Update: Daily E-Mail Version of the Standard Edition Newsletter

A couple of weeks ago I announced that the e-mail notifications of the Standard Edition newsletter would be changing from weekly to daily updates. I now have experience with the new daily updates and am generally pleased with them.

The first few days saw formatting changes nearly every day as I learned how to optimize this new bulk mail service. I think that task is done for the time being. 

The new format is much "cleaner" and simpler than the previous weekly newsletters. There is less boilerplate wording, fewer colors, and fewer font changes. The daily update e-mail messages are also very short.

Feedback has been generally positive. Here are a few comments from subscribers:

I like the new format: the layered approach plus the shorter daily list make for a nice fit with the set of sites I check daily.

Thanks for this and I'm glad that you're doing such a great job in ensuring us of the genealogy news of the day.

I like the new format very much and look forward to receiving future updates.

Didn't think I would like having you change the format of EOGN. But I REALLY LIKE it especially the daily notices. (I miss the daily Ancestry newsletter.) Thanks for all your information; it is interesting and informative.

There is one new feature that I did not mention earlier as I wanted to first gain some experience: you can specify whether you want to receive the daily updates in HTML or in ASCII text. HTML looks a bit more like a web page with hyperlinks and different styles of fonts as well as bold, italics, and more. ASCII text is the old-fashioned, rather plain-looking text without any hyperlinks, font changes, bold, italics or images.

Some people prefer the use of bold, italics and underline, along with the hyperlinks similar to a web page. Others prefer the simpler look of plain text without any formatting. Now you can have it your way.

If you would like to change your daily Standard Edition update e-mail messages from HTML to ASCII text or back again, you will find instructions near the bottom of every e-mail update you receive.

As always, suggestions for improving the newsletter are welcome.

Comments

[Earl Ross]

I like it. Obviously the information is getting to us faster and in smaller more readable chunks of info. Good change. Thank you.

[Janice Healy]

Are you aware your subject line looks like this? =?UTF-8?B?W2VvZ25dIFRoZXJlIGFyZSAzIG5ldyBwb3N0cyBpbiAi

[Dick Eastman]

The subject line will look like that only if you have your e-mail software set for ASCII text only. Also, some of the older e-mail programs are not capable of handling modern character sets.

99% of the people who receive those e-mail updates will see normal text, not the "=?UTF-8?B?W2VvZ25dIFRoZXJlIGFyZSAzIG5ldyBwb3N0cyBpbiAi."

You can change that at any time by switching to plain ASCII e-mail updates. Instructions are given near the end of each e-mail update you receive.

Thank you.
- Dick Eastman

[Edna Felps]

May 20th, the Kendall County Genealogy Society meeting will be at the Boerne Public Library Conference room, 210 North Main St. The meeting begins at 10:am sharp until 12:00.
Allow extra time, as parking is limited, additional parking ½ block north, behind the Boerne star, on the corner of Main St.
Early bird for coffee at 9:30 am and networking with other members.
A video presentation by Dr. George K. Schweitzer, nationally known genealogical lecturer and author will be presenting “ Civil War Genealogy”.
From 12 April 1861 until 26 May 1865 there raged what has become to be called the Civil WAR (war between the states) North against the South.
The population in 1861 was an approximately 32,000,000. Anyone, therefore, who had ancestors who were living in the United States in 1861, has a likelihood of being the descendant of one or more Civil War Veterans.
Many of the records have survived and are very fruitful sources for genealogical information. This is the time to take advantage of the expert guidance.
The next meeting will be September 16, 2006.
The meeting is free and open to all visitors and guests. Contact Jim Boyd 830 336 3652 for additional information.