HI,

My local residents association are looking to set up an online forum. We want to use something like yahoo groups etc. Trouble is no one trusts yahoo groups to be able to protect email addresses. Does anyone know any easy layout web based forums that you can manage yourself?

Key requirements; Ease of use, ease of sign up/access, ability to upload documents/pics, protection of email addresses.

I'd be really really grateful for your help.

I run a similar set up through Yahoo Groups for local parents, and I've got to say that I've never had any problem with protection of email addresses in almost 2 years. I set up a yahoo email address specifically for that group and I get no junk whatsoever. People can hide their email addresses from other users in case they are concerned about other group members misusing. There are several delivery options, from the user checking through the website, to special notices only, to daily email digest to each posted message being sent to users by email.

The sign up process to yahoo isn't great, but once you are on it's really easy to use, including pics and files etc.

Hope this is some help; any more questions about it, just ask!

Z

I also use Yahoo groups for freecycle and never had any trouble. It doesn't look as good as it could, but it's not so bad.

I've got an idea that the BBC may run something similar - but I'm not sure.