Dear Listers: When was the last time YOU contributed to the content of the lists you are subscribed to? If you want to get mail, you must first write mail! If you are not sure when the last time you posted was, you can check via searching on your email address using the Interactive Archives for any of the lists: http://searches2.rootsweb.com/cgi-bin/listsearch.pl type the name of the list you want to search in the box marked "Name of List" type your email address in the box marked "query" select which year you want to search by clicking the radio button next to the year 2002, 2001, 2000. etc click the search button. You can only search one year at a time. You may be surprised to discover how long it has been since you posted! I recently began to check against subscribers to one of my newly adopted lists. I am always amazed to find people subscribed to lists, hoping for a genealogical connection, but NEVER having posted a single message. If this sounds like you.... take the plunge. Send a query to the list. Depending on the range of topics allowed -- send a message that would be of interest to the group. The most frequent remark I get in response to my unsubscription questionnaire, is that the person did not connect with someone on the list. The second most frequent response is that the lists -- all of them -- are heavily laden with American topics. If one expects to connect, they must work at putting something on the list(s) to let your cousins know you are here and waiting for them! And you must do so with some regularity. One time a year won't do it. One time a quarter would be an improvement over annually, but still may not be enough contact. Those other-than-American researchers that don't see enough content from Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Ireland, Scotland, etc. need to remain vocal on the list(s). If you don't speak up, and remain an active participant then when someone from the area of your interest subscribes, they will not feel there is anyone to connect with. Invite your fellow researchers from your area or area of interest to subscribe to the Rootsweb lists. A reminder to most of my lists --- keep in mind that there is a world wide audience that can and does view all of Rootsweb's lists. When writing your messages and mentioning geographic locations, PLEASE spell them out. Cite the City/County/Province/State AND the Country. Do not use postal codes as identifiers. They are only about 30 years old and are not recognizable on a global basis. Check your queries to see if they are ridden with them and use the search and replace function of your word processor to quickly expand them to the actual names. Do not make the assumption that others are familiar with the geography of your area of research. Not sure what lists you are subscribed to? Visit: http://passwordcentral.rootsweb.com/ If list traffic is heavier than you prefer, consider switching to the digest mode. This puts several messages into one email rather than sending each one individually. This is especially helpful with very busy lists. Looking forward to seeing an increase in posts on all of the lists. Happy Holidays, Lauren List Admin