* WELCOME * CURRENT PROBLEMS * SPEEDING ALONG THE INFORMATION HIGHWAY * MAILING LISTS * RAOGK EXTRAS * 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. ***************** *CURRENT PROBLEMS* Many of you use the site as requesters so am posting a situation here. Beginning around the 1st of December we started receiving notices from requesters that their requests had bounced. As many of these messages contained the bounce notice we were able to troubleshoot. The common factor of all these bounce notices is that the ISP in question was AOL. Apparently AOL changed some of their parameters on their mail server. When a blind carbon copy is sent to the subscriber, and it is FROM their subscriber as well...they bounce it back as "unknown". So the requester is getting a bounce notice of their own mail. Quite a few people think the volunteers e-mail has bounced and report it to us. We are busy trying to figure a way around the problem, but timing is not with us at the moment. RAOGK's tech-guru is very busy with his paying job and will get around to it as soon as he can. ***************** *SPEEDING ALONG THE INFORMATION HIGHWAY* This past month the RAOGK site was transferred over to a heftier and speedier server. We've been just squeaking by on an older server that we no longer trusted when leaving on a trip. The last time we were gone it decided to quit twice. This new server should cure that problem. This was a present from our Tech-guru. Enjoy. ***************** *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 messages, 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. Products available include mugs, tote bags, t-shirts (many styles, many colors), kids and infant items, magnets and buttons(various size and shapes), greeting cards, camcorders, teddy bears and more. Genealogy For You: http://www.cafepress.com/genealogyforyou have products with humorous genealogy designs. From "I'm a genealogist what's your excuse" to "DANGER Genealogist in Area" to a design that says "My roots run deep in [state]." You'll find these sayings on tote bags, mugs, t-shirts and many items mentioned for the RAOGK Logo Shop. We have a few Valentine's Day designs available, check them out: http://www.cafepress.com/genealogyforyou/1106376 ***************** *KUDOS* http://www.raogk.org/thankyou/ The month of December saw kudos written about: Cheryl Abernathy (Ohio), Melissa Barker (Tennessee) [2], Mary Brenzel (New York), Michael Crowley (New Hampshire), Betty Crum (Ohio), Ron Darrah (Indiana), Iris Davenport (Tennessee) [3], Jessica Dowell (Oregon), Rhonda Dunn (Indiana), Dave Gauvin (Michigan) [2]), Janice Graves (Massachusetts) [2], Arnon Hershkovitz (Israel), Norma Karter (Texas), Alice Rucker (California), Norma Schumow (California), Karolyn Simpson (Montana), Gwen Szychter (Canada), Lisa and Karen (Indiana), Barbara (Connecticut) ***************** *CURRENT STATS* Volunteers: November: 3,900 December: 3,928 New: 54 Left: 21 Staff removals*: 14 *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. December requests: 3,836 USA volunteers received: 3,456 NON-USA volunteers received: 380 2008 Total requests: 66,844 ***************** The STAFF would like to thank you for volunteering and until next month. . . . . . .