From: dennett@cyclone.Kodak.COM (Charles R. Dennett)
Subject: Call for FAQ input
Organization: Eastman Kodak Co., Rochester, NY
Date: Wed, 27 Jan 93 12:40:40 GMT

In article <930026.192714.achristo@nutri1>, achristo@pons.uio.no (Alf Christophersen) writes:
>
>margaret@sfu.ca (Margaret M. Sharon) writes:
>
>>If I may offer a couple of tips to increase the readership of your articles,
>>(1) please select descriptive subjects for them, and (2) please capitalize
>>each surname the first time you use it in the text of your article.  I don't
>>know if these tips are mentioned in the FAQs, but perhaps if they aren't they
>>could be.
>Good idea! Where are the FAQ people?? Do you hear?? !!
>
>PS. At the same time. We have FAQ files accessible with anonymous
>FTP or ftp servers on the address Vm1.Nodak.Edu or by E-mail from
>the address Listserv@Vm1.Nodak.Edu
>
>They has the name of type FAQ.001 etc.

OK,  last fall I promised to start working on a FAQ document that I
would post on a regular (once a month?) basis to soc.roots.  Because
the newsgroup is linked to the ROOTS-L mailing list, those people will
get it too.  I promised that I would start working on this after the
first of the year.  Well, the other commitments that made me wait until
the new year are now behind me and I'm ready to start.  I've collected
some stuff the last few months and stuffed it all away is a separate
mailbox.  I've got to go through that and filter it all out and see
what can be included.

What I would like from the readers of this newsgroup and mailing list
is to send me things you might like to see addressed in an FAQ
document.  Maybe things like, "what type of stuff can I access on
line."  I will try to find out that infomation and include it.  If I
can't find out what you're asking, I think I will have a section on
unanswered questions so that others who might know can supply the info
which I will include in subsequent issues of the FAQ.  Additionally, if
you have specific material you think should be included please send it
to me.  I will include it in the FAQ.  I will try very hard to credit
all contributors to the FAQ.

I suspect that the first issue or two will be somewhat sparse, and will
grow quite rapidly as you readers see what's in it (or more
importantly, what's not in it) and send me suggestions and
information.  I look upon myself as editor of the FAQ and not the
author.  We are all the authors.  I will just collect the data into one
place.

Here are some ideas just off the top of my head

	- What's available on line?  What's not online?
	- Why is the LDS church so interested in genealogy
	- What's available from the LDS church?
	- How do I get started?
	- Books - both historical and "how-to"
	- What is soc.roots and roots-l and how do they work?
	- Other periodic postings.
	- Tips on what is sometimes called nettiquette.
	- Sources of info (census records. etc.)
	- Possible genealogical scams.
	- Software

This is by no means a complete list.

If anyone else out there has ever written an FAQ document for some
other newsgroup and has any pointers, please let me know.  I've never
done this before.

I look forward to hearing from you.  Please send email rather than
following up to this posting unless you think your response would
benefit the group as a whole.

Charles Dennett  --  dennett@Kodak.COM  --  Any DENNETT information welcome.
Researching: BARNARD, CORBETT, DENNETT, DURGIN, FROST, STODDARD, WHITNEY.
Mostly Colonial New England to present.  STODDARD is Nova Scotia.