WAIT! Please read this email and print it out if you can. 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 Gordon Family Discussion List. To un subscribe send a message to: Gordon-l-request@rootsweb.com or Gordon-d-request@rootsweb.com (for digest mode) and put unsubscribe (and nothing else) in the message area. This is a discussion area for anyone who has an interest in Genealogy or History related to the Gordon family, or any other related spelling. My name is David Sylvester and I'm the owner of this list. I'm responsible for keeping it running as smoothly as possible and setting some rules and guidelines. I set up this list as an aid in my own genealogy research and to help others with the same interest. As a member of this list I'll participate in the discussions as fits my needs and to help others find their roots. As manager I'll closely monitor to see that the list 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 un subscribe now as described above. If you don't feel you have the time to read this document and attempt to understand the information in it please un subscribe now. * Please keep this message. I recommend that you keep a copy on file in your computer as well as a printed paper copy that you can find easily. If you lose or otherwise cannot find your copy then you may request a replacement from me at Gordon-admin@rootsweb.com or the address in my emails or you can find it published at http://www.mdwsweb.com/GordonList (Note: The foregoing URL may not yet be ready at the time you are reading this). This Welcome letter supercedes all others of any prior date. * Read this message -- there is a lot of important information here. It is assumed that by joining this list and receiving this message 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, please stop here and un subscribe now. If there is something you question or don't understand please feel free to email me at Gordon-admin@rootsweb.com or the address in my emails. Do not send emails of that nature to the list. * You may see some new terms and phrases here along with exacting instructions about sending commands etc. You will get used to it soon enough -- don't let it bother you. In order to make things work well you must follow instructions - to the letter. If you leave something out of a command or put something extra in, it won't work. This is because of the way computer programs work. * Remember these addresses: -- If you need help, contact me at Gordon-admin@rootsweb.com or the address in my emails. (Incidentally, the listowner of ANY list at Rootsweb may be contacted in a similar manner, i.e. mail to [listname]-admin@rootsweb.com). Hint: think of "admin" as administrator, the person who runs things. -- To post a message to this list, i.e. Genealogical data, queries, etc. (stuff of interest to other members) send it to: Gordon-l@rootsweb.com. (In a similar way as above all Rootsweb list addresses take on this format, i.e. [listname]-l@rootsweb.com). -- To subscribe or un subscribe send a message to: Gordon-l-request@rootsweb.com or Gordon-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 the "l" is a lowercase "L" and can be thought of as an abbreviation of "list mode" and the "d" would stand for "digest mode". (Again, this is the same style as with all Rootsweb lists.) Additional information may be found at http://www.mdwsweb.com/GordonList (Note: The foregoing URL may not yet be ready at the time you are reading this). *%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%* RULES *%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%* * This list is for the discussion of Genealogy and History, primarily regarding Gordon and related families. Discussion of migration patterns, immigration, ship passenger lists, heraldry, historical sketches, Gordon settlements, census data, wills, inventory lists, family Bibles, grave stone inscriptions, vital records, web sites and other information sources, family reunion announcements, etc. as relates to Gordon's is encouraged as well as discussion of collateral families. Short histories, memoirs and anecdotal items authored by your ancestors are welcome. Public announcements of information of interest to Genealogists in general though it may not be Gordon-specific is permitted but please use discretion. If you're unsure whether the content or size of the material is appropriate send it to me privately and I'll review it. * Do not post virus warnings, test messages, chain letters, political announcements, current events, missing persons, items for sale, jokes, cute websites, happy birthdays or other personal messages, computer support, copyright law, etc. Brief Holiday greetings may be included in an otherwise "on topic" email but do not post solely holiday messages to the list. For information on virus hoaxes and urban legends see (among others) http://www.kumite.com/myths For information on real computer viruses see (among others) http://www.symantec.com/avcenter http://www.CyndisList.com/internet.htm#Viruses To join email list(s) on the topic of virus's go to http://groups.yahoo.com (among others), type "virus" in the search box and hit Enter. You won't be disappointed, and you will be helping to keep the Gordon list for it's intended purpose, Genealogy! As this has been questioned or misunderstood in the past, I repeat: NO discussion of viruses or any other computer support in the Gordon Family discussion list. Forums for those topics are elsewhere. This is Genealogy. * Please do not send file attachments (messages with files appended) 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 Gordon branches and the vast data in your gedcom or other file may not be of interest to everyone in the list. * 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 the unwelcome material do so by private email, but please DO be civil -- The person you're scolding is your cousin and may have useful Genealogy information for you in the future. For definitions of flaming and related information see (among others): http://www.man.ac.uk/~zlsiira/Netiquette/flame.html http://www.pass.wayne.edu/~twk/flaming.html * Occasionally this listowner will post updates of this document or other informational emails, about the list, to the list. Do not send replies to those emails to the list. Do not reply to this document in the list. Do not send any comments on such informational documents or emails to the list, whether you agree or disagree with the content. Send all responses to me at Gordon-admin@rootsweb.com or the address in my emails. * Do not impose any rules or conditions, expressed or implied elsewhere, upon this list. Rules of other lists, newsgroups, message boards, chat rooms or other forums may not