DELAWARE-L Mailing List Frequently Asked Questions
QUICK JUMPS: SUBSCRIBE | UNSUBSCRIBE | LIST GUIDELINES | POSTING | SEARCH MESSAGE ARCHIVES
This is the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) list for the DELAWARE-L Mailing List. It should answer most of your questions about the list. However, if you have any questions that are not addressed here, please send them to me at <degenweb@tyaskin.com>. Please put "DELAWARE-L List Question" in the subject line.
Table of Contents:
1. What is the purpose of DELAWARE-L?
2. Subscriptions to the list
2.2. How do I subscribe?
2.2.2. Subscribe via eMail.
2.3. How do I unsubscribe?
2.4. Can I subscribe in a Digest mode?
2.5. What is the difference between Digest mode and the normal? Is there any difference between the DELAWARE-L and DELAWARE-D lists?
2.6. I'm currently subscribed, how do I convert to digest mode?
3. Who is the list administrator? What does she get paid for this position? What are her "Rules of The List"?
4. Using the DELAWARE-L mailing list
4.2. How do I send a query?
4.3. When should I reply to the entire mailing list and when should I reply to just the individual?
4.4. What can/should I send to the list?
4.5. How do I get the more recent version of the FAQ?
4.6. How do I search the DELAWARE-L message archives?
5. Surfing the web
5.2. Are there any other Delaware area genealogy-related web pages?
6. Are there other mailing lists I can join?
1.0 WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF THE DELAWARE-L MAILING LIST?
The purpose of the Delaware Discussion List (DELAWARE-L) mailing list is to band together those genealogists (amateur and professional) whose research is in Delaware, so that we can share experiences, examine sources, give advice, and make suggestions in hopes of finding the information we seek about our ancestors. The primary focus of this list will remain on genealogy, that is, the search for ancestors, rather than for living people.
2.0 SUBSCRIBING TO THE LIST
This section covers how to join and leave the list and some background information.
2.1 HOW MUCH DOES IT COST TO JOIN THE LIST?
Like most mailing lists on the internet, joining and participating in DELAWARE-L is free. The folks at RootsWeb provide this and many other mailing lists at no charge.
2.2 HOW DO I SUBSCRIBE?
2.2.1. SUBSCRIPTION FORM
Use this handy form to subscribe to the DELAWARE list, either in "List Mode" or "Digest Mode":
Subscribe to the DELAWARE-L List
2.2.2. SUBSCRIBING VIA E-MAIL
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
DELAWARE-L-request@rootsweb.com
and put *only* the one word
in the body of message.
Every mail client is different, but your message should look something like this:
To: DELAWARE-L-request@rootsweb.com
Subject:
SUBSCRIBE
Be sure not to put anything after that one word. If your mailer automatically includes a "signature", be sure to turn it off or delete it 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.
2.3 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.
When UNsubscribing, you have to first determine which MODE you are subscribed in (ie LIST MODE or DIGEST MODE). If you receive each message sent to the DELAWARE-L list as a separate email, then you are subscribed in LIST mode. If you receive a digest, or bundled group of messages, then you are subscribed in DIGEST mode.
To UNsubscribe from LIST MODE, send mail to
To UNsubscribe from DIGEST MODE, send mail to
DELAWARE-D-request@rootsweb.com
This email should have *only* the one word
in the body of message.
Every mail client is different, but your message should look something like this:
To: DELAWARE-L-request@rootsweb.com (or DELAWARE-D-request@rootsweb.com)
Subject:
UNSUBSCRIBE
Be sure not to put anything after that one word. If your mailer automatically includes a "signature", be sure to turn it off or delete it before you send the message.
NOTE: If you send your unsubscribe command to the incorrect address (for instance, if you are subscribed in DIGEST mode and you send the command to the LIST mode address), the software will not recognize you and your unsubscribe request will NOT be successful. Please be sure you use the correct address.
2.4 CAN I SUBSCRIBE IN A DIGEST MODE?
If you are currently subscribed to the non-digest version (list mode) of the list, first UNsubscribe then REsubscribe to the digest version.
To subscribe in DIGEST mode, send mail to:
DELAWARE-D-request@rootsweb.com
and put just the one word
in the body of message.
Every mail client is different, but your message should look something like this:
To: DELAWARE-D-request@rootsweb.com
Subject:
SUBSCRIBE
Be sure not to put anything after that one word. If your mailer automatically includes a "signature", be sure to turn it off or delete it before you send the message.
2.5 WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN DIGEST MODE AND THE NORMAL (LIST) MODE? IS THERE ANY DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE DELAWARE-L AND DELAWARE-D LISTS?
