STEWART-L Archives

Archiver > STEWART > 2002-12 > 1040010468


From: Lauren Boyd <>
Subject: [STEWART] From the List Admin: Contributions by list members
Date: Sun, 15 Dec 2002 20:03:57 -0800


Dear Listers:

When was the last time YOU contributed to the content of the
lists you are subscribed to? If you want to get mail, you must
first write mail! If you are not sure when the last time you
posted was, you can check via searching on your email address
using the Interactive Archives for any of the lists:

http://searches2.rootsweb.com/cgi-bin/listsearch.pl

type the name of the list you want to search in the box
marked "Name of List"

type your email address in the box marked "query"
select which year you want to search by clicking the radio
button next to the year 2002, 2001, 2000. etc
click the search button.

You can only search one year at a time.

You may be surprised to discover how long it has been since
you posted! I recently began to check against subscribers to
one of my newly adopted lists. I am always amazed to find people
subscribed to lists, hoping for a genealogical connection, but
NEVER having posted a single message. If this sounds like you....
take the plunge. Send a query to the list. Depending on the
range of topics allowed -- send a message that would be of
interest to the group.

The most frequent remark I get in response to my unsubscription
questionnaire, is that the person did not connect with someone
on the list. The second most frequent response is that the
lists -- all of them -- are heavily laden with American topics.

If one expects to connect, they must work at putting something
on the list(s) to let your cousins know you are here and waiting
for them! And you must do so with some regularity. One time a
year won't do it. One time a quarter would be an improvement
over annually, but still may not be enough contact.

Those other-than-American researchers that don't see enough content
from Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Ireland, Scotland, etc. need
to remain vocal on the list(s). If you don't speak up, and remain
an active participant then when someone from the area of your
interest subscribes, they will not feel there is anyone to connect
with. Invite your fellow researchers from your area or area of
interest to subscribe to the Rootsweb lists.

A reminder to most of my lists --- keep in mind that there is a
world wide audience that can and does view all of Rootsweb's lists.
When writing your messages and mentioning geographic locations,
PLEASE spell them out. Cite the City/County/Province/State AND
the Country. Do not use postal codes as identifiers. They are
only about 30 years old and are not recognizable on a global
basis. Check your queries to see if they are ridden with them
and use the search and replace function of your word processor
to quickly expand them to the actual names. Do not make the
assumption that others are familiar with the geography of
your area of research.

Not sure what lists you are subscribed to? Visit:
http://passwordcentral.rootsweb.com/

If list traffic is heavier than you prefer, consider switching
to the digest mode. This puts several messages into one email
rather than sending each one individually. This is especially
helpful with very busy lists.

Looking forward to seeing an increase in posts on all of the
lists.

Happy Holidays,

Lauren
List Admin

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