From roots-in@roots-l.rootsweb.com Wed Apr 12 19:07:46 2006 Received: from mail.rootsweb.com (mail.rootsweb.com [192.168.65.34]) by admin.rootsweb.com (8.12.8/8.12.8) with ESMTP id k3D17kjb008254; Wed, 12 Apr 2006 19:07:46 -0600 Received: from roots-l.rootsweb.com (roots-l.rootsweb.com [66.43.16.22]) by mail.rootsweb.com (8.13.4/8.13.4) with ESMTP id k3D17juE029064 for ; Wed, 12 Apr 2006 19:07:45 -0600 Received: from roots-l.rootsweb.com (roots-l [127.0.0.1]) by roots-l.rootsweb.com (8.12.10/8.12.10) with ESMTP id k3CMZUFI025020 for ; Wed, 12 Apr 2006 18:35:30 -0400 Received: (from roots-in@localhost) by roots-l.rootsweb.com (8.12.10/8.12.8/Submit) id k3CMZU0K025019 for roots-approved@rootsweb.com; Wed, 12 Apr 2006 18:35:30 -0400 Received: from lists5.rootsweb.com (lists5.rootsweb.com [66.43.27.41]) by roots-l.rootsweb.com (8.12.10/8.12.10) with SMTP id k3CLhiFI024855 for ; Wed, 12 Apr 2006 17:43:44 -0400 Received: (from slist@localhost) by lists5.rootsweb.com (8.12.8/8.12.8) id k3D0Fmnm011615 for roots-in@roots-l.rootsweb.com; Wed, 12 Apr 2006 18:15:48 -0600 X-Envelope-From: mscheffl@twcny.rr.com Wed Apr 12 18:15:48 2006 Received: from mail.rootsweb.com (mail.rootsweb.com [192.168.65.34]) by admin.rootsweb.com (8.12.8/8.12.8) with ESMTP id k3D0Fmjb011604 for ; Wed, 12 Apr 2006 18:15:48 -0600 Received: from ms-smtp-01.nyroc.rr.com (ms-smtp-01.nyroc.rr.com [24.24.2.55]) by mail.rootsweb.com (8.13.4/8.13.4) with ESMTP id k3D0FjfW012206 for ; Wed, 12 Apr 2006 18:15:47 -0600 Received: from m1070n (cpe-24-92-248-107.twcny.res.rr.com [24.92.248.107]) by ms-smtp-01.nyroc.rr.com (8.13.4/8.13.4) with SMTP id k3D0Fi2p022610 for ; Wed, 12 Apr 2006 20:15:46 -0400 (EDT) Message-ID: <017701c65e8f$67dcdda0$6601a8c0@m1070n> From: "MScheffler" To: Date: Wed, 12 Apr 2006 20:15:43 -0400 MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed; charset="iso-8859-1"; reply-type=original Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit X-Priority: 3 X-MSMail-Priority: Normal X-Mailer: Microsoft Outlook Express 6.00.2900.2180 X-MIMEOLE: Produced By Microsoft MimeOLE V6.00.2900.2180 X-Virus-Scanned: Symantec AntiVirus Scan Engine X-Scanned-By: MIMEDefang 2.52 on 192.168.65.34 X-Scanned-By: MIMEDefang 2.52 on 192.168.65.34 Subject: [ROOTS-L] Posting suggestions (positive I hope) Sender: roots-in@roots-l.rootsweb.com Some of us who have been involved with genealogy for years may forget new people join the list every day, and have no idea what one should do in posting that will get a positive response. Perhaps the following will help people who are new to this process and not sure what to do with posting queries. 1. Think about your SUBJECT LINE and make it as descriptive as possible. Try to remember to put the surname of the family (if that is what you are asking for) in capital letters and give some idea of dates and location if known, i.e. Robert JOHNSON abt 1763 to ?, MA > NY If the topic is a subject, and not a surname request, try as well to make it as descriptive as possible. 2. In the BODY of the message tell the group exactly what it is you are looking for, typing the surname in capital letters (so it will stand out) along with some specifics such as dates and locations as best you know them, wife if known, children if known. The idea is to provide enough information "without writing a book" so that someone may recognize the family and offer to help. 3. You also want to save people's time, so if, for example, you have found your person/family in a couple census years, and want a couple others checked, tell in the posting what years you have and what you hope people will look up. Most of the helpers have had the experience of spending an hour or so looking up information only to be told the person already had that material. 4. It is best to limit specifics about living people like exact birth dates, addresses, phone numbers, etc. 5. It never hurts to double space between paragraphs. Read over what you have written to make sure it says what you intended to say. Anything you can do to make your message clearer to everyone may help in getting a response. 5. Just because you may not get a response to any one posting, don't give up. Try posting again in a few weeks. It probably took me 6 months to a year to get specific information on a particular family. But I did get lots of help on general topics in the meantime. 6. It pays to not be too sensitive. Some people are good at helping but not as tactful as others. Saying you are hurt and leaving a list does not help you or others. Some comments it is best to just delete and be thankful that there are many nice and helpful list members and only a few "grumpy" people. 5. Remember to send a quick "thank you" back to the person who tries to help, even if the person "got it wrong". And lastly I have some general research guidelines that some newbies may be interested in. If anyone would like a copy by attachment, please send me a quick note and I will forward them on. Good luck all you "newbies" with this interesting hobby. You will likely become as addicted as some of us "oldies." Margaret Scheffler