The Dorset County Association publishes a regular newsletter to keep members informed about forthcoming events, training opportunities, committee news and other matters relating to the Association.
The newsletter is distributed by email using a secure, GDPR-compliant Google Group. This helps protect members’ personal data, prevents misuse of the mailing list, and ensures that communications are only sent to members who have chosen to receive them.
Joining the Newsletter (see below for non-Gmail email addresses)
If you are a current DCA member and would like to receive the newsletter by email, please request to join our Google Group by visiting https://groups.google.com/g/dca-member-updates
Sign in with your Google account (if prompted) and click Ask to join. Your request will be reviewed by a Group Administrator before access is approved.
Important
- Please ensure that the email address you use to request membership matches the email address currently held on the DCA membership records. Requests from unrecognised email addresses cannot normally be approved.
- If you have changed your email address, please contact the DCA Secretary at DCACBR@gmail.com, providing both your previous email address and your new email address so that our records can be updated before your request is approved.
- You will not be able to view previous newsletters or messages through Google Groups. If you attempt to access the group’s online content, you may see a message stating that you do not have permission to access the content. This is normal and does not indicate that there is a problem with your membership request. Once your request has been approved, you will receive future newsletters by email.
If you experience any other difficulties joining the group, please contact the DCA Secretary, who will be happy to assist.
Joining the Google Group with a Non-Gmail Email Address
If you use an email address such as Yahoo, Outlook, Hotmail, BTInternet, Plusnet, iCloud or another non-Gmail provider, you can still join the DCA Member Updates Google Group.
You do not need a Gmail email address. However, Google requires you to have a free Google Account linked to your existing email address before you can join a Google Group. This requirement helps protect the privacy and security of all members. By asking people to verify ownership of their email address before joining, Google helps prevent unauthorised access to the group and reduces the risk of someone joining using another person’s email address. It also supports the DCA’s obligations under UK data protection legislation (UK GDPR) to take appropriate steps to safeguard members’ personal information.
This only needs to be done once.
Step 1 – Create a Google Account using your existing email address
- Go to https://accounts.google.com/signup
- Select Use my current email address instead (do not create a Gmail address).
- Enter your existing email address.
- Choose a password.
- Google will send a verification code to your normal email inbox.
- Enter the verification code when prompted.
- Your free Google Account is now ready.
Step 2 – Request to Join the DCA Member Updates Google Group
- Visit https://groups.google.com/g/dca-member-updates.
- Click Sign in (top right of the page).
- Sign in using:
- your existing email address (for example, your Yahoo address), and
- the password you chose when creating your Google Account.
- Once signed in, click Ask to Join Group.
- Your request will be sent to the DCA Secretary for approval.
- Once approved, you will begin receiving DCA Member Updates by email.
A few important points
- You continue to use your existing email address.
- You do not need to create or use a Gmail email address.
- Creating the Google Account is free.
- You only need to create the Google Account once. After that, you simply sign in with your existing email address whenever Google asks.
If you experience any difficulties, please contact the DCA Secretary, who will be happy to help.