How Do I Use the Phelps Google Discussion Groups?
Administered by Webmaster dphelps61 AT alumni.wfu.edu Alternate: phelps-david AT swbell.net
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How did I become a member of a Phelps Google discussion group? Can I drop out or change my registration? In most cases the Phelps project administrators joined you automatically. Normally you profile causes you to receive every posting as an email. You can log on to the google group and change your profile including your email address and how often you wish to be notified of postings. You can even upload your photo and other bio info. You can also drop out if you wish.
In most cases you were asked to created a Google signin and a password.
How can
I find out how many Phelps discussion groups there are? you want
to know how many google discussion groups we have, either
1. Go to the top of the ancestry pages. For each discussion group there is a
link provided for the family line. Just click the link.
OR...
2. For a list of all our Phelps google discussion groups, do the below -
although there may be an easier way.
Go to
www.google.com
Click "more"
at the top of the page
Click
"groups"
Key "phelps"
in the google search box
This should
return a link with the words "groups matching Phelps" Click it. You should On
the page showing topics, click "Genealogy"
You should
then see a list of our Phelps discussion groups.
Click a group
of interest.
And remember... you have a single Google log on and password for ALL Google
facilites. So one logon/password suffices for all google groups.
What causes me to receive an email from my google group? Any time a posting is made to the google group, all members receive a copy of the post (or a notification of the post).
How do I get to my line’s google discussion group? There are two ways:
1. Go to the Phelps main web page Scroll down until you see the Phelps line of interest. To the right click the words “Go to this line’s Google forum”
2. Go to Google’s sign in at https://www.google.com/groups/signin Enter your email address and password. After the first time, your PC should remember and display the email address. You will then see a list of your google discussion groups.
When must I logon to my google discussion group? Most, but not all, google discussion groups, may be viewed without logging on.. To post directly to the google group (as opposed to replying to an email from the google group), you must first logon. Logon by going to the google discussion group and entering your id and password. An easy link to each google group is found in the list of Phelps lines at the top of the main Ancestry web page.
AND... remember that there is only one Google logon/password and it allows access to ALL Google facilities. Of course you have to be a member of each Phelps google group.
I forgot my google log on id and/or password . How to I get them? At the google window where you are to enter your signon, click the small words you see just below the signin. It may be “I cannot access my account” or “I forgot my password” Click the words and follow the instructions which follow.
AND... remember that there is only one Google logon/password and it allows access to ALL Google facilities. Of course you have to be a member of each Phelps google group.
I get lots of emails from several google groups. How do I know which google group initiated the email I got ? and how do I know what the subject is? The google group name(abbreviated) is in the prefix of subject in your email. The subject of the google group is appended to the end of that.
How do I respond to an email from my google group? Simply REPLY as you would to any email. Always put your kit number in your response.Your message is then posted in the google group under that subject. SO don’t change the subject in your email response UNLESS you want to really change the subject. Your reply is then also emailed to all the members of the google group.
Depending on the settings of your email program your reply may also include the originating text. Sometimes it is better to manually erase all the originating text to clean up the info. If so be sure your response can be understood
I want to post a new topic. How do I do that? Two options:
Go to the google discussion group and log on. If presented with multiple discussion groups, click the one you want. Click Discussions. If this is a new topic, click “+ new post”. If you just want to reply while reviewing old topics, find the topic, position to the specific post to which you are responding and click the small “reply”
Or go to the google group and click “about this Group” The next window will show the group’s email address. Copy and paste that email address into your email sendto address. Key a brand new topic in your email subject. And send it.
I want to post a comment with an attached word document or Excel file. How do I do that?. As far as I can tell, this is allowed only when you email to the google group. A “reply” to an email from your google group can include an attachment which will be emailed to all members and will be posted as a downloadable file on the google group. . If you want to post a new topic with an attachment, go to the google group and click “about this Group” The next window will show the group’s email address. Copy and paste that email address into your email sendto address.
Is my google discussion group totally private? Our initial intent was to prevent anyone from even viewing the discussions unless they were members. In most cases that has changed so that anyone may view the discussions but only members may post. If you want your group to revert to total privacy, send a request to the Phelps project manager.
Will my identification be revealed at the Phelps google groups? Your project administrator makes every effort not to relate kit numbers with email addresses or names. However, you may chose to identify yourself on the google group. Most members do. You may view the members by logging on and clicking "Members" Then click the abbreviated email address shown to view the full address. Note that the kit number is not shown.
Who can be a member? Only those who are Y-dna tested or have a strong interest in the family line can be members. Anyone may apply via the google facility and the request is sent to the Phelps project adm.