Manasota PAF News
February 2004 -  Volume 10 Issue 5 - A publication of the Manasota PAF User Group, Bradenton, Florida - copyright 2004
NOTE: There was no issue 3 in December 2003
meeting dates & map to the library - members - favorite genealogy links - PAFNews
This is PART TWO - See also PART ONE
PRINT OUT FOR OUR MEETING 7 Feb 2004  - Pat Richley, editor.

WOMEN IN MILITARY SERVICE FOR AMERICA MEMORIAL Dept 560 • Washington, DC, 20042-0560 Elsie Naylor will report on her findings about her experiences in the American Red Cross during World War II, including a US Army hospital in England, a report on the donut girls, and the new Women's Memorial at Arlington National Cemetery.

She will share her experience "commanding" German prisoners of war, as well as honor another member of PAF by sharing information about his relative.

AOL & ROOTSWEB MAILING LISTS PROBLEMS? FIXES?  From: RootsWeb Review: RootsWeb's Weekly E-zine, Vol. 7, No. 5, 4 February 2004, Circulation: 879,247+, (c) 1998-2004 RootsWeb.com, Inc.  http://www.rootsweb.com/

1. NEWS AND NOTES. 1a. Solving Problems with AOL AOL and RootsWeb's mail-delivery issues were resolved after amicable communication and work with the Internet Service Provider. RootsWeb thanks the postmaster group at AOL for its work with us on the various issues that were involved. AOL users are encouraged to re-check their subscriptions to mailing lists at PasswordCentral -- click on the PASSWORD tab at the top of the RootsWeb Home page: http://www.rootsweb.com/ Information and instructions for mailing lists can be found by clicking on MAILING LISTS tab at http://www.rootsweb.com/

1b. AOLers and RootsWeb: New List and Some Tips Since AOL subscribers make up a large percentage of our mailing list members, RootsWeb has created a new mailing list that is being announced today. The mailing list is named AOLers-RootsWeb. It is to assist AOL users with questions related to their use of the RootsWeb mailing lists. Hopefully this new resource will help to forestall any future difficulties from arising between AOL and the RootsWeb mailing lists. The new list may also prove helpful to RootsWeb list administrators who are not AOL subscribers in answering questions for their list members who do use AOL. It will provide a place to direct AOL users where they can obtain accurate up-to-date information and assistance with RootsWeb mailing list issues that are specific and unique to AOL users. You will find this new mailing list categorized on the mailing list webpage at http://lists.rootsweb.com under OTHER/RootsWeb Support/

The direct link is: [This is a 2-line URL; copy and paste carefully]:  http://lists.rootsweb.com/index/other/RootsWeb_Support/AOLers-RootsWeb.html 

During the past week or so RootsWeb mailing list subscribers who use AOL (America Online) as their ISP (Internet Service Provider) to receive list mail experienced a disruption of service that lasted several days. Family history researchers, who are often addicted to their daily "fix" of mail from their favorite RootsWeb lists, began sending e-mails to their lists in an attempt to ascertain whether or not the lists were working, for some, alarm set in. Don't panic if RootsWeb's list mail doesn't appear to be reaching your mailbox as it normally should. Instead, do the following:

1. Check the HelpDesk's yellow announcement box for news of any technical problems at RootsWeb or with your ISP's delivery of list mail from RootsWeb. http://helpdesk.rootsweb.com/ or click on HELP tab at the top of any RootsWeb page.

2. Check your currently subscribed lists here:   http://passwordcentral.rootsweb.com/ or click on the PASSWORDS tab at the top of any RootsWeb page.

3. Check the threaded mailing list archives to view the current month/year messages for your lists at:
  http://archiver.rootsweb.com/

4. Contact the list administrator for help or information by writing to:
LISTNAME-admin@rootsweb.com (replace the word LISTNAME with the actual name of the list -- using no -L or -D). NOTE: If there is a general problem involving RootsWeb mail delivery to a specific ISP and the list administrator to whom you are writing also uses the same ISP, he/she probably will not receive your inquiry for the duration of the problem with that ISP.

5. Contact your ISP's tech support representative and explain that RootsWeb list mail is not spam and this is e-mail you wish to receive. Enlist the support of your ISP in resolving the matter. Internet Service Providers should be more than willing to assist you -- their paying customer -- so that you are able to receive the mail you want.

Here is what NOT to do if you suspect you are not receiving your mailing list messages:
1. Do not send repeated messages to the list asking if the list is working or if anyone has received your message.
2. Do not send any "TESTING" messages to a list.

