Dear List Members,

I realize that it is past due the time to remind subscribers of the list
rules but we have been so good the past few months that I didn't want
anything to spoil the mood.

However, it is past time for me to remind everyone of the rules and
guidelines of this list.  Please follow them.  This list is for the
exchange of shell information only.  Any other information you wish to
communicate MUST be done privately.  This includes responses to off
topic posts that occasionly appear.  Thank you for helping COA to
continue to maintain  this forum.

Linda Brunner


Respect The People Who Keep It Running.

Maintaining a list is time consuming, and the people who help maintain
CONCH-L are all volunteers.  Please treat them with respect.

1. NO Commercial Advertising (Very Important!!!)
2. NO Big Files or 'Attached' Files
3. NO Off-Topic Postings
4. NO Flaming


Rule No. 1: NO Advertising:

Commercial Advertising is not allowed; not even by non-profit
organizations. UGA, as a community service, "grants the use of its
facilities to organizations whose activities contribute to its
mission."  CONCH-L is considered to be an "educational resource," and
therefore falls within UGA's mission.  However, UGA and the State of
Georgia have strict rules that do not allow use of these resources for
personal gain, thus no free advertising or commercial messages. In
particular:

            a.Offering to sell or recommending your own products or
services is NOT allowed (this includes  lists of shells, book
catalogues, equipment and trips). CONCH-L is not to be used as an
inexpensive substitute for commercial advertising. However, this list
was set up to encourage discussions and therefore this rule can be bent
a little (please remember the qualifier 'a little'.)
 If you are responding to a request for information about your product
please limit your reply to a brief answer and address (home, email or
web) where the requester can find more information.   If you wish to
send a large document (image, article or catalog) please send it
directly to  the person who requested the information and not to the
list.
            b.Requesting information on, or recommending products or
services or sources where they may be  obtained IS allowed. One of the
goals of this list is to help people make connections and lear   more
about Malacology and Conchology. People wishing to exchange shells and
publications   may announce that their trading lists are available, but
should not post lists to CONCH-L.
             c.Public-service announcements of new publications (books
and journals), shell clubs, and web  sites (including commercial
websites) ARE allowed, as are posting of general information on shell
shows and conventions. Of course this includes posting about an updated
internet site or
 reprinted publication. Book reviews by non-interested individuals are
encouraged as an educational resource. If the announcement concerns a
commercial site please use discretion.

If you have doubt about whether your message is advertising or not, send
it to the List Manager at
[log in to unmask] who will look it over and let you know if
it's postable.


Rule 2. NO Big Files:

Please don't send image files or other documents larger than 4 text
pages to the list. DO NOT send  attached files to the list. Not everyone
has a powerful computer or a fast Internet connection. Large files  can
lock up some computers or cause loss of messages arriving behind them.
Also, some subscribers pay  directly for receiving and storing messages.

If you have a great image file or document that you think the
subscribers of CONCH-L would be interested  in, post an announcement.
That way interested subscribers will be able to contact you directly for
more  information. This is especially important if it is an image file,
as you will have to explain what they need to do to view the file.

Rule 3. NO Off-Topic Postings:

A primary rule on any list is to respect the list's published subject by
not posting off-topic messages. This  includes virus warnings, which are
usually out-of-date hoaxes. Remember, what is 'new' to you may be  old
news to everyone else. Please post off-topic messages to a more
appropriate list or news group.


RULE 4. NO FLAMING:

"Flaming" means "insulting or attacking via Internet." Shellers are
noted for being Deep Thinkers. Disarm  your opponents with good
arguments, not by calling them names. Remember, postings to CONCH-L are
archived. Please don't embarrass yourself in perpetuity.