With the rapid growth of interest in genealogy due to the convenience of computers, the demands on Genealogy Societies to provide us with accessible records has sky-rocketed. Since winter is coming, and many of us will choose to spend more time indoors, I thought I might make the suggestion to check with your local Genealogy Society about doing some volunteer work. Most of you who are subscribers to mailing lists, have personal computers at home. Genealogy Societies are in desperate need for volunteers to help type records into books, databases, etc. The more people who volunteer for these tasks, the more information we will have available to us in book or disc form. Being a researcher, you are more attune to what kind of information a researcher is interested in. For example, Cass Co MO is compiling all their cemetery records into one book and one database. These records will not only contain information obtained from tombstones, but also the information contained in the obituaries, if they are available. Anyway, I think it is important as researchers to not only contribute to our own family trees, but to aid others searching in our own counties. If active researchers become involved with their local Genealogy Societies, then the kind of information we need will become available for us. Even though typing may seem like an undesirable task, it's a great feeling to be a part of something that will make the journey for other's easier. You don't need to type 60 wpm to be of help. "Peckers" are welcome and can take on smaller tasks freeing up the time for the "flash fingers" to do the big jobs. Most Genealogy Societies will allow you to take files home to work on them in your free time. If you can't find that book you desperately need, it's probably because there aren't enough volunteers to make it available. We all want the books and disc's to research from but often times we forget that someone has to take the time to create them. You don't have to be retired to get involved. Every little bit helps. Just a little food for thought. Brenda Marble Listowner