I co-manage a list served out by two different servers.  VETPLUS, a
free version and VETPROF, same content but with archive support and
more importantly, more intense support by me and my partner, Dr.
Allen Berger.  Allan and I do an every other week rotation of running
the lists.  We have around 1650 subscribers on these two lists.

We've had a clear list "charter" for the 6 years' we've been doing this.  ref:
http://vetprof.com/charter.html

We have tight control over who becomes a subscriber and maintain a
separate database of subscribers' application information.  I think
we do end up reading every message not so much to look for flames or
inappropriate postings, but because veterinarians are by nature
clueless about email and often post unsubscribe or other pleas for
help to the list under such helpful Subject lines as "re: stinky
ears", etc.  We also watch all the darn errors closely, because we
want to keep our own database current and thus keep track of people
automatically deleted or needing to be manually deleted (plus all
those folks whose addresses keep getting switched subtly by their
ISPs).  In these anal retentive monitoring tasks, our unmoderated
list does turn up flamers and sometimes people who've lied about
their qualifications to be on the list.  We deal with these things in
the "gentle yet firm" manner mentioned here.

There is no question this is real work!  We developed a support
system 3 years ago of asking list subscribers for voluntary support,
pretty much like National Public Radio does. We've also gotten a few
professional firms to provide us support.  This model has worked well
and we now feel we make about twice the minimum wage for time spent
running the lists.  We make it very clear that we are being
supported, not the list itself.

I mention all of this because I feel we've struck a pretty reasonable
balance of work, fun, frustration and rewards in how we run these
lists and for the most part the subscribers are wildly appreciative
of our efforts.  That last part is still the main reason for doing
this.

-Jeff
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Jeff Parke, DVM
ECP Consulting   Seattle, WA
[log in to unmask]  http://seattlevet.net