ECAR EMAIL SERVICE USING GOOGLE GROUPS

Rules for using ECAR Google Groups

ECAR has established an email system using Google Groups to allow members to communicate with each other regarding listings or other events/services available. Participation in the Groups is by subscription only and the following rules apply to the groups.

• The ECAR Area Groups are for the advertising of MLS Listings, Open Houses, and MLS Tours only. Inquiries for properties not currently listed in the MLS are allowed.
• A property can only be emailed to the area Group in which the listing is registered in the MLS.
• The property MUST be represented as an Active listing in the MLS. Pocket listings and Non-MLS listings are not allowed.
• Security information of any kind may NOT be included in any email sent to the Area Groups.
• Use only Reply to respond directly to the email sender. Do NOT use Reply All.

Violation of these rules will result in a single warning. Subsequent violations will result in suspension of Group Posting privileges on a progressively increasing scale. The first violation after the warning will result in a 30 day suspension, the 2^nd will result in a 60 day suspension, the 3^rd 90 days, etc.

Subscribing to and Unsubscribing from ECAR Google Groups

Each Realtor or Affiliate member subscribes to the groups by using the email addresses below. Copy the address below for the area you wish to subscribe to and paste it into the “To” line from the email you would like to sign up with. You must include your name and ECAR ID (Active Agent E12345, for example), in the email subject line. This is a private system and only ECAR members and MLS subscribers are allowed to use it.

Use the email addresses below to subscribe to one of the Groups.

ECARarea11+subscribe@googlegroups.com
ECARarea12+subscribe@googlegroups.com
ECARarea13+subscribe@googlegroups.com
ECARarea14+subscribe@googlegroups.com
ECARarea15+subscribe@googlegroups.com
ECARarea16+subscribe@googlegroups.com
ECARarea17+subscribe@googlegroups.com
ECARarea18+subscribe@googlegroups.com
ECARarea19+subscribe@googlegroups.com
ECARarea20+subscribe@googlegroups.com
ECARarea23+subscribe@googlegroups.com
ECARarea25+subscribe@googlegroups.com
ECARarea27+subscribe@googlegroups.com
OutsideAreaListings+subscribe@googlegroups.com
RealtorCommunity+subscribe@googlegroups.com
CommercialListings+subscribe@googlegroups.com
ECARRentals+subscribe@googlegroups.com
AffiliateOffers+subscribe@googlegroups.com

The ability to send an email to a group is limited to those who subscribe to the group. When a member subscribes to a group, a welcome email is sent to that subscriber to confirm the action. Click the Join this Group link in that email and enter your email address. You will also need to confirm the image text to verify that you are not using an automated process.

A second confirmation email will follow requiring one more verification that you wanted to subscribe. Again, click the Join this Group button. You will come to a webpage indicating Approval Pending. You will receive a final approval email to let you know when the subscription has been approved.

Please be sure to check your junk or spam folders in case either of the confirmation emails are filtered out.

Google Groups will automatically add an Unsubscribe link at the bottom of each email sent through the system. This link will unsubscribe the receiver from that group only.

*Anti-trust considerations require that the group not be used for discussions regarding what must be private business decisions by individual firms.

Sending Emails

Every group has its own email address to be used when sending emails to members of that group. When sending an email, the only address needed is the email address assigned to the group (see chart below). Members must abide by the rules of the group in order to remain eligible to participate in the ECAR Email Lists program. A description of each group, its assigned email address, and its rules are listed below. Google Groups does NOT send a copy of the email to the sender. You will receive an undeliverable or other appropriate notice if the email cannot be sent. The sender is always identified when the email is distributed to the group.

Emails may be in text or web format and may include small attachments. Members should try to use common file formats like PDF, JPG, and GIF when sending attachments. As an alternative to attachments, members may include links in the email to additional material available on the Internet. The total file size of the email must be less than 2 megabytes (2MB). Do not include links that require a username or password to access the information, such as material from “inside” the MLS (Members wishing to include MLS information may send an email directly from the MLS to the groups).

Note: when sending emails, it is better to send the email directly from your email account rather than through an email delivery service. Since the email is only being sent to one address, anyone clicking on an “unsubscribe” link placed there by the email service will unsubscribe the entire group. Some email distribution services will prohibit reentry of an email address once it has been unsubscribed.

Replying to Messages

All of the ECAR email groups are designed to send one-way email blasts. When a member replied to an email sent by the group, the reply only goes to the original sender of the email and not everyone on the group. Use of Reply All will be considered a violation of the Group rules.

Group Descriptions

The table below describes each group including its name, email address, purpose, and rules.

Questions about ECAR Google Groups should be directed to Chris Peavy or Mike Giese.

*Anti-trust considerations require that the list not be used for discussions regarding what must be private business decisions by individual firms.