We have always stressed on our mailing lists that it is important to have a specific descriptive subject line for our messages and that we should keep this subject line in subsequent discussions on the same topic, and additionally that we should remember to change the subject when changing the topic of discussion. We have also stressed the importance for Digest Mode subscribers to delete the meaningless "Re: XXXXXXXX-D Digest V99 #5," which automatically is placed there when hitting the reply to button, from the subject line of a message and to insert the proper subject. This only takes a few seconds to do when you get in the habit of doing it. There is a new and I think rather exciting reason why subject lines are about to become far more important than ever on our lists. I don't think I am letting the cat out of the bag if I tell you that the folks at RootsWeb are in the finishing stages of working on a new type of archives for the mailing lists. It is an HTML TREADED archives. I have been playing around with this archiving method while it has been in beta testing and I must tell you it is a vast improvement over the sometimes unwieldy "form based" method of archiving list messages that is now used. The archives for this list are presently a part of the testing for this new archives (but not yet ready for Prime Time and public usage) but I do think it is time to stress again just how very important the subject line is in using this new archives in a search. Let's face it, all of us post messages to a list in hopes of connecting with others to either share information or to find someone who can help us in learning more information on a subject. Half of that battle is putting a subject line that will help those who might connect in some way with your message to find the message in the first place. And starting NOW subject lines are even more important than ever before. I hear people say: "I posted my query to the list many times and never got a reply." If you are one of those people consider your subject lines as possibly contributing to that problem. Of course the message must also be specific and to the point. Remember the rules of good journalism--the same apply to genealogy. Ask yourself: Who? When? What? Where? and Why? Try to include each of those in your message and as much as possible in your subject. Thanks! Joan