CURRENT VOLUNTEER NUMBERS

Welcome aboard all new volunteers; we are really glad to have you.
We currently have 4443 volunteers across the globe. During the month
of November we welcomed 113 new volunteers. Seventy-eight volunteers
were removed due to the newsletter bouncing back to us (user unknown,
mailbox full September and October, and hosts unknown); staff removed
17 for being non-responsive or having bad e-mail addresses; 45 members
decided to leave the project voluntarily. The staff doesn't ask too
much from the volunteers; just keep us posted on any changes you may
have by going to http://www.raogk.org/change.html instead of writing
to us directly. Also, as always, please be sure to acknowledge receipt
of a request, whether you can fulfill the request or not.

This newsletter is sent out for two reasons, the only way to keep in
touch with ALL the volunteers letting everyone know what might be new
on the site, etc. The second reason, it is a way of finding out whose
address is no longer valid (as you can tell from the numbers above,
this could be quite a few).

Probably we could add a third reason. When folks sign up for the site,
and receive no requests they tend to forget they are volunteers for
RAOGK. This newsletter serves as a reminder of your volunteerism as well.


KUDOS

The messages keep coming in that the volunteers of this site are
terrific and provide further information than is requested. To check out
what people are saying about the site and individual volunteers you can
go to http://www.raogk.org/guestbook/ and bask in the limelight.


THAT TIME OF THE YEAR

The next newsletter will not be going out until after the Christmas
holidays. I want to take this time to let you know to be aware that
this season brings computers to new users, which seems to open up
the world of genealogy to those new users as well. You may receive
requests that are off the wall, people wanting their whole family
researched and just general "newbie" questions without a request at
all.  Please be patient with these folks and if you should receive a
request that seems "out in left field," just send them to the FAQ
pages for requesters (http://www.raogk.org/faq-requesters.htm) so
they may read the dos and don'ts of using our site.


TEMPORARY STATUS

As mentioned in last month's newsletter, temporary status is when a
volunteer will be away from 2 weeks to several months (no longer
than 3 months). Temporary status will remove your listing from being
viewable to the public, but doesn't removed it from the database. We
would appreciate it, however, if you are going to be away for more
than 3 months, to remove yourself from the project. If you are
requesting temporary status, please enter a date that you will be
returning. While on temporary status, if any newsletters or unforeseen
events that calls for a special mailing to be sent, you will still
receive them. Requesting temporary status can be made through the
Change Form (http://www.raogk.org/change.html). Please do not also check
the REMOVE ME box when requesting temporary status. This sends a
confusing message to staff members, and a message in your in-box
requesting clarification.


OUR THANKS

Our thanks go out to all our supporters we have
http://www.raogk.org/supporters.html -- many of whom are volunteers
(some have sent in multiple donations, and several send in monthly).
Every little bit helps.  If you would like to have your name also
listed on this page find out how: http://www.raogk.org/support.html


The staff wishes each and every one of you the best of holiday seasons.
If you are travelling, be safe; if you are staying home have a happy one.


Until next month,

RAOGK Staff
Bridgett (Admin), Anja, Bill, Madlyn, Michele, Mollie, Valorie and
Doc (techie)