Content-Type: text/plain Title: The GEN-NYS-L Mailing List Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) File: GEN-NYS-L.FAQ Author: Marc Nozell Version: 1.03 Last Update: September 12, 1996 Copyright: Marc Nozell, 1996 Edit History: Added NY newspaper info Index: ------ * What is the purpose of GEN-NYS-L? * How do I subscribe? * How do I unsubscribe? * Can I subscribe in a Digest mode? * What is the difference between Digest mode and the normal? Is there any difference between the GEN-NYS-L and GEN-NYS-L-DIGEST lists? * I'm currently subscribed, how do I convert to digest mode? * How do I post to the list? * Where can I read the old GEN-NYS-L messages? * Where is the web page? * Are there any other NY genealogy related web pages? * Who is the list owner? What does he get paid for this position? * How much does it cost to join the list? * Are there other mailing lists I can join? * How do I send a query? * When should I reply to the entire mailing list and when should I reply to just the individual. * What can/should I send to the list? * How do I get to the old messages using only email? * How do I get a copy of the most recent version of this FAQ? Questions & Answers ------------------- * What is the purpose of GEN-NYS-L? The purpose of the GEN-NYS-L mailing list is to band together those who research in NEW YORK STATE, so that we can share experiences, examine sources, give advice, make suggestions that others may find the information they are seeking. * How do I subscribe? This mailing list is managed by the SmartList software which is different than other mailing lists managed by Majordomo or LISTSERV. To subscribe, send mail to: GEN-NYS-L-request@rootsweb.com and put just this in the body of message: SUBSCRIBE Be sure not to put anything after that one word. If your mailer automatically includes a "signature", be sure to turn it off before you send the message. If you find you can't handle the number of messages sent by the list, you may want to consider switching to the Digest version of the list. * How do I unsubscribe? This mailing list is managed by the SmartList software which is different than other mailing lists managed by Majordomo or LISTSERV. To unsubscribe, send mail to: GEN-NYS-L-request@rootsweb.com and put just this in the body of message: UNSUBSCRIBE Be sure not to put anything after that one word. If your mailer automatically includes a "signature", be sure to turn it off before you send the message. * Can I subscribe in a Digest mode? If you are currently subscribed to the non-digest version of the list, first unsubscribe then subscribe to the digest version. To subscribe, send mail to: GEN-NYS-L-DIGEST-request@rootsweb.com and put just this in the body of message: SUBSCRIBE Be sure not to put anything after that one word. If your mailer automatically includes a "signature", be sure to turn it off before you send the message. * What is the difference between Digest mode and the normal? Is there any difference between the GEN-NYS-L and GEN-NYS-L-DIGEST lists? While they are technically different mailing lists, both GEN-NYS-L and GEN-NYS-L-DIGEST are the same in terms of the messages they contain. The only difference is the way they are distributed to you. If you subscribe to GEN-NYS-L, for every message someone sends to the group, you get a message. However, if you subscribe to GEN-NYS-L-DIGEST, a number of messages are bundled up and put into one digest message before it is sent to you. Some people prefer this way because it cuts down on the number of messages they get in their inbox. It really just comes down to a matter of personal preference -- just pick one. * I'm currently subscribed, how do I convert to digest mode? If you are currently subscribed to the non-digest version of the list, first unsubscribe from GEN-NYS-L and then subscribe to the digest version (GEN-NYS-L-DIGEST). * How do I post to the list? Mail sent to GEN-NYS-L@rootsweb.com is delivered to all the subscribers on the GEN-NYS-L and GEN-NYS-L-DIGEST lists. * Where can I read the old GEN-NYS-L messages? Use a web browser to open the location: http://www.rootsweb.com/~nozell/gen-nys-l.html And follow the links to the archives. The mailing list owner tries to update the archives towards the beginning of each month. If you don't see last month's archives, pester the list owner. * Where is the web page? The URL for the web page is: http://www.rootsweb.com/~nozell/gen-nys-l.html Some GEN-NYS-L "old timers" or people using web search engines may also be familiar with the old URL (http://www.mv.com/ipusers/wildcat/gen-nys-l.html), while this currently is identical to what is on www.rootsweb.com, it will eventually go away. * Are there