In a message dated 6/20/2007 9:31:41 AM Eastern Standard Time, [email protected] writes: << Our historical society often has requests for a place to conduct discussion about the area and families in the area. Question 1: Will folks who are not registered with RootsWeb be able to access a message board thread if I place a link to it on our website? I'm aware that they will need to register to write comments and that the thread is open to anyone with an interest. >> ----- Yes. You do not have to register or login to VIEW messages on the boards. << Question 2: Will RootsWeb allow us to set up a message board for our area since each counties already has one? Our area overlaps into four counties. >> ---- RootsWeb doesn't permit multiple geographic (locality) boards for the same or overlapping geographic areas and has limits on creation of new locality-based boards. HOWEVER...you could request, and probably gain approval for, a TOPIC message board for your Historical Society under this category: http://boards.rootsweb.com/topics.organizations/mb.ashx << Question 3: Would it be better to set up a mailing list for our area. Is this allowed since the state and county have one? Again, our area overlaps into four counties making it necessary for folks to join several mailing lists. >> ---- That could be done as well--in fact, my suggestion would be to request a mailing list and board with the same name for your Historical Society and then have the list and board gatewayed so that new posts to the board would come through on the list. That way, your list subscribers would only need to visit the board if they wanted to reply to a gatewayed message. They could read each new post without going to the board and people who are not subscribed to your list could still post messages on the board--thereby increasing the number of people who use these resources. << Any help is appreciated. Again, please tell me if this matter should be addressed somewhere else. >> There is a list and message board called BOARDS-USERS which probably would have been the best place to ask a question of this nature. Joan ************************************** See what's free at http://www.aol.com.