Wjat I intended to add was that once folks are participating by having
their surnames in the county and see it being effective, they seem to be
more willing to contribute cemetery info and such - and they even post back
when there are changes in their urls or new descendants or such -
Carol
The one thing that I miss most when I go to some county sites is the
"surnames" page - I have one in my GA county (which needs updating and
expanding - always) and am eager to develop it in the MS counties - it is,
IMHO, the most valuable single part of the county site and is so very easy
to construct - I have found researchers very, very willing to cooperate -
if you have time to deal with it, they will send not only the surnames they
are researching, but descendant outlines, ahnentafels, family group sheets
and their url, if they have a website -
Carol
At 10:14 AM 8/3/2002, Ellen Pack wrote:
Hi, Folks -
Many of us are having problems tracking down new material to add to our
counties. We don't live near our county, and we only have so much money
we can use to purchase material. Lack of time, weather, transportation,
health....all are factors.
Sooooo....with fall approaching, and summer vacations winding down, maybe
this is a good time to start actively soliciting submissions. Many
researchers have data that would be helpful, but they don't know it, or
know how to go about submitting it. Some folks aren't even aware that we
not only want submissions, we're willing to beg for them. <g>
I've added a blurb on the MS State pages to get things rolling:
http://www.rootsweb.com/~msgenweb/whatsnew.htm
Additionally, there are several things we all can, and should do, to
encourage submissions:
1. Place a request for submissions on your county home page. Link to or
copy the blurb from the State Page, if you like. If you copy, feel free
to make whatever changes work best for you county and page layout. Large
or small, make the request appealing and eye-catching, and place in a
conspicuous area.
2. Use your county mail list to make *occasional* requests for material,
especially if you notice there have been several new subscribers.
3. Take the bull by the horns. Carefully monitor your county mail list,
and when a researcher posts appropriate information on the list, write to
the researcher privately, and ask permission to include the material on
your county pages. Wilkinson Co has picked up quite a bit that way, and
probably others. Don't be discouraged if not everyone is receptive. Just
move on to the next one.
4. Don't be picky! One tiny photograph or one short paragraph about one
ancestor is one more piece of helpful material we didn't have
before. That's how we grow.
5. Be responsive. Follow up on offers/questions as quickly as
possible. If you have questions about whether a particular submission is
acceptable, if you need help in reformatting, or if you become inundated
with new files, ask for help on MSCHAT. If no one answers right away,
yell at cuz EAR. She'll light a fire under the rest of us, for sure,
'cause she don't like being yelled at. <g>
6. Keep your pages updated and fresh! This is really, really
important. Check for broken links and graphics regularly. Consider
giving your county a fresh face, if it's been a year or more since the
last revamp. Check the CC Guidelines for suggestions. Always change the
"Last Updated" blurb on the home page for any addition/alteration. People
are far more inclined to make submissions if they see a county is active
and well-maintained, and they feel their submissions will be properly
presented and cared for.
7. If asked, assure the researcher that the submission will remain with
MSGenWeb as long as he desires, even if you have to move on.
8. When material is submitted and uploaded, direct visitors to the new
file via a "What's New" area accessible from your home page. Make the
announcement on your county mail list, and MSGEN-L. My favorite pastime
is adding items to our state What's New page. That's the first place many
researchers head for, when visiting the state pages, and some people have
even set their bookmarks directly to that page.
9. Are you on a server with space limitations? Don't let that stop
you! I'll be happy to create a sub directory on our state RW account,
upload the material for you, and you can link directly to it. For all
intent and purposes, it will be a part of your county, and will stay with
the county.
10. Thank the submitter! Let him know how much you, and all researchers,
appreciate the help, as well we do.
Let's go for it, and see how many new files we can get online between now
and.....oh, Thanksgiving. :-)
Thanks!
Ellen, off to make potato salad for hubby's birthday party.