[thelist] connecting sub-sites

Evolters,

I'm helping with a special project involving connecting a handful of
sub-sites together and creating a umbrella site. The sites are related by
nature of organizational hierarchy only. Unfortunately, a complete redesign
is out of the question (politics). In other words, the sites are to remain
separate yet somehow connect to each other and to an umbrella site. 

Any advice or experience you care to share?

A few ideas I've had include, adding info about the relationship between
parent-children sites in the About &/or News pages; links (w/an explanation)
to the umbrella site at the foot of the sub-site pages; mock ads connecting
the sub-sites; special promotions "advertising" the umbrella site.

TIA,

~jeff link

np: garbage