Thank you John!!! Well Put!! Mary B. At 11:23 AM 5/26/01 -0400, you wrote: >Hi, > >Based on messages earlier today, it would seem that some new people are >confused about what the Davidson list (and the other 1000's of RootsWeb >lists) are. > >It is not a web site that you can check into every so often for your >research needs. But, Mary - your list admin - does provide a superb >research site that we all should use as our first stop when doing >research. Its address is > >http://homepages.rootsweb.com/~genea/davidson.html > >and she keeps it a deep dark secret by not telling anyone about it, except >in the tag line of every message on this list. > >It is free. I hope that you will use it. > >What an email list is is a subscription service to whatever messages any of >the members choose to send to it. If you subscribe, you get them >all. Once you subscribe, do not assume that just because you receive the >message that it is a personal message for you. Normally, when you see a >message with [DAVIDSON-L} in the title, this will mean that it was sent to >the list. And when you REPLY to a one of these messages, it will normally >go to the list and not just the person who sent the message. So... if you >intend to send a personal or private message, please check who it is going >to. And most people will not mind if you make a mistake and send a >personal message to the list ONCE. > >The purpose of an email list is to allow us to collaborate on our >research. I may be working on one line and someone else may be working on >the same line and we get to know that we have a common interest. Most of >the messages will not be pertinent. But when you find one that is, you may >have a gem that helps you break through one of your brick walls. That is >why it is important to make sure that in the title of your message you give >readers a quick idea of who you are interested in. > >Whenever possible, please provide details. Chuck, you just made a great >breakthrough. I am sure that there is someone on the list who can use that >data. Giving us the details of that family might be helpful to the >list. And it might also be helpful to someone who is not on the list now. > >Did you know that ALL of the message of this list are archived and you can >search them? That means that someone who is not on the list now (or even >ever) can search through the messages and may find the clue for their brick >wall. > >And lastly, remember that new people are joining the list every day. There >is nothing wrong with coming back every so often (but not too often) and >asking again if anyone else is looking for your research line. Normally, >Mary will call a Roll Call and that is a good time to do that. Another >good time to do that is when you first join a list. It is a way of >introducing yourself to the other members on the list. > >Have a great holiday weekend - stay safe - and stay healthy, > >john. >Burlington, MA >www.tqsi.com/davidson > > > > > > > > > >==== DAVIDSON Mailing List ==== >DAVIDSON - DAVISON - DAVISSON Web Page >http://homepages.rootsweb.com/~genea/davidson.html > > >