I have two Listserv mailing lists, 380 subscribers for GABO-L (Georgia
Birders Online) of whom 14% use AOL.  My other list, started only last
July, FLORIDABIRDS-L, has 430 subscribers, of whom 26% are AOL users. My
subscribers have not had any trouble with AOL, to my knowledge.

I myself have two ISP's, one is a local provider and the other is
AOL.  Like many of my subscribers, I like to keep in touch when I travel,
both with the birds and with the people on my lists.  I have found no
better provider for travelers than AOL.  Also, when my local provider is
down, I always have AOL.  I am listed as an owner at both addresses so I
can pick up the list when it is necessary. I prefer my local provider since
I can use the mailer of my choice (Eudora 5.02).  The charge for both ISP's
is approximately equal, the local one charging a slightly lower rate but
requiring a year's payment in advance.  With version 4 of AOL I can also
get my local provider at no extra charge on my laptop when I travel, an
added bonus.  When I bought my new desktop, it came with version 5, and I
have now downloaded version 6.  I won't be traveling with the desktop,
however.

I don't think AOL is going to disappear.  I also hope my lists won't have
the problems you have encountered.  The ISP's that give  me trouble are
home.net and more occasionally mediaone.

Since my lists are smaller than the ones many of you have, perhaps my good
fortune comes because of that.

Barbara Passmore
Listowner, GABO-L and FLORIDABIRDS-L
[log in to unmask]