HTML messages are a great way of sending great content.  Our newsletter is generally sent out in HTML format along with a plain text message.  Some of our members do not have computers at home and can only view email on their work computers. 

With HTML, you can view graphical messages that have functionality such as links to other web sites or Forum posts.   There is a down side to sending HTML messages.  Sometimes they will not look the same when it reaches your computer compared to what it looked like when it was created and sent.  Accepting HTML messages opens you up to viruses, reporting cookies and bad stuff. 

However, any HTML email that comes from us, especially the newsletter will have been formatted using Aweber’s system.  You do not have to worry about viruses or cookies etc. because the email will have originated with our chapter. 

This is the very reason that you should not open up any email from anyone whom you do not recognize!  You know in what format our newsletter is published and what is contained in the subject line or “from” area so you will recognize it is from us.  If an email seems suspicious and you do not recognize it, do not open it, delete it.  The other option you have is to read your email in a n “offline” status.  With a word of caution though, if you merely open a malicious email, you can get a virus that not even your virus protection can detect.

I say all this because you need to be aware of these things since we rely heavily on email correspondence.  We will never send a malicious code or cookie with any mailing we initiate to you.  The newsletter is a way to keep in touch with the weeks happenings if you were not able to attend an event, ride, or meeting etc.  It is however, very tedious work trying to compile stories or important subject matter to pass along. 

With plain text, you get what you get… Plain text, no functionality.

We want all of our members to be able to read our weekly newsletter so in addition to HTML format, it is sent out in plain text format as well.  (Sometimes)  Most messages are sent in only HTML format and they are converted by the system you are using to view the message at that time and it may appear as gobbledy gook!

Doing it this way however, results in a very ugly message that is not very functional at all.  If two separate message are created, you will receive the message that is properly formatted for your system. 

The only problem is…  It is more time consuming to create two separate messages to send if only a couple of our members can only view plain text messages.  So please post a comment here and let us know if you need to continue to have the messages sent out in both formats or if you need it sent out in just plain text.  We understand that there are restrictions on using employers computers and what you can receive is limited but we need to know so our efforts are not going to waste.     

Respond by clicking on the comments link above this post.  Thanks in advance!

I took the liberty of passing along this email from Snake. I hope he does not mind that I posted it in its entirety.

I am on the way back from an outstanding opening in Kansas. The Oz Chapter opened with 26 patched members and 5 associate members. The ceremonies took place in a church (yes a church) in Johnson County Kansas. The members work at several different L.E.O. agencies in the area.

We were graced with the presence of a few DMC members who took time out to make this trip. Chubbs from National, Train from Golden Isles, Catdaddy from Lee and Tracker from Tampa. I want to thank each of them for taking time out and assisting me with this opening.

We were treated like a bunch of rock stars from the time we touched the ground in Kansas City. We had members of the OZ chapter waiting for us at the airport and escorted us to the hotel. We were then taken to Hog Dawg’s residence where associates (Wildcat and Blonde Bomber) had prepared a Mexican feast for us. We sat outside in the back yard and froze our ass off as we sat by the fire and under a heater since it was in the mid to low 50’s. The adult beverages assisted up in keeping warm and it felt like we were at a family reunion. We Sat down with the Executive Board of the OZ chapter and talked business. We made it home around 2:30am (Florida time) and tried to get a few hours sleep. We were told that OZ had an 11 hour day planned for us on Saturday.

On Saturday we had the opening at 10 am and patched in the 26 members and associates. Buddha and Taz did an excellent job in putting this together. Each member had a special experience as they were called up one by one. I was extremely impressed with each member as they spoke about current job assignments and experiences. It is very apparent that this will be a fast growing chapter with a 95+ percentage of law enforcement officers.

The OZ chapter took there first ride as patched members as we followed in our maroon Chevy . They took us to a place called “Legends” which has hundreds of stores, restaurants and the Kansas City Speedway. (and yes we did take the Suburban down to the track and parked it in the pits

YEA!!) We had a great lunch with the guys and proceeded to Gail’s HD for the 911 ride. The OZ chapter was a hit with the crowd and handed out flyers about the DMC (great idea). The flyer explained the chapter and how to contact them if interested. We took several photo’s and met with Wide Open Magazine who is going to complete an article on the DMC.

We then met with the chapter for some “Kansas BBQ” that had been set up for us in a private room. Some of the associates rode with up in the “Burban” since the weather had turned to crap and rained all afternoon.

The chapter members never stopped riding or removed the colors as they pushed forward through the rain. I don’t think that we could have pried a vest off any of them.

I want to thank the entire OZ chapter for being a class act and a great addition to the DMC. These are the kind of people that we strive to have as our brothers. They are currently trying to make plans to attend the National DMC party in Lakeland on February 28th 2009.

We want to thank Buddha for getting Taz involved in the club (inside

joke)

See ya at the next opening in Knoxville on October 11th

We will send out pictures very soon.

Please send this out to your members

Snake

National Vice President

Defenders LE/MC

“Live Life Play Hard”