INBOX SURVIVAL GUIDE - how to get what you want and not everything else

[Cheryl Whitney]

This thread will discuss ways to spare your inbox from CASA overflow. Feel free to add and concerns or gripes. We'll try to figure out ways to remedy the problems.

Tip #1 - In the upper right hand corner you'll see your name followed by links to your inbox, alerts, Friends - Invite, and Settings. Click on Settings when the page opens note the tabs to the left, if you Click on the Email tab you'll be brought to a page where you can choose only the items you wish to be alerted to.

Tip #2 - being a "Friend" to someone means that you are agreeing to accept emails from that person whenever they send a message or invitation to their entire "friends" list. If that person frequently posts invitations to their Corner or to Events, you'll be receiving an email from them. You still can be friends, without technically being friends. If you don't want those emails, then go to your My Page and remove them as a friend. You can always post a comment on their wall or send them a message letting them know that it's nothing personal - just an inbox issue.

Tip #3 - sometimes Corner owners send an invitation to join their Corner group to their "Friends" list. Corner owners can view their member list and a list of pending members. Unfortunately, Ning doesn't alert a Corner Owner when a person declines. Instead their name remains in the Pending list. Corner owners can opt to re-invite individuals or all pending members. This means someone who has declined an offer to join may receive several invites. I've submitted this issue to NING in hopes that they'll fix the problem. Meanwhile, if you receive an invitation to a Corner and you're not interested, take a moment to stop by the Corner Owner's page (click on their icon) and ask them politely to remove you from the pending list. It's a pain I know, but it's also a temporary fix that will spare your inbox.

Tip #4 - Switch to relying on an RSS reader instead of your inbox. Personally, I really like the igoogle portal with an RSS application. It's easy to scroll through and see what's happening. So switch from email alerts to RSS feeds.

MEMBERS, if you have any other tips on how to limit unwanted email notices yet keep up to date on the CASA happenings, please reply to this discussion thread.