Welcome to the Powell County Mailing List My name is Jen Bawden. I'm the manager of this list. That means I'm responsible for keeping it running as smoothly as possible and setting some rules for its operation. This message is long. Don't be intimidated by that. If you will print it out and study it, it will be very helpful to you. If you glance through it and then delete it, you may have problems. Let's make the list a pleasant experience for everyone: save and read these instructions. ============================================================ ####### Your responsibilities ####### That's right, you have some responsibilities, too. A mail list isn't like a movie, where you just buy a ticket, get entertained (sometimes) then walk away. This is a cooperative effort. 1. By default, all responses to messages will return to the list. Please be aware of this when you respond. If you don't want us to see what you're sending, make sure it's not going to the list. 2. Keep this message. I recommend printing it and putting the paper where you can find it. Files on a hard disk get lost (as if paper doesn't, but...) 3. Read this message. Yes, it's a little long, but you don't have to memorize it (that's why you're saving it). It's hard to make it short and tell you what you need to know. 4. Don't be afraid of all this. Using a computer is a little harder than just knowing where the power switch is, but anyone can do this with a little effort and by following instructions. 5. Follow instructions - to the letter. If you leave something out of a command or put something extra in, it probably won't work. 6. If you decide to leave the list, make sure your name is removed (more on this below). The server that sends you this list handles thousands of messages a day. If your address becomes "bad" (for instance, you quit AOL but we think you're still there) then we start getting bounced messages. We get thousands a day now. Please don't make it worse. 7. Remember these addresses:: a. IF YOU NEED HELP, CONTACT ME. My address is [email protected] b. To post a message to this list (so it goes to all other subscribers) send it to [email protected] c. To send a command (commands are discussed below) send a message to [email protected] or [email protected] 8. DO NOT FLAME PEOPLE (SEND ARGUMENTATIVE OR CRITICAL MESSAGES) ON THE LIST. IF YOU ARE FLAMED, DO NOT RESPOND VIA THE LIST!!!! 9. DO NOT POST VIRUS WARNINGS, TEST MESSAGES, CHAIN LETTERS, POLITICAL ANNOUNCEMENTS, CURRENT EVENTS (NON-GENEALOGICAL OR HISTORICAL), ITEMS FOR SALE, ETC. Many times, you'll get virus warnings from trusted friends and believe they are real. For information on virus hoaxes and urban legends see http://www.kumite.com/myths/ among others. 10. Please stay on topic. Just below is a description about what this list is for. Please stay close to that subject. (Keep in mind that history is an important part of genealogy. Current topics usually are not.) 11. Most email programs can send attachments (attached files). Don't send these to the list. (Some programs will send a small attachment with your signature or something like that and you can't shut that off; that's okay.) This isn't a problem for the mail server, but these can cause some subscribers' machines to lock up, make them lose all their mail, even crash their hard drive! A GEDCOM file can be a huge attachment; so can an encoded graphics file (if you don't know what those are, you probably won't be sending them, but a lot of you will understand these terms). If you want people to have these, announce them via the list and have people send you a private email requesting them. 12. If a message to you bounces 4 times, you will be automatically unsubbed from the list. ============================================================ ####### What is this list? ####### This list is for the discussion of Powell County genealogy and history. Discussion of immigration, historical sketches, Powell County settlements, census data, wills, family Bibles, vital records, web sites, etc. as relates to Powell County is encouraged. Public announcements of information of interest to Genealogists in general though it may not be Powell County-specific is permitted but please use discretion. ============================================================ ####### Are there other lists like this? ####### If you check the following addresses, you'll find more genealogy mailing lists: Vicki Lindsay's page - http://www.eskimo.com/~chance/ John Fuller's page - http://users.aol.com/johnf14246/gen_mail.html Cyndi Howell's site - http://www.cyndislist.com ============================================================ ####### I don't like what some people say on the list! ####### The list is not moderated. Any message sent to it is automatically bounced back out to everyone on the list. While I in no way want to stifle free discussion, as list manager I reserve the right to step in if a flame war erupts, if some thread (a series of messages on the same subject) becomes tedious for other subscribers, or if someone becomes unseemly (excessive use of profanity, for instance). The most important key on your keyboard is the DELETE key. If you don't like a message, delete it. Don't send a cutting or snide remark back to the list. The rest of us don't want to read it, and it just adds to the clutter of useless messages. If you feel there is a serious problem caused by someone, send me a message at [email protected] If you have a personal message for someone, please send it to their address, not the list server address. Any mail sent to [email protected] will automatically be sent to everyone on the list. ============================================================ ####### COMMANDS ####### This list is being run on Rootsweb. This is a very powerful program, but it can also be confusing. It's wise to print this welcome message and keep it handy for future reference. 1. How to unsubscribe. Send a message to [email protected] that contains (in the body of the message) the command unsubscribe and no additional text. 2. How to subscribe. Whatever you just did worked, or you'd not be getting this message. But for future reference (for instance, if your subscription is cancelled for whatever reason and you want to resubscribe), just send the command "subscribe" to [email protected] 3. How to change to digest mode (several postings are combined and sent to you together as a single large message). There are two steps. First, send the command "unsubscribe" to [email protected] to discontinue mail mode. Second, send the command "subscribe" to [email protected] to start receiving digests. 4. How to change to NOMAIL mode. There is no formal NOMAIL mode. All you have to do is follow the directions above and unsubscribe when you want the messages to stop, and then when you want them to start again, simply subscribe again. 5. If you'd like to post a message so everyone on the mailing list receives it, just send it to [email protected] It will then be sent on to everyone in both mail and digest mode. You don't need to send it explicitly to both. ============================================================ ####### I'm having a problem ####### Send me a message, but be specific. I can't help if you just say, "I'm having a problem, help me." Tell me what it is. Tell me what you did or tried to do. If you received some kind of error message, send it to me. If you get an error message from Rootsweb, it will tell you what the error is. A LOT of problems are caused by: You tried to UNSUB and Rootsweb says you're not a subscriber, yet you're getting mail. Send yourself a message and see how your address appears in the header of the message. **Usually** (if you're getting this error) they won't be the same. IPS (Internet service providers) are notorious for changing your address, adding "mail" or "pop" or some other term to it - or taking it away. If that is the case, all you can do is notify me to help you. You get a "list not known" or similar error. Check how you're spelling the list's name. You get a "bad command" error. Check you spelling. I see "unscribe", "un-scibe" and about every other variation imaginable. You have to spell stuff right! ============================================================ ####### Web Sites with Powell County genealogy ####### KYGenWeb - Powell County - http://www.rootsweb.com/~kypowell/index.html Have fun!