This is a "Google Group" -- also known as a listserv, which is a convenience for groups of people with a common interest and the usual changes in membership, and the members who change emails, jobs, addresses, etc. The convenience is that, to communicate with everyone in the group, all you need to do is send one message (to the group address) and then it is automatically sent to everyone in the group, and you don't have to even know or care about keeping track of everyone's email address changes etc.

Best of all, you can control how it works for you, and everyone else can control how it works for them. Some people want to get each message as they are posted; others prefer a daily digest, with all the posts from that day given in one longer email; others prefer no email, and just want to look at the posts on the web. Whatever floats your boat, it's fine.

This list is an attempt to provide a continuation of the "Coffee Hour" that occurs after services at Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Salem (UUCS) -- hence the name, UUCS_Coffee_Hour@googlegroups.com.

Please feel free to interact with others just as you would in the real coffee hour -- post things you find interesting that you think others would like to see, comment on posts of others. The only rule is to treat others as you would want to be treated, and respect the inherent worth and dignity of everyone else -- don't post anything you wouldn't say to a group of UUs at the real coffee hour.

Posts with [SJA] in the subject line are "for" everyone, but the [SJA] marker is just so that people who use automated filters to file their mail can key on those messages, which are about social justice action (SJA, get it) topics. Feel free to put [SJA] in your subject line if you post something relevant to action on social justice issues at UUCS.

This is your list to use -- there is no need to be shy. Our goal is to build and enhance community, and this list provides another way to help do so. Dive in!

Bad pun alert (you have been warned)

John Gear