TILTON-L Archives

From: David Sylvester <>
Subject: File: WelcomeLetterTilton2005.txt
Date: Tue, 04 Oct 2005 01:00:00 -0400

WAIT!

Please read this letter and print a copy to save for reference. I
have taken the time to write this informational message for you so
please take the time to read and understand it.

Thanks!


*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%* WELCOME *%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*

Welcome to the List.

You're receiving this letter because you have joined the Tilton
surname mailing list which is featured at
http://www.feliixplace.com/genealogylists/tilton.html . Please do
not post to the list until you have read this letter and fully
understand the information in it.

I look forward to your participation in this list. But first I have
some important information to share. My name is David Sylvester and
I'm the list's Listowner, which is the equivalent of being a
Manager or an Administrator. I'm responsible for keeping the list
running as smoothly as possible and setting some rules and
guidelines. As a member you also have responsibilities, which
include understanding how this list is run and posting appropriately.

If you wish to leave the list at this time please send the single word

unsubscribe

in the body of an email to
or
(for digest mode).

This list is an email forum for anyone who has an interest in
Genealogy or History related to the Tilton family, or any other
related spelling variation, at any time or any place.

I created this list as an aid in my own research and to help others
with the same interest. As a fellow member I'll participate in the
discussions as fits my needs and to share my information with
others to help them find their roots. As Manager I'll encourage
members to participate and I'll closely monitor the list to see
that it is an enjoyable place for all who are serious about finding
their ancestors and sharing their information.


*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%* TABLE OF CONTENTS %*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*


GENERAL

HOW TO

* Subscription commands
* How to contact me
* How to subscribe (join the list) or unsubscribe (leave the list):
* How to post your message to the list:

RULES

* On Topic
* Off Topic
* Exceptions to the no items for sale rule
* No excess quoting
* No attachments
* No auto-replies
* No challenge/response requests
* No flames
* Info and Updates
* Don't
* Violations
* Summary of rules

GUIDELINES

* Quoting tips
* Subject
* Private messages
* Settings
* Sorting or Filtering email
* Footers & sigs

TIPS

* Accuracy
* Sources
* Is this for real?
* Queries
* English 101
* Keep trying
* Use the list
* How to get started

FURTHER INFORMATION

* List homepage
* Other mailing lists
* Publish my info online?
* Viruses

ABOUT

*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*




*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%* GENERAL %*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*

* If you subscribed by mistake or if someone else submitted your
email address unbeknownst to you please unsubscribe now. If you
don't have time to read this letter and attempt to understand the
information in it please unsubscribe now.

* This is a *no nonsense* list. Its rules are simple, easy to
understand, and fair. Our fellow members have joined to search
their roots and share their information on Genealogy and History
and we hope you have done the same.

* If you cannot follow a few simple rules or if you're intolerant
of the writing style of others or if you tend to write flaming
remarks in public forums then you don't belong in this list. If you
think a genealogy mailing list is a good place to post a virus
warning then perhaps this would be a good time to send in your
request to unsubscribe. If however you feel you are among those who
follow rules then read on...

* Please keep this letter. I recommend you keep a copy on file in
your computer as well as a printed, paper copy that you can find
easily. If you lose your copy you may request a replacement from me
at or you can find a copy at
http://www.feliixplace.com/genealogylists/tilton.html . This
Welcome Letter supersedes all others of any prior date.

* Read this letter -- there is a lot of important information here.
It is assumed that by joining this list and receiving this letter
you will read and understand it and that you intend to abide by
it's simple rules and guidelines before posting to the list. If not
so don't waste your time, please stop here and unsubscribe now. If
there is something you question or don't understand please feel
free to email me at . Send your question
to me not to the list.

* You'll find emphasis and redundancy in this letter. Some
important points are emphasized by adding asterisks (*'s) before
and after key words and phrases. Some important points are stated
in various ways in more than one section of this letter.

* You'll also find many links to further information that will be
helpful to members of the list.


*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%* HOW TO %*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*

* Subscription commands:

The two commands you'll use in this list are

subscribe

and

unsubscribe

You send them by email to the address shown below. You must spell
them correctly for them to work. And you must send them to the
right address otherwise your command won't go where it's supposed
to. This is due to the way the Internet and computers work.

