Thanks, Bill, I was leaning toward the first option.
Going thru a most excellent book, "Applescript 1-2-3"......if only it had been around in 1999.......

I actually saw Sal S. at a Snow Leopard Server demo a few years ago.  He kind of hung back in the shadows during the break, then in the second half stole the show by revealing some tips and tricks the instructors did not mention!

Bob R.