ConnectRichmond > Email Groups > How to Send a Message & Guidelines

Please join (subscribe to) the email group to which you are sending the message.
ConnectRichmond cannot edit messages. Messages that do not meet guidelines will be returned to the sender with editing suggestions.
Include a descriptive phrase in the subject line. Example: “New Local Environment Guide” or "Free computers". Do not use All-Caps or generic descriptions like "Job Posting/Opening".
Provide contact information, including your first and last name, affiliation, and phone number or email.
If you're giving away items and need a receipt for tax purposes, make it clear that these are items you want to donate to an established 501c3 nonprofit.
Academic classes and programs that seek to offer free/pro bono services from students as part of an official class project or requirement should send a message from the professor or project coordinator (not from individual students).
Please use plain text (not Rich Text or HTML) formatting and avoid special characters. For example, use "-" as bullets rather than the bullet feature in MS Word or similar application.
Please note there is a message size restriction, so please keep messages concise and include a link to information on the appropriate webpage if possible.

The following steps are required if your message includes a:

job posting, first add it to the Job Finder. Include a link to the job post on ConnectRichmond.com in your message.
date or deadline, first add it to the Calendar. If you've added a Training event under your organization profile, you must also add it to the Calendar. Include a link to the event page on ConnectRichmond.com in your message.
registration or admission fee, state the organization that will benefit from the proceeds

Prohibited Messages and Text:

“Please Post,” “FW,” “RE,” "Announce" or similar text
Attachments
Subject lines in All-Caps
HTML text (please use plain text formatting)
Long or embedded hyperlinks
No more than two events or fee-based opportunities per month (combine messages when possible)
Requests from and for volunteers (please visit our partner, Hands On)
Items needed (instead, please see Items Needed)
Items for sale
Press releases and newsletters (please write original emails)
General marketing or informational messages about your organization
Advertisements for for-profit products and services
Requests from job seekers (instead, please see Job Finder)
Requests for donations
Calls to action, including calls for votes or support for an individual or organization in a contest or competition, unless they support the region or sector as a whole.
Repeat messages about the same or similar topics within the same 30-day period, except for event registration reminders, which can be sent no less than 2 weeks after the previous message, or messages with information about major changes or updates.
Messages about an event after the event has occurred (unless the message is primarily about new information or a new event)
Because the moderator sometimes reviews messages only once per day, please avoid using "today," "tonight," "tomorrow," "this morning," etc. or similar phrase. Instead, please mention specific dates and times.
Inflammatory, controversial or overtly religious, ideological, or politically partisan language
Statements, opinions and content in messages are those of the individual senders, not of ConnectRichmond. We cannot guarantee the accuracy of the content of approved messages, and approval of messages does not imply endorsement by ConnectRichmond.
The moderator may use his or her discretion at all times when reviewing messages within these guidelines. We reserve the right to reject any posts and change these guidelines at any time