IF you can educate your subscribers to use significant SUBJECT:
lines and/or moderate the list so that YOU use appropriate
subjects, you can provide the subscribers with LISTSERV SEARCH
templates for scanning the archives quite effectively using the
SUBJECT SEARCH keyword.
 
Arriving at a list of Subject line keywords will be the
"interesting" part.
 
Though Usenet is not an option, does that also exclude the WEB?
 
Here is a sample search that can be modified
 
/* --------------------- clip and save ---------------- */
//ListSrch JOB Echo=no
Database Search DD=Rules OUTLIM=2000 f=mail
//Rules DD *
S * IN cybercamp WHERE SUBJECT CONTAINS (dallas AND rider AND wanted)
print
/*
//  EOJ
/* --------------------- clip and save ---------------- */
 
Followup to LDBASE-L (if you have subscribed).
 
/Pete Weiss at Penn State
-----------
From:         John Witherspoon <[log in to unmask]>
Subject:      Listserv "Ride Board" Question
 
Hello All,
 
I am interested in trying to set up a Listserv "Ride Board" for
people from all over the U.S. who are traveling to a summer Camp
in June.  I would like for people to be able to post to a list
saying "I'm from Miami and I'm looking for a ride" or "I'm from
Dallas and I can give someone a ride."
 
Of course, one problem is that Listserv messages are delivered
individually, and someone who subscribed in early May might miss
the perfect ride posted in late April.  I want to keep this as
simple as possible and would prefer to not make people have to
request indexes since I am sure most would screw it up.  Going to Usenet
is also not an option.
 
Any suggestions?
 
Thanks.
 
-- John Witherspoon
   American University
   Washington, DC