(Deutsche Zusammenfassung am Ende der Mail) Dear Allmachers and Allmacher descendants, by now we are 7 subscribers on this list - we are beginning to take off ;-). I would like to take the opportunity to 1) briefly introtruce myself, and 2) say a few words about the list and how I feel we would make the best use of it. My name is Wolf Seelentag, born 1947 near Augsburg (Bavaria). I'm working as medical physicist at Kantonsspital St.Gallen (Switzerland): before starting here in 1982 I lived and studied in Berlin and London (UK), worked near Munich and in Zuerich. My wife Mareile is from the German Ruhr area (Hattingen) - and Allmacher are amongst her ancestors. If you want to see a picture of me - have a look at http://www.seelentags.de/ where you'll also find links to my other web projects. You'll find a description on how my surname came into existence on http://www.genealogienetz.de/privat/seelentag/seeltauf.htm I am collecting info on all descendants of Jacob "von Allenbach", who turned up in the Trarbach area (Moselle) during mid 16th century. So if you haven't been in touch with me directly so far (this applies to our two newest members, subscribing just a few hours ago) I would appreciate to get more information - to try to fit you into the puzzle ;-). I don't feel we should have too many rules on our list; as a matter of fact, I feel we shouldn't have any rules exceeding the general "netiquette". I would consider it a plus, however, if we all knew whom we are "talking" to, i.e. if all subscribers could post a short "biography" (as short as mine above, or longer if you wish). The only other point I would mention is the language: I know/assume that 5 of us live in USA, 1 in Germany, and me in Switzerland; consequently English is fine for the majority (it certainly is also fine with me); I am hoping, however, that we can attract more German subscribers as well - some might not be fluent in English, at least be hesitant to write in English, and may even have problems reading mails in English. I therefore hope that this list could be bi-lingual, at least at a later stage (once we hear that some subscribers have problems with English). This requires some patience with mails in a "foreign" language (a short abstract in the other language at the end of a might help here) - and if someone feels (s)he is missing important information due to the language - just let me know and I'll provide a (shortened) translation. ... und nun auf Deutsch - Hallo Richard, wir kennen uns ja schon, aber vielleicht findest Du auf http://www.seelentags.de/ noch ein paar zusaetzliche Infos ueber mich, einschl. der Geschichte der Entstehung meines Familiennamens auf http://www.genealogienetz.de/privat/seelentag/seeltauf.htm Regeln will ich fuer die Liste eigentlich keine einfuehren (ausser der ueblichen Hoeflichkeit), aber ich faende es interessant, wenn sich Alle ganz kurz (wie ich oben) vorstellen koennten - so weiss man ein bisschen, mit wem man "redet". Wie sieht es bei Dir mit Englisch aus ? Ich habe (nach 4 Jahren in London) keine Probleme damit, schlage aber doch vor, auf unserer Liste auch Deutsch zuzulassen, evtl. mit kurzem Abstract auf Englisch; schliesslich hoffe ich, dass sich mit der Zeit auch ein paar deutsche Namenstraeger beteiligen, ohne sich sprachlich benachteiligt zu fuehlen. Mit besten Gruessen - with best regards - Wolf -------------- Wolf W. Seelentag, PhD, e-mail : [email protected] Klinik fuer Radio-Onkologie, Kantonsspital, CH - 9007 St. Gallen, Switzerland Tel : +41-71-4942233 Fax : +41-71-4942893