Newsletter, May 2009, Vol VIII, Issue 5 * WELCOME * VOLUNTEER'S WEBSITES * DO I HAVE TO? * MAILING LISTS * RAOGK EXTRAS * KUDOS * 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. ***************** *VOLUNTEER'S WEBSITES* Have an independent genealogy website that needs noticing. I'll gladly list them in one of these newsletters. Drop a note to feedback@raogk.org with the subject line of Website Link. New York Genealogy, one stop link site for those researching in New York http://www.newyork-genealogy.com/ Ancestral Space, a social network site for genealogists http://ancestralspace.com/ ***************** *DO I HAVE TO?* Well, yes and no. Do you have to do every request asked of you? No. However, when receiving requests through RAOGK one requirement is for you to acknowledge receipt of the request whether you can/will do it or not. If you cannot do the request, responding back letting the researcher know this will allow them to move on to the next volunteer. Would you not want this courtesy if you were the researcher? If you can do the request, acknowledging the request will establish direct contact with the requester. Sometimes the requester makes typos in their email addresses (alo.com, comcst.com, homail.com, etc. etc. etc.), if you do the research first, then you have wasted your time if you can't get said information to the requester. It will also give you the opportunity to inform the requester if there will be any charges and a guestimation of the amount. There are still people on the internet who think the site is entirely free, including the lookups, only to be rudely awakened when a volunteer requests reimbursement. ***************** *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 "Cemetery Junkie" 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 Mother's Day Shop: http://www.cafepress.com/genealogyforyou/1356456 With our most popular design being: http://www.cafepress.com/genealogyforyou/1374113 Next holiday we have designs for is Father's Day: http://www.cafepress.com/genealogyforyou/629110 And in past years, all of the designs sell equally. Please remember sales from these shops help pay the bills for RAOGK. ***************** *KUDOS* http://www.raogk.org/thankyou/ The month of April saw kudos written about: Stacey Adger [2] (Ohio), Stacy Alley (Ohio), Kelly Alvarado (Missouri), Darlene Amos (Nebraska), Kay Anderson (Alabama), Tim Ashley (Indiana), Dot Barnum (North Carolina), Jean Boling (Oregon), Richard Boyer (Pennsylvania), Linda Brower (Kansas), Dick Brown (Kansas), Jan Brul (Netherlands), Shannon Byers (Georgia), Susan Ulfers Campbell (Georgia), Debbie Ciak (Ohio), Electa Willey Cook [2] (Missouri), Norm Davis (Ohio), Donna Di Giacomo [2] (Pennsylvania), Mike Egan (Minnesota), Pat Ely (Illinois), Nancy Grant (California), Dennis Gries (Pennsylvania), Barbara Ellen Hawkins (Texas), Sharon Kafer (Missouri), Viv Ksionzyk (Canada), Dave Lee (Wisconsin), Susan Malone (Canada), Leslie Martin (Illinois), Linda Medford (New York), Esther Melby (Washington), Becky Menzel (Washington), Larry Newton (Illinois), Mary Phalan [2] (Pennsylvania), Joleen Streit (New Mexico), Nancy Thompson (Missouri), Roger G Ward (Texas), Mark Weichel (Ohio), Mary Bier Wilson (Florida), Eleanor Withington (New Jersey), Marilyn Young (Arizona), Laura (New York), Mary (Missouri), Sally (Oregon), Wanda (Pennsylvania), ***************** *CURRENT STATS* Volunteers: March: 3,950 April: 3,946 New: 57 Left: 42 Staff removals*: 24 *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. April requests: 5,862 USA volunteers received: 5,187 NON-USA volunteers received: 675 2009 Total requests: 23,801 ***************** 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 *****************