Introduction from the Moderator

(GerSIG)

WELCOME TO GerSig!

Please visit our website at: http://www.jewishgen.org/GerSIG/index.htm

GerSiG schickt Ihnen eine deutsche Übersetzung dieses Briefes,
wenn Sie an GerSig@aol.com schreiben und als Inhalt der
Mail nur "WELCOME auf Deutsch" schreiben.

For the past 10 years I have served as Moderator of the GerSig Forum. This experience has shown me how new members can get the best results.

I have also learned that new members often have similar problems
learning to participate in the Forum successfully. [The "GerSig email discussion group" is also called "The GerSig Forum" and "The GerSig List". The 3 terms all mean the same thing.]

Based on my experience, I've written the following "GerSig Users' Guide"

For answers to TECHNICAL questions about GerSig and JewishGen, go to http://www.jewishgen.org/JewishGen/Support.htm

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******INTRODUCE YOURSELF*******
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Please send a first message for posting to the GerSig forum as soon as possible.

Your first message can be very short and simple. But it will help you and us find out if there are any technical problems between your email system and the "listserver" system that manages the GerSig Forum.

Don't use "reply" to send your INTRO. Send it to: GerSig@lyris.jewishgen.org

If you use the suggested model (below) your INTRO will immediately let other GerSig members know about you and your family research. You may connect with a cousin who has an extensive family tree already prepared.

By telling us of your prior genealogy and Internet experience, your INTRO will let us know how much (or how little) technical language to use if we write to you.

Send your INTRO to: GerSig@lyris.jewishgen.org

If your message is not accepted you will get an error message.
If that happens, go to: http://www.jewishgen.org/InfoFiles/PlainText.html

Remember to observe the "GerSig List Rules" that are given at: http://www.jewishgen.org/GerSIG/email.htm

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********** SAMPLE "INTRO" LETTER **********
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Here is a sample of a COMPLETE "hello" message: (your "hello" can be less detailed if your time is limited)

Subject Line: INTRO - researching MOSES family from Beerfelden, Hessen

Hello GerSig,

I just joined the group. I have been doing genealogy research for ____years (or months). I consider myself to be (expert, or advanced or intermediate or a novice) in doing German Jewish Genealogy research.

I live in (urban, suburban, rural) State or Province and Nation of residence.

My native language is __________ and I also know _______ (other languages).

I consider myself (expert or advanced or intermediate or a beginner) in using a computer. My experience in using the Internet is (extensive or intermediate or limited).

I have identified the names and birth and death dates of ____ of my grandparents, ____ of my great grandparents and ____ of my great great grandparents.

My primary research goals now are to find out: ___________________________

The family names and towns that I am researching are: (the sample below shows what information about your ancestral towns will be most useful in letting others find possible connections between their research and yours.)

MOSES - Beerfelden, Odenwald, Hessen to New York in about 1875 STRAUS - Kaiserslautern, RheinPfalz, Bavaria to Mississippi in about 1868 STRAUS - Arkansas, USA to New York, USA in about 1893 WEIL - Emmendingen, Baden > New York about 1875. In meat business in NYC. LOWENSTEIN - seeking information on the fate of two sisters who vanished in Dusseldorf, Germany about 1941.
STRAUS - seeking any information on Dr. Willy Straus who was said to have gone from Nueremberg, Bavaria to England in the 1930's.

Signed: (Full name) (your email address)
(City of Residence) (USA state of residence) or (non USA nation of residence)

Send your "Hello" to: GerSig@Lyris.Jewishgen.org

Thanks and welcome to GerSig.

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******* READ AND SAVE THESE INSTRUCTIONS *********
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You will find answers to the questions about GerSig asked most often and links to more detailed information about GerSig and our
Email discussion group (The GerSig Forum) at the end of this email
message.

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********* Search the GerSig Archives *********
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******** Explore the GerSig WebSite *********
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The GerSig WEBSITE is at: http://www.jewishgen.org/GerSIG/

There you can find much more information:

About this group
About how to do research on Jewish families in and from Germany
About other printed and electronic resources for German Jewish genealogy
About sending messages to our email discussion group, The GerSig Forum
-and much more.

Again, welcome to GerSig !

--John Paul Lowens (Loewenstein) Co-ordinator GerSIGmod@gmail.com

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************ Answers to the most frequently asked questions **********
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Q. Where can I get answers to technical questions about GerSig and JewishGen?
A. http://www.jewishgen.org/JewishGen/Support.htm

Q. How can I cancel or suspend or change my subscription to the GerSig Forum?
A. https://www.jewishgen.org/CURE/index.asp?from=http://www.jewishgen.org
/ListManager/members_list.asp

Q. How do I begin to search for Jewish ancestors?
A.http://www.jewishgen.org/infofiles/faq.html

Q. Do I have to pay to be a member of GerSig?
A. http://www.jewishgen.org/GerSIG/donations.htm

Q. Were my questions about my Jewish ancestors in Germany asked and answered before I joined GerSig?
A. http://data.jewishgen.org/wconnect/wc.dll?jg~jgsys~sigspop and http://data.jewishgen.org/wconnect/wc.dll?jg~jgsys~archpop

Q.Are other people looking for MY ancestors and relatives? Who are they?
A. http://www.jewishgen.org/jgff/

Q. Where can I find out more about my ancestors' birthplaces in Germany?
A. http://www.jewishgen.org/Communities

Q. Where can I learn more about German Jewish Genealogy Research?
A. http://www.jewishgen.org/GerSIG/resources.htm

Q. Where can I find almost anything I need to know about doing Genealogy research in Germany?
A. www.genealogy.net (In both English and German.)

Q/ What rules must I follow when I send a message to the GerSig Forum? Why do these rules exist?
A. http://www.jewishgen.org/infofiles/rules.htm

Q. If I don't speak German or can't read old German writing, can I get
help?
A. http://www.jewishgen.org/GerSIG/resources.htm#tools

Q. Who will read the messages I send to the GerSig Forum?
A. http://www.jewishgen.org/GerSIG/membership.htm

Q. Where can I learn more about family members lost in the Holocaust?
A. http://www.jewishgen.org/GerSIG/holocaust.htm

Q. If I change my E-Mail address how do I inform Gersig and JewishGen?
A. https://www.jewishgen.org/cure/index.asp

Q. What is "LDS"? Where is the largest collection of genealogy records in the world? How can I get help from the Mormon Family History Library?
A. http://www.familysearch.org/Eng/default.asp

Q. If I have another question or comment about GerSig where should I send it?
A. GerSIGmod@gmail.com

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