Newsletter, March 2009, Vol VIII, Issue 3 * WELCOME * HAPPY ANNIVERSARY * 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. ***************** *HAPPY ANNIVERSARY* RAOGK showed up online enforce sometime in March 1999. This year we are celebrating our 10th year. It has been a great ride for those of us who have been with the project from the beginning and throughout the years. The site, originally just set up to be a regional site, once it got noticed had requests from many kind people who were willing to do the same in their own area. Then the requests to join started coming in from all over the globe. We've gone from being hosted by RootsWeb.com to having our own domain and our own servers. I have never taken credit for coming up with this excellent idea of people helping people within the genealogy community. The inspiration behind the site comes from Jan Philpot and Cher Adams. Both these fine people are county coordinators for the TNGenWeb project. Thank you both for such creative minds and allowing me to continue on with the project. ***************** *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. ***************** *KUDOS* http://www.raogk.org/thankyou/ The month of February saw kudos written about: Sharon Allen (Kansas), Lynn Stetler Allison (Pennsylvania), Kay Arnold (California), Lesa Bielman (California), Hazel Brown (Louisiana), Carol Brummel (Illinois), Charlotte Colvett (Tennessee), Iris Davenport (Tennessee), Annie Dorey (Maine), Mike Egan (Minnesota), Don Firsdon (Florida), Beccy Friesner (Michigan), Patty Gill (Indiana), Sandra Gill (Colorado), Bonnie Graham (Pennsylvania), Janice Graves (Massachusetts), Sarah Greenberg (Connecticut), David M. Habban (Idaho), Sharon Korn (California), Patti Leland (Maine), Leslie Martin (Illinois), Marg Morters (Australia), Colleen Norby (California), Juanita P Oliver (North Carolina), David Oram (Massachusetts), Jana Peer (Idaho), Julie Schopieray (Michigan), Jack Siegel (Minnesota), Tina Smith (North Carolina), Bonnie Stevens (Hawaii), Kathy Stopp (Pennsylvania), Art Suever (Indiana), Raymond J Toolan (Vermont), Ann Weber (Oklahoma), Barbara Webster (California), Brenda Wiesner (California), Betsy Wolfe (Pennsylvania), Jerry (Illinois), Judy (Michigan), Naomi (Virginia), Sher (Canada), Tami (Indiana), Tami (Indiana) ***************** *CURRENT STATS* Volunteers: January: 3,947 February: 3,952 New: 56 Left: 33 Staff removals*: 20 *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. February requests: 5,741 USA volunteers received: 5,157 NON-USA volunteers received: 584 2009 Total requests: 11,545 ***************** The STAFF would like 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 *****************