* WELCOME * HOLIDAY GREETINGS * FAIR WARNING * ABOUT THIS NEWSLETTER * MAILING LISTS * RAOGK EXTRAS * WHY I VOLUNTEER * KUDOS * IN APPRECIATION * CURRENT STATS ***************** *WELCOME* I'd like to welcome all the new and returning volunteers who have joined us since the last newsletter. Hope you have or will find it as rewarding as those who have been with us from the beginning. Thank you for volunteering. ***************** *HOLIDAY GREETINGS* As this is the last newsletter prior to the holiday season, the staff would like to wish you the best for this time of year. With around 4,000 volunteers I cannot begin to wish everyone a "Happy [fill in the name of the holiday you celebrate]" as I would surely forget someone. But have a Happy one, whatever it may be. ***************** *FAIR WARNING* There will be many people who will be receiving computers for the first time as Christmas presents. It is hard to believe that there is not a computer in every household these days, but there still are quite a few. Armed with this new found 'toy' there will also be folks who are either new to genealogy or new to researching genealogy on the Internet. Our statistics tell us that we get more unique visitors (first time users) during this time with an increase of requests being made. Please bear this in mind when receiving requests and think back when you were new to the hobby and the site as well. Treat your requesters as you would want to be treated. ***************** *ABOUT THIS NEWSLETTER* This newsletter goes out once a month, between the 1st and the 5th. Its main purpose is to make sure the e-mail addresses for all the volunteers are in working order. Should a newsletter be returned with a tag of "unknown", the volunteer is removed from the site. If the reason for the return is "over quota," the address is put on a list and compared to last months list. Two consecutive months on "over quota" a volunteer is removed. Secondary purpose is to remind old (length of time on site, not age) volunteers and inform new volunteers of our mailing lists, photo gallery, to respond back to requests you receive (whether you can honor them or not, even if the query is something that you do not list as your act of kindness) and a bit of news and views. What else you will find about this newsletter is that it is not written by a professional writer. There will be run on sentences, hopefully no spelling errors (with the help of 2 spell checkers) along with a few dangling participles. Please accept my apologies for any grammatical errors found. I consider all volunteers part of an extended family and this newsletter as a note to my relatives, sometimes it gets a bit chatty. ***************** *MAILING LISTS* Would you like to chat with fellow RAOGK volunteers? We have two mailing lists for you to be able to do just that. RAOGK-L RAOGK-L is strictly a help list. This is where you can ask about methods of research, what would other volunteers do in a particular situation, sometimes ask for help with your own research. You need to use the address you have volunteered with to join this mailing list. All subscriptions to this list are approved. To subscribe to RAOGK-L, go to the list description page at: http://lists.raogk.org/mailman/listinfo/raogk-l RAOGK-Chat The name of this list says it all. Most, if not all, of the messages on this list is of general chat. We've discussed topics from what is the best fertilizer to use on flower beds to which city in Nevada is the best to go to, Reno or Las Vegas. As you can guess, the chat list is busier than the RAOGK-L list, and we do have fun. To subscribe to RAOGK-Chat, go to the list description page at: http://lists.raogk.org/mailman/listinfo/raogk-chat There are some minor rules and regulations for these lists. First of all be nice, treat everyone on the list as you would want to be treated. Both lists have a cap on the size of each message. RAOGK-L is 8kb and Chat is 10kb. No attachments are allowed. The messages are sent out in plain text, if you stylize your message, they may get caught in our filters. If you are on both lists, only send a message to one list not both. Come join us on either list, be glad to have you. ***************** *RAOGK EXTRAS* RAOGK Brochure: We have available a brochure regarding RAOGK available for you to use as handouts if you so choose. This brochure is in PDF format and can be seen/downloaded by going to http://www.raogk.org/raogk-flyer.pdf Photo Album: RAOGK Gallery (http://www.raogk.org/gallery2/). A 'getting to know you area' where volunteers can upload pictures of themselves, their kids, their pets, flowers, vacation pictures, etc. It also can be used if you like to upload those digital pictures you have taken of tombstones for others to download if they wish. To join in on the fun of getting to know one another, you will