Hello Listmates, When I started this list I didn't know quite what to expect in the way of number of subscibers. I'm happy to say that for the first day, I underestimated your response!! I've noticed some very familiar names on the list, and if anyone is concerned with the amount of help to expect with their research, rest assured that this list looks like a who's - who of Southwestern Pennsylvania researchers. I've also noticed quite a few folks that are new to me (and there may be a possible cousin or two out there). Now it's time to introduce our selves to others on the list. I suggest that each of you to drop a note about yourselves and/or the folks your are researching. I'll go first (actually second, Rosalie Carroll beat me to the punch! :-) My name is Mike Donaldson. I grew up in Belle Vernon (Lynnwood) and graduated from BVA High School. With the exception of about 4 years, I've lived in the Mon-Valley all of my life. I started researching using the internet and the Rootsweb mailing lists about two years ago, while living in Buffalo, NY. As I found out from my isolation in up-state New York, distance is no problem, when using the tools that are available online. ( As far as I can tell so far, this list has members who live in 6 states, the most distant being in Seattle, Washington). Of course, theres no place like home, and I now live back here in the Valley, in Allenport, less than a mile from my ancestors farm that was settled in the 1820's! Names that I am researching are: DONALDSON, BIENEMAN, DALE, BEVAN, STEPHENS, CROW, SWANEY, McCANN, SHANNON, BEAZELL, FURNIER, KREPPS, HIGGINS, HUGGINS, PARKS. On my wifes side of the family: McKEE, KOSTELAC, CONAWAY, HILL, JENKINS. My website (see URL below) includes about 4,700 individuals, and about 975 surnames. It gets updated about once a month! Thanks, Mike Donaldson ([email protected]) Allenport, PA ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ http://www.my-ged.com/donldson ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Listowner of: Monongahela River Valley of Penna Rootsweb mailing list: [email protected]