I've learned a lot due to my question.  I wasn't aware at all that there was
a distribute function.  I think you have to be an administrator to take
advantage of it, but will definately save time in the future in not having
to create a list.  I'm going to use it for a monthly newsletter that I send
out to cable operators in the future.

I tried to use the link you posted, but it didn't work....someone else had
sent the instructions to me privately.  I'll post that here...thank go to Ed
Paynter for this:



//jobname JOB                ["jobname" can be anything or a space]
DISTRIBUTE MAIL PW=xxxxxxxx  ["xxxxx" is your password, see note below]
//To DD *
[insert valid email addresses here, one per line, no blank lines]
/*
//Data DD *,EOF
Date:   Wed, 28 Jan 1998 12:34:56 -0500
From:   "fill in" <[log in to unmask] <mailto:[log in to unmask]>
>    [whatever address you
        choose]
Subject:        fill in
        Reply-to:  "fill in" <[log in to unmask]
<mailto:[log in to unmask]> >    [optional]
To:

The blank line above is needed.                   [your message replaces
The DISTRIBUTE job is found on page 104 of the       these lines]
system admin's manual for version 1.8c LISTSERV.


        -----Original Message-----
        From:   Pete Weiss [SMTP:[log in to unmask]]
        Sent:   Friday, September 11, 1998 12:26 PM
        To:     [log in to unmask]
        Subject:        Re: help with announce only list

        At 11:22 9/10/98 -0400, Jacob Haller said:
        |>I need to subscribe 25,000 people to an announce only list
quietly.  What is
        |>the easiest way to do this?  I have email addresses only in a text
file
        |>format.
        |
        |The fast, nice bulk add command goes as follows:

        What is interesting is that the original question and followup Q&A
        revealed that there might be only two distributions, in which case
one
        would consider the value of creating a list to begin with, and
instead
        use the DISTRIBUTE function (the LISTSERV document request I've
posted
        earlier today).

        <None of the following should be construed as a criticism of the
recent
        poster about the SUBJECT:.>

        Directing a list-owner to the manual for the answer to lookup a
basic
        operation is an excellent idea: unfortunately there is no LISTSERV
        owner's (or for that matter email or Internet) driver's license.

        The reasons why it is a good idea for what is a basic Q&A:

        1) basic info was put in the manual for a reason: to be read
(learning
        where and how to access this info is critical)

        2) most lists (not all), esp. LSTOWN-L should be used after an
individual
        has made an offline effort at finding the info.

        This goes back to Eric's comment about giving a person a fish:
instead,
        teach them how and they will bless you.

        /Pete