While they are technically different mailing lists, both DELAWARE-L and DELAWARE-D 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 DELAWARE-L, for every message someone sends to the group, you get a separate message.
However, if you subscribe to DELAWARE-D, 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.
2.6 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 DELAWARE-L and then subscribe to the digest version (DELAWARE-D).
3.0 WHO IS THE LIST ADMINISTRATOR? WHAT DOES SHE GET PAID FOR THIS POSITION? WHAT ARE HER "RULES OF THE LIST"?
Shari Handley is the list administrator for DELAWARE-L and DELAWARE-D. Send me mail if you have completely read this FAQ and still have problems. My email address is degenweb@tyaskin.com.
Like most other list admins, I support DELAWARE-L with my own time and effort. There is no pay involved with being a list administrator. The rewards are not monetary - they are in the satisfaction of helping other Delaware genealogists and in the hope that I'll be able to advance some of my own lines in the process while making some new friends.
There are really very few rules involved in becoming and remaining a subscriber to this list. The main rule is that all list members remain pleasant with each other. That is, no "flames", or notes with a mean or angry tone, will be tolerated on the list at all. If you are unhappy about something another listmember has posted, please contact the list administrator with your concerns. I ask that you do not send your complaint directly to the listmember or to the list itself. Also, if it comes to my attention that one list member is sending "flames", harassing, threatening or vulgar messages to another, either on the list or off of it, the offending member will be unsubscribed and blocked from posting or subscribing to the list.
The only other request I have is that posts to the lists must be pertaining to some aspect of Delaware genealogy. I realize that, occasionally, someone may wish to post a message which is not technically on-topic, but for some reason has particular importance to the list. Please clear these with the list administrator before posting. 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. And finally, searches for living persons are not allowed. Now, I know that cases come up in which someone may be looking for someone who has or might have specific genealogical information or records (for example, a family Bible that mentions your ancestor), or you may wish to post a message looking for living descendants of an ancestor for the purpose of exchanging information, and this I will allow.
4.0 USING THE DELAWARE-L MAILING LIST
4.1 HOW DO I POST TO THE LIST?
Mail sent to DELAWARE-L@rootsweb.com is delivered to all the subscribers on the DELAWARE-L and DELAWARE-D lists, if the sender is a current subscriber.
4.2 HOW DO I SEND A QUERY?
You first need to be subscribed to the DELAWARE mailing list. Then, you may send mail to to the list using the address DELAWARE-L@rootsweb.com, making sure you have a reasonable subject line (e.g. "Covington MEZICK, Sussex Co., DE") 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 "71234.987@compuserve.com" or (Heaven help us) "StudMuffin@aol.com".
4.3 WHEN SHOULD I REPLY TO THE ENTIRE MAILING LIST AND WHEN SHOULD I REPLY ONLY TO 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. In general, though, most DELAWARE-L subscribers seem to like to discuss subjects having to do with Delaware genealogy, even if it doesn't specifically involve their own lines, so it is usually preferred to post to the list.
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.
4.4 WHAT CAN/SHOULD I SEND TO THE LIST?
Anything that is related to genealogy *and* Delaware 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. Searches for living persons are not allowed.
4.5 HOW DO I GET THE MORE RECENT VERSION OF THE FAQ?
Visit the URL - http://www.degenweb.org/listfaq.htm
4.6 HOW DO I SEARCH THE DELAWARE MESSAGE ARCHIVES?
All the email messages that have been posted to DELAWARE-L since its transition to rootsweb.com (June 1997) are available for review at the Rootsweb Mailing List Interactive Search site. This button will take you directly to the Delaware list's search page:
If you'd like to bookmark the search page in your browser, the URL is:
http://searches2.rootsweb.com/cgi-bin/listsearch.pl
Once you get there, type in the name of this list - DELAWARE-L.
5.0 SURFING THE WEB
5.1 WHERE IS THE OFFICIAL DELAWARE-L WEB PAGE?
The DELAWARE-L Mailing List is a service of the Delaware USGenWeb Project (DEGenWeb). The main DEGenWeb web site is located at http://www.degenweb.org/.
5.2 ARE THERE ANY OTHER DELAWARE AREA GENEALOGY-RELATED WEB SITES?
You'll find a list of links on the DEGenWeb's main page at http://www.degenweb.org/. Also, be sure to visit the DEGenWeb pages listing genealogical societies, vital record resources, church records resources, and libraries. Many of these have web sites as well.
6.0 ARE THERE OTHER MAILING LISTS I CAN JOIN?
There are an incredible number of genealogy-related mailing lists on the internet. The best place to find other genealogy related lists is: