Looking for a Way to Communicate Wtih a Small Group

If it is just you communicating to them, simply set up a group email and send out the information. And if the only response you need is RSVPs to activities, then Evite is a good addition to that.

If the other families need a way to contact the group too than Yahoo Groups would be a good way to go. You would need a Yahoo account to set it up, but you can use any email for it. Pretty much there is a group email address and anyone who sends a message to this email sends it to the whole group. As admin you would add peoples email addresses through a Yahoo account to make them members. There is a calendar function that can be used to send reminders to everyone.

Do NOT use the Yahoo Group email for an Evite. You need to input everyones individual emails into an Evite. If you use the Yahoo Group address for it there is only one "person" that will rsvp and anyone else would just be changing that response.

PM me if you need help. I set one up for my HS class years ago. Too bad they are against FB - that is by far the easiest way to go (I set one up for the group there too).

Today it is not uncommon for coaches to communicate with their players and families via e-mail or text and that's just the way it is. Everyone adapts.

Not everyone has Facebook, and some like me are dead set against it, so I think I would just tell everybody whether to expect the communications either via text or e-mail and it is up to them to adjust accordingly.

It sounds like email is probably the best way to communicate with everyone.

Also, being in a group in FB does not mean that everyone in that group can view your friends, nor does it mean that you have to friends everyone in the group. They can have a FB with no friends just to be in a group.

Also, if you use the privacy settings, you needn't worry about what pics you post. No need to be paranoid.

I'm not a huge fan of FB groups. My friends list is for my close friends and family that I want to share my life with...Not everyone I am acquainted with.

I would send the emails to those who prefer that method... It is really easy to set up a group that will send to everyone at once.

For those who want to receive texts, you can just write the text when you have a chance, set the contacts to it, then wait until a more appropriate time to hit send. (I would save everyone in the group under "z-name", so they all appear together in your contact list.)

If you want a way to share pics in a closed setting, look into a website specifically for that purpose. (I dont know any off the top of my head, but i know they exist!) FB is so insecure, it's ridiculous. That way, anyone who wants to participate can do so, without having to friend them on FB. Just make sure that ALL the mothers are aware of any parents who don't want their kid's photo floating around online, so they know not to post pics including that kid, or to edit the face out. :)

Cozi.com is a free service. It's meant to organize a single family, but you can use it for whatever you wish by adding emails of the participants. I use it to coordinate medical appointments for the older relatives in my family who need rides or a companion to accompany them.

Email is by far the most used form of communication. It's how our teachers, coaches, youth groups and scout leaders stay in touch and send out important information. If families can't be bothered to check their email their kids simply miss out.
Our book group communicates this way to, as do all the other groups I work with.
Facebook isn't really an option because many people still don't have it.
When you establish a group it's up to you to decide what the method of communication will be used, then people can decide to participate or not.

Evites is just email, that sounds like your best option if everyone has an email address that they check frequently. Yahoo groups is another option, but then everyone has to have a yahoo email (I think).