* ANNIVERSARY TIME * HINTS, TIPS and RESEARCH HELPS FROM FELLOW VOLUNTEERS * KUDOS * HELP US HELP YOU * UPDATE * EUREKA ! * SHOPS * THANK YOU * CURRENT STATS ANNIVERSARY TIME The month of March brings us many things. For the northern hemisphere signs of spring may start to show up, for the southern hemisphere the heat of summer will soon abate. Other things are the Ides of March, March Madness (for basketball fans) and for genealogists, Random Acts of Genealogical Kindness celebrates its 8th year online. Couldn't ask for anything better. The staff and I want to thank all of you volunteers, whether you have been with us since day one or just arrived on the scene, for caring and sharing your knowledge and 'legs' for those who need information from your area but cannot bear the burdens of traveling. You have helped literally thousands of researchers in the past 8 years. We are very honored and very privileged to have you as a volunteer on our site. HINTS, TIPS and RESEARCH HELPS FROM FELLOW VOLUNTEERS Dennis Chapman: Arizona Genealogy Birth and Death Certificates Arizona has Birth (1887-1930) and Death (1878-1955) certificates online at http://genealogy.az.gov/. The nice thing is you can view the actual images online. You have the option to include Father & Mother's name in the search, good for birth certificates or narrowing down death certificates. And to limit the search by county & year range, helpful if you know the county but not the exact year. ================================ Debra Henderson Missouri Death Certificates, 1910 – 1956 http://www.sos.mo.gov/archives/resources/deathcertificates/ The index can be searched by first name and last name, county, and by year and month. Once a name is selected, a digitized image of the original certificate can be retrieved. This is an ongoing project and additional records will be added as they are transcribed and imaged. If the image of the certificate is not yet available researchers can request a photocopy of the certificate. =================================== Nancy Searle If you have trouble finding your family in census indexes or other databases because the surname is often misspelled, try using this site to see what other spelling possibilities are available. http://www.namethesaurus.com/Thesaurus/ If you have a hint, tip or research help you would like to share with your fellow volunteers, please send it on to feedback@raogk.org Subject: Hints & Tips KUDOS http://www.raogk.org/thankyou/ The month of February saw kudos written about: Ryan Ranson (Canada), Maryann C Martel (MA), Bob (MD), Anissa (UT), Rick Cowey (England), Tedd Cocker (DE), Mary (IN), Debbie Hawkes (GA), Mary Ellen Moulton (NH), Larry (TX), Paul Daraghy (CO), P Johns (CA), Ruth Bellamy (OK), Pam Gazley (TN), Electa Cook (MO), Linda Barsalou (OH), Lillian Martz (AL), Ed Rapp (NC), Cindy Scott (VA), Joyce Pieriz (VA), Vickie Aliff (WV), Bonnie Carriles (VA), Gordon Young (Canada), Bill Beyer (TX), Andrea Zupan (PA), Bill Caldwell & Melissa Barker (TN), Electa Cook (MS), Terry Lasky CO HELP US HELP YOU When corresponding with staff via the raogk-admin@raogk.org address you MUST indicate your location to expedite any action on your request/question. UPDATE In last month's newsletter we indicated we may have a new "perk" for RAOGK Volunteers, an online personal calendar. Given that fact that we heard from less than .1% of the volunteers that would like to have the calendar we did not install it at this time. If you did not respond last month that you would like this feature available to you as a volunteer, and would like to do so please send your wishes to feedback@raogk.org subject: Calendar EUREKA ! They say patience is a virtue, and when your patience is just about to give out something finally comes through. For those of you that have been following and/or interested in the saga of Doc (our Tech Guru) you may be interested in the next bit of news. After 18 months of unemployment, along with many job interviews that produced nothing, Doc finally found employment at the beginning of February. We sincerely thank each and everyone of you for going out of your way to contribute to RAOGK in order for it to stay online. It was really touch and go a few times. We are very humbled by your generosity. SHOPS We have 2 genealogy specific shops online. The first shop is a RAOGK logo shop (http://www.cafepress.com/raogk?pid=2851439&tid=702), mainly for you volunteers to buy items with the RAOGK logo on it. We have a cookbook: http://www.cafepress.com/raogk.37799377?pid=2851439&tid=702 and the newly introduced item "Research Tracking" log book: http://www.cafepress.com/raogk.103230216?pid=2851439&tid=702 There have been a few volunteers who have ordered the log book and have said that they have liked it and found it extremely helpful with their volunteer work. No new designs in this shop as I have been adding the new colors available now for t-shirts. Plus we have another style of t-shirt available for women, V-neck T's. V-neck in white: http://www.cafepress.com/raogk.110492974?pid=2851439&tid=702 V-neck in black or heather grey: http://www.cafepress.com/raogk.110492976?pid=2851439&tid=702 The 2nd genealogy related shop is called Genealogy For You (http://www.cafepress.com?pid=2851439&tid=702) which contains general genealogy designs of the humorous nature. I am in the process of adding the women's V-Neck t-shirts with available images on them. If you would like to order a V-neck that does not yet have a design on it drop me a note (feedback@raogk.org Subject: V-Neck T's) and I'll get one online for you. Third shop was opened earlier this month and is called Naming Baby, and this shop is for all those parents and grandparents (or soon to be parents and grandparents) who would like personalized items for their little ones. On bibs, creepers, infant/toddler t's and more are children's names either on building blocks or balloons being held up by a smiling teddy bear. Since this shop is so new, not all letters have names in them yet, and of course the selection of names are not enormous yet. However, if you would like to see/purchase a particular name on the site, feel free to drop me a note (feedback@raogk.org Subject: Naming Baby) letting me know the name and I'll get on it right away. http://www.cafepress.com/namingbaby?pid=2851439&tid=702nb Proceeds from purchases made in all three shops go into the RAOGK coffers. THANK YOU A great big THANK YOU goes out to one and all who have helped RAOGK to continue to be a presence online. Your purchases through one of our stores or by sending a contribution via PayPal or check are very much appreciated. Also, thanks goes out to all who have suggested to their requesters to make a contribution to the site as well. We have received a few messages that indicated it was suggested to them to do so by their very capable volunteer. http://www.raogk.org/support.html CURRENT STATS Last month: 4149 This month: 4135 New: 48 Left: 23 Staff removals*: 40 February Requests (through February 26, 2007): USA volunteers received: 5,045 NON-USA volunteers received: 494 *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, Jo, Bonnie, Melissa, Brenda, Dennis, Kathy, Jeniann and Doc, the Tech Guru