Ah, the irony of writing a post about club emails going to Spam… which we’re then going to send to you by email!

Anyway, if you’re reading this, good news, this one made it through! But quite a few of our members aren’t seeing some or all of the emails we send, so please read on. And perhaps mention it to a fellow member who hasn’t heard from the Club for a while.

From time to time we hear from members who say they are no longer receiving emails from the Sprite Club.

In many cases, the emails have not disappeared at all. They have simply been placed into a Spam or Junk Mail folder by the email provider.

Why does this happen?

Unfortunately, email providers work very hard to protect us from unwanted mail, scams and phishing attacks. Their automated filters are generally very good, but they are not perfect.

The Sprite Club website sends emails on behalf of whoever is logged into the website. That means a club email might sometimes appear to come from a Sprite Club address, while another message may appear to come from a Gmail or another personal email address belonging to the committee member who sent it.

To make matters more difficult, hackers occasionally send fake emails pretending to be from legitimate organisations, including clubs such as ours. Because of this, email providers can sometimes become a little over-protective and mistakenly classify genuine club emails as spam.

The result is that a perfectly legitimate Sprite Club email can end up in your Spam or Junk folder instead of your Inbox.

Where do I find my Spam or Junk folder?

Most email systems have a Spam or Junk folder, although it isn’t always obvious where it is.

• Gmail (computer, Android or iPhone): Look for the Spam folder. You may need to tap or click More to see it.
• Outlook (Windows, Mac or phone): Look for the Junk Email folder.
• Apple Mail (iPhone, iPad and Mac): Look for the Junk mailbox.
• Other email apps: Look for a folder called Spam, Junk or Junk Mail.

Some members have told us they can’t see a Spam or Junk folder on their phone. That’s quite possible, as some apps hide it by default or make it difficult to find. If you can’t locate it, try signing into your email on a computer or through your email provider’s website, where all folders are usually easier to see.

And if you still can’t find it, don’t be afraid to ask for help. Phones, tablets and computers all work a little differently, and sometimes finding the right setting or folder is far from obvious.

What should you do?

If you think you’ve missed a club email:

• Check your Spam or Junk Mail folder.
• If you find a Sprite Club email there, open it and mark it as “Not Spam” or “Not Junk.” This helps your email service recognise that future club emails are genuine.
• If your email program allows it, add Sprite Club email addresses to your Contacts or Address Book. This can improve the chances that future messages will arrive in your Inbox.

It’s also worth making a habit of checking your Spam or Junk folder every week or two. Most email systems automatically delete messages from these folders after about 30 days, so if you never look there, genuine emails may disappear before you even know they arrived. You might be surprised by what you find hiding in there!

And remember, email isn’t the only way to keep up with the Sprite Club.

If you haven’t heard from us for a while, have a quick look at the club website for the latest news, events and updates. Better still, come along to a club meeting. It’s a great way to find out what’s happening, catch up with other members, ask questions and stay involved with the club.

So, if the emails seem to have gone quiet, don’t assume nothing is happening. Check your Junk folder, check the website, or come along and see us at a meeting. We’d love to see you.

What if I still don’t receive club emails?

If you’ve checked your Spam or Junk folder and still aren’t receiving club emails, please let a committee member know.

It can help if you tell us:

• the email address you use for the club
• whether you use Gmail, Outlook, Apple Mail or another email service
• whether you mainly read your email on a computer, tablet or phone

Most importantly, don’t be afraid to ask for help. Everyone’s phone, tablet or computer is a little different, and we’re happy to help members work through it. What takes someone familiar with the system a minute or two to find can save you missing months of club news.

A final reminder

The internet is unfortunately full of scammers who send convincing fake emails.

If you ever receive a message claiming to be from the Sprite Club that asks you to click an unusual link, provide passwords, or transfer money, treat it with caution and contact a committee member before responding.

And if you think you’ve stopped hearing from the club, don’t assume we’ve forgotten you. The email may simply be waiting for you in your Spam or Junk folder.

Check your Junk. Check the website. Come along to a meeting. And if you’re stuck, just ask us for help.