-----Original Message----- From: Bennett Greenspan [mailto:bcg@familytreedna.com] Sent: Tuesday, October 14, 2003 3:09 PM To: 'Marie Sellers-Hollinger' Subject: RE: SURNAME PROJECT Hi Marie Here's the Family Tree DNA HOW TO for Surname projects. After you have had a chance to digest the info, drop me a line when you are ready to start your project and I'll assign you a Project Page at Family tree DNA. Starting a Surname Project Below are some tips and techniques for the Group Administrator to start a surname project, as well as the pricing available for Surname Projects. 1. Establish the Project objectives The Y chromosome is passed from father to son unchanged, except for a mutation about every 500 generations. Testing the Y chromosome will provide you with a genetic finger print consisting of 12 or 25 numbers. By comparing this finger print to others with your surname, you can determine if they are related. The objectives of Surname Projects vary. Here are a few: Identify others who are related Prove or disprove theories regarding ancestors Solve brick walls in your research Determine a location for further research Validate existing research Often a Surname Project has multiple objectives, and the objectives may even change over the life of the project. Most Surname Projects start with the objective to identify others who are related, and through out the project the other objectives are achieved simply as a result of the project. 2. Select either 12 or 25 markers The next step for your Surname Project is to decide whether you test 12 markers or 25 markers. Family Tree DNA recommends establishing the Project with the 12 marker Y chromosome test. 12 markers are sufficient to determine whether or not two people are related. In addition, the 12 marker Project Price of $99 is more affordable for participants, enabling you to recruit more participants. The value of the 25 marker test occurs when two participants are related based on the 12 marker test. When participants match in the 12 marker test, the test can be upgraded to 25 markers for a small additional fee of $90. The objective of the upgrade to the 25 marker test is to reduce the time frame of the common ancestor between the matching participants. The common ancestor also referred to as the Most Recent Common Ancestor, or MRCA. Typically, participants are very interested in upgrading their 12 marker test to 25 markers when a match occurs. Two individuals are considered related for the 12 marker test if they match 12/12, 11/12, and sometimes with 10/12. In the first two situations, an upgrade to the 25 marker test is recommended. 3. Jump start your project The easiest way to jump start your Surname Project, and to get others interested in participating, is to find the first two participants. Participants must be direct male descendents, since the Y chromosome is passed from father to son. If you are a direct male descendent, you are 50% of the way to jump starting your Surname Project. You'll need to find just one other participant. Most likely you have had contact with others with your Surname during the course of your family history research. One course of action is to select a few of those contacts and write them a letter or email about your project, and ask them to participate as the genetic representative for their line or family. When you get a second participant from this group - you have achieved your jump start for your Surname Project, and you are ready to sign up more participants. If you were unable to get a second participant, expand your contacts until you do. 4. Recruiting Participants Now that you have jump started your project, recruiting participants becomes easier. You might want to revise your letter/email to include information that testing has begun with genetic representatives from two families/lines, to determine if they are related. Including a brief family history of these two families/lines often stimulates interest. Develop a list of potential participants to whom you will send an email/letter. Start with those who you have had contact with in the past regarding your family history research. Don't eliminate the females - they may have a brother or father whom they could ask to participate. Asking for help finding a genetic representative for their family is one approach that often works well. You can find additional potential participants from searching the net, and also online telephone books. 5. Getting the Word out If your surname has an association, be sure to notify the association regarding the project. Send them a brief explanation of the project that they could post on a web site or put in a newsletter. Post news about your project to any appropriate mailing lists and posting sites. 6. Stake a Claim with a web site A web site is not required for a successful Surname Project, but may help potential participants find your project. There are many sites where you can create a web site for free, and many have tools which make it quick and easy to create a web site. Start with a simple site, telling people about the project. Once you start getting results back for the participants, you can easily add a chart and other information to the site. 7. Extra, Extra - read all about it Once you start getting results back for participants, you now have Genetic Genealogy News for your web site, your project participants, and others interested in your Surname family history. You might consider creating a short Newsletter about the project and the results to date, and mail this to your list of potential participants and any one with interest in your family history. Be sure to include a paragraph with a request for participants. ------ As a registered Surname Project at Family Tree DNA, your project will receive Project Pricing and a set of tools for the Group Administrator. The Surname Project Pricing is: 12 marker Y-DNA test $99 + postage 25 Marker Upgrade $90 25 marker Y-DNA test $169 + postage The Group Administrator tools include access to the Surname Project at the Family Tree DNA web site, where you can easily order kits, track participants, and down load results. You can register your Surname Project at Family Tree DNA by committing to just six (6) 12 marker Y-DNA testing kits for $99. Credit cards are accepted with our Verisign secure on-line order system. Thank you for your interest in Family Tree DNA. If we can provide any additional information or answer any questions, please contact us. To see how our Group Admin Page looks and works please click here: http://www.familytreedna.com/ftGroups.asp?kit=Demo-1&code=Y6944&ga=True& yt=True&mt=True&a2=0&sd=False&pat=False Remember, DNA is the Gene in Genealogy! E-mail any time. Best Regards, Bennett Greenspan President Family Tree DNA www.FamilyTreeDNA.com "History Unearthed Daily" -----Original Message----- From: Marie Sellers-Hollinger [mailto:mari@netins.net] Sent: Tuesday, October 14, 2003 2:53 PM To: bcg@familytreedna.com Cc: mari@netins.net Subject: SURNAME PROJECT Please send additional info. We are discussing for the SELLERS/SELLARS/SOLLARS/ZELLERS families. marie, iowa