* How to contact me:

If you need help, contact me at .

* How to subscribe (join the list) or unsubscribe (leave the list):

-- To subscribe or unsubscribe send an email to:
(for list mode) or
(for digest mode) and put:

subscribe (and nothing else)

or

unsubscribe (and nothing else)

in the body of the message.

Just send the single word command, correctly spelled. Don't add
anything else. Do not add the phrase "and nothing else"; do not
include your sig block or the list of surnames you're searching; do
not send your family information -- you'll send that to the list
*after* you have become a member; and do not add "please", "thank
you", "have a nice day" or any other message. The computer software
that handles subscriptions may not understand the extra words. The
single word command will get you added to or removed from the list
as you wish. Anything extra might cause it to not work.

Note that "l" is an "L" (either lowercase or uppercase will work)
and can be thought of as an abbreviation of "list mode" and "d"
would stand for "digest mode". If you're subscribed in list mode
you'll receive each list message individually. If you signed up for
digest mode you'll periodically receive several messages combined
in one email. Members subscribed in either mode will receive all
the same messages.

* How to post your message to the list:

-- To post a message to this list, Genealogical data, a query or
reply, etc., stuff of interest to other members, send it to
. Remember, even if you are subscribed in
digest mode, when you post a message to the list always use "l" in
the address, never "d".


*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%* RULES *%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*

At times this list may be moderated. While in moderated mode all
messages sent to the list are previewed by me before being accepted
and redirected to the list or rejected. At any time the mode
changes from unmoderated to moderated or vice versa there will not
be any announcement of that change.

Participation in this list is what makes it work. Thus members are
encouraged to post messages to the list. Your post must be on topic
to be relevant. Off topic messages are strongly discouraged. Here
are some rules to help members understand the difference.

* On Topic

This list is for the discussion of Genealogy and History, primarily
regarding Tilton and related families. Suggested areas of
discussion include family data, migration patterns, immigration,
ship passenger lists, heraldry, historical sketches, family
settlements, census data, wills, inventory lists, family Bibles,
grave stone inscriptions, DNA studies, vital records, web sites and
other online resources, family reunion plans and announcements,
genealogical libraries and archives, etc. as relates to Tilton and
collateral families.

Short family histories, memoirs, family lore, oral tradition and
other anecdotal items authored by your ancestors or passed down
orally are welcome.

Announcements and genealogical discussions of the contents of web
sites, message boards, chat rooms, newsgroups, alternate or similar
mailing lists, and other forums or databases wherever hosted, as
relates to the Tilton surname are certainly welcome in this list.

A public announcement of interest to Genealogists in general though
it may not relate specifically to Tiltons is permitted but please
use discretion. If you're unsure whether the content is appropriate
send it to me privately and I'll preview it.

* Off Topic

Do not post virus warnings whether real or imagined, test messages,
chain letters, political announcements, petitions, current events,
missing persons, items for sale, jokes, cute web sites, prayer
requests, personal messages such as birthday greetings or chit
chat, excess quoted material (see explanations below), computer
support, copyright law, etc.

Brief holiday greetings and general well wishes may be included in
an otherwise on topic email but do not post solely holiday messages
to the list.

An unsubscribe message sent to the list instead of to the request
address is off topic.

Do not send a message to the list that is in reply to another
person's off topic message. Even if your reply is helpful and done
out of kindness it is still off topic.

Inserting a phrase such as "Off topic", "OT", or "(OT)" in your
message or subject does *not* grant you an exception to the rule
requiring members to stay on topic.

As people have questioned or misunderstood this point in the past
it is worth repeating: No discussion of viruses or any other
computer support in this list. Forums for those topics are
elsewhere. This list is for Genealogy. Links to helpful information
on viruses are listed at
http://www.feliixplace.com/genealogylists/virus.html . Links to
other computer support areas can be found at
http://www.feliixplace.com/genealogylists/internethelp.html .

* Exceptions to the no items for sale rule

The intent of the rule banning items for sale is to prevent
commercial enterprises from using our list for advertising. We
won't however let that policy get in the way of our doing Genealogy.