Remember that just because you are not receiving a message you have sent to the list doesn't mean that other list subscribers are not seeing your repeated messages and becoming annoyed by them. The mailing lists are for genealogical research for a specific subject and not for test messages. Use the above guidelines instead to help resolve any non-receipt of mail problems. You will find guidelines concerning non-receipt of RootsWeb list mail in a recent issue of the RootsWeb Review. You might want to print out this  information and save for handy reference.  http://ftp.rootsweb.com/pub/review/20040107.txt

FLASH IN THE PAN?   Submitted by Pat Richley, instructor, Myrt@DearMYRTLE.com Thinking of new technology to help  you with your annual migration up north? An alternative to purchasing a laptop, is to use a FLASH DRIVE to collect a copy of all your genealogy data, and new scanned images. It will connect to a USB port, fits in the palm of your hand, and then connects to your computer up north via a USB port. Kinda nifty - huh? Dorinne Campbell will bring hers in, and tell us about it during tomorrow's meeting. I found a moderately priced one at www.OfficeDepot.com as shown below. 256MBcapacity is $79.96; 128MB Flash Drive is $49.96.

PNY USB 2.0 Portable Flash Drive, 128MB Achieve blazing data transfer speeds of up to 480MB/s with a PNY USB 2.0 portable flash drive. These reusable flash drives are fully compatible with USB 1.1 and 2.0 systems. Simply plug attaché into an available USB port, and it will be recognized as a hard drive — no drivers are needed!

There are also THUMB DRIVES which work on the same principle. 512MB capacity is $189; 256MB is $79.95; 128MB is $59.97.

Memorex® USB 2.0 ThumbDrive, 512MB Memorex ThumdDrive connects to your PC's USB 2.0 port to rapidly download data,images,music and more at speeds up to 75X faster than floppy disks. It allows easy transportation of your important information from PC to PC in an extremely compact size. Provides convenient sharing of files and images without the need for compatible hardware devices, special cables, or software. The universal thumb-sized device is compatible with Windows, Macintosh and Linux operating systems. It reads data at 700 Kb per second and writes it at 350 Kb per second. Available in several storage sizes. Manufacturer's limited one-year warranty.

GedHTree  submitted by Bill Patterson whp163@tampabay.rr.com. (From a PAF Users Group Mailing List) Bill writes: Have a look at "GedHTree". This is an excellent program for creating your family history web site: http://www.gedhtree.com/. Your instructor has downloaded the program,  and will report back on this next month.  If you'd like to download it as well, here are some details:  "The GedHTree program, support files and install program are in one executable file ght222.exe. The download is the same for registered and unregistered users. The enhanced features for registered users are enabled when you enter your registration code. For current registered users - click on Version Upgrade Policy to see whether your registration code is still eligible for this newest version. Download GedHTree Version 2.22  (ght222.exe)  (Approx. size = 540 KB). GOSH, look at the NEAT looking web page for an "All Inclusive Tree, photos..."

Screen shot from: http://www.gedhtree.com/SinglePg/gtp2.htm 6 February 2004.

McAllister was at a local restaurant, went to pay for his meal, and put his credit card down for the waiter to pick up. The waiter took the card and used a machine to capture the magnetic information on the back. Apparently, the waiter or someone else at the restaurant later sold the credit card information to a thief. The thief used the stolen information to modify his own credit card with his own name on it. He erased the magnetic strip on the back of his own card and replaced the magnetic information with that obtained from the policeman's credit card. The thief then went on a spending spree. It is a practice consumer advocates call "skimming."

While the modified credit card has the thief's correct name and card number imprinted on the front, the same information is no longer recorded on the magnetic strip on the back of the card. That magnetic strip now contains stolen credit card information. The retail clerk swipes the card through a card reader. When asked for identification, the thief can present his own driver's license since it matches his name on the front of the card. Nonetheless, only the illicit information on the magnetic strip is captured by the store's credit card readers. The thief signs the receipt with an illegible scrawl and puts his card back into his pocket. Only the stolen information is recorded by the store.

Remember the old method of capturing the imprinted front-of-card information with a machine? That has almost disappeared.

Equipment to read and write credit card magnetic strips can be purchased in many places. As I am writing this article, I see two such machines for sale on eBay. I used to work for a credit card processor; we had a number of those machines around the office. Keep an eye open at flea markets and garage sales, and you will find them almost anywhere that second-hand equipment is sold. A credit card thief will have no problem obtaining a magnetic stripe reader/writer.

As scary as skimming is, consumer advocates say that, if you are good about checking your credit card statement each month, you have recourse. U.S. Federal law says that if your credit card is used fraudulently, you are only liable for up to $50. (This does not apply to debit cards, however.) Even better, all the U.S. credit card companies fully protect online purchases against fraud. In other words, the credit card companies will absorb even the first $50 if your credit card info is stolen from an online transaction. However, this is not true for in-person transactions, where you are liable for the first $50.

In summation, the above shows that using a credit card for online purchases is actually safer than using the same card in a face-to-face transaction. Just ask Lieutenant McAllister.

