The following is Joan's enthusiatic promotion of GenConnect. Within a few
weeks it will be possible to link Homepages not at Rootsweb to the
clusters.
Clusters:
Each surname has its own cluster. A mailing list, GenConnect boards, any
possible Website, RSL listings for that surname, etc. The cluster pages
include references or links to all resources you might find at RootsWeb
for this surname.
A cluster is only for one surname--one spelling--although links can be
place on the pages to the variants to help researchers find each other.
The GenConnect boards are the future!
No question about it. Mailing lists will continue to provide a function
in that they allow detailed discussion among a large group on a particular
thread. The boards are the place to list the dead ends and brick walls
you are faced with. They are THE places to list the surnames and lines
you are looking for. Why? Because mailing lists (even those that are
archived) primarily exist in the present--they are here to provide answers
and discussion NOW. The queries and documents you place on a GenConnect
board will remain there, and their universal searchability can't be
matched by any mailing list. People who may only have a remote connection
to the surname you are looking for would never dream of joining a list for
that surname, but are quite likely to find your query from a search of the
Surname Helper or Global Search engines.