The staff of RAOGK wish to thank the 4,769 who have signed up to 
volunteer for this site. 


SECOND TIME AROUND 

Last month we told you about chatting in real time with other 
volunteers and some staff members. The response was great and the 
number of people visiting was more than we anticipated. It was fun 
talking with folks from all over the world. I did get a message from 
someone who didn't understand internet relay chat (IRC), and one of 
our staff members has a page on the internet that helps explains what 
IRC is and how you would use it, you might want to check it out: 
http://freepages.computers.rootsweb.com/~valorie/IRC-Beginners.htm 

Here is the blurb from last month: "E-mail is a great way to 
communicate, usually not having to wait longer than a day for an 
answer to a question. However, real time answers are better or even 
chatting with other volunteers.  We have set up a chatroom on an IRC 
(internet relay chat) server. If you have an IRC application (for 
example mIRC), the address you enter in is irc.maddoc.net, port 6667, 
channel is #raogk.  If you don't have an application point your 
browser to http://www.raogk.org/chat, fill in 
a user name and click "Connect", it will bring you right to the chat 
room. Someone is usually around. Come join us." 


We had a nice response of those ordering business cards.  If you 
would like to order business cards you can go to 
http://www.raogk.org/business.html  and place your order.  Remember, 
purchasing these cards goes to supporting the site. 


VOLUNTEER MAILING LIST 


I would like to remind you that there is a mailing list where 
volunteers can exchange opinions, get ideas and ask questions of 
fellow volunteers. To join the list visit 
http://www.raogk.org/mailman/listinfo/raogk-l. Once subscribed, 
please read and keep your welcome message, as it will tell you how 
to change your method of receiving messages and also how to unsubscribe, 
if need be.


A VOLUNTEER'S TIP 


This tip was sent into us by Ken Humphrey, Dickinson Co. IA.: 


"I have found that if I include the page, book, telephone number of 
the local applicable office, along with the price per  copy, it saves 
me a lot of hassle.  The individual requesting the information can 
then make the decision about copies.  Since 9-11 some county 
recorders are very strict about certified copies.  I longhand the 
pertinent information and e mail that.  I have greatly endeared 
myself to the local recorder's office with this formula." 


Thanks Ken. 



THE GOOD, THE BAD AND THE LAZY 


In every newsletter at the top is listed the number of volunteers we 
have presently listed on this list.  As this list is mandatory all 
volunteers are subscribed to it, this gives us some idea of how many 
people have signed up to volunteer.  The numbers have been reducing 
since January when we had 5175 subscribers/volunteers. That first 
message sent produced around 430 bounces, not too surprising since 
this was the first endeavor of trying to reach *all* the volunteers 
at one time. Our present figure of 4,769 still makes us one of the 
largest volunteer based genealogy networks on the Internet. 


Quantity is good, high numbers always are impressive, but quality is 
better. The reports of unresponsive volunteers keep on coming in, and 
this isn't acceptible. Please folks, if you do not intend on 
following through being a volunteer, remove yourself from the 
project. (http://www.raogk.org/change.html)  We do realize that there 
are times when computers crash, when you are out of town, when there 
is illness in the family and other reasons for not responding, and 
take that into consideration. But we do inform those that have 
complained to try one more time to get in touch with a volunteer, but 
after that second time without a response, then send in another 
notice letting us know the volunteer's information. The staff will 
follow up and try to get a response from this volunteer as well, if 
we also do not get a response, that volunteer will be removed.

If you are reporting a non-responsive volunteer, we need to know the 
volunteer's location, name and e-mail address.  Thank you. 

When this project was begun 3 years ago in Tennessee, I'm sure that 
Jan and Cher never anticipated the growth and popularity of the 
project. I always try to keep the project true to their ideals, and 
hope that each of you volunteers do, too.

Until next month.

Cheers,

RAOGK Staff

*********************URL's on RAOGK you should have bookmarked:Volunteer's FAQ page: http://www.raogk.org/info.htmSection Coordinators list: http://www.raogk.org/vol.htmChanging of information (change your "act of kindness"; 
e-mail address change or needing to be removed): http://www.raogk.org/change.html