Important notes for new and current users

• Our Lyris ListManager service regularly approaches its member limit. As of October 9, 2012, we are at 1,941,416 of 2,000,000 members. As you know, if the limit is reached, email messages cannot to be sent to any lists. To reduce the number of members and keep the service operational, the Messaging & Calendaring Service Team plans to implement a new member retention policy starting this month. This policy will remove any members from lists that have not been used in more than 6 weeks.
  
  Each month at the beginning of the month, we will review lists and identify lists that have not been used in 6 weeks. If you administer one of these lists, we will send you an email notice that the members will be removed from the list. If you need the members in your list, you will have 3 business days to respond and let us know that you need to retain them. Removing members from your lists will not affect your lists, its content or reports.
  
  
• The WYSIWYG editor is not compatible with Webkit browsers (Chrome, Safari, etc.) and a bug exists for Firefox 3+ users. Windows users should use Internet Explorer. Macintosh users should use Camino 1.6.11 and not upgrade to newer versions.
  
  
• Editable regions in Lyris templates should not be used. These cause merge problems, particularly when working with University of Minnesota Foundation/Donor Management System segments. Additionally, instances of corrupted templates appear to have been caused by the use of editable regions. With a defined process for your mailings, editable regions should not be needed.

eCommunications

The University of Minnesota eCommunications system currently includes Lyris ListManager ('Lyris'), the University's mass email distribution system. The eCommunications group is dedicated to the support and advancement of Lyris as an internal and external communication tool for University units. Lyris operates according to the eCommunications organizational model.

To begin using Lyris, talk to your college or unit's Lyris contact (often someone in a central communications or web group). If you're not sure who your contacts are, email us. If your unit doesn't already use Lyris, learn how to get started.

Mass Email User Group page

For nearly a year, the Mass Email User Group (MEUG) has been meeting to discuss and share topics of interest related to mass email. You can find more information on the Mass Email User Group pages.

Mass email discussion

If you'd like to discuss mass email at the University, a list is available. This list is intended to serve the communications, technical and design staff who have a role in mass email. To join, send an email to listserv@lists.umn.edu with "subscribe ecomm-email-talk" as the body of the message to subscribe, or visit the LISTSERV Web site. Note that this list also serves as a backup channel for communications to Lyris users in the event of an outage.

Access control changes

Effective immediately, user agreements are no longer required for all users; only key contacts are required to have a user agreement on file. See the blog post or the access control page for more information.

Retention to change June 13

On June 13, 2010 mailing retention will be reduced to 190 days. This change will affect your ability to view past mailings older than 190 days and any tracking data associated with them. For more information see the eCommunications blog.