Recent postings have complained about the high volume of email 
     received from TechNet.
     
     I believe that the frequency of messages on TechNet is an indication 
     of its success. It provokes lively, and sometimes emotional dialogue 
     on "mass media" topics such as solder masks, CAF, and platings for 
     PWBs--a real need is being addressed by the existence of TechNet.
     
     IPC has provided a forum for near real-time queries and response, on 
     topics not always addressed in trade publications, conference 
     proceedings, of reference texts.
     
     I'd like to recommend 2 strategies for reducing the frustration of 
     dealing with many email postings:
     
     1) Set up a mail management routine to store TechNet postings for 
     review at a later time. I tried this a few days ago, and now have it 
     working, using our email software, Lotus cc:Mail. It utilizes a 
     cc:Mail feature called "RULES", using settings I defined, as follows:
     
     Rule Description: file messages from IPC TechNet
     
     When to run: On receiving new message in Inbox
     
     With Conditions:
       Send date is after "3/31/96"
       AND Send date is before "5/1/96"
       AND Author contains "[log in to unmask]"
     
     Actions
       Flash window
       Alert "IPC posting received"
       Beep
       Move to Folder "ipc-apr"
     
     Thus, when I have the time, I open a folder 
     named "ipc-apr" to look at the newly received 
     messages. Obviously, the quantity of messages 
     received is not reduced, though my Inbox is 
     relieved of the usual clutter. 
     
     2.) Another option, less preferable in my 
     opinion, is to Unsubscribe and search TechNet 
     archives on the Web. This greatly reduces a 
     person's exposure to TechNet dialogue, and 
     almost certainly eliminates the chance that a 
     person will submit a response for posting on 
     the TechNet. The technical community and the 
     observer are virtually invisible to each other, 
     a loss for both sides.
     
     In closing, I encourage subscribers to employ 
     whatever it takes to stay subscribed, if they 
     value much of what is posted, and they can find 
     the added time to read/discard postings. I'd 
     also like to see other suggestions on mail 
     management.
     
     Regards,
     
     Michael S. Alderete
     Sr. R & D Engineer
     Loral, Aeronutronic Division
     29947 Avenida De Las Banderas
     Rancho Santa Margarita, CA 92688
     (714)459-3190FAX
     
     
     email: [log in to unmask]