Sending Group Messages

Boardwise lets you send messages to all members of a board or committee with built-in read tracking. This is ideal for announcements, updates, or any communication that needs to reach your entire group with confirmation that it was received.

Overview

Group messages provide:

• One-click distribution to all active members of a board or committee
• Email notifications so recipients don't miss important updates
• Read receipts showing exactly who has viewed your message
• Threaded comments for follow-up discussion
• Permanent record of all group communications

Sending a Message

From the Group Page

1. Navigate to your board or committee page
2. In the Messages section, click New Message
3. Enter a subject line that clearly describes the message
4. Compose your message using the rich text editor
5. Click Send Message

The message is immediately delivered to all active group members via email, and appears in their My Messages inbox within Boardwise.

Who Receives the Message

When you send a group message:

• All active members of the board or committee receive an email
• The message author does not receive an email (you already know what you sent)
• Inactive or former members do not receive the message
• Organization administrators can view all messages for audit purposes

Tracking Read Receipts

One of the most valuable features of group messages is the ability to see who has read your communication.

Viewing Read Status

1. Open any message you've sent
2. The right sidebar shows Read Receipts
3. A badge displays the count (e.g., "5 of 12 read")
4. Each recipient is listed with their status:
   • Time ago (e.g., "2 hours ago") - indicates when they read it
   • Unread badge - they haven't opened it yet

How Read Tracking Works

• A message is marked as read when a recipient opens it in Boardwise
• Opening the email alone does not mark it as read
• Read status updates in real-time as recipients view the message
• The message author can check back anytime to see updated read counts

Commenting on Messages

Group messages support threaded comments for follow-up discussion.

Adding a Comment

1. Open the message
2. Scroll to the comment section below the message body
3. Type your comment and click Post

All group members can see and respond to comments, creating a threaded discussion tied to the original message.

Accessing Messages

My Messages

Recipients can find all messages sent to their groups from the top navigation:

1. Click My Messages in the navigation bar
2. View all messages across all your boards and committees
3. Click any message to read it and mark it as read

Group Message History

To see all messages for a specific group:

1. Navigate to the board or committee page
2. Click View All Messages in the Messages section
3. Browse the complete message history for that group

Who Can Send Messages

Message permissions follow your organization's role structure:

Role	Can Send Messages
Organization Admin	Yes, to any group
Board/Committee Chair	Yes, to their group
Group Member	No

If you don't see the New Message button, you may not have permission to send messages to that group. Contact your organization administrator if you need messaging access.

Email Notifications

When you send a group message, recipients receive an email containing:

• The full message subject
• The complete message body
• A link to view the message in Boardwise (which marks it as read)
• A link to reply or comment

Email Delivery

• Emails are sent immediately when you post the message
• Each recipient receives their own copy
• Replies to the email are not captured — recipients should comment in Boardwise for tracked discussions

Best Practices

Writing Effective Messages

• Clear subject lines - Make it obvious what the message is about
• Keep it focused - One topic per message helps recipients respond appropriately
• Use formatting - Headers, bullet points, and bold text improve readability
• Include deadlines - If action is required, make the timeline clear

When to Use Group Messages vs. Other Features

Use Case	Recommended Feature
Announce important news	Group Message
Distribute documents	Upload to Documents section
Assign tasks	Action Items
Schedule a meeting	Create a Meeting
Quick question	Group Message with comments

Following Up on Unread Messages

If critical information isn't being read:

1. Check the read receipts to identify who hasn't opened the message
2. Consider a gentle reminder at your next meeting
3. For urgent matters, follow up directly with individuals who haven't read it

Related Articles

• Understanding Notifications
• Managing Committees
• Group Roles and Permissions
• Action Items