• Below are the results of the 4/29 survey about subject lines.
• THANKS to all those who took the time to respond.
• Results essentially break down into (group 1) "Yes, let's have descriptive subject lines" and (group 2) "We don't care".

Down below, I have copied peoples' comments; group 1 ordered by date, and then group 2 ordered by date.  Some comments are from the earlier 3/20 survey that was sent to just the  announcers, with the same questions.

Regarding comments about my time, that is correct -- I don't want to spend a whole lot of more of my life working on this Listserver.  
But as the moderator, I consider it my OBLIGATION to do my best to:

• keep people off this list that send excessive or off-topic messages,
• keep subject lines informative as possible.

 Therefore:

• I continue to encourage announcers to include the city, date and day in the announcement whenever possible, for readers' convenience.  
• Readers may not always have time to open your announcement and search through the text to find what town it's in, or on what day it takes place.  
• As one responder summarized it so well, "If the subject line doesn't tell me enough, I don't bother with the message!!"

There's an EXAMPLE in the "Moderators  Notes" that the Listserver appends to the bottom of most of these messages, and also a link to the "Announcers Guidelines" which contains more examples.

Don't forget, if you're familiar with these announcers, you probably have learned to "read between the lines".  But think of a visitor or new person to this area, reading these announcements.  As an example, browse the subject lines in the Scranton Listserver or the Harrisburg Listserver.   Some of them, you have no idea what, when , or where they are talking about from the subject line -- since reading those messages we are the "outsiders", and cannot "read between the lines".  

I am of Opinion 1.
 However, in the immortal words of WC Fields, "I would not be a member of any organization that would value my opinion." Okay, so I paraphrased.

? Opinion 1: ?Yes, keep nagging people to include date?and the city in the subject line (if the city is someplace other than Williamsport) -- so that we have really INFORMATIVE subject lines. ?

 Opinion 1: Yes, keep nagging people to include date and the city in the subject line (if the city is someplace other than Williamsport) -- so that we have really INFORMATIVE subject lines.

My opinion is:
? Opinion 1: ?Yes, keep nagging people to include date?and the city in the subject line (if the city is someplace other than Williamsport) -- so that we have really INFORMATIVE subject lines. ?
 Agree, keep up the good work Jim!

My opinion is:
• Opinion 1:  Yes, continue being your usual obnoxious self and continue to nag the announcers to get them to  include the city, type of dance , day, date, start time, location, etc in the subject line -- so that we have really INFORMATIVE subject lines.  
and ignore Tony's comments.  If the subject line doesn't tell me enough, I don't bother with the message!!

Jim,
I think the informative subject lines help busy people know what is in the email and they can either delete it or open it for more info.
 
Thanks for all you do to advance dancing in our area.  We appreciate the work you do.
 
Sandy & Frank

HI James.  I understand your thought.  I do not think we have any template ideas on the cpsdn group but I like the idea.
 
personally I dont use the subject line too much becuase it does not have the info as you describe.  I do like the idea.  In fact I use it myself just becuase it is a good idea and has all the info in it.
 
But personally I do not rely on it and when I read a post, if I am interested in it I put it on my calendar and delete the email.   My aunt told me once to only touch every piece of paper once.  I try to do that with email. 
 
so personally I dont rely on an email sitting in my inbox becuase I know it will get deleted at some point and I will not realize it.   So I would vote for option one in an effort to make the info exchange better for people who would use it.  But for me personally it does not matter as I will not rely on it.

??Opinion?2: ?Do nothing, except chastise senders about the worst infractions -- such as blank or totally misleading subject lines, or excessive attachment size.

Jim -- you are creating work for yourself.  No need for Busy work.  You have enough to do. And you do it well.    I'm not concerned about format on a Subject Line of Email... If folks WANT to open emails.. fine... if NOT, then fine too.    I don't need the extra rules to do what we do.  We are all doing just fine!   Leave it that way.    Again, your emails are difficult for the normal reader to read.  We are not technical writers like you... please simplify them.  They are too involved.  I know you mean well, but I don't have time to decipher them.   Just my opinion.  I know how hard you work... don't create more for yourself.   Good Ol' Tony "Sir Dance-a-Lot"

Hi Jim,��Opinion�2: �Do nothing, except chastise senders about the worst infractions -- such as blank or totally misleading subject lines, or excessive attachment size, or off-topic messages.
Thanks,
Bill Mahoney

Hi Jim,
I agree with Tony, this is working just fine and you do a great job don't make more for yourself.
Joyce