I want to thank you all for your participation in the list! I HATE Rules! I HATE being told that I have to abide by them and I HATE to make them, but everything in life needs some guidelines....So Here are our guidelines:: NO FLAMING! (flaming is attacking any other person by e-mail through the list.) It will not be tolerated in any shape or form. Violators will be warned via private e-mail. (the list may not be aware of it, but I can assure you, it will be done.) If it continues, they will be blocked from the list by ME! no one else. Don't say anything to or about anyone that you wouldn't want said to or about yourself! If you have a problem, disagreements or complaint about anyone's behavior on the list, either take it to private e-mail or contact me. my e-mail address is: cmontrose@beol.net 1 announcement of an event, or new publication, meeting etc. will be welcomed if it pertains to Jefferson Co. genealogy or history. If in doubt, don't post just contact me and I will make the decision. "Tag lines" in messages offering things for sale or services, advertisements or commercial messages cannot be sent to this list. Everyone can participate! If you don't post a message or two to the list, telling others of your Jefferson Co.families, areas of interests or brick walls, you will, miss a great opportunity to meet great people and probably find "cousins" lurking here, just waiting for that surname to appear or are willing to help you in other ways in your quest. Post as many different queries or messages about Jefferson Co. families or your brick walls, that you wish, but not the same one over & over..vary your requests, and/or space them out. You should always reply to someone's message who needs help or a suggestion if you can help them, you never know when it will come back to you...I can guarantee it will. When using copyrighted source material to help people, remember the copyright laws and be considerate of those who take the time to produce the publications. If you take away all benefits for them to create the books by giving away all their work, there won't be any new ones created...think how much they have helped you in your own research and be considerate AND follow the copywrite laws. Always cite your source when you post information to the list. A kind word to a new subscriber may make all the difference in the world to them and make them feel like they can be brave enough to participate...AND they may be your long lost cousin...sure don't want to loose them before you even find out do you? Remember when you were new to the list or to mail lists in general. Not one person here was born already participating in any genealogy mail list, so be considerate and helpful of and to new participants! When you reply to a message, edit out information from the forwarded part except a sentence or two to remind the list or the sender what it is you're replying to. Four or five messages forwarded each time are not necessary. If you can't edit the message to get rid of some of the forwarded part, then start a new message, but reference something that was in the message that you're replying to to connect your response to the question or comment. Reply to other's messages if you have information or suggestions, but do not reply just to reply. Each message should contain something of value r.e. Jefferson Co. genealogy or history.. "off topic" messages i.e. ones that do not relate to genealogy should not go to the list, but be sent via private e-mail. "Thank you" should ALWAYS be sent, but in private e-mails, not to the list. "I don't agree" might be better left unsaid, but in any case, should not be sent to the list. If it is something like giving someone better directions or hours of a research facility being open, that is ok and will benefit others. If you don't like what someone says, you can always use your delete key you DO NOT have to respond. There is no rule that you must reply to a message through the list, nor that all the genealogy correspondence r.e. Jefferson Co. MUST be submitted to the list (it can go via private e-mail if you choose) but realize that others read the messages and when they have an interest, may reply. You may also "catch" cousins and others who are interested in a particular family by posting to the list. Ultimately, it is your choice. The messages ARE archived, so be on your best behavior! Others for years to come may read these messages...you want them to think the best of you, not the worst! You also want them to feel like they would LIKE to contact you, not shy away because you don't seem like someone with whom they wish to be associated. On the flip side, if they find a message that you've posted r.e. their family or their area of interest, they may try to find you to help them with their branch of the family or give you the one little clue you've been seeking for 20 years that FINALLY makes everything fit! So "advertising" your family interests by posting to the list instead of private e-mail has a lot of benefits. It really helps if you change the subject line of your messages to reflect the subject discussed in the body of the message...i.e. SMITH family or Steubenville Cemetery, etc. Some people don't read all of the messages, they just scan the subject line on the list for messages that have a subject they are interested in either helping you with your problem if they can, or sharing information with you if they have it. It is to your benefit to make sure the subject line matches the subject(s) in the message. It is a time worn problem and will never be totally solved but it is to your own advantage to do it. Capitalize words you wish to bring attention to..i.e. SURNAMES or PLACES... DON'T USE ALL CAPS...IT DETRACTS FROM THE MESSAGE AND IS DIFFICULT TO READ. Be kind to one another! We all have an interest in Jefferson Co. families or we wouldn't be here. I try to keep a low profile but I can assure you, I will not tolerate mis-behavior on this list! Let's get back to GENEALOGY!!! Carol