Initial configuration of Mailman mailing lists

All Mailman lists are created so that anyone who knows the name of the list can:

• subscribe to it,
• send a message to it,
• obtain the email addresses of the list members.

After a list has been created, the list administrator is responsible for configuring the list to meet their needs. The following pages are available to help you understand list configuration options:

• Getting started with Mailman mailing lists
• Basic list configuration options
• Advanced list configuration options

Tend to pending moderator requests in a timely manner

List administrators/list moderators are notified when a message needs the list administrator/list moderator's approval for distribution to list members. To process the pending messages:

1. Access the list administration website for your mailing list.
2. Click on Tend to pending moderator requests (under Other Administrative Activities on the right side of the screen).
3. Select how you want to process each message. If you would like to discard all messages marked defer, click the box to the left of Discard all messages marked Defer. Note: There is no way to retrieve a pending message after it has been deleted, so use this option carefully.
4. Click the Submit Your Changes button at the bottom of the page.
5. If you have completed your list administration work, remember to click the Logout link and close your browser.

See the list administrator moderation page for more information.

Transfer administrative responsibilities of the list to someone else before you leave UVa

To transfer administrative responsibilities of a Mailman list:

1. Access the list administration website for your mailing list.
2. On the Initial Options page for your list, put the U.Va. email address of the new list administrator(s) into the box that is labeled The list administrator email address(es). You can have multiple list administrators, but each email address must appear on a separate line. One list administrator's email address must end with "virginia.edu."
3. Click the Submit Your Changes button at the bottom of the page.
4. If you have completed your list administration work, remember to click the Logout link and close your browser.
5. Provide the new list administrator with the list administration password.

Change the name of a mailing list

To change the name of a Mailman mailing list, you must:

1. Create a new mailing list with the new list name.
   • In the description of why the list is needed, indicate that you are in the process of changing the name of an existing list, and provide the name of the existing list. Note: Mailman mailing list names must conform to established conventions.
   • You will receive an email message indicating whether or not the list has been created. If the mailing list was not created, the email message will tell you why. Submit a new request after considering the reasons.
2. Update the new mailing list with the information from the old mailing list by asking postmaster to copy the old/existing mailing list to the new mailing list.
   • Send an email to postmaster@virginia.edu which includes:
     • that you are in the process of changing a list name
     • that the new list exists and its name
     • the original (still current) name of the mailing list
     • if you are not the administrator of the existing list, what authorization you have to request the name change
     • that you would like the old list copied to the new list
   • Postmaster@virginia.edu will let you know after your old list has been copied to your new list. Remember that this copy duplicates the old list in the new list, including the old list's configuration, membership, and list administrator password.
3. Update the old mailing list, if necessary.
   • To insure that messages sent to the old list are delivered to the new list:
     • In the membership management section for the old list, remove the current membership.
     • Subscribe only the new list's email address — new-mailing-list-name@virginia.edu.
4. Delete the old mailing list when no longer necessary; send an email to postmaster@virginia.edu with the old list's name and a request that it be deleted.

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