Listserv Guidelines

1. Remember the ALCA Listserv is a monitored listserv. This means that only the listserv manager may place a message on the listserv. By handling messages this way, we filter so that only items which should be of interest to counselors go out to ALCA Listserv subscribers. If you are not interested in a certain message, simply delete it- For example, if you are in Chapter X, you may not care about Chapter Y news – please simply delete. We cannot separate items this finely on the listserv. Messages go to all or none.
2. Do remember that it is impossible to monitor and send according to each individual taste and philosophical/moral conviction. We do well, but occasionally something may go out that you think is unnecessary or with which you disagree. Such occasions invoke using the “delete” button for its intended purpose. While we certainly value and read your personal responses, getting one does not mean that we can only operate the listserv based on your individual concepts. We are a diverse and multi-opinioned group. We always try to be conscious of that fact.
3. If you hit “reply,” the message only comes back to the ALCA Listserv manager. If you want to respond to a message, you must respond to the email address or phone number found inside the announcement. DO NOT HIT “REPLY”.
4. The only way to get a message posted is by sending it to the ALCA office ([email protected]) and asking us to post it. We have been empowered to use our best judgment about whether a message is appropriate to send to all counselors. We consider whether or not the message would be of interest to a significant cross-section of our members. We try not to distribute advertisements about practices or events that seems to benefit the asker more than the target audience.
5. ALCA Listserv messages should be sent in “plain text” (part of body of email message) so that all we have to do is forward it. Many, many of our member servers routinely block attachments as SPAM or for security reasons. Even if not blocked, they are often too large for system servers to handle. If you think you are not receiving the ALCA Listserv announcements, please check your SPAM or junk files and see if your network system is blocking it. Then release it from there and you should correct that issue.
6. Announcement regarding events that are not sponsored by ALCA or its Chapter/Divisions/Affiliates are only sent when they appear to carry a possible benefit or interest to our members. We avoid promoting events that conflict with planned ALCA events. For example, we promote almost nothing that might affect attendance at the ALCA Annual Conference either in that timeframe (October, November, December) or in the conference's general location. Since Fall is the time for our annual conference and recognizing that the primary purpose of our conference is training and professional development (including offering professional development hours), it is not very logical to promote events for other individuals/entities that could be construed/interpreted as being in competition with our conference during this time frame.
7. Effective March 1, 2013, we will no longer publicize office space/real estate as being available to colleagues.
8. Effective March 1, 2013, we will no longer as a matter of course send out individual requests to help locate a particular kind of counselor or one located in a specific area, etc. The ALCA Counselor Locator Service housed on our website was established for this purpose and should be used.
9. Effective February 16, 2024, please give the ALCA office 1-2 business days to send out your Listserv announcement.
10. As of June 1, 2024, we will be changing the format of our ALCA Listserv. Our main purpose for the ALCA Listserv is to inform our members of important ALCA related information. Secondary is the distribution of job opportunities, other professional development opportunities, supervision opportunities, etc. In order to make sure that our ALCA important information is being seen, we will be changing to the following format:
    1. Individual Listserv emails are now only for information coming from the ALCA Office, ALCA Chapters, ALCA Divisions, and ALCA Affiliates.
    2. All other information will now go out in a Weekly Newsletter on Wednesday’s. If you would like your information included in the newsletter, you will need to have it emailed in to the ALCA office by Monday morning, 10:00 am for it to be placed in that week’s newsletter. If it arrives past the deadline, it will wait to go out the following week, no exceptions.
    3. *** As always, any professional development sent in to be distributed is also placed on our ALCA calendar, which is found on our website. ***
       *** Each week’s newsletter will also be placed on the ALCA Member’s Only portion of the website. When you visit the ALCA website, there is a place for you to login. Once you do, you will have a link to the current Newsletter there.***

 
Remember that the ALCA Listserv is a membership benefit for active ALCA members. The announcements sent on the ALCA Listserv are sent to be of assistance to our members. ALCA Listserv is tied to ALCA membership and thereby if one does not renew membership, one will be deleted thirty days after ALCA membership expires.



Disclaimer – This below disclaimer will be added to every Listserv email/newsletter
PERFORMANCE DISCLAIMER: The ALCA listserv is intended simply as a service and convenience to our membership. Information is posted on the listserv at the request of members and others who have information that it appears would be of interest to our members. Inclusion on the listserv should not be viewed as an acknowledgement or endorsement of the accuracy of the information being provided. This is simply an information venue. ALCA assumes no liability resulting from the use of this service. Consumers are advised to screen information as they would any other information source. ALCA reserves the right to determine which items will/will not go out on its listserv.