This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Classification: Query Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/FNR.2ACEB/2335 Message Board Post: Dear All: There is a new extension of the message boards and mailing list that has been created. The Scottish Clans message boards and mailing lists have been established to cover those subjects that are generally off topic in these boards and lists. You can subscribe to the Clan mailing lists by either A: email to the Clan-DAVIDSON-L-request@rootsweb.com and put subscribe in the body of the message or B: go to www.rootsweb.com > Lists > International > Scotland > Clan and activate the email request C: For the Clan message boards www.rootsweb.com >boards >topics >ethnic/race >Celtic >Scottish Clans Some of the current posted threads and topics are: A: Ancestors B: Events and Reunions C: URL's and Web Sites D: Castles I will be adding more threads/topics over the next weeks as time and suggestions occur. I plan to add threads on Tartans, Heraldry, Customs ( Hogmanay) and Culture ( Food, Songs, Dance etc) If there is other subject matter that you think needs a thread please let me know or add it to the threads and topics on the message board The posting process is a little different than normal so please read the posting guidelines. Basically you would reply to the thread/topic where you want your own post/thread followed. This then gives you a URL that you can send by email or post to other web sites. Then related parties, and interest groups can have their own unique thread to follow. I've tried to organize the posts so we get the natural filing structure that this technique gives us. This way we won't have a series of unrelated posts that you need to track and search through pages upon pages There are a couple of other major advantages to posting to the Clan message boards A: There is no virus threat. So you can post there with no possibility of getting an infected message back. All replies to the mailing list go back to the rootsweb servers by default and the virus are thence removed. B: The messages are gatewayed over to each Clan mailing list so you do get the wide distribution of the mailing list. So you can post there on the message board and still get the wider disribution and archiving of the Clan mailing list. C: Your post is visible for an extended period of time. D: If you activate the "board notification" then you will receive one email notice whenever there is a post to any and all boards you are trackings. So it's the equivalent of one "super digest" . Nice invention by some creative person here at Rootsweb. No other web site offers this that I know of ! So please do me a favor and post this notice to other mailing lists and surname and topics message boards that you think might be interested in their Scottish Clan and Related Family /Sept heritage . Best Regards John A Hansen Clan Board Admin BTW: Septs is normally used more by the Irish Clans but in actual practice, I see a lot of people still using this term as a definition for the related family to the main Clan. There are a number of septs defined at a good web site at www.electricscotland.com It cross references both ways. Septs of the Clan and then the cross reference of the Septs that normally are accepted as belonging to a certain Clan. There are also several good books on the subject as well. Usually a study of Scottish History will tell you the related parties and families in a certain Clan. I don't know of another ethnic group that has been so careful to define their ethnic heritage and related families as well as the Scottish. Even to the point of creating a court under the jurisdiction of the Lord Lyon to sort out the arguments and disputes that arise from time to time. Scots are proud of their heritage and their ancestry and the love of the people for their own glens and bens is strong and deep. JAH