.com/archives/bonsai.html

You will probably find your question answered there as the
discussions go
back some years. If they're not, send it on to the list.

Here are some guidelines we'd like you to follow:

1)a) IGNORE SPAM. Spam is mail sent to the list by people trying
to sell
something that isn't bonsai related. Usually it has to do with
sex,
900 numbers, get-rich-quick schemes, etc. Replying to this stuff
usually
just causes us to spend 2 weeks discussing how to get rid of the
spam.
DO NOT REPLY TO MESSAGES THAT SAY TO DO SO TO BE
REMOVED FROM THEIR LIST!!!! All you are doing is providing the
spammer with a guaranteed live e-mail address that he can sell to
other
spammers!
1)b) Likewise, do NOT pass on virus warnings! The only safe
protection
against viruses is keeping your virus detecting/killing software
up to date.
Many e-mail warnings about viruses are hoaxes in any event.

2) PLEASE CREATE a signature (SIG) file that contains your name,
your e-mail
address, and some indication of where you live (so we can give
specific
information that applies to your area of the world). KEEP YOUR
SIG FILE
SHORT (4 lines or less). Here is an example:

Jim Lewis - Tallahassee, FL - .

3) DO NOT send scanned photos to the list. It won't work. If you
have
a photo that you think everyone should see, visit the IBC's
gallery,
accessible through our web site, www.internetbonsaiclub.org, then
announce
via the list that it is there and that you'd like comments.

4) WHEN REPLYING to a message (especially long messages), don't
include
all the text of the original message and respond to only part of
it.
Before sending the reply remove the bits of the original message
that
aren't relevant and retain only the parts you are responding to.
Also,
PLEASE DELETE THE BOILERPLATE MESSAGE AT THE END OF
EVERY E-MAIL -- the one that starts out something like: "This
list is
supported, in part . . ." Extraneous and duplicative material
takes up
room in our archives.

5) DO NOT SEND "I agree" and "Me too." replies. They don't move
the
discussion anywhere. Also, it's nice to thank someone for
help -- but PRIVATELY.

This last point is *REALLY* important

6) When asking a question about the health or care of a bonsai,
be sure to
include information about your location (nearest major city is
fine),
specific plant material, current watering and feeding habits,
whether the
bonsai is indoors or outside, and any other seemingly pertinent
information.
(See the section on sig files.)

The IBC is a virtual entity with no legal status. We collect
donations
from club members and bonsai related firms to pay for the email
service
which we purchase from LSoft International. When more
contributions
are needed, we will post a message to the list (but they're
welcome at
any time. Contact Reiner.).

Have fun!

Listowners:

Jim Lewis


Reiner Goebel


************************************************** ******************************
++++Sponsored, in part, by Dale Cochoy++++
************************************************** ******************************
-- The IBC HOME PAGE & FAQ: http://www.internetbonsaiclub.org/ --
+++++ Questions? Help? e-mail +++++