REGIONAL GENEALOGICAL EVENTS

• 11 Feb 2004 Manasota Genealogical Society 10am - Noon GENERAL MEETING A TALE OF TWO CITIES: Migration Patterns with DearMYRTLE. 1:15pm to 2:30pm AFTERNOON WORKSHOP with Phyllis Doucette on Census Index View at Ancestry.com 
• 14 Feb 2004 (note - Second Saturday) Genealogical Society of Sarasota "Doing Genealogy Research in the Scandinavian Countries" - C. Robert (Bob) Wesen, one of our members, will describe his research in Scandinavia. In addition to research at the LDS Library in Salt Lake City, he has traveled to Sweden, Norway and Denmark. 
• 17 Feb 2004 South Bay Genealogical Society, Dean B. Mahin – “Combining Genealogy and History: Tracing the Impacts of Historical Events on Your Ancestors”Contact: russkenyon@earthlink.net 
• 28 Feb 2004 The Germanic Special Interest Group of the Genealogical Society of Sarasota is sponsoring a Germanic Workshop "Advancing Your Germanic Research", from 8:45am - 3:30pm at the Sahib Shrine Center in  Sarasota, Florida. Registration info: http://www.rootsweb.com/~flgss/germanicworkshop.htm
• 3 Mar 2004 Manasota Genealogical Society 10am - Noon GENERAL MEETING, SILENT AUCTION (Bring your office & genealogy goodies for sale to benefit the library book fund.) LITTLE HOUSE ON THE PRAIRIE: Land Records for Genealogists with Peg Smith. 1:15pm to 2:30pm AFTERNOON WORKSHOP Ordering Microfilm from LDS Family History Centers with Denton Fitzgerald. Barbara Wohlhueter will discuss PERSI.

• NO MARCH PAF Meeting - Instead we're meeting at 7:30am at the KMart Shopping Center on Cortez Road West in Bradenton, FL, to carpool down to GenFair 2004, a genealogical conference for family history buffs, will be held  March 6, 2004, 8:45am-3:30pm, at the Cultural Center of Charlotte County, 2280 Aaron Street, Port Charlotte, Florida.  Sponsored by the Alliance for Genealogical Societies of Southwest Florida, the conference features noted speaker Dr. George K. Schweitzer who will make three genealogical presentations.  His topics include: "Civil War Genealogy", "Rivers to Trails to Roads to Canals to Trains" and "Finding Your Ancestor's Parents".  He will also hold an "Open Question and Answer Period".  The registration fee is  $35 and includes lunch and handouts.  For additional information, contact Barbara at bfleshman46@comcast.net or 941-575-1957, or Joanne at   charleyslady@yahoo.com or 941-626-6443.

• 16 Mar 2004 South Bay Genealogical Society, Carl Nissen & Bonny Stover - “Heritage Societies: What Are They and How Do I Join?” Contact: russkenyon@earthlink.net 

• 7 Apr 2004 10am - Manasota Genealogical Society Noon GENERAL MEETING THE TIME MACHINE: Offbeat Resources for Family Historians with Audrey Peacock discussing Time Lines and How They Can Help Us. 1:15pm to 2:30pm AFTERNOON WORKSHOP PhotoGenealogy Including a book report on Uncovering Ancestors Using Old Photographs by Maureen Taylor. 

• 20 Apr 2004 South Bay Genealogical Society, Judy Ulrich – “Location, Location, Location: Using Land and Court Records To Find Those Lost Ancestors”

• 5 May 2004 10am - Noon Manasota Genealogical Society GENERAL MEETING ROMEO & JULIET: Marriage Practices & Records 1:15pm to 2:30pm AFTERNOON WORKSHOP - Open.

• 18 May 2004 South Bay Genealogical Society, “Preparing For My Summer Research “: Maps & Migration Patterns, Family History Center Research, Resources at N.E.H.G.S., Salt Lake City Research, Internet Resources. Contact: russkenyon@earthlink.net 

PLANS FOR UPCOMING MPAFUG MEETINGS.

This is PART TWO - See also PART ONE
The Manasota PAF Users Group is a non-profit educational organization in the State of Florida. Copyright 1994-2004. All Rights Reserved. dearmyrtle@aol.com Webmaster. Personal Ancestral File is the registered trademark of the Corporation of the President, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. The Master Genealogist and FamilyTree SuperTools are  the registered trademarks of Wholly Genes, Inc. Family Tree Maker is the registered trademark of Mattel. RootsMagic is the registered Trademark of Formal Soft. The ideas expressed in this the Manasota PAFNews are merely the opinions of the contributors. The writers, editors, publishers, and the Users Group are in no way responsible or liable for any damages resulting from articles, opinions, statements, advertising, representations or warranties expressed or implied in this publication nor do we endorse or recommend any products or services mentioned or illustrated herein.
meeting dates & map to the library - members - favorite genealogy links - PAFNews