Dear Baden-Wuerttemberg List Friends, This is just a gentle and friendly reminder that occasionally, the content of messages on the Baden-Wuerttemberg Mailing List can get a bit "off-topic," drifting a little too far from the primary intended focus of this interest group, which is genealogical and historical research *centered in* the former German states of Baden, Wuerttemberg or Hohenzollern, or the modern, post-1952 "combined" state of Baden-Wuerttemberg, which blends those three formerly separate states. Several BW List subscribers have recently contacted me off-list to note that this "off-topic" drift has affected more than a few list posts in the last day or so. In the interest of responding to those subscribers and also to list members who may have recently become part of our group, I would like to share the following information. Each RootsWeb-sponsored mailing list like this one has its own focus; ours is Baden-Wuerttemberg, Germany, both past and present. The BW list is *NOT* an "all-Germany" or "all-genealogy-topics" discussion group, nor do we usually feature significant coverage of specific research basics concerning US immigration, passenger arrival, naturalization, census, vital records or similar topics. This is not to say that we don't get QUESTIONS about these important research facets, or that no one on the list is willing or able to respond to them; however, in the interest of serving our list members who subscribe to the BW List primarily because of their desire to *hone in on Baden-Wuerttemberg-centered research,* we make every reasonable effort to keep the message threads featured here *on-topic* a majority of the time. J We'd like to suggest that any of our BW List members who may be new to genealogy research and/or need basic or step-by-step guidance on topics like immigration to the US, US naturalization (citizenship) of immigrants, passenger arrival and departure record research, US census research and similar topics can more readily and quickly find assistance with these important subjects by subscribing to mailing lists which feature these as their primary focus of discussion. Many separate RootsWeb mailing lists feature these and other topics of interest. I will post a subsequent message shortly which provides details about other RootsWeb lists and how to subscribe to them, and also offers information about how to search the Baden-Wuerttemberg Mailing List ARCHIVES (past messages) for help on topics that have been covered at length on this list in the past that are of interest to many people, both research "newbies" and veterans alike. For the moment, we respectfully request that everyone join us in returning the message focus of the Baden-Wuerttemberg Mailing List largely back to Baden-Wuerttemberg genealogy (and topics directly and immediately relevant to that.) Your understanding and cooperation will be gratefully appreciated! With best regards, Carla HELLER, Los Angeles, California USA mscarlah@earthlink.net List Co-Administrator, RootsWeb's Baden-Wuerttemberg Mailing List