Many parishes no longer have secretaries -- or have them just a few hours a week -- and no one to do the work you are asking of them. Their first responsibility is to minister to their current parishioners. It would be great if some of our members who live within easy distance could volunteer to handle requests at these city parishes one day a week -- but the parishes simply cannot afford to underwrite the expenses of our hobby. ----- Original Message ----- From: Michelle and Kevin Cassidy To: IRISH-NEW-YORK-CITY@rootsweb.com Sent: Tuesday, February 05, 2008 4:23 PM Subject: [IRISH-NYC] Mailing Requests I was wondering what is the turn around for written replies on the list? I have sent several requests out over the last year by postal mail. The letters that go to governmental agencies all arrive without problems and I receive a reply in a timely manner. Most parish requests also arrive without problem and are replied to in a timely manner as well. I have had a few letters that have not reached the parish or that have been misplaced. I always send SASE along with private requests like churches but do not usually do so with the government offices. Is there something about a thicker envelope being sent to NYC that raises suspicion or clogs a mailing belt in the post office? I have had to cancel three checks and was is it the parish office, the post office or something else? ------------------------------- To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to IRISH-NEW-YORK-CITY-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message