any other NY genealogy related web pages? The USGenWeb project has a New York State web page: http://www.rootsweb.com/~nygenweb/ In additional to providing original information, it contains a number of pointer to other NY research web sites. I urge everyone to take a look at this execellent page and consider contributing time, information or expertise. Kim Harris Myers is the coordinator for NYS Genealogy Web page. * How can I find out what newspapers are available on microfilm at the New York State Library? A list of the Early American Newspaper Collection (one file for each of 21 states) may be found at gopher://unix2.nysed.gov:70/00/nyslpubs/ea.newspaper.coll/ A separate list for the microfilm collected by the New York State Newspaper Project (one file for each county) may be found at gopher://unix2.nysed.gov:70/00/nyslpubs/nys.newspaper/ * Who is the list owner? What does he get paid for this position? Marc Nozell is the list owner for GEN-NYS-L and GEN-NYS-L-DIGEST. Send him mail if you have completely read this FAQ and still have problems. His preferred email address is: nozell@rootsweb.com, but nozell@wildcat.mv.com or nozell@zko.dec.com will also work. Do I get paid for this? Ha! Like most other mailing list owners, I support GEN-NYS-L and associated web page on my own time with my own money. I do it because I'm working on tracing my New York ancestors, it is a way to make the internet a better and more useful place, and I enjoy doing it (usually ;-) * How much does it cost to join the list? Like most mailing lists on the internet, joining and participating in GEN-NYS-L is free. However, I would like to suggest, buy no means require, that you consider joining the RootsWeb Genealogy Data Cooperative which runs the machines that host the GEN-NYS-L mailing list. You will find the Supporter and Sponsor levels are very reasonable and provide some added benefits. For more information, see the web page: http://www.rootsweb.com * Are there other mailing lists I can join? There are a number of mailing lists on the internet and a fair number of them are genealogy related. The best place to find other genealogy related lists is Vicki Lindsay's web page: http://www.eskimo.com/~chance/ The original genealogy mailing list, ROOTS-L, is also run on rootsweb.com. Take a look at the rootsweb web page for more information: http://www.rootsweb.com/ * How do I send a query? Send mail to GEN-NYS-L@rootsweb.com, make sure you have a reasonable subject line (e.g. "Claudius SMITH, Orange Co") and provide enough information that someone can be of help. Be sure to include your return email address and your real name. Some mailers don't properly display a return email address, so this is very important. Also including your real name is just a nice thing to do. No one likes chatting with someone known only as "SAMJ46198@AOL.COM" or "71234.987@compuserve.com" * When should I reply to the entire mailing list and when should I reply to just the individual. There are no hard and fast rules, but generally speaking, if you think your reply would be of help to someone else on the list, then post it to the entire list. Otherwise, just send it to the original person. If you pose a question and get quite a lot of feedback, you may want to send a message to the list with a summary of the information. * What can/should I send to the list? Anything that is related to genealogy *and* New York State is fair game. NOTE: Short one-time commercial messages advertising services or products are allowed if they are of particular interest to the group. But please, no email spamming. Don't post large messages. Don't post binary files (ie: MS Word files, zip files, etc) Don't post flames (please use person-to-person mail for personal attacks :-) Don't post copy-written material unless you own the copyright or the copyright allows for redistribution. * How do I get to the old messages using only email? You may retrieve previous email messages by using the GEN-NYS-L archive server. Send mail to: GEN-NYS-L-request@rootsweb.com make sure the subject line is: archive and in the body of the message put: archive help You will receive further instructions about how to use the email archive server. NOTE: Not all old messages are available. Only those that were sent after the move from the old mailing list location on wildcat.mv.com to rootsweb.com. (Approx August 1996) * How do I get a copy of the most recent version of this FAQ? Use the GEN-NYS-L archive server. Send mail to: GEN-NYS-L-request@rootsweb.com make sure the subject line is: archive and in the body of the message put: get GEN-NYS-L.FAQ -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Copyright 1996, Marc Nozell