) ( ) Good Morning Family! .-.,--^--. ( Come on in. . . \\|`----'| - The coffee pot's on. . . \| |// ...and we even have decaf, | |/ tea, and hot chocolate! \ / ------ According to my calendar we're supposed to be nearing the end of summer, right? It's just September 24th and outside my window is a winter wonderland! Yes cousins, you read it right ... snow! ... about 2 inches worth right now and more is coming down as I write this. I think the weatherman forgot that it isn't time for the holidays with these somber gray skies and all this pristine white. It's all beautiful, but I'm no longer in Germany so whoever ordered this up can have it back! :) Today's topics include: 1. Welcome to new cousins 2. Last call for GEDCOMs 3. Oh, those hidden records! If you've been with the family for at least three weeks, you'll probably want to skip the following paragraphÂ… TO OUR NEWEST COUSINS ~~ On behalf of the entire family, I'd like to extend a most hearty welcome to those cousins who came into the family fold this past week. We are very glad to have you with us and hope you'll stay and remain a part of our online family. As soon as you're comfortable with us and the list, please send in your Bower[s]/Bauer/Baur/Bro[u]wer lines so we can all see how we're related to you. We do not have a fancy format for sending in records or queries to the list. Post as many as you wish! If the data has anything to do with Bower[s]/Bau[e]r/Bro[u]wer lines or any of the 81+ variant spellings that might help someone, please feel free to post it. Every scrap of information is appreciated. If you haven't visited the homesite of this list yet, you are encouraged to do so. The Bower Family Homestead [a.k.a., the Homestead] is our homesite and the gathering place for much of our information. It waits to join us all in welcoming you into the family at <http://www.crosswinds.net/~bowerhomestead>, or you can use our shortcut URL of <http://embark.to/Homestead>. We also have a newly opened sister site, the Bower Cottage, that we've begun to fill. There are currently only a few names there, but give us time... :) The Cottage is at <http://www.crosswinds.net/~bowercottage>, or you can use the shortcut URL of <http://embark.to/bowercottage>. LAST CALL FOR GEDCOMs The deadline for our October update of the Cottage's GEDCOM project is Wednesday, September 27th. Have you sent yours to me yet? If not, you should know that the next update won't be until February, 2001. OH, THOSE HIDDEN RECORDS! Have you noticed the brief messages coming out on the list with mention of records that someone came across or just happened to have buried in their material? Those "hidden records" are just what we need! The tiny one-liners carry clues for someone's research that, though you may not feel are important, can be _the_ big break that one of your cousins are looking for. They do nobody any good hidden in a shoebox or binder and buried under the bed. Please, if you are 'harboring' hidden records, post them before all the family. Even a one- or two-liner message with a birth, death or marriage is very welcome here. Family ... it's what we're all about. My coffee cup is empty once again. I really enjoyed this time with you. I hope your upcoming week is filled with health, productivity, fun, and above all, filled with love. ) ( ) _.-~~-. (@\'--'/. Colleen ('``.__.'`) `..____.' P.S. The sun just popped out! :)