Daver2: If you filll out a membership form that asks you for your e-mail address, what DO you expect it to be used for?
Depending on how many contacts you have, and someone there has, you may want to go through a service to manage the mailings for several reasons.
1. Instant handling of opt out responces, and more likely to be up on the regulations on mailings.
2. They have the servers to handle it, where as your ISP/hosting may not depending on how many you have.
3. Your hosting/isp may take the spam reports serious and shut down your account with too many complaints.
4. Easier grouping of e-mails (people can sign up for "topics")
5. The valid issue of getting put on blackllists, professional mailing systems are better set up to prevent this.
6. good reporting systems to monitor the results. (to a limit)
While Constant Contact is a very popular one, and one we use at work, I'd (personally) give Vertical Response a try, as I read an article on the company, and liked what I read. (Quick look I just did to make sure I have the company name correct, and notice they do offer Non Profit services worth look into.
Now, some things to keep in mind. No matter what steps you do, there will always be someone who does not remember signing up, and will complain.
In regards to the list you have. Unless you have have just recently obtained them, I think I would use them, but have the first mailing that goes out be a reminder that they signed up, that you are finally starting to use it for events, and that they can now opt out.
Quote:
Hello [Name],
You are receiving this mailing from [ChurchName]. This email address was provided on the membership form you filled out at our church.
While up till now we have not been using e-mail notifications, we are exploring the use of a them soon for informing membership of upcoming news, events, and activities.
If you do not wish to continue recieving these, you can opt out of regular mailings by following the instructions at the end of this message.
If you have any questions, or need to update any of your conatact information, please contact [CONTACT INFO].
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Nice, simple, to the point. I do prefer to specify where you obtained their e-mail, but don't go over details, becasue, if they are going to complain, they are not going to read about that anyhow.
To the question of "advertising". Just becasue something is advertised, does not mean it is commercial. Are we not advertising the gift of life Jesus offers?
I'll try to not to go too far down the road to my peeve with the idea of items/serivces that are for a "set" donation amount or "love offering". I just dislike that terminology. Don't get me wrong, there are legalities that bring up that need, but still it gets me. Should be able to flatly say "Dinners cost $10, and all profits go towards XXX".
-Greg