Excel 2000 R1C1 reference notation

What is the syntax for the SUMIF function if the range to be summed is
a collection of indivicual cells - separated by commas? The following
function fails:

=SUMIF(RC[-1],RC[-2],RC[-3],RC[-9],"<#NAME?")

If the range were RC[-1]:RC[-9] it would work fine.

=SUM(RC[-1],RC[-2],RC[-3],RC[-9])

Works fine. I'm trying to add the IF <#NAME? to it.

Thanks,

Fred Holmes