In a message dated 7/14/2007 9:00:28 AM Eastern Standard Time, kirswill@chesapeakenet.com writes: Even though I subscribe to the list, using the boards to reply to me is usually optimal since I am trying to educate McConnell researchers and researchers of other McDonald name variants about the use of DNA research and to help those who have test results make the most of them. Using the boards maximizes the number of people who see these communications, learn from them, and make connections with others. This may be particularly helpful in reaching out to those with variant names such as McDonald, who may be looking for their names in message board posts, but are less likely to be monitoring the McConnell list. However, if anybody out there is shy about making message board posts or even mailing list posts, they are welcome to e-mail me. Kirsten Saxe Kirsten- Exactly, and keeping the flow of information coming from the board to the list so that it is publicly archived for anyone to find at a later date so that they will be able to follow the thread is the main reason for the change that pretty much forces the replies to go to the board. Since you don't mind anyone contacting you privately that is ok. Those who subscribe to the list can find your email address on your direct posts to the list but those who use the board and don't belong to the list would still not be able to contact you directly because you haven't set your options to permit your email address to be accessible to board users. On the RootsWeb side to make your address accessible, you should go here: https://myaccount.rootsweb.com/ and register/login and setup a personal profile. On the Ancestry side you can set your options by going to the main Ancestry page: http://www.ancestry.com/ and clicking the Ancestry Community link on that page and then clicking the link that says My Site Preferences. This will allow you to set your email address so that others may contact you directly if they prefer. Right now, if anyone clicks on your username on the boards all they see is: "ksaxe has chosen to use Ancestry’s connection service to remain anonymous. The connection service is a premium service from Ancestry, which requires basic membership with a minimal subscription fee." Joan ************************************** Get a sneak peak of the all-new AOL at http://discover.aol.com/memed/aolcom30tour