Hi all, I am sending this message to all the lists I run in the hopes that it will help everyone, whether we've been doing this for a long time, or we've just started...... I get private emails all the time asking questions which I don't mind answering, but the answers are given on the pages I have made, so that must mean not everyone is -using- them.... :( My Helpful Hints page in particular was developed because those were the questions I answered on lists all the time (and I just got tired of typing them all the time). So please..... 1. Write a good query! There are plenty of times I read a posting and for the life of me I can't figure out what that person wants. Read the section on How to Write a Successful Query on the Hints page. 2. The SHAMROCKROOTS page has a section called Mailing List Basics. That section explains it all..... it also has a link to the archives page for all Rootsweb lists if you need to do a search. 3. We also have a Helping Hands project associated with the IrelandGenWeb located off the SHAMROCKROOTS page. Check it out, or join it! 4. We also have a great Shamrock Tombstone Transcription Project for listing any tombstone **not in Ireland** which lists a place of origin in Ireland. I've listed a few there that I have found in my searches of cemeteries, they aren't even my relations but maybe it will help someone. That page has a search feature where you can search for all the submissions of a certain surname or county. Use it, and if you run across (or trip over!) any tombstones which list place of origin, consider posting it there. Hope this helps..... Maura <><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><> Maura Petzolt [email protected] <><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><> SHAMROCK ROOTS homepage http://community.webtv.net/shamrockroots/SHAMROCKROOTS Helpful Hints for Successful Searching http://community.webtv.net/mpetzolt2/helpfulhints