[Serusers] Weirdness trying to send IM

[sip]

I'm attempting to send an IM via SIP using the method described in the admin
guide (from the command line).  When I try, I get these messages in the logs:

Dec 15 10:10:26 death /usr/local/sbin/ser[8138]: ERROR: fifo_server: command
must begin with :: NOTIFY 
Dec 15 10:10:26 death /usr/local/sbin/ser[8138]: ERROR: fifo_server: command
must have at least 3 chars 
Dec 15 10:10:26 death /usr/local/sbin/ser[8138]: ERROR: fifo_server: command
must begin with :: To: sip:1234 at my.server.com 
Dec 15 10:10:26 death /usr/local/sbin/ser[8138]: ERROR: fifo_server: command
must begin with :: Hello world!!!! 


Can someone tell me what crucial step I'm missing here? 

N.