You may announce your own book, CD or other resource material if it
is specifically related to our Tilton family and if you are the
copyright owner; If you have an historical or heirloom item that
you would like to "return" to its family you may ask for
reimbursement for shipping only; You may bring to the list's
attention relevant items of interest you found listed at online
auction sites, online genealogy subscription services, DNA testing
services, genealogy booksellers, professional genealogy services,
etc. In all such exceptions prices and fees will be taken up
privately between the parties involved and not mentioned in the list.

* No excess quoting

When replying to the list it is expressly forbidden to repost any
of the following: Headers including explanatory notes that were
added by this Listowner; The previous poster's sig block, surname
list or advertisement from their email service; The list tagline (A
new tagline will be automatically added to your post -- resending
the previous one is unnecessarily redundant); Any note from the
previous message indicating that it was virus scanned; Any other
tagline, notice or advertisement that was added by Rootsweb or
anybody else.

There is simply no reason in the world to include any of the above
items in your reply to the list. They have already been seen and
only add clutter when resent. If you're unsure what you should
remove from your reply, removing everything except the genealogy
stuff that was written by the other person would be a safe bet. See
some helpful tips on quoting in the Guidelines section below.

* No attachments

Please do not send file attachments to the list. If you have a file
you would like to share with the members, announce what you have to
offer, then send the file only to those who request it, via private
email. There are many branches of this surname and the vast data in
your gedcom or other file may not be of interest to everyone in the
list.

* No auto-replies

"Out-Of-Office" auto-replies are strictly forbidden. Some email
clients provide this "feature" and some users actually invoke it.
In mailing lists such messages are considered rude and entirely
unnecessary. If seen in this list the offending address will be
removed and banned from membership with no further warning and no
notice. You saw it here.

* No challenge/response requests

If I learn that you subscribe to a service requiring the list
server or this Listowner to respond in order to prove that you are
not being sent spam then you will be removed from the list.
Remember, you willingly subscribed to the list. You must be set up
to receive all pertinent list and administrative email. In other
words the burden is on you, not on me. If you have a question I
cannot reach you if you're blocking my mail. And, No, I will not
respond to that service as I have better things to do. If you have
a question or concern about spam you may email me (but I must be
freely able to contact you by email) or you may visit
http://helpdesk.rootsweb.com/ .

* No flames

No rude comments or flaming in the list! No discussion of flaming
in the list. Do not send a message to the list that is in response
to another person's flame. Even if your reply is helpful and is
done out of kindness it is still off topic. If you feel you *must*
comment to the person who sent unwelcome material do so by private
email, but please be nice to them. The person you're scolding is
your cousin and they may have useful Genealogy information for you
in the future.

For definitions of flaming and related information see
http://www.feliixplace.com/genealogylists/netiquette.html

* Info and Updates

Occasionally this Listowner will post informational emails and new
versions of this welcome letter to the list. Any questions or
comments whether you agree or disagree with the content should be
sent to me privately at , not to the list.

* Don't

Don't attempt to impose any rules or conditions, expressed or
implied elsewhere, upon this list. Rules of other mailing lists,
newsgroups, message boards, chat rooms or other forums may not
necessarily apply here.

Do not try to regulate this list. If you don't like the way someone
formats their queries or responses or the content of their subject
titles send a helpful email to the author in private email. If you
wish to help someone unsubscribe do it in private email as I do.

If you wish to report a violation of the rules or have a question
or concern about how this list is run, take it up with me at
, *not* in the list. The list is for
Genealogy and History and other members likely will not be
interested in your griping.

If you don't like the way this list is run you may leave. Do not
send a rude or hateful message to the list. Nor am I particularly
interested in hearing it privately either.

* Violations

Again, the Listowner assumes that you understand these simple
rules. They apply whether or not you read them. If you don't feel
you can follow them, then you should unsubscribe now and save
everybody lots of grief. Individuals violating these rules may be
put in moderated mode, during which time I will preview your
messages before being accepted and forwarded to the list or
rejected. Serious and/or repeated violations may result in your
being removed and/or banned from the list at the discretion of the
Listowner. An email to the list containing several violations
indicates a total disregard for the rules possibly resulting in
immediate removal.

* Summary of rules

To sum up these rules the two key elements are, one: this list is
for Genealogy and History, nothing else; and two: this list, as
well as any other list at Rootsweb or anywhere else, is unique.
What goes at one list doesn't necessarily go at any other list.

