Learn English – Addressing a senior female in formal mail

When writing a formal email without knowing the name of the receiver, I would tend to fall back on standard letter writing style, especially for job applications and the like:

Dear Sir/Madam,

Or if the email doesn't need such an air of formality (for less important things), I'd write a simple:

Hello,

Or perhaps:

Hello [company name],

For posterity, here is the bounty message I wrote to get more attention to this question: "As a parent and taxpayer, I would like to address a formal letter (starting with "Dear") to nine members of my local Board of Education. This is an elected body and has a mix of genders. I don't want to have to write out all nine names. I am hopeful my situation is subsumed in this question. I am starting the bounty because the existing answers did not receive spectacular votes, so I'm unsure whether @Sanctor's [answer][1] can be relied upon. (The other existing answer only addresses a special case.)"

This was originally contributed by @JOSH. I was going to award it the bounty but I couldn't, because he removed his answer. So I have reposted it here

To address the members of a Board:

Dear Board Members

is an appropriate form you can use.

(www.businesswritingblog.com)