This month's newsletter contains: * HELPFUL HINTS WHEN E-MAILING STAFF OR ADMIN * PUBLIC RECORDS? * FUN TIME * THE RAOGK SHOP * CURRENT STATS HELPFUL HINTS WHEN E-MAILING STAFF OR ADMIN Did you know that e-mail addresses are like fingerprints? No two are exactly alike. Because of this our site's databases are set up to be searched via e-mail address. When writing to staff or raogk-admin please be sure you are sending from the address with which you have signed up. It also helps us to know your name and location where you volunteer. Not sure which address you are using especially if you have more than one? At the top of this newsletter there is a sentence that says: "You are subscribed to this required mailing list with the e-mail address of [your subscribed address] as you have volunteered on the Random Acts of Genealogical Kindness website." We have forms set up to make changes to your listing easier. These forms can be found by going to: http://www.raogk.org/change.html. On that page you will find a link to change your address, change your act of kindness, go on temporary status (up to 3 months), and to remove yourself from the site. Writing directly to staff or raogk-admin will only get a response that you must go to that page for the action to take place. As a requester if you have problems with another volunteer (e-mail bouncing, not getting a response, etc.), we even have a form for you to fill in for that as well: http://www.raogk.org/cgi/contact.cgi. Using all these forms makes it easier for staff to service you, and everyone wants good and quick services these days. We try to accommodate when possible. PUBLIC RECORDS? We have been asked what consists of public records. Our particular definition may be different from yours, but on the whole we feel like any record that is obtained through the courthouse. These records include (but not limited to) birth, death, marriage, wills, and land deeds. Some people include obituaries in that niche, since they are public records, sort of. Actually obituaries are copyrighted by the newspapers where they appeared, so not really a public record. When you volunteered and checked off our "canned" acts of kindness of "Public Record lookups" but this isn't what you are really wanting to do or can do, no problem. Just go to http://www.raogk.org/change.html and change it. It is better for you to be as specific as possible what you are able to do (only you know, we don't and neither does the requester) in order to get 95% of requests that are in your bailiwick. The other 5%, well, there is always that *other* 5% isn't there? FUN TIME This could also be called "Getting to Know You." We now have a RAOGK Gallery aka an area where volunteers can upload pictures of themselves, their other hobbies (what other hobbies?), their flowers, their pets and their adventures. The RAOGK Gallery went online May 14th and announced on both the Chat and the RAOGK-L mailing list and we have quite a few pictures uploaded. One volunteer said the name "RAOGK Gallery" looked a lot like "Rogue's Gallery" -- hmmmm you never know, LOL. Another volunteer said it was addicting. http://www.raogk.org/gallery2/ If you should want to join in on the fun and have an area for yourself, you will have to register to do so. Registration is easy, however, it has to be approved by either Doc or me. A notice is sent to us from the software and we will approve it as soon as we see it. Please understand we are not always sitting in front of our monitor, so it could take several hours before you receive notice of approval. The RAOGK SHOP It is hard for me to believe that the RAOGK Shop has been online for a year. Time flies when you are having fun (or busy). To celebrate this anniversary and also to show my appreciation for your patronage I am having a "Supporters Appreciation Sale" from June 1 through June 15. The sales area is live now so you can get a preview and purchase if you so choose. This newsletter contains the only link to the area until June 1, when I'll have a link on the store front. Forty-eight of the most popular items from both the RAOGK Shop and its sister store, Genealogy For You, have reduced prices. Check them out ! http://www.cafepress.com/raogk/1462452?pid=2851439&tid=0605 Father's Day is coming up and, of course, Genealogy For You has products that you can buy to celebrate this occasion. http://www.cafepress.com/genealogyforyou/629110?pid=2851439&tid=0605 For $5 off when you spend $20 or more, use the Coupon Code: JOUSTBURROS. This code expires on May 31, 2006. Father's Day Sale (good on any items though): Free Shipping Over $50 (max discount $7) Coupon Code: DADSHIP Offer Valid: 05/30/2006 - 06/09/2006 CURRENT STATS Last month: 4279 This month: 4290 New: 81 Left: 32 Staff removals*: 28 March Requests (through May 25, 2005): 5,437 USA volunteers received: 4,908 NON-USA volunteers received: 529 *Staff removals are those folks whose e-mail address has been reported bouncing and confirmed or volunteers who, over the course of trying many times, did not respond back to requesters or staff. The STAFF thanks you for volunteering and until next month. . . . . . THE STAFF Bridgett, Michele, Bill, Anja, Terri, Nancy, Bobbi, Jo and Doc, the Tech Guru