LISTSERV

The Section on Administration and Practice Management (SOAPM) has a very active e-mail list. SOAPM members use the e-mail list to share important practice management and administrative ideas and advice. The AAP also uses the e-mail list to provide up-to-date practice management information, announcements, and to field short surveys. The AAP has then used this information to keep informed about member concerns related to practice management. To send an email to the e-mail list, email soapm@listserv.aap.org. By using the SOAPM LISTSERV, members agree to the terms of use.

Before posting a question, visit the SOAPM Message Archive to see if a similar post has been documented.

Here are some tips to help you manage the number of emails that are sent through the e-mail list:

1) A digest function allows members to receive one e-mail message, which includes all the postings, at the end of the day.  See instructions below.

 

​Turn On the Digest Version	​Turn Off the Digest Version:
​Create a new e-mail, with listserv@listserv.aap.org in the "TO" field	​Create a new e-mail, with listserv@listserv.aap.org in the "TO" field
​In the message body, type:set SOAPM digest nohtml mime	​In the message body, type:set SOAPM nodigest
​Leave the subject line blank (turn off automatic signatures to avoid unnecessary error messages)	​Leave the subject line blank (turn off automatic signatures to avoid unnecessary error messages)
​Send the e-mail (You will be sent daily digests at the end of every work day).	​Send the e-mail (You will be sent daily digests at the end of every work day)

2) Consider opening an email only for SOAPM emails

3) Set up a folder in your email that automatically sends all SOAPM related emails to that folder and not into your regular in box.  To set up a folder in Gmail, Hotmail, and Yahoo (*exiting site). To set up a folder in Outlook, follow the steps below.:

    Under tools, go to rules and alerts.
    Select new rule
                Step 1: select move mail sent from a list to a folder
                Step 2: click on from whom: type in SOAPM
                Click on folder
                Select new folder
                Name this SOAPM
                Select advanced
                Click through and check off delete which will delete the message from your inbox and move it to the SOAPM folder that you have created.

Other helpful tips:

• Not all emails and/topics will be of use to you.  Feel free to skim over and/or delete what does not seem relevant and focus on what is of most use.
• It is perfectly acceptable to “LURK”, that is read the group's posting without contributing.
• For your first posting, it would be useful to introduce yourself to the group.
• Avoid typing in ALL CAPS, it is considered SHOUTING and should generally be avoided except for emphasis.
• Long posts without paragraph breaks are difficult to read.  White space is easy on the eyes.
• Since messages are cumulative, it is best to add your comment to the TOP of the message to which you are replying.  An exception is when replying to a lengthy post in which case a comment can be placed below each section. 
• When replying to a post, do not click on “reply all” as this is likely (with many email servers) to send a message BOTH to the list and to the original author. Simply click “reply”. However, it is a good idea to VERIFY the “to:” address in your replying email.
  
• There may be things you wish to communicate to a single individual when responding to a post. If you click on the “details” link in the original post, you should see the poster’s direct email address. It is permissible to email directly to that address if your comments are not intended for the whole list. In such case, it might be helpful to add the words “OFF LIST” to the subject line, to inform the recipient that the posting is not intended for the whole list.
• CHANGE the subject if you are substantially changing the topic of discussion to reflect the new thread. 
• It is also courteous to be considerate of others time.  A reply to the group that doesn't add anything may not be necessary.  This includes messages like the following: “me too,” “thanks,” questions to specific individuals, etc.To unsubscribe from this list,
  

    Send an e-mail message to “listserv@listserv.aap.org”
    Leave the subject line blank, and
    Typing “unsub SOAPM” in the message body.
    Send

If you would will be away from email for an extended period of time and would like your SOAPM emails temporarily suspended, email dopp@aap.org with the dates.

If you are not currently a member and would like to join, please complete an application. To learn more about SOAPM's e-mail list contact Jose Lopez, at jlopez@aap.org.