Thanks mixture, your advice noted and appreciated.
Following my rant last night I have come across a site which seems to promise what I am after, and at a (very) modest cost which I'm happy to pay. I'll phone them on Monday to get some specific information which I need. It looks good on paper (ooops screen).
I take your point about boards vs mailing list. However the needs of my groups are somewhat specific, and over the 10 years they have been in operation, the members have come to expect things to happen this way. There are about 100 people in each group; they are closed groups operating by invitation only, and most of us know one another in real life anyway.
Thanks again,
FOR
