WAIT! Please read this letter and print a copy to save for reference. I have taken the time to write this informational message for you so please take the time to read and understand it. Thanks! *%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%* WELCOME *%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%* Welcome to the List. You're receiving this letter because you have joined the Fuller surname mailing list which is featured at http://www.feliixplace.com/genealogylists/fuller.html . Please do not post to the list until you have read this letter and fully understand the information in it. I look forward to your participation in this list. But first I have some important information to share. My name is David Sylvester and I'm the list's Listowner, which is the equivalent of being a Manager or an Administrator. I'm responsible for keeping the list running as smoothly as possible and setting some rules and guidelines. As a member you also have responsibilities, which include understanding how this list is run and posting appropriately. If you wish to leave the list at this time please send the single word unsubscribe in the body of an email to Fuller-l-request@rootsweb.com or Fuller-d-request@rootsweb.com (for digest mode). This list is an email forum for anyone who has an interest in Genealogy or History related to the Fuller family, or any other related spelling variation, at any time or any place. I created this list as an aid in my own research and to help others with the same interest. As a fellow member I'll participate in the discussions as fits my needs and to share my information with others to help them find their roots. As Manager I'll encourage members to participate and I'll closely monitor the list to see that it is an enjoyable place for all who are serious about finding their ancestors and sharing their information. *%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%* TABLE OF CONTENTS %*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%* GENERAL HOW TO * Subscription commands * How to contact me * How to subscribe (join the list) or unsubscribe (leave the list): * How to post your message to the list: RULES * On Topic * Off Topic * Exceptions to the no items for sale rule * No excess quoting * No attachments * No auto-replies * No challenge/response requests * No flames * Info and Updates * Don't * Violations * Summary of rules GUIDELINES * Quoting tips * Subject * Private messages * Settings * Sorting or Filtering email * Footers & sigs TIPS * Accuracy * Sources * Is this for real? * Queries * English 101 * Keep trying * Use the list * How to get started FURTHER INFORMATION * List homepage * Other mailing lists * Publish my info online? * Viruses ABOUT *%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%* *%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%* GENERAL %*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%* * If you subscribed by mistake or if someone else submitted your email address unbeknownst to you please unsubscribe now. If you don't have time to read this letter and attempt to understand the information in it please unsubscribe now. * This is a *no nonsense* list. Its rules are simple, easy to understand, and fair. Our fellow members have joined to search their roots and share their information on Genealogy and History and we hope you have done the same. * If you cannot follow a few simple rules or if you're intolerant of the writing style of others or if you tend to write flaming remarks in public forums then you don't belong in this list. If you think a genealogy mailing list is a good place to post a virus warning then perhaps this would be a good time to send in your request to unsubscribe. If however you feel you are among those who follow rules then read on... * Please keep this letter. I recommend you keep a copy on file in your computer as well as a printed, paper copy that you can find easily. If you lose your copy you may request a replacement from me at Fuller-admin@rootsweb.com or you can find a copy at http://www.feliixplace.com/genealogylists/fuller.html . This Welcome Letter supersedes all others of any prior date. * Read this letter -- there is a lot of important information here. It is assumed that by joining this list and receiving this letter you will read and understand it and that you intend to abide by it's simple rules and guidelines before posting to the list. If not so don't waste your time, please stop here and unsubscribe now. If there is something you question or don't understand please feel free to email me at Fuller-admin@rootsweb.com. Send your question to me not to the list. * You'll find emphasis and redundancy in this letter. Some important points are emphasized by adding asterisks (*'s) before and after key words and phrases. Some important points are stated in various ways in more than one section of this letter. * You'll also find many links to further information that will be helpful to members of the list. *%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%* HOW TO %*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%* * Subscription commands: The two commands you'll use in this list are subscribe and unsubscribe You send them by email to the address shown below. You must spell them correctly for them to work. And you must send them to the right address otherwise your command won't go where it's supposed to. This