I just stumbled across a way to post to the list without having access to
an email provider.  As long as you have web access, you can go to the list
archives at http://gerry.vanagon.com/archives where you can read recent
posts and POST new messages!  Just select any archived message and select
the "post message" icon at the top of the page.  (You must drill down to an
actual message posting, the post icon is not on the index page.) When you
select the post icon it will ask you to logon using your email address with
which you joined the list.  The first time you will be required to set a
password, which is confirmed via email.  Once you are confirmed, you can
totally access the list via the web interface.  This will solve the problem
of users needing access when email is not available, and will allow the
list to remain closed.  Just be sure to register for a password before you
need it!  No more need for a spare hotmail account!

There is also an icon that will let you change your list server settings.

Now if we could figure out how to speed up the archive search....

Bill Knight
Raleigh, NC