necessarily apply here. Do not try to regulate this list. If you do not like the way someone formats their queries or responses or the content of their subject titles take it up with the author in private email. If you wish to help someone un subscribe (You're assuming I have not) do so 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 Gordon-admin@rootsweb.com or the address in my emails, NOT in the list. The list is for Genealogy and History and other members likely will not be interested in your griping. * Again, the ListOwner assumes that you understand these rules. If you don't feel you can follow these simple rules, then you should un subscribe now. Violations of these rules may result in your being removed or banned at the discretion of the List Owner. To sum up these rules, the two key elements are: one, the Gordon 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, first read and understand the rules and guidelines of THAT list. With these two concepts in mind I urge you to read this section a second time. *%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%* GUIDELINES %*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%* * Small gedcom files are discouraged but not banned from the list. Send in a message, NOT as a file attachment. * Try to keep quoting to a minimum. "Quoting" is repeating some text of the message you are replying to. Some quoting is necessary to remind other readers what the thread is about but do try to use good judgement. Quoting the previous writer's signature block or surname list is totally unnecessary. Quoting an entire digest back to the list is totally unacceptable. * 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: Gordon & Jones family - was Re: Gordon & Smith marriage". * If you MUST send a reply to a query stating that you have NO information do so 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. * Do not cross post to another email list. Cross posting to multiple lists can cause major problems for the host mail server. If you want to send a message to more than one list send it as separate emails. Many members belong to multiple lists and find cross posted messages annoying, and the multiple replies that are generated may not be relevant to all the lists involved. * Become familiar with your email program and it's settings. This list is set up such that when you reply, your message goes to the list. 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. * Look to see if your email program has filtering. Among other things filtering will move a particular incoming email into a separate mailbox that you create based on criteria you specify. This is especially useful for those of you on multiple email lists. Read the help file for your program or call its tech support for help in setting up filtering on your program. * Surname lists or taglines appended to the end of messages (example: "Searching Gordon 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. *%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%* TIPS %*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%* * Accuracy is important and sources are vital. Ancestor lists are worthless if the information is wrong. * All information need not be accompanied by source citations, but I do recommend strongly that posts either include sources or a note stating that they are available on request. * If information is speculation then present it as such until it is proven or commonly accepted as fact. * When posting your query try to give as much information as you know, i.e. dates and places (town/settlement, county/shire, state/colony/province/territory) 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 Smith/Jones?" just doesn't cut it. * When replying to the list (this also can apply to private replies) try to quote some portions of the previous message so that other readers are reminded what the "thread" is about. Make it clear what is quoted material and what you are adding. Most mail readers 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 Windows procedures to "cut" unnecessary material. Leave one or two blank lines between the quoted material and your added information. * It helps to check your spelling and syntax. I know we're not 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 is important to post your website URL correctly. Leaving out .com or "." or one letter or the "/" 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. * 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 Gordon ancestor, please keep your membership. You may be able to help a new member find their roots too! * Please send relevant Gordon 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. *%*%*%*%*%*%*%* FURTHER INFORMATION %*%*%*%*%*%*%* For further information on this list see http://www.mdwsweb.com/GordonList (Note: The foregoing URL may not yet be ready at the time you are reading this). See the following URLs for information on many Genealogy lists: http://www.rootsweb.com/~jfuller/gen_mail.html http://www.CyndisList.com/mailing.htm See the following URLs for homepages that focus on Gordon ancestry: Major Gordon sites: http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/5917/HOG.htm Gordon forums and message boards: http://genforum.genealogy.com/gordon http://genconnect.rootsweb.com/gc/surnames/g/o/GORDON/queries Other significant Gordon sites: http://members.tripod.com/~DAPHNE_7/gordon1.htm> http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~delberts/Gordon * If you have a webpage or know of one that is primarily about Sample ancestry, send the URL to me (Sample-admin@rootsweb.com or the address in my emails) and I'll review it for possible entry in this space in a future revision of this letter. To learn how to construct your own Genealogy homepage see (among others): http://www.CyndisList.com/construc.htm *%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%* 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. The list is run by me out of sheer enjoyment. My personal and genealogy homepages are in the process of being moved to http://www.mdwsweb.com Beginning with this issue of the Gordon Family List welcome letter you will see a version number in this section in the form 200x.xxx.x where the first four digits are the year of this millennium, the next three digits are the day of the year that this revision is made and the last digit, if needed, is a single digit designating the number of any corrected version made in that same day. This is version 2001.186 *%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%* Happy hunting! David Sylvester, listowner Dolloff, Dyer, Foster, Friend, Gamage, Glidden, Gordon, Maxim, Merry, Raven, Shippee, Sylvester and Washburn lists