ALIAS-AKA-L Archives

From: <>
Subject: What Is GenConnect? (Part 1 of 3)
Date: Tue, 21 Dec 1999 01:50:05 -0500

*What Is GenConnect?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

GenConnect is an automated query management and document archiving system.
At present there are boards for posting Queries, Bible Records,
Biographies, Deeds, Obituaries, Pensions, and Wills. The boards are
designed to allow researchers to freely share information with others and
post questions about their own "dead end" or "brickwall" ancestors. The
boards are universally searchable with two search engines, Global Search
which searches all of GenConnect, and Surname Helper which searches all of
GenConnect in addition to many other sites. A third search feature called
the Searchbar is located on each board to allow a search of the board
itself. It allows the visitor to customize the display of the board, and to
access older messages that have been archived.

More detailed information about GenConnect's history, development, and use
can be found at the main GenConnect page located here:
http://cgi.rootsweb.com/~genbbs/index.html and the Visitors Center located
here: http://cgi.rootsweb.com/~genbbs/HINTS/index.html

WHAT ARE THE ADVANTAGES OF THE GENCONNECT BOARDS VERSUS A MAILING LIST?

Both mailing lists and Boards have strengths and weaknesses. A mailing
list, even one that is publicly archived as most of the RootsWeb lists are,
is primarily focused on the present and discussion taking place currently
among a group of people. In depth discussion is possible and direct
interaction among the members of the group of subscribers. Discussion on a
mailing list tends to cover a topic at length, and when that discussion is
exhausted a new discussion begins on another subject. The strength of a
mailing list is the ability to include a large number of people and
opinions in an ongoing, in depth, discussion benefiting list subscribers
immediately.

By contrast, query and message boards like those in our GenConnect system
not only function within the present time, but provide long term archiving
and universal searchability by anyone who chooses to search for a surname.
There is no requirement to subscribe to a discussion group to make a
contact through a search, post a question to a Query Board, or access
archived documents, using GenConnect. The strength of a Query board rests
with its being the best place to post a query about your "dead end" or
"brick wall" ancestors. You might not get an answer tomorrow, or even next
week; but the query remains in place for anyone at any future time to find
it and to make contact with the original poster. A far larger audience will
search the surnames included on the board messages over a period of time
than will subscribe to any one mailing list. The non-query (document)
boards provide an excellent place to record, search, and archive Bible
Records, Biographies, Deeds, Obituaries, Pensions, and Wills, for your
future reference, and to aid others in their research. If everyone who has
access to some family record in the above categories would simply
transcribe and post the information in their possession, in time there
would be a very valuable storehouse of information for the benefit of
future genealogists.

Accessing The Boards:
HOW DO I FIND THE APPROPRIATE GENCONNECT BOARD FOR POSTING MY MESSAGES?

For International boards start with the International Index:
http://cgi.rootsweb.com/~genbbs/qindex.html for available International boards.

For USA boards start here: http://cgi.rootsweb.com/~genbbs/usaindex.html or
visit the USA County Resource Index: http://resources.rootsweb.com/USA/

For Surname boards start here:
http://cgi.rootsweb.com/~genbbs/indx/FamAssoc.html or visit the Surname
Resource Index: http://resources.rootsweb.com/surnames/index.html

For Special collections start here:
http://cgi.rootsweb.com/~genbbs/indx/Special.html <<<THAT'S US!

Copyright, 1999, Joan Young ~~used with permission

To be continued... on December 26th...

SPECIAL ALIAS-AKA board for posts and queries.
http://cgi.rootsweb.com/~genbbs/genbbs.cgi/Special/Alias-ak

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• What Is GenConnect? (Part 1 of 3) by <>