is due to the way the Internet and computers work. * How to contact me: If you need help, contact me at Fuller-admin@rootsweb.com . * How to subscribe (join the list) or unsubscribe (leave the list): -- To subscribe or unsubscribe send an email to: Fuller-l-request@rootsweb.com (for list mode) or Fuller-d-request@rootsweb.com (for digest mode) and put: subscribe (and nothing else) or unsubscribe (and nothing else) in the body of the message. Just send the single word command, correctly spelled. Don't add anything else. Do not add the phrase "and nothing else"; do not include your sig block or the list of surnames you're searching; do not send your family information -- you'll send that to the list *after* you have become a member; and do not add "please", "thank you", "have a nice day" or any other message. The computer software that handles subscriptions may not understand the extra words. The single word command will get you added to or removed from the list as you wish. Anything extra might cause it to not work. Note that "l" is an "L" (either lowercase or uppercase will work) and can be thought of as an abbreviation of "list mode" and "d" would stand for "digest mode". If you're subscribed in list mode you'll receive each list message individually. If you signed up for digest mode you'll periodically receive several messages combined in one email. Members subscribed in either mode will receive all the same messages. * How to post your message to the list: -- To post a message to this list, Genealogical data, a query or reply, etc., stuff of interest to other members, send it to Fuller-l@rootsweb.com . Remember, even if you are subscribed in digest mode, when you post a message to the list always use "l" in the address, never "d". *%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%* RULES *%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%* At times this list may be moderated. While in moderated mode all messages sent to the list are previewed by me before being accepted and redirected to the list or rejected. At any time the mode changes from unmoderated to moderated or vice versa there will not be any announcement of that change. Participation in this list is what makes it work. Thus members are encouraged to post messages to the list. Your post must be on topic to be relevant. Off topic messages are strongly discouraged. Here are some rules to help members understand the difference. * On Topic This list is for the discussion of Genealogy and History, primarily regarding Fuller and related families. Suggested areas of discussion include family data, migration patterns, immigration, ship passenger lists, heraldry, historical sketches, family settlements, census data, wills, inventory lists, family Bibles, grave stone inscriptions, DNA studies, vital records, web sites and other online resources, family reunion plans and announcements, genealogical libraries and archives, etc. as relates to Fuller and collateral families. Short family histories, memoirs, family lore, oral tradition and other anecdotal items authored by your ancestors or passed down orally are welcome. Announcements and genealogical discussions of the contents of web sites, message boards, chat rooms, newsgroups, alternate or similar mailing lists, and other forums or databases wherever hosted, as relates to the Fuller surname are certainly welcome in this list. A public announcement of interest to Genealogists in general though it may not relate specifically to Fullers is permitted but please use discretion. If you're unsure whether the content is appropriate send it to me privately and I'll preview it. * Off Topic Do not post virus warnings whether real or imagined, test messages, chain letters, political announcements, petitions, current events, missing persons, items for sale, jokes, cute web sites, prayer requests, personal messages such as birthday greetings or chit chat, excess quoted material (see explanations below), computer support, copyright law, etc. Brief holiday greetings and general well wishes may be included in an otherwise on topic email but do not post solely holiday messages to the list. An unsubscribe message sent to the list instead of to the request address is off topic. Do not send a message to the list that is in reply to another person's off topic message. Even if your reply is helpful and done out of kindness it is still off topic. Inserting a phrase such as "Off topic", "OT", or "(OT)" in your message or subject does *not* grant you an exception to the rule requiring members to stay on topic. As people have questioned or misunderstood this point in the past it is worth repeating: No discussion of viruses or any other computer support in this list. Forums for those topics are elsewhere. This list is for Genealogy. Links to helpful information on viruses are listed at http://www.feliixplace.com/genealogylists/virus.html . Links to other computer support areas can be found at http://www.feliixplace.com/genealogylists/internethelp.html . * Exceptions to the no items for sale rule The intent of the rule banning items for sale is to prevent commercial enterprises from using our list for advertising. We won't however let that policy get in the way of our doing Genealogy. You may announce your own book, CD or other resource material if it is specifically related to our Fuller family and if you are the copyright owner; If