need to register. Registration is not automatic, but needs to be approved by admin. It may take awhile to get approved, but you will receive a notice once approval has been made. Shops: RAOGK Logo Shop: http://www.cafepress.com/raogk has products with the RAOGK Logo on it and a few other designs regarding RAOGK. *^*^*^*New Products in the Logo Shop*^*^*^* In the Apparel Section we have 2 new styles of hoodies (zippered and pullover) and colors (black and navy). A zippered hoodie in women's style/size (colors: pale pink or light steel). (http://www.cafepress.com/raogk/599140) The Fun Section now has Flip Mino Camcorders. Two types of camcorders are available one films regularly and the other records in HD. I have offered these camcorders with two different designs to select from. (http://www.cafepress.com/raogk/599204) Genealogy For You: http://www.cafepress.com/genealogyforyou have products with humorous genealogy designs. From "Cemetery Junkie" to "My Ancestors Did What?!?" you'll find these sayings on tote bags, mugs, t-shirts and other fun items. We've got Holiday designs with a genealogy theme, check them out: http://www.cafepress.com/genealogyforyou/793923 ***************** *WHY I VOLUNTEER* A volunteer sent me a message with his reasons for why he volunteers for RAOGK. This was very nice, especially when it came in as a surprise and not solicited. Also included in his message is permission to reprint. I have been a member of RAOGK for several years now and I hope to continue for many more. I have been asked why do I like to wander through graveyards? Isn't it macabre? Well, there are several reasons I do and I want to share them with you. 1) The least of these is, that at 74 years old, I am forced to get some exercise even though it's on rough uneven graveyards, (and too many of my friends are there now.) 2) After visiting many, many cemeteries, funeral homes and churches in my part of southeastern Pennsylvania, I have met the kindest, most accommodating, polite and gracious people I have ever met. (I have often wondered if that is because of their training or because they seldom meet someone who isn't grieving.) 3) I find that walking through cemeteries and reading the inscriptions on stones takes me back in time – especially when I find tombstones of a family many of whom died suddenly through a plague or disaster. It brings history so much closer. 4) Perhaps the most rewarding of this mission are the wonderful and appreciative notes of thanks that I receive from those to whom I have sent photographs of the stones of their ancestors and loved ones who are so far away that they cannot visit their graves personally. It makes the effort most worthwhile. ***************** *KUDOS* http://www.raogk.org/thankyou/ The month of November saw kudos written about: Cheryl Abernathy (Ohio), Sharon Allen (Kansas) [3], Derien Andes (Pennsylvania), Ellen Bishop (South Dakota), Laura Blair (Wyoming), Barbara Boland (Virginia), Lynda Brown (Alabama), Carolyn Clendenin (Kentucky), Jim Crossan (Scotland), Iris Davenport (Tennessee) [2], Janelle Foster (New Mexico), Dave Gauvin (Michigan), Debra Henderson (Missouri), Eleanore Honeywell (Pennsylvania), Paul Kannowski (Texas), Steven Knight (New York), Constance Letendre (Rhode Island), Rod MacDonald (Canada), Joe Mielko (Canada), Grzegorz Mueller (Poland), Margaret Oliver (Maine), Mary Jane Parsons (Iowa), Charlie Peasha (Minnesota) [2], Mary Phalan (Pennsylvania), Michelle Rollheiser (Missouri), Norma Schumow (California), Pat Setser (Missouri), Jack Siegel (Minnesota), Jack Stanton (New Hampshire), Charles Strong (Pennsylvania), Camille Wazecha (Minnesota), Dalya (New Jersey) ***************** *IN APPRECIATION* Every month we receive contributions from researchers and volunteers alike. We are most appreciative of these donations. Some contributions, however contain notes which will name a specific volunteer who has been such a great help. The month of November saw J. G. Russell (New Jersey) and Virginia Humphrey (New York) mentioned on contributions. Our hats go off to all the unnamed wonders we have on our site. 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. http://www.raogk.org/support.html ***************** *CURRENT STATS* October: 3926 November: 3900 New: 48 Left: 36 Staff removals*: 38 November requests: 4,707 USA volunteers received: 4,191 NON-USA volunteers received: 516 2008 Total requests: 63,008 *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 would like to wish you the best of the holiday season coming up. Whether you celebrate it or not, enjoy being with your family if you can as this time of the year is very special. We also want to thank you for volunteering and until next month. . . . . . . THE STAFF Bridgett, Michele, Bill, Anja, Jo, Bonnie, Melissa, Dennis, Shannon and Doc, the Tech Guru *****************