Before posting to any list of any kind, first read and understand
the rules and guidelines of that list. With these concepts in mind
I urge you to reread this section.


*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%* GUIDELINES %*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*

While the following guidelines aren't strict rules such as those in
the section above I strongly urge you to conform to these standards.

* Quoting tips

When replying please try to quote some portions of the previous
message so that other readers are reminded what the thread is about.

Quoting means repeating some text of the message you are replying
to. Some quoting is necessary but do try to use good judgment.
Quoting the previous writer's signature block or surname list is
unnecessary as is quoting the headers and footers that are included
in messages. Quoting an entire digest back to the list is totally
unacceptable. See also the item on quoting in the rules section above.

Make it clear what is quoted material and what you are adding. Many
email programs take care of this for you by inserting greater-than
signs > at the beginning of each quoted line or possibly double
brackets << before and >> after the quoted piece. Use standard
editing tools to cut unnecessary material.

Leave one or two blank lines between the quoted material and your
added information as an aid to the reader.

For methods on how to Cut and Paste see the links to handy sites at:
http://www.feliixplace.com/genealogylists/editing.html

Traditionally people quote and reply either of two ways: one,
portions of quoted material successively followed by new material
that you add; and two, all new material added after the end of all
quoted text.

In recent times people have been seen inserting their new material
ahead of the quoted email (reverse chronology), leaving most or all
of the entire previous message intact including headers, taglines
and footer material. This practice tends to create increasingly
large emails with redundant taglines and other unnecessary material
that has already been posted. Plus it is chronologically reversed
which makes no sense at all. Please try to avoid this practice in
favor of the standard methods mentioned in the previous paragraph.

See http://www.feliixplace.com/genealogylists/query.html for
additional tips on replying.

* Subject

It helps other readers if you remember to put something in the
subject line. While there is no standard or specific format for the
subject text, something that relates to the Genealogy work you're
doing is helpful. Not too many people will even look at a message
that simply says "roll call" or "my surnames". If during the
exchange of messages the topic shifts to another related line, it
may be helpful, to change the subject. An example of a commonly
used style is:
Subject: Tilton & Miller family - was Re: Tilton & Smith marriage

If you are a member in digest mode your subject title in your reply
should not be the digest number. Please change it to something
relevant to the topic of your message. If you are a member in list
mode and someone in digest mode did reply with the digest number
your subject title in your reply should not also be the digest
number. Please change it to something relevant to the topic of your
message.

* Private messages

If you *must* send a reply to a query stating that you have no
information send it in private email *not* to the list. Use common
sense.

It is common courtesy to thank people for the information that they
have shared, and I encourage all members to do so. Please send your
Thank You note to the individual in private email, not through the
list.

If your computer crashed or you otherwise lost your contact info,
by all means use the list to re-establish contact with those you
are conducting research with.

* Settings

Become familiar with your email program and it's settings. This
list is set up so that your reply goes to the list instead of the
individual, i.e. all members including yourself will receive a copy
of your reply. Your email program may be configured to override
that setting. Look to see who you're sending your reply to before
clicking the SEND button.

To join help lists about computer email programs and other related
subjects go to
http://www.feliixplace.com/genealogylists/internethelp.html

* Sorting or Filtering email

I recommend you use filtering in your email program. Among other
useful tasks filtering will move incoming emails into separate
mailboxes/folders that you create based on criteria you specify.
This is especially useful if you belong to more than one mailing
list. This also will help to separate your list mail from your
personal emails or spam emails. To learn about filtering read the
help file that came with your email program or call its tech
support for help in setting up filtering your email. Or join any of
the helpful mailing lists referred to in the links at
http://www.feliixplace.com/genealogylists/internethelp.html

* Footers & sigs

Surname lists or taglines appended to the end of messages (example:
Searching Sylvester Smith Miller etc.) are okay but please try to
limit them to say, half a dozen names. Any more than that and many
people just won't read them. Try keeping several small lists and
rotate them with each succeeding message.

Signatures or sig blocks longer than five to ten lines are
traditionally considered lengthy. Please try to conform to this
standard. See also
http://www.feliixplace.com/genealogylists/sigs.html

Please sign your name, nickname, screen name or other personal
identifier at the end of your message so that people who reply will
know what to call you.