you have an historical or heirloom item that you would like to "return" to its family you may ask for reimbursement for shipping only; You may bring to the list's attention relevant items of interest you found listed at online auction sites, online genealogy subscription services, DNA testing services, genealogy booksellers, professional genealogy services, etc. In all such exceptions prices and fees will be taken up privately between the parties involved and not mentioned in the list. * No excess quoting When replying to the list it is expressly forbidden to repost any of the following: Headers including explanatory notes that were added by this Listowner; The previous poster's sig block, surname list or advertisement from their email service; The list tagline (A new tagline will be automatically added to your post -- resending the previous one is unnecessarily redundant); Any note from the previous message indicating that it was virus scanned; Any other tagline, notice or advertisement that was added by Rootsweb or anybody else. There is simply no reason in the world to include any of the above items in your reply to the list. They have already been seen and only add clutter when resent. If you're unsure what you should remove from your reply, removing everything except the genealogy stuff that was written by the other person would be a safe bet. See some helpful tips on quoting in the Guidelines section below. * No attachments Please do not send file attachments to the list. If you have a file you would like to share with the members, announce what you have to offer, then send the file only to those who request it, via private email. There are many branches of this surname and the vast data in your gedcom or other file may not be of interest to everyone in the list. * No auto-replies "Out-Of-Office" auto-replies are strictly forbidden. Some email clients provide this "feature" and some users actually invoke it. In mailing lists such messages are considered rude and entirely unnecessary. If seen in this list the offending address will be removed and banned from membership with no further warning and no notice. You saw it here. * No challenge/response requests If I learn that you subscribe to a service requiring the list server or this Listowner to respond in order to prove that you are not being sent spam then you will be removed from the list. Remember, you willingly subscribed to the list. You must be set up to receive all pertinent list and administrative email. In other words the burden is on you, not on me. If you have a question I cannot reach you if you're blocking my mail. And, No, I will not respond to that service as I have better things to do. If you have a question or concern about spam you may email me (but I must be freely able to contact you by email) or you may visit http://helpdesk.rootsweb.com/ . * No flames No rude comments or flaming in the list! No discussion of flaming in the list. Do not send a message to the list that is in response to another person's flame. Even if your reply is helpful and is done out of kindness it is still off topic. If you feel you *must* comment to the person who sent unwelcome material do so by private email, but please be nice to them. The person you're scolding is your cousin and they may have useful Genealogy information for you in the future. For definitions of flaming and related information see http://www.feliixplace.com/genealogylists/netiquette.html * Info and Updates Occasionally this Listowner will post informational emails and new versions of this welcome letter to the list. Any questions or comments whether you agree or disagree with the content should be sent to me privately at Fuller-admin@rootsweb.com, not to the list. * Don't Don't attempt to impose any rules or conditions, expressed or implied elsewhere, upon this list. Rules of other mailing lists, newsgroups, message boards, chat rooms or other forums may not necessarily apply here. Do not try to regulate this list. If you don't like the way someone formats their queries or responses or the content of their subject titles send a helpful email to the author in private email. If you wish to help someone unsubscribe do it in private email as I do. If you wish to report a violation of the rules or have a question or concern about how this list is run, take it up with me at Fuller-admin@rootsweb.com, *not* in the list. The list is for Genealogy and History and other members likely will not be interested in your griping. If you don't like the way this list is run you may leave. Do not send a rude or hateful message to the list. Nor am I particularly interested in hearing it privately either. * Violations Again, the Listowner assumes that you understand these simple rules. They apply whether or not you read them. If you don't feel you can follow them, then you should unsubscribe now and save everybody lots of grief. Individuals violating these rules may be put in moderated mode, during which time I will preview your messages before being accepted and forwarded to the list or rejected. Serious and/or repeated violations may result in your being removed and/or banned from the list at the discretion of the Listowner. An email to the list containing several violations indicates a total disregard for the rules possibly resulting in immediate removal. * Summary of rules To sum up these rules the two key elements