Taxation Section
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LISTSERV RULES
The Maryland State Bar Association provides these listservs as a benefit to its
members. The purpose of the listservs is to facilitate communication between
members of the various committees and sections. The listservs are to be used
only for the discussion of related MSBA issues or other legal-related discussions.
We will send these Rules of Etiquette (“Netiquette”) to the listservs
on a regular basis as a friendly reminder for long-time users and as valuable
information for newcomers. The subject header will be Rules of Etiquette.
If you have any comments, additions, deletions or changes to these rules, please
forward them to John Anderson, MSBA web coordinator. His e-mail address is janderson@msba.org.
If you experience any problems with other members on the list not adhering
to these rules, please contact Pat Yevics, Director, Law Office Management
Assistance at pyevics@msba.org.
GENERAL DISCLAIMER
The MSBA is not responsible for any opinions or statements on the Listserv.
The MSBA disclaims all warranties with regard to the information posted whether
posted by the MSBA or any third party. This disclaimer includes all implied
warranties of merchantability and fitness. The MSBA has no liability for damages
and/or injuries including but not limited to, special, indirect or consequential
damages or any damages whatsoever arising out of the use or performance of
any posted information. Defamatory, abusive, profane, offensive, illegal or
unauthorized copyrighted material is not permitted. Persons posting any information
represent and warrant that the material is either original in all respects
or that permission to reproduce the materials has been granted by the copyright
owner. The MSBA reserves the right to terminate access to any user who does
not abide by these guidelines.
ANTI-TRUST ISSUES
Do not post queries or information, and refrain from any discussion which may
provide the basis for an inference that the members agreed to take action relating
to prices, production, allocation of markets, or any other matter having a
market effect. Examples of topics which should not be discussed include current
or future billing rates, fees, disbursement charges or other items which would
be construed as “price”, fair profit, billing rate, or wage level,
current billing or fee procedures, imposition of credit terms. Do not post
regarding refusing to deal with anyone because of his/her pricing or fees.
Such discussions are strictly prohibited and the MSBA is not responsible for
any such discussions.
There is no organization too small or too localized to escape the possibility
of a civil or criminal antitrust suit, and the penalties for violating federal
or state antitrust laws are severe. The government’s attitude toward
professional associations requires professional association members, as well
as professional associations themselves, to at all times conduct their business
openly and avoid any semblance of activity which might lead to the belief that
the association members had agreed, even informally, to something that could
have an effect on prices, fees or competition.
ATTACHMENTS
The majority of the listservs provided by the MSBA do not accept attachments.
This allows listserve performance to remain high and protects list members
from virus attacks.
To share a file with list members upload your file to a free
file storage website such as FileFactory and
then share the link with list members. Note to list members: these
files may contain a virus. Keep your virus software up to date.
If you wish to send an attachment to an individual member of the list, you
may do so but not to the list. You should get permission from a member of the
list to send an attachment.
INAPPROPRIATE POSTS
Do not forward jokes or any other messages via the listserv. You have no idea
where it will eventually be received. The Internet allows for very easy forwarding
and sending of information. If you would not send out the jokes or message
on your firm’s letterhead, then do not forward it.
Do not send anything via e-mail you do not want to see
in public
If you receive an email about a scam, missing person, once in a lifetime deal
or possible hidden danger that you want to forward to the list, don’t.
First test the validity of the message at www.snopes.com,
it might be an urban legend or chain letter. If you believe it is valid please
distribute it to your personal distribution list which your email software
will help you create. The exception would be if a valid message relates directly
to the listserve groups focus.
FLAMING
Do not "flame". "Flaming" includes the making of derogatory
comments, ridicule, excessive sarcasm, and innuendo. It is important to recognize
that respectful disagreement is not flaming. Every subscriber must be respected;
no subscriber should be ridiculed or belittled.
In no event should anyone send an e-mail that might be construed to contain
disparaging comments regarding another person or company, or that might compromise
the integrity of others.
PROMOTION/SOLICITATION
The MSBA provides all sections and committees with listservs to assist members
in sharing information, ideas and resources.
The MSBA reserves the right to restrict promotion of products, services and
programs not specifically endorsed by the MSBA. Only MSBA staff are authorized
to post information about various MSBA programs, services and activities.
Only MICPEL/MSBA sponsored CLE are to be promoted or advertised on the listservs.
The MSBA does not provide e-mail addresses to outside vendors.
Any Job Postings should be sent to the Legal
Career Center.
RESPONDING TO POSTS
If you hit Reply most lists are programmed to send the reply only to the
person who sent the message and NOT the entire list. If you wish to send the
reply to the entire list, please hit Reply to All.
Several Lists are set configured to send replies back to the
list. These lists will have "List Type: Reply To List" in
the footer of listserve messages. In this case hitting the Reply button
will send your message back to the entire list and to contact
only the original author you will need to create a new message
for forward the message back to them.
If you are responding to a post on a listserve,
trim some of the original message. Avoid sending a reply that
just says “Me, too” or some other short response.
Keep messages short and to the point. If you are going to post
a long reply or in some cases, a long rant, please indicate
that in the subject header. Subject: Expert Witnesses - Long
Reply.
SHOUTING/EMPHASIS
Emails written in all caps are interpreted as “SHOUTING”. Use upper/lower
case type in your posts. (Spell check doesn’t hurt either <g>!)
The use of a row of symbols such as *&!@*^& denotes cursing and should
not be included in your posts.
SIGNATURES [UPDATED]
Email Signatures are required for all members of the MSBA discussion listservs.
Anyone not using an email signature will be will be notified and giving
one week to add an email signature before being removed from the list.
You should “sign” each email with at least your full name, firm
and telephone number. Autosignatures make this an automatic process. If you
use an autosignature, you should keep its length to under 6 - 8 lines. Do not
attach your vcard as part of your autosignature, as viruses can attach themselves
to vcards or may be interpreted as an attachment and blocked.
SUBJECT LINES
Use a subject that adequately introduces the topic of your message, so people
can quickly determine whether or not they will find it of interest. If you
are changing the topic of a previous post you respond to, you should change
the subject line of the post.
Do not send messages without a topic in the Subject box.
SUBSCRIBING TO THE LISTSERV
One must first be a MEMBER of the LISTSERVE in order to post, and receive replies.
In order to join a particular open listserv, go to http://www.msba.org/sec_comm/listserves/index.htm.
You may subscribe to as many of the open listservs as you wish but you must
subscribe to each one separately. Once you have subscribed you may post and
receive messages.
TECHNICAL ISSUES
If you believe that there is a technical problem with the listserv, do not
post to the listserv. Send a private post to MSBA web coordinator, John Anderson
at janderson@msba.org.
UNSUBSCRIBING TO THE LISTSERV
At the bottom of all e-mail messages from the listservs is the ability to unsubscribe.
You may unsubscribe at any time. You may also send a blank email to leave-listservename@lists.msba.org or
send an email to janderson@msba.org with
your name, email address used on the listserve and the listserve name.
VIRUS SCANNING
Viruses are destructive, both in terms of the damage they can do to computers,
and in terms of lost billable time trying to get one’s computer back
up and running. For this reason, participants of listservs have an extra responsibility
to their fellow attorneys to employ a virus detection package, and to regularly
update the virus definitions, so it continues to provide adequate protection.
If you discover you have a virus on your computer, you should immediately
contact John Anderson by telephone at 800-492-1964, ext 3036 and ask him to
post a warning not to open any emails with attachments sent under your name.
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