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 one of the Genealogy surname mailing lists featured at http://www.mdwsweb.com/genealogylists/ . Please do not post to the list until you have read this letter and fully understand it. I look forward to your participation in the messaging here. But first I have some important information to share. My name is David Sylvester and I'm the list's Listowner. I'm responsible for keeping it 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. This letter will use [Listname] in examples in place of the name of the list. Simply replace [Listname] with the name of the list that you joined; for example if you joined the Merry list substitute Merry for [Listname] and the address to unsubscribe becomes Merry-l-request@rootsweb.com or Merry-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 [Listname] family, or any other related spelling variation at any time or any place. I created or adopted this list as an aid in my own research and to help others with the same interest. As a member I'll participate in the discussions as fits my needs and share my information with others to help them find their roots. As manager 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. *%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%* 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 the 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 on 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 I haven't driven you off yet 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 [Listname]-admin@rootsweb.com or you can find it published at http://www.mdwsweb.com/genealogylists/ . This Welcome letter supercedes 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 that 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 [Listname]-admin@rootsweb.com. Send your question to me not to the list. * The two commands you'll use in this list are subscribe and unsubscribe You must spell them correctly for them to work. Likewise the list email addresses you use must be spelled correctly or your email won't go where it's supposed to. This is due to the way the internet and computers work. * Remember these addresses: -- If you need help, contact me at [Listname]-admin@rootsweb.com (Again substitute the name of the list you joined). -- To post a message to this list, Genealogical data, a query or reply, etc., stuff of interest to other members, send it to [Listname]-l@rootsweb.com (e.g. Merry-l@rootsweb.com) -- To subscribe or unsubscribe send an email to: [Listname]-l-request@rootsweb.com (for list mode) or [Listname]-d-request@rootsweb.com (for digest mode) and put: subscribe (and nothing else) or unsubscribe (and nothing else) in the body of the message. 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 into one email. At times this list may be moderated. In moderated mode all messages sent to the list are reviewed by me before being accepted and forwarded 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. Additional information may be found at http://www.mdwsweb.com/genealogylists/ *%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%* RULES *%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%* Participation in this list is what makes it work. Thus posting messages by members is encouraged. Your post must be on topic to be relevant. Off topic messages are strongly discouraged. Some rules and guidelines are described here to help members understand the difference. * On Topic This list is for the discussion of Genealogy and History, primarily regarding families of the list surname and related families. Suggested areas of discussion include 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 announcements, genealogical libraries and archives, etc. as relates to the list surname 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. A public announcement of interest to Genealogists in general though it may not relate specifically to the list surname is permitted but please use discretion. If you're unsure whether the content is appropriate send it to me privately and I'll review it. * Off Topic Do not post virus warnings real or imagined, test messages, chain letters, political announcements, current events, missing persons, items for sale, jokes, cute websites, personal messages such as birthday greetings or chit chat, excess quoted material as explained 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. Links to helpful information on viruses are listed at http://www.mdwsweb.com/genealogylists/virus.html With all that info available there's no need to discuss the latest computer virus in this genealogy list. 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 [Listname] 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 an online auction site or other resource. In all such exceptions prices will be taken up privately between the parties involved, not in the list. 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. * No excess quoting When replying to the list it is expressly forbidden to repost: -- 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 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 genealogy stuff 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 mail readers provide this "feature" and some users actually invoke it. In mailing lists they 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 flames No rude comments or flaming in the list! No discussion of flaming in the list. Do not reply to another person's flame in the list. 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.mdwsweb.com/genealogylists/netiquette.html * Updates Occasionally this listowner will post updates of this welcome letter and other informational emails to the list. Any questions or comments whether you agree or disagree with the content send them to me privately at [Listname]-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 the listowner at [Listname]-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. * Violations Again, the Listowner assumes that you understand these simple rules. If you don't feel you can follow them, then you should unsubscribe now. Individuals violating these rules will be put in moderated mode, during which time your messages will be reviewed by me before being accepted and forwarded to the list or rejected. Serious and/or repeated violations may result in your being removed or banned from the list at the discretion of the Listowner. * 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 %*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%* * 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" is repeating some text of the message you are replying to. Some quoting is necessary but do try to use good judgement. 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. For methods on how to Cut and Paste see the links to handy sites at: http://www.mdwsweb.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 previous message intact including headers, taglines and footer material. This practice tends to create increasingly large emails with redundant taglines and other unnecessary material which has already been posted. Please try to avoid this practice in favor of the standard methods mentioned in the previous paragraph. * 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, sometimes it's helpful, but not necessarily required, to change the subject. An example of a commonly used style is: Subject: Sylvester & Jones family - was Re: Sylvester & 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. * 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. If you wish to send a mere "Thank you" send it to the individual in private email. However, 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 the 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 lists about computer email programs and other related subjects go to http://www.mdwsweb.com/genealogylists/internethelp.html * Filtering 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. Also you might use filters to separate your list mail from your personal emails. To learn about filtering read the help file for 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.mdwsweb.com/genealogylists/internethelp.html * Footers & sigs Surname lists or taglines appended to the end of messages (example: Searching Sylvester Smith Jones 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 a.k.a. sig blocks longer than five to ten lines are traditionally considered lengthy. Please try to conform to this standard. See also http://www.mdwsweb.com/genealogylists/sigs.html Please sign your name or nickname/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 do 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.mdwsweb.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 info on other family members so that the reader can positively identify if they are researching the same family. "Anyone out there researching Sylvesters?" is going to find its way into members' trash bins. See the following sites for help on writing a good query: http://www.mdwsweb.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 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.mdwsweb.com/genealogylists/style.html Try to avoid typing surnames in all caps, i.e. for easier reading use Sylvester not SYLVESTER. Back when all we had was Fidonet, the genealogy forum at AOL, Roots-L, and a handful of usegroups it was important to type surnames in all caps as an aid for people who were scanning scores of messages for names of their interest. Now that we have mailing lists focused on individual surnames or small groups of names 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 conversations are about. Just click on the link to the surname list you joined at http://www.mdwsweb.com/genealogylists/ ; from there browse or search the archives as you choose. -- Send us an introductory letter telling 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 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 see the link to the surname you joined at http://www.mdwsweb.com/genealogylists/ * 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.mdwsweb.com/genealogylists/other.html * Publish my info? To learn how to construct your own Genealogy homepage see http://www.mdwsweb.com/genealogylists/construct.html * Viruses For information on virus hoaxes, urban legends, real computer viruses and discussion areas see http://www.mdwsweb.com/genealogylists/virus.html *%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%* ABOUT *%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%* This list is hosted by Rootsweb as a free service. To find out more about the many lists and other services available there go to http://www.rootsweb.com and explore a bit. This list is run by me at my own pleasure. My genealogy and personal homepages can be seen at http://www.mdwsweb.com/ . This version of your welcome letter is dated January 29, 2004 *%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%* Enjoy the list! David Sylvester, listowner