are, one: this list is for Genealogy and History, nothing else; and two: this list, as well as any other list at Rootsweb or anywhere else, is unique. What goes at one list doesn't necessarily go at any other list. Before posting to any list of any kind, first read and understand the rules and guidelines of that list. With these concepts in mind I urge you to reread this section. *%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%* GUIDELINES %*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%* While the following guidelines aren't strict rules such as those in the section above I strongly urge you to conform to these standards. * Quoting tips When replying please try to quote some portions of the previous message so that other readers are reminded what the thread is about. Quoting means repeating some text of the message you are replying to. Some quoting is necessary but do try to use good judgment. Quoting the previous writer's signature block or surname list is unnecessary as is quoting the headers and footers that are included in messages. Quoting an entire digest back to the list is totally unacceptable. See also the item on quoting in the rules section above. Make it clear what is quoted material and what you are adding. Many email programs take care of this for you by inserting greater-than signs > at the beginning of each quoted line or possibly double brackets << before and >> after the quoted piece. Use standard editing tools to cut unnecessary material. Leave one or two blank lines between the quoted material and your added information as an aid to the reader. For methods on how to Cut and Paste see the links to handy sites at: http://www.feliixplace.com/genealogylists/editing.html Traditionally people quote and reply either of two ways: one, portions of quoted material successively followed by new material that you add; and two, all new material added after the end of all quoted text. In recent times people have been seen inserting their new material ahead of the quoted email (reverse chronology), leaving most or all of the entire previous message intact including headers, taglines and footer material. This practice tends to create increasingly large emails with redundant taglines and other unnecessary material that has already been posted. Plus it is chronologically reversed which makes no sense at all. Please try to avoid this practice in favor of the standard methods mentioned in the previous paragraph. See http://www.feliixplace.com/genealogylists/query.html for additional tips on replying. * Subject It helps other readers if you remember to put something in the subject line. While there is no standard or specific format for the subject text, something that relates to the Genealogy work you're doing is helpful. Not too many people will even look at a message that simply says "roll call" or "my surnames". If during the exchange of messages the topic shifts to another related line, it may be helpful, to change the subject. An example of a commonly used style is: Subject: Fuller & Miller family - was Re: Fuller & Smith marriage If you are a member in digest mode your subject title in your reply should not be the digest number. Please change it to something relevant to the topic of your message. If you are a member in list mode and someone in digest mode did reply with the digest number your subject title in your reply should not also be the digest number. Please change it to something relevant to the topic of your message. * Private messages If you *must* send a reply to a query stating that you have no information send it in private email *not* to the list. Use common sense. It is common courtesy to thank people for the information that they have shared, and I encourage all members to do so. Please send your Thank You note to the individual in private email, not through the list. If your computer crashed or you otherwise lost your contact info, by all means use the list to re-establish contact with those you are conducting research with. * Settings Become familiar with your email program and it's settings. This list is set up so that your reply goes to the list instead of the individual, i.e. all members including yourself will receive a copy of your reply. Your email program may be configured to override that setting. Look to see who you're sending your reply to before clicking the SEND button. To join help lists about computer email programs and other related subjects go to http://www.feliixplace.com/genealogylists/internethelp.html * Sorting or Filtering email I recommend you use filtering in your email program. Among other useful tasks filtering will move incoming emails into separate mailboxes/folders that you create based on criteria you specify. This is especially useful if you belong to more than one mailing list. This also will help to separate your list mail from your personal emails or spam emails. To learn about filtering read the help file that came with your email program or call its tech support for help in setting up filtering your email. Or join any of the helpful mailing lists referred to in the links at http://www.feliixplace.com/genealogylists/internethelp.html * Footers & sigs Surname lists or taglines appended to the end of messages (example: Searching Sylvester Smith Miller etc.) are okay but please try to limit them to say, half a dozen names. Any more than that and many people just