e-mint is an association of online community professionals. But, if you say “e-mint” to any of the members, the first thing that will come to mind is the Yahoo! Group, the mailing list that all of the nearly 1,000 members are a part of.

The group was originally founded in 2000 by Rebecca Newton (longtime Program Manager on AOL’s community efforts, currently the Chief Community & Safety Officer at social game developer Mind Candy), Jen Riza, Lizzie Jackson (who launched and managed BBC’s online community and is now an Academic Development Manager at Ravensbourne) and Miranda Mowbry (a researcher in the Cloud and Security lab for Hewlett-Packard).

It is home to a wide selection of community professionals, as well as those who aspire to be one. You’ll find people who are brand new to the field and you’ll find veterans who have been in the space for a decade or, in some cases, much longer. And, of course, different people can have different methods for dealing with the same issue.

I have been a member of e-mint since February 4, 2008 (I have my welcome email and associated documentation) and I have found it to be a welcoming place. People ask for questions, they share experiences and relevant community management related news. They tap into the collective knowledge of the group when needed. Many people have found jobs working in the field through the list.

I believe that it is a great resource of knowledge and worth a look for any professional in this space, who wants to share their experience and be able to learn from the knowledge of others. I read far more than I reply, which I think is the case with most of the group’s membership. But, if I have something to say or can help, I do chime in.

The group is led primarily by Newton, who has shown me a great deal of kindness over the last few years, and anyone with an interest in the profession is welcome, no matter the level (or lack) of experience. There is no cost to join and you can leave at any time. For more information, visit the e-mint website.