Dear Cousins, The second week in January I will be leaving North Eastern Oregon for the North East coast of the country, visiting Maryland to get a new Grandbaby, and then to the joint NEHGS/GENTECH2002 Convention in Boston January 24th to 27th. I am so excited about both events. For those of you unfamiliar with the acronyms: NEHGS is New England Historic Genealogical Society http://www.nehgs.org/about/main/and GENTECH is for Genealogical Technology which awarded me a scholarship last year. http://www.gentech.org/ I will be giving a speech at the convention about the progress and outlook of American Crossroads. The NEHGS is the oldest genealogical society in the United States, having been founded in 1845. Just the thought of researching there makes me tremble in awe and excitement. As you know, American Crossroads seeks to generate community through the list and website. To do this, we strive to teach and interpret historiy through genealogy, by keeping abreast of resources on the internet and also of new products, technologies and methodologies which facilitate our aims.. I am in the process of finalizing my speech, and would like imput and comments from you on what you think are good directions, how things could be improved, how you have utilized the site and material, etc. Please address comments via this list -- I would like very much to learn from you. How are we doing? Give me your opinions and ideas! I need all the help I can get! As we finish this horrible, tragic year, I hope as we begin a New Year (as much as is possible) we can take a great many good and positive outlooks from the terrors of 2001 and look forward to a future that that is blessed with increased wisdom, compassion and concern for our Fellowman, and a Peaceful existence with one another. Love, Your Cousin, Carolyn Visit American Crossroads, an Internet Community http://freepages.history.rootsweb.com/~amxroads/