About the cham-share mailing list

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About the list and its acceptable use

The cham-share mailing list was originally set up for chalet owners to share all things to do with working and living in the Chamonix valley. Membership has broadened since then and anyone is welcome to join, but that remains the list's main focus and purpose.

When sending mails, be polite and think twice before you post. This is a public forum and your words may be copied and repeated far more widely than you initially expect.

Frequently asked questions

What is a mailing list?

A mailing list is not a website, you 'subscribe' to the list and then, whenever someone sends an email to the list you will receive a copy of it. This means that when you subscribe you will start receiving many emails every day from other people on the list. There is some advice on how to manage all this email on the Technical help page.

How do I join cham-share?

Subscribe on the list info page.

If you subscribe using a GMail or Yahoo account, please look for any notification or confirm message in the "Spam" or "Junk" folders. Then mark the message as "Not Spam". This will ensure that future notification messages arrive in your Inbox.

How do I unsubscribe / leave cham-share?

There are two common ways you can unsubscribe from the ChamShare mailing list:

• Using the web interface
  • visit the list info page http://lists.chamshare.net/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/cham-share
  • locate this section: "To unsubscribe from Cham-share, get a password reminder, or change your subscription options enter your subscription email address: "
  • type the e-mail address you are subscribed with and click on the "Unsubscribe or edit options" button
  • on the next page http://lists.chamshare.net/cgi-bin/mailman/options/cham-share, click the "Unsubscribe" button.

• Using the email interface
  • open a mail program which sends mail from the address you want to unsubscribe.
  • send an e-mail to cham-share-request@chamshare.net and write the word 'unsubscribe' in the message body (just the word 'unsubscribe' and nothing else). The subject of this message will be ignored, so it doesn't matter what you put there.

After following one of these sets of instructions (you don't need to do both!), you will be sent a confirmation mail and must follow the instructions given in that mail to complete the unsubscription. This is to stop people from unsubscribing you without your permission.

Once your unsubscription has been processed, you will will probably receive another message confirming your unsubscription from the list and, at that point, you should stop receiving messages.

If that doesn't work, email us: support@chamshare.net and we'll do it for you.

See also: Subscription options

Can I send information about my company/product to the list?

We're all running companies here. It would get pretty boring pretty quick if we all spent all day spamming each other.

So be sensible, no spam: Don't repeatedly send material to the list and don't just forward your marketing material intended for the general public. The readers of the list are mostly professionals and the language and content of your posts should be targeted at such.

However, if you have or know of a genuinely new offering that you believe would be of interest to the readers of the list and that they wouldn't find out about in other ways a brief note to let people know about it is fine.

I wish to receive / do I have to pay, a commission when passing on / responding to an enquiry

This one really has been debated to death on the list. Some people want a commission for bookings they are facilitating, others just want an easy way to help their enquirer.

The general consensus that emerged for the best way to deal with this was:

• If you wish to receive a commission for an enquiry you are sending to the list: Send out the details of the request but withhold the client's contact info. Select the best option offered in reply (negotiate a commission rate) and assist with the booking. That way you will know who has received the booking from you.

• If you just wish to pass on an enquiry without taking a commission: It's best to send it out with contact details attached and people can get in touch with the client direct and not trouble you any further. (= no commission)

Lifts and transfers

The second most debated topic on the list are transfers, so here are some guidelines you should bear in mind when making requests.

Transfer requests generate a lot of traffic on the list, so be considerate, Special requests only please, eg:

• Individual transfers, lift shares and so on, for yourselves.
• Transfer requests for your clients, on occasions when you're having particular trouble finding one for say, an individual, at a difficult time or to an unusual destination, where the normal channels aren't working.

If you are looking for a paid transfer (especially for a client!) you *must* use a legal, licensed transfer company. If you don't everybody is completely uninsured and you, the driver and the passenger could all be in all sorts of trouble if there is an accident or if the vehicle is stopped en route.

More information about legitimate transfer companies

Car pooling/sharing/contribution to tolls/ mates rates and freebies, whatever label you give it, has to be a personal thing and only works well between ‘ourselves’. Ie those residents of the valley who are likely to reciprocate the favour on another occasion. (No discrimination against those without cars.....that’s where fuel/toll contributions are welcome).

NB. You cannot offer 'lift shares' on a for profit basis. If you do, it's not a lift share, you're running an illegal taxi / transfer service!

More information about legal car sharing

Ski Instructors and Guides

As above, it is illegal to offer ski instruction (or guiding) in France without the relevant paperwork.

If anyone is considering hiring or recommending an 'instructor' for their clients or friends who is not qualified to work in France, (ie. has not filed for and does not have in their possession at the time of the lessons their 'Carte Professionale' from the French government), be aware that the 'instructor' is operating illegally and should any accident happen during the lesson your clients/friends will NOT be covered under liability insurance.

I've got a great idea about how the list could be changed / better run

The best place to raise this is on the list itself. But please remember that people are busy and don't have a lot of time for this kind of thing. Write a short and easy to understand email to the list, explaining your idea and if people like it, it will probably get implemented. The list seems to have emerged as a laconic democracy. That is: the argument that gets the most votes and that takes the least work to implement generally wins.