Hello, everyone, I've received a forwarded letter from someone who, it appears, didn't understand how email lists work. I have written to both the person who forwarded the letter and the person who wrote the letter. In the meantime, several more messages have appeared on the list about this subject. I want to assure everyone that the Listowner is here, reads everything, and the situation has hopefully been taken care of. If there are any more messages that come to the list, it is due to the time lag that, as you know, often happens. So, just delete the messages about it, if they come. There shouldn't be any need to do anything further. If you do need to reach the listowner, I am nearly always available: please write to me *directly* at webpsalms@iname.com. An alternative email address is paphillips@inu.net. I have been enjoying most people's response to the question of where or what is East Texas. Let's not get too far astray or carried away, however, because I always feel an obligation to those who really only have time (and sometimes, ability to pay) for messages that are directly genealogical. As you all know, I am fairly relaxed about it, but I do once again, ask that you use common sense about what messages to send to the list (anything to do with genealogy and history of East Texas -- and I think the discussion of who/what is East Texas *is* fairly relevant) and send personal messages: please, thank you, please send me that, any personal stuff directly to the person(s) you want to receive it, NOT on the list. Please do not forward anything about viruses, missing children, in general, anything that isn't East Texas genealogy. The address East-Texas-Roots-L-request@rootsweb.com is an automated computer. You should only send Subscribe and Unsubscribe command there. If you have a message you want to send to the list, please send it to East-Texas-Roots-L@rootsweb.com (no -request in there). You must be a subscriber to post, and must post using the email you subscribed under. Please don't send unsubscribe requests to the list address. Send them to the -request address. Just put one word 'unsubscribe' -- no quotes in the BODY of the message. If you get a message saying you were not unsubscribed because you were not on the subscriber list, but you are getting the messages, it means that the email address you used to subscribe was different from the one you used to try to unsubscribe. That message comes from the automated computer, NOT from me! Think what address you used to subscribe and try again. If you still have trouble, write to me directly at webpsalms@iname.com and I will try to help. Remember to send messages to the list in plain ASCI text, not rich text or html. I know how easy it is to do it wrong, because I think an earlier message of mine may have gone that way -- I just realized it was set for rich-text/html. When you see a thread veering off the subject, and want to get back to genealogy, please do NOT write to the list and complain. You can write to me, but the best and most effective way to veer back to genealogy is simply to send a query or a piece of information about your family in East-Texas. This immediately gets people's attention back to the subject of the list without any chance of starting a flame war with on-list complaints. It really works! The Who/What is East Texas thread has reiterated my personal experience so well: that East Texas is a wonderful place and East Texans are wonderful people, helpful and friendly. One thing we need to remember, and even I forget, now that I live in East Texas -- some of our members live far, far away. Some have never even been here at all, while others have lived here all their lives. Those born and raised in East Texas -- jump in and help those who haven't been here with the geography, culture, history, etc. You'll be richly rewarded with the pleasure of having taken someone by the hand. Someday, I'll bet that person will turn around and do you an equally good turn. Hooray for East-Texas-Roots and East-Texas-Rooters! Every time I get discouraged and think about giving up this list, somebody does something truly wonderful for someone else or writes me a letter that makes my day! Thank you all. Sincerely, Pam Phillips Listowner: East-Texas-Roots Email: webpsalms@iname.com Email: paphillips@inu.net