How to use the GenExchange: The GenExchange Project has been growing by leaps and bounds, adding an average of 29,000 records monthly. In an effort to better manage the GenExchange, we are transitioning over to a county based organization where dedicated individuals will adopt the GenExchange county and state sites; administering them, and coordinating data entry projects. Other than aesthetics, nothing fundamental is changing about the GenExchange because the GenExchange has always collected data from across the United States, which was searchable using the easy search forms. Once the transition process is complete, data will be searchable on a county by county basis, except for data which pertains to multiple counties, which will be searchable on a state by state basis. During the transition The USGenExchange page at http://www.genexchange.com/us.cfm will keep you up to date on state sites which have opened county sites, and those that you can still search all state data on an entire state basis. How to become involved: The very foundation of the GenExchange is community participation, and getting involved is easy. Anyone can visit the GenExchange and enter their own data using the easy entry forms, which automatically enter data into the database where it's immediately viewable. This method works best for people with small or medium amounts of data they wish to enter. If you have large amounts of data you intend to enter, there are also files you can download, which you enter your data to and submit the file to the GenExchange. We'll directly import the data for you. Becoming a member of the GenExchange, and adopting a county, or a state GenExchange site is also very easy. To adopt a county, simply visit the state you'd like to work in, select the Counties List link and click on the adopt me link. Fill out the form and someone will contact you shortly thereafter. To adopt a state, simply click on the adopt me link and fill out the form. If you are interested in working on a data entry project with a County or State contact please contact that person directly. For more information please read http://www.genexchange.com/volunteers.cfm and http://www.genexchange.com/volunteering.cfm How to nominate a site for our award: Monthly we award one website that reflects excellence in the pursuit of providing raw genealogical data to the researcher on the internet. The awarded web site is profiled on the main pages of the GenExchange for a calendar month, and is announced in our monthly newsletter--the Exchange. If you are interested in submitting a web site for the GenExchange award please visit http://www.genexchange.com/gesr/nominateform.cfm How to keep up to date about the GenExchange: The GenExchange publishes a monthy newsletter called the Exchange, where we pass along important information regarding current and future planning, site statistics, and guest articles. The monthly GenExchange Award of Genealogical Excellence is also announced, and important genealogical newsbits are republished from other genealogical newsletters. The Exchange is published every month on the 1st, and back issues can be located at http://www.genexchange.como/gesr/archive.cfm. If you are interested in submitting a guest article, hosting a monthly or quarterly column, or would like to post an annoncement please contact [email protected] Warmest Regards, ----- Anthony Abby Vote for the GenExchange! - http://www.worldwide-top100.net/rank5/rankem.cgi?action=incheck&id=joanne Genealogy Exchange & Surname Registry - http://www.genexchange.com GenExchange FAQ page - http://www.genexchange.com/faq.cfm About the GenExchange - http://www.genexchange.com/volunteers.cfm How can I help? - http://www.genexchange.com/volunteering.cfm