Some of you who are listowners have already heard about "GenConnect at RootsWeb". For some time, GenConnect has been supporting the Query component of some of the USGenWeb county pages. That is to say that a county coordinator can choose to have GC run their Query page rather than maintain it themselves. Recently, GenConnect became affiliated with RootsWeb and the official title is now "GenConnect at RootsWeb". The resulting effect of this on the Family Mail Lists/Web Pages at RootsWeb is that GC/RW is now offering Surname Boards to supporters of RootsWeb. As a sponsor at the $50 level, BLANCHARD-L is entitled to "boards for up to 4 surnames". I can't find the exact quote but a RW rep said that this was a small pay-back for the "supporting members", similar to the idea that when we "upped" our level to sponsor-plus, we were entitiled to space for a web page in addition to our List. The use of the term "board" comes from the old Bulletin Boards that were the precursor of the fancy stuff we now have on the Net and Web. Messages are posted to the "board" and replies are organized in "threads" so it is easy to follow the exchanges. Much of this is automated but the board manager/administrator has certain duties such as monitoring the board, removing "off topic" posts, etc. Today, I requested a Surname Board for BLANCHARD (and name variants). I did this to reserve the name, because once the word gets out, they will be going fast, but also to learn more about the system and whether we want to incorporate this into the BLANCHARD-L. Some of you are familiar with the GenForum web site which has been functioning since summer 1997. Several of our members have posted to this BB but I have not found the time to be active there. I have put a link to this page from the B-L Page. <Bottom Line> If you are interested in these two activities, go to: * http://cgi.rootsweb.com/~genbbs/qindex.html for overall information about GenConnect * http://cgi.rootsweb.com/~genbbs/indx/FamAssoc.html for the Family Associations (Surname Boards) section of GenConnect * http://genforum.familytreemaker.com/blanchard/ for the BLANCHARD Genealogy Forum at GenForum One thing we might do with these two sites is to promote membership in BLANCHARD-L (Sherry posted a blurb to GenForum earlier this year). Note that GenForum pages include "commercials"; GC/RW do not! There are lots of pros and cons here so again, I'd appreciate hearing from you at my <fab@klink.net> address. Fletch