Dear COA Members,
 
     If I can distract folks from the otter bite and the illusive $20 Con.
milneedwardsi threads, there is something I could use your         help with.
 
     With your subscription renewal, you receive a nice index of COA members
in alphabetic order.
     A few months ago I called Doris Underwood to see if I could receive the
same list in electronic form so I could sort the list by
      city and state. In this form, it is very handy to a traveller who
would like to contact another member whose town  he might be
visiting. Doris advised me this can not be done due to member's privacy
interests.
 
      I am interested to know how other COA members feel about their privacy
in this regard; especially those who list their phone        numbers in the
membership list!   I provided my personal information in hopes that other
shellers visiting Wash. D.C. would       call. However, it has only been
Conch-L users we have met and had as guests, or we have visited. Is it
because computer       users are more gregarious or is the membership list
not user-friendly?  I also understand there are folks who wouldn't think of
"cold calling" a stranger and inviting themselves over. Needless to say, I'd
do it in a heartbeat. I guess COA is protecting you        folks from the
likes of me. Would you give COA permission to list your identity in
State/City order?
 
      The annual COA convention is probably a great place to meet other
shellers, but my wife and I can't seem to make        them.
      Thoughts?
 
    George