Permanent Email Addresses - Essential for Genealogy Connections

Where are you Bill Blowes, Don Magick, Val Dumbrell, Keith Colbran, Leonnie Elwell, Ken Edmondson, Glenn Martin?

I just sent out a group catchup email to some of those people with whom I have shared information over the last few years. Six out of the fity or so messages bounced back. These people have probably changed their web service provider and email address but haven't been able to let all of their contacts know of the change.

I previously blogged about Static email addresses in November 2008. In the world of genealogy where one posts interests on mailing lists, with user groups and on websites it is advisable to have a permanent address that will not change. Sometimes it might be four or five years from the date of posting a message somewhere until one gets a response.

It is very easy to set up a permanent email address with services such as Gmail, Yahoo or Hotmail that is not tied to one service provider. If you don't want to miss out on valuable connections get one now.

Static email addresses

Have you ever posted a message to an online list like Rootsweb Mailing Lists? Since posting that message have you changed your email address? Can you remember all of the postings you have made over a number of years?

I have been frustrated, when replying to old messages on lists, to have my emails returned because the listers address is not valid. The lister and I may have lost an opportunity to make a valuable connection.

I now use a Gmail account as my contact when posting to lists so that, if I change Internet Provider (and associated email address), I have a static address that will move with me and that I can have forever. Other established providers are Hotmail and Yahoo. An additional benefit is that these accounts can be accessed via the web from any computer.