Here are a few more Admin. notes. 1. The Greetings/Guidelines message that is sent to all new subscribers, has been updated. You might want to check the new G/G on the B-L Web Page. Changes in some of the services available at RootsWeb are included plus information about GenConnect Boards and Surname Helper, what can be found on our Web Page and a brief note describing the Index-Line Databases (still available on the Web Page). Remember, as of 1 Jan 1999, Index-Lines are no longer requested for messages posted to the List. Much of the information on using these Databases, that had been in G/G, is now summarized on the web page. 2. List members are no longer able to obtain subscriber lists by sending an e-mail "get dist" command to RootsWeb. Our list was given permission to use this service but it has been discontinued for now until the situation is reviewed. Considerable discussion has taken place on the the Listowners Mail List. Tim Pierce, senior sysadmin at rootsweb.com, has indicated that he would like to allow "get dist" and make it optional with the listowner to decide if his/her members should have this privilege. Tim has also stated that permitting list members to have access to member lists has little if any affect on "spam" and is no different from having a listowner/manager offer to send out subscriber lists to members who request them. Some listowners are vehemently opposed to reinstating "get dist", arguing that this is a violation of the "privacy" of the list members. I don't happen to share that opinion but will abide by whatever RootsWeb and our list members decide on this issue. 3. My suggestion for having our members send me summary data on their BLANCHARD line so it can be shared with the membership, is on hold. This involves some of the same questions that have been raised about "get dist" so I think we should wait until that is resolved. 4. I urge all our members to visit the BLANCHARD-L GenConnect Boards, especially the Query Board. Most of the other boards have not been 'discovered' yet but you may find some useful information in the queries that are appearing. Although the boards are under BLANCHARD-L supervision, they can be used by anyone, not just B-L members. Some people who don't want to be involved with mail lists, prefer to post notes to the Boards and check from time to time to see if they have been answered. The Boards are just another tool to help us fill in our family history and our experience with them is too brief to understand yet how they can be used effectively to enhance the BLANCHARD-L Mail List Fletch.