won't read them. Try keeping several small lists and rotate them with each succeeding message. Signatures or sig blocks longer than five to ten lines are traditionally considered lengthy. Please try to conform to this standard. See also http://www.feliixplace.com/genealogylists/sigs.html Please sign your name, nickname, screen name or other personal identifier at the end of your message so that people who reply will know what to call you. *%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%* TIPS %*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%* * Accuracy Accuracy is important and sources are vital. Ancestor lists are worthless if the information is wrong. * Sources All information need not be accompanied by source citations, but I recommend strongly that you do include sources or a note stating that they are available on request. For tips on citing sources see http://www.feliixplace.com/genealogylists/citing.html * Is this for real? If information is speculation then present it as such until it is proven or commonly accepted as fact. * Queries When posting your query try to give as much information as you know, i.e. dates and places of all vital events if known, along with enough facts on other family members so that the reader can positively identify if they are researching the same family. "Anyone out there researching Fullers?" is going to find its way into members' trash bins. See the following sites for help on writing a good query: http://www.feliixplace.com/genealogylists/query.html * English 101 It helps if you check your spelling and syntax. Certainly none of us are perfect spellers and no one is going to "correct" you but names of ancestors and places should be presented as you found them in the records or accurate for our current times. Also it's important to post your website URL correctly. Leaving out one letter or the slash / symbol in the URL generates a raft of requests for corrections. Tip: Copy and paste the text from your browser, bookmarks or other document. And take a moment to proof read your message before sending it. For tips on email writing style see: http://www.feliixplace.com/genealogylists/style.html Try to avoid typing surnames in all caps, i.e. for easier reading use Fuller not FULLER. Back when all we had was Fidonet, the Genealogy forum at AOL, Roots-L, and a handful of Genealogy Usegroups it was important to type surnames in all caps as a visual aid for people who were scanning scores of messages for names of their interest. Now that we have separate mailing lists focusing on individual surnames or small groups of families that practice is no longer necessary. * Keep trying Post your query frequently, perhaps once every month or two, if you have not yet found your ancestor. New people are joining the list all the time and they may have the info you need. If you have found your ancestor please remain a member of the list. You may be able to help a new member find their roots too! * Use the list Please send relevant replies to the list not just to the original poster. Other members may benefit from the data that you provide, thus relevant email traffic in the list is encouraged. * How to get started Here are some tips for new members to get started in the list, and also for long time members to get going again: -- Check out the list archives to see what some of the recent and past conversations are about. The archives are linked from the Fuller homepage at http://www.feliixplace.com/genealogylists/fuller.html . Just click on the link "Search or Browse the Fuller archives". -- Send in an introductory letter telling us about your interests in this name. What area(s) are you researching? What is your brick wall? Send in your query. How can we help you find your ancestor? How can you help fellow members find theirs? -- Be a Look-up Volunteer. Do you have access to libraries or other resources that others might not? Do you own some books or CD's of your own? Tell us what you have and offer to share with the membership. -- Send in a link to your web page. *%*%*%*%*%*%*%* FURTHER INFORMATION %*%*%*%*%*%*%* * List homepage For further information on this list go to http://www.feliixplace.com/genealogylists/fuller.html * Other mailing lists See the following sites for information on many Genealogy mailing lists: http://www.rootsweb.com/~jfuller/gen_mail.html http://www.CyndisList.com/mailing.htm http://lists.rootsweb.com http://groups.yahoo.com/search?query=genealogy http://www.feliixplace.com/genealogylists/construct.html * Publish my info online? To learn how to construct your own Genealogy homepage see http://www.feliixplace.com/genealogylists/construct.html * Viruses For information on virus hoaxes, urban legends, real computer viruses and discussion areas see http://www.feliixplace.com/genealogylists/virus.html *%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%* ABOUT *%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%* This list is hosted by Rootsweb as a free service. To find out more about their many lists and other services available go to http://www.rootsweb.com and explore a bit. I manage this list at my own pleasure. My genealogy and personal homepages can be seen at http://www.feliixplace.com/ . This version of your welcome letter is dated October 4, 2005. *%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%* Enjoy the list! David Sylvester, Fuller Listowner