I would like to send out a Family Tree Questionnaire (FTQ) with my Christmas cards this year. I already have the FTQ completed and ready to go. I have contact information on some people I really don't know - those that I may have met as a child or our parents knew each other. I want to ask relatives to complete the FTQ but since I don't know them I'm stumped on how to make this request. I'd also like to ask them to circulate my letter and FTQ to other members of the family. I know people are typically non-compliant when it comes to these things but I thought if I worded my request nicely I may get some responses. Even one response would make my efforts worth while. Rather than re-invent the wheel I was wondering if any of you might already have a letter I can attach to the FTQ and/or any suggestions on how I might get a better response from people. Thanks! Mary

Mary - I know it sounds crazy, but I've found that a mistake in someone's name or birthdate (a BIG mistake) usually results in a response. I listed a middle name as Elvira once (by accident) and it was supposed to be Elouise and I got the form back by return mail!! It might be hard to pull that off with a broadcast form, but it works with individual requests. Also, keep the questionnaire simple enough that people can fill it out without having to look stuff up. Once they have to look something up and/or ask someone for information, it's much less likely that they will respond - Too easy to 'get around to it' or misplace it. You can always get back to them individually for more detail once you've made some contact. Pat --- <[email protected]> wrote: > I would like to send out a Family Tree Questionnaire > (FTQ) with my Christmas cards this year. I already > have the FTQ completed and ready to go. I have > contact information on some people I really don't > know - those that I may have met as a child or our > parents knew each other. I want to ask relatives > to complete the FTQ but since I don't know them I'm > stumped on how to make this request. I'd also like > to ask them to circulate my letter and FTQ to other > members of the family. > > I know people are typically non-compliant when it > comes to these things but I thought if I worded my > request nicely I may get some responses. Even one > response would make my efforts worth while. > > Rather than re-invent the wheel I was wondering if > any of you might already have a letter I can attach > to the FTQ and/or any suggestions on how I might get > a better response from people. > > Thanks! > Mary > > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email > to [email protected] with the word > 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and > the body of the message >

That's a great idea. I'd like to do it also. Any help will bemuch appreciated. Thanks, Margaret <[email protected]> wrote: I would like to send out a Family Tree Questionnaire (FTQ) with my Christmas cards this year. I already have the FTQ completed and ready to go. I have contact information on some people I really don't know - those that I may have met as a child or our parents knew each other. I want to ask relatives to complete the FTQ but since I don't know them I'm stumped on how to make this request. I'd also like to ask them to circulate my letter and FTQ to other members of the family. I know people are typically non-compliant when it comes to these things but I thought if I worded my request nicely I may get some responses. Even one response would make my efforts worth while. Rather than re-invent the wheel I was wondering if any of you might already have a letter I can attach to the FTQ and/or any suggestions on how I might get a better response from people. Thanks! Mary ------------------------------- To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to [email protected] with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message --------------------------------- Everyone is raving about the all-new Yahoo! Mail beta.