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From: "Olive Tree Genealogy" <>
Subject: [UPPER-CANADA] From List Admin: Tips for Good Queries
Date: Fri, 05 Jan 2007 09:27:18 -0500


It's great to see the recent activity on the list but I
notice a few things that could be improved.

Improvements mean more chance someone will see, and respond
to, your query!

Some subscribers are leaving in old subject lines, but
talking about a completely different family.

Some subscribers are quoting entire messages when only a
bit is needed

Some subscribers are neglecting to give details such as
first name, dates and locations.

For a good query that will get folks to sit up and take
notice, you want to:

1. Make the subject line relevant to YOUR query (don't
leave in a subject line such as "Re: Marriage of Jenny
Jones" when you are talking about the Clarkson family).
DELETE OLD SUBJECT LINES and change them to suit YOUR
query.

2. Only quote what parts of an old message you absolutely
need. Don't waste everyone's time forcing them to struggle
through scads of quoted lines from several messages.

3. Be sure to tell what you know and then state what you
want. (eg "Looking for death of James Smithson circa 1883
in Kent County" is a good start - it tells folks exactly
what you want to find out. Then add some details about
James to help folks find him for you)

4. Give full names, dates of birth/death/marriage or
settlement and a location. Give enough details so that
subscribers willing to help don't have to ask you more
questions.

Remember, the idea is to make it EASY for others to help
you! Don't make others struggle to assist you, or chances
are they will just delete your message

Good luck to all,
Lorine


-- Lorine McGinnis Schulze

* Olive Tree Genealogy (Ships Passenger Lists)
http://olivetreegenealogy.com/
* Naturalization Records
http://naturalizationrecords.com/
* Images of Ships Lists
http://www.rootsweb.com/~ote/ships/

or


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