EdMc wrote:

I had distribution lists in my prior version of Outlook 2000 that
were easy to create and easy to add contacts to.

It's exactly the same. While in your Contacts folder, click the down-arrow
to the right of New and choose Distribution List. Click Select Members.
Choose who you want to add. Click the Members button. Click OK. Click
Save and Close. To modify one, double-click it to open it and proceed as
for a new one.
--
Brian Tillman [MVP-Outlook]