There are two ways to activate email alerts on a COLWeb Collaboration site. 

In the individual forum / object click "Action" and "Alerts" 

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You can also activate alerts through your settings menu.  To begin, move your mouse over your name in the top right corner of the screen.  A menu will appear (see image, right).  Click My Settings (see image, right).

Your Personal Settings page will appear.  Click the My Alerts link at the top of the personal settings area. The resulting page will list the alerts you've already created.  Click Add Alert.

The next page will show a list of the documents repositories and lists for which you can receive alerts.  Select the appropriate item, and click the Next button.

The resulting page (example, below) will allow you to specify alert options.  Set your preferences for the alert, and then click the OK button.