def find_channel_id(slack, name):
    """Allow a user to configure this system using a user-friendly channel name.
    The network handlers will use this method to map that to a channel ID.
    """
    result = slack.api_call('channels.list', exclude_members=True)
    for channel in result['channels']:
        if channel['name'] == name:
            return channel['id']
        prev_names = channel.get('previous_names')
        if prev_names is not None and name in prev_names:
            return channel['id']
    return None
