Newsletter, June 2009, Vol VIII, Issue 6 * WELCOME * VOLUNTEER'S WEBSITES * 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. ***************** *VOLUNTEER'S WEBSITES* Have an independent non-commercial genealogy website that needs noticing? I'll be listing websites in our monthly newsletters. Drop a note to feedback@raogk.org with the subject line of Website Link. Graveyards & Gravestones (http://tinyurl.com/3m9nwn) This site contains over 2500 photos and transcriptions from over 120 cemeteries. Jim Berry (Volunteer Virginia/West Virginia) ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ Wheeler/McGinty Genealogy (http://www.wheelergenealogy.com/) This site is dedicated to the family research of the Wheeler and McGinty surnames. Other ancestral surnames include but are not limited to Tuttle, Carolan, Worcester, Devine, Porter, Kimball, Craigmile, Tolles, Dodge, Beasecker/Besecker and Baker to name a few. Bill Wheeler (Volunteer Illinois) ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ New Milford Connecticut Minority Surnames History (http://tinyurl.com/ojebx8) These web pages list surnames (and no surnames) of African Americans for New Milford, CT. Kathleen Zuris (Volunteer Connecticut) ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ Ayrshire (Scotland) Roots (http://www.ayrshireroots.co.uk/) Contains large database of surnames, historical details on the towns, parishes and people of Ayrshire, how to go about your research and links to the resources. etc. Graham Wilson (Volunteer Scotland) ***************** *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 Father's Day designs available, check them out: http://tinyurl.com/special-dad ***************** *KUDOS* http://www.raogk.org/thankyou/ The month of May saw kudos written about: Stacey Adger (Ohio), Robin Arvickson (Pennsylvania), Rick Bisker (Maryland), Tedd Cocker [2] (Delaware), Gail Collins (Canada), Rose Couture (Michigan), Betty Ann Custis (Idaho), Kimberly Dugay (Colorado), John Earl (California), Terri Fabiano (New Jersey), Dan Fitzgerald (Missouri), Carol Harner (Michigan), Debra Henderson (Missouri), Charles Hollander (New York), Janet Jenkins (Kentucky), Sue Kitt (California), Diane Kropp (Texas), Viv Ksionzyk (Canada), Elaine LaGreca (New York), Dick Larsen (Idaho), Terry Lasky (Colorado), Dave McTigue (Massachusetts), Paul Navarro (Texas), Jana Peer (Washington), Dee Rechek (Wisconsin), Jim Roaix (Oklahoma), Mark Rosenblum [2] (Missouri), Marcia Sebree (Illinois), Deb Shillo (Kentucky), Jack Siegel (Minnesota), JoAnn Soyak (Pennsylvania), Linda Stienstra (Pennsylvania), Diane Taylor (California), Rich Wood (Washington) ***************** *CURRENT STATS* Volunteers: April: 3,946 May: 3,954 New: 62 Left: 31 Staff removals*: 23 *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. May requests: 5,299 USA volunteers received: 4,731 NON-USA volunteers received: 568 2009 Total requests: 29,100 ***************** 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 *****************