*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%* TIPS %*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*

* Accuracy

Accuracy is important and sources are vital. Ancestor lists are
worthless if the information is wrong.

* Sources

All information need not be accompanied by source citations, but I
recommend strongly that you do include sources or a note stating
that they are available on request.

For tips on citing sources see
http://www.feliixplace.com/genealogylists/citing.html

* Is this for real?

If information is speculation then present it as such until it is
proven or commonly accepted as fact.

* Queries

When posting your query try to give as much information as you
know, i.e. dates and places of all vital events if known, along
with enough facts on other family members so that the reader can
positively identify if they are researching the same family.
"Anyone out there researching Tiltons?" is going to find its way
into members' trash bins.

See the following sites for help on writing a good query:
http://www.feliixplace.com/genealogylists/query.html

* English 101

It helps if you check your spelling and syntax. Certainly none of
us are perfect spellers and no one is going to "correct" you but
names of ancestors and places should be presented as you found them
in the records or accurate for our current times. Also it's
important to post your website URL correctly. Leaving out one
letter or the slash / symbol in the URL generates a raft of
requests for corrections. Tip: Copy and paste the text from your
browser, bookmarks or other document. And take a moment to proof
read your message before sending it.

For tips on email writing style see:
http://www.feliixplace.com/genealogylists/style.html

Try to avoid typing surnames in all caps, i.e. for easier reading
use Tilton not TILTON. Back when all we had was Fidonet, the
Genealogy forum at AOL, Roots-L, and a handful of Genealogy
Usegroups it was important to type surnames in all caps as a visual
aid for people who were scanning scores of messages for names of
their interest. Now that we have separate mailing lists focusing
on individual surnames or small groups of families that practice is
no longer necessary.

* Keep trying

Post your query frequently, perhaps once every month or two, if you
have not yet found your ancestor. New people are joining the list
all the time and they may have the info you need. If you have found
your ancestor please remain a member of the list. You may be able
to help a new member find their roots too!

* Use the list

Please send relevant replies to the list not just to the original
poster. Other members may benefit from the data that you provide,
thus relevant email traffic in the list is encouraged.

* How to get started

Here are some tips for new members to get started in the list, and
also for long time members to get going again:

-- Check out the list archives to see what some of the recent and
past conversations are about. The archives are linked from the
Tilton homepage at
http://www.feliixplace.com/genealogylists/tilton.html . Just click
on the link "Search or Browse the Tilton archives".

-- Send in an introductory letter telling us about your interests
in this name. What area(s) are you researching? What is your brick
wall? Send in your query. How can we help you find your ancestor?
How can you help fellow members find theirs?

-- Be a Look-up Volunteer. Do you have access to libraries or other
resources that others might not? Do you own some books or CD's of
your own? Tell us what you have and offer to share with the membership.

-- Send in a link to your web page.


*%*%*%*%*%*%*%* FURTHER INFORMATION %*%*%*%*%*%*%*

* List homepage

For further information on this list go to
http://www.feliixplace.com/genealogylists/tilton.html

* Other mailing lists

See the following sites for information on many Genealogy mailing
lists:

http://www.rootsweb.com/~jfuller/gen_mail.html

http://www.CyndisList.com/mailing.htm

http://lists.rootsweb.com

http://groups.yahoo.com/search?query=genealogy

http://www.feliixplace.com/genealogylists/construct.html


* Publish my info online?

To learn how to construct your own Genealogy homepage see
http://www.feliixplace.com/genealogylists/construct.html

* Viruses

For information on virus hoaxes, urban legends, real computer
viruses and discussion areas see
http://www.feliixplace.com/genealogylists/virus.html


*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%* ABOUT *%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*

This list is hosted by Rootsweb as a free service. To find out more
about their many lists and other services available go to
http://www.rootsweb.com and explore a bit. I manage this list at my
own pleasure. My genealogy and personal homepages can be seen at
http://www.feliixplace.com/ .

This version of your welcome letter is dated October 4, 2005.


*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*

Enjoy the list!

David Sylvester, Tilton Listowner

This thread:

• File: WelcomeLetterTilton2005.txt by David Sylvester <>