Hi John, Your suggestion is not a new one and it is not even a matter that is very important to me one way or the other. The restriction on queries for the mail list is for the purpose of preventing redundancy in resources. Both the Tri-Counties site and other entities as well have query systems. To use a mail list for the same purpose as a redundant resource seems inefficient to me. When the issue was discussed some years ago, the majority agreed with that position. If the mail list is used for that purpose, its effectiveness as a communications resource will be reduced because of the overload that will be created. I no longer use the mail list myself as a communication resource, preferring instead my What's New page where I post all information I need to pass on to those who use my site. That way those who are interested can look and those who are not don't have that overload in their mail boxes. That is the same principal behind the site's query section as an alternative to a mailbox overload. You are correct that the mail list is handled differently than other Rootsweb mail lists. The site also is considerably in advance of most other county/regional level sites, or so I am told regularly. That is because I do things a little differently than others and it is considered successful by many. To meet the needs of both types of users, those who do and those who do not want the mail list used for queries, I developed the quarterly surname blitz which worked well for a long time. The last time I used that I was met with hostility from those who wanted to spell cemetery any old way. I know it sounds silly, but that is the way it was. For the continuance of the site, my ability to continue to motivate myself is a required element. Hostility undermines my ability to remain committed to this public gift, and I chose not to expose myself to that hostility again. That remains the same now. I do not expend the personal resources I do to be met with annoyances. It is entirely up to all of you how you use the mail list. Do as you will but I do not want my time taken resolving the issue among those who have different wishes or expectations for it. I will not comment on it again and leave it to all of you to take it back to the way other mail lists are used or continue with the pattern I have developed of using the query system. It is not a matter of will or control, but of what the majority of you want, and that may have changed since we resolved the issue at an earlier time. I have no position on the subject. There are 900 of you and one of me and I do not have the resources to resolve your differences on how the mail list should be used. you may work it out among yourselves. Joyce M. Tice > Subj: [Tri-Counties] Query suggestion???? > Date: 10/23/2004 12:46:17 PM Eastern Daylight Time > From: pastor@jblair77.fsnet.co.uk (John Blair) > To: one way or the other > > > > > Joyce, > > I'd like to make a suggestion, not sure if it would be agreeable with > you, but here's my thoughts. Over the years, I've watched the > conversations and frustrations about using the list for queries. One of the > big problems here, is ALL the other lists, that's what they're primarily > used for! for QUERIES! If I were to start a Rootsweb list, that models > all the other Rootsweb lists, then that would hopefully put a stop to > misuse of your list. I for one, and I believe others, would probably > belong to both lists. Of course, Rootsweb would have to give permission > first. It's not that people don't appreciate your work, it's just that > they're not at all used to a Rootsweb list being used in the way that you > have set up, and you have to admit, it does not model the other lists. I > would love to post queries about different families, and I've spent much > time on the Tri-Counties website, and many times, there is just too much > to wade through, everytime I research my MAY surname, I might as well give > up, since one of the months of the year is exactly the same. To think that > others outside of yourself and those that run your website are not helpful > is a mistake, as I and many other paid Ancestry subscribers, help people > all the time! I responded and gave the SHAW query info on the WW Draft > for the person she was researching. What about me starting a query list? > or is that taking power and control from yourself.? I would probably only > do a Bradford query list.