Hello, my name is Valentine Smith. Together with my co-Listowner Deb
Aziz (see below), I welcome you to AmWest-H, a Listserv discussion
list devoted to a discussion of American Western History from the
Lewis and Clark expedition of 1804-5 to the "battle" of Wounded Knee
in 1890, and the treatise of Frederick Jackson Turner on the "end of
the frontier" of 1893. I'm a senior at the University of Missouri at
Kansas City, majoring in history, at 44 one of the older Honors
undergraduates at my school. I may go on to grad school in the fall
of '93, so we figure at least a year's life with this list and
ourselves as Listowners.
 
My special area of interest in American Western history is the fur
trade, the phenomenon of the rendevous, the Indian "wars," and the
exploits of 6 men - Geronimo, Crazy Horse, and Red Cloud on the
Indian side, and Jim Bridger, Jedidiah Smith and William Sublette of
the fur trade period. But, many other aspects of this exciting period
have long been of interest to me.
 
What I perceive this list to be is a place to rehash battles, and
bring new perpectives to them; a place to look at Indian lifestyles
and social structures, which most of us are never exposed to: a place
to discuss demographics, rates of expansions, numbers of settlers,
early land grants and their effects on the development of cattle
ranching and ... to me the list has a very broad potential for
discussable topics. Deb, much better than I, articulates below what
she philosophically thinks should occur in this forum. I think,
lastly, that all I ask is reasonable and respect for each other. I
look forward to meeting and discussing with you the fascinating range
of questions that could be raised on this list.
 
Anyone wishing to join this list should send the following command to
one of two Listservs: DOSUNI1 or USCVM
via e-mail as the first line in the body of a mail message (not the
"Subject:" line) SUB AmWest-H (your name). To unsubscribe, send UNSUB
AmWest-H (your name). Other Listserv commands can be found by sending
HELP to any Listserv.
 
Now, here's Deb.
 
Hello, my name is Debbie Aziz and I'm one of the co-list owners for
AmWest-H.  I look forword to running and participating to this list.
Some background.  I'm currently a senior undergrad at Franklin and
Marshall College in Lancaster, PA. I will graduate in a few weeks.  I
plan to go to grad school in the fall of 93 and study the topic of
this list, American Western history.  Within this field my specific
areas of interest are the Indian Wars and the Little Big Horn fight
and Custer. I have been interested in this topic ever since I visited
what was then called Custer National Battlefield Monument.  I am
reasonably knowledgeable on western history, but one of the hopes I
have for this list is too learn new things and widen my interests
within the area of Western history.
 
In regards to the running of this list, I want to see a few things.
First, I want everyone to treat everyone with the respect that they
would like to have visited upon them.  In other words, be nice. This
doesn't mean you can disagree with someone, but try to do it in a
tactful manner.  The area that this list focuses on can cause a lot
of heated emotions, I know that.  But try to avoid the easy to give
snippy replies in favor of something more helpful and contructive.  I
know that flame wars will come up and I will not censure the list,
but I feel it is getting too heated I will posts a notice reminding
everyone to play nice.
 
Second, I would like this list to avoid 3 problems I see on the other
lists I participate on.  One, do not use this list for what is
basically a private conversation between 2 people or a very small
number of people.  If a conversation only involves you and one other
person, please take it off list to personal email.  Second, beware
the reply function.  It is way too easy to just use reply all the
time for your postings.  The problem with this is: a) often the
subject of the conversation changes, while the subject header stays
the same.  This throws people off and wastes time for people. PLEASE,
if a new thread of a currently running conversation developes, change
your subject line to refis. b) reply often reprints the full text of
the replied to message within the new message.  Many people do this
and DO NOT EDIT OUT THE OLD TEXT that DOESN"T APPLY to the REPLY.
This makes for long postings and wasted time going through a rehash
before the reply is even gotten to.  Please edit out the old text
that is not necessary to the reply.  It will save time for many
people.
 
Finally, please avoid short postings that just agree with someone
else's posting.  This doesn;t mean that posts can't be short, but try
to avoid just saying stuff like "Yeah, I agree with Deb totally" and
nothing else.  Sure you can agree, but perhaps there is something
else you can add to the discussion besides that.
 
Now as I said I will not edit peoples' messages or anything of that
sort.  If I feel that these guidelines are being totally ignored, I
will post notes to the list reminding everyone of them.  But I don't
want to have to do that. I know it may have sounded like I've been
telling you only the don'ts of this list. Well, I really not a
negative person, so here are some do's: Have fun, post often, feel
free to ask things you've always wondered about, make contacts,
express yourselves, give person remembrances that pertain to the
topic (Your first time out West, how you became interested in this
field, your recent visit to a preserved western fort, ect.) and
whatever else you can think of that pertains to this topic.  This
list is what the members make it and I want to make it fun and
educational at once.  The best lists are those which develope a
personality and the only way that happens is if people post often and
give the list its favor.  I know that both Val and I look forward to
being on and running this list.  Please have  fun and always feel
free to contact me personally, I *love* personal email! :-)  Thank
you for joining this list and welcome, Debbie A. Aziz
 
I would echo that the forum is what YOU, its REAL owners, want it to
be. I have high hopes, I hope you will enjoy the list.  VMS
 
Valentine Smith ([log in to unmask])
 
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