Joy: One question: I am wondering if you can confirm who is still active in the Archives? I just received an email from Joe Patterson to remove him from Pa Archives. To All Board Members: I have sent an email to all listed members of the Digital Map Library project to try to determine who is active in that project. I have so far received 5 bounces back from that list. Dick Sevier advises he is still active in Louisiana and Mississippi. Joe Patterson states he requested to be removed. Please Joe's name from DML for Pennsylvania. Lucinda Hall advises she was never able to get into the site. I am checking to see if she would like to stay if we can get her into the site. I also have the following question: Didn't the Marriage Project get disbanded? I seem to remember something about that, but am not sure. So, at this point, we have the following other Special Projects: 1. Archives - (1) I believe Shalamar Joe should be removed as every email I have sent to this person, as well as confirmation from another volunteer has consistently failed to obtain a response. Shalamar Joe is listed as a file manager for the states of Indiana, Montana and Wyoming; (2) Joe Patterson is asking to be removed from Pennsylvania Archives. 2. African American Griots - This project is difficult to determine who is in charge of what there. There is a surname registry which lists about 9 pages of surnames and researchers. 3. Tombstone Transcription Project - I note that Jim Cox (Indina) should be removed, as well as Terri Shipp (Minnesota) - has 15 vacant states 4. Obituary Project - 28 vacant states 5. Special Collections Project - appears to be managed by Linda Russell Lewis 6. Pension Project Wars Sending an email blast hoping to garner volunteers from the new national announcements mail list, or posting here to the Board, Discuss or State Coordinator mail list, does not truly occur to me as the best way to locate someone to fill the vacancy position as this position is supposed to be filled by someone with at least 12 months participation as a member of one of the Special Projects. Posting the vacancy is one thing. Determining who is an "active" member of one of the special projects is another and actually reaching them to let them know that there is a vacancy on the Board to represent Special Projects. And then add to that, the knowledge as to whether or not these folks are actually listed as registered to vote and/or participate, which would have them not be reached via any of the previously mentioned means or using the new Announcements Mail list. I know everyone has their own idea about how this is all "supposed" to go with respect to the current Bylaws; however, I am not confident in obtaining any candidates using our "business as usual" process. Business as usual has allowed these special projects to become malingerers over the last several years. That didn't work, did it? The prior election process produced only one possible viable candidate who was actually interested in filling this position. He withdrew for his own personal reasons. Over the years of my participation on the Advisory Board, I have not seen truly active participation in any of the Special Projects. I know there was when they were each originally created and set in place, but this needs different attention handled differently. And the Advisory Board position is limited in what this position can actually do. We need some kind of truly active participation from the project coordinator for each of these special projects and that person needs to be active in managing the volunteers to engage them and keep them active, and to promote the individual projects. Much as a state coordinator should be working with their county coordinators or other volunteers in their state(s). Or, some other decision needs to be made. I get tons of complaints about the process of obtaining a volunteer and about the special projects' condition. If no main coordinator for each of these special projects is going to act proactively with respect to these projects, then what? And from my own personal opinion, those casting aspersions my way about how or what I have done or not done as the National Coordinator, should be taking care of their own responsibilities instead of policing mine. You do not know what I have or have not been doing behind the scenes. I am also still working with the new National Announcements mail list, and other things are also still going on behind the scenes. So, my request is that he or she who be without sin, then that person can cast the first stone. But instead of attempting to manage my responsibilities or asking what I am up to, please tend to your own responsibilities. It does nothing for this project to be posting some of the things I have seen. I have been contacted privately by some individuals who actually are respectful to me and asked me respectful questions politely and directly. Those who like to post messages that are designed to cause upset and aggravation will get no response from me. I am tired of the disrespect shown by some members and you will be ignored. This does not refer to anyone who is currently on the Advisory Board. I hope those who know who they are understand my position. I am actually very easy to get along with unless someone wants to back me up against a wall. Then my Irish might come out. I find it better to ignore those who cannot ask me questions politely and positively. Denise Wells National Coordinator 2014-2016 The USGenWeb Project www.usgenweb.org <http://www.usgenweb.org> Celebrating in 2016 the 20th Anniversary of The USGenWeb Project! Look for us at the 2016 NGS Conference - Booth 431 <http://fp37.a2zinc.net/clients/NGS/NGS2016/public/eventmap.aspx?shExhList=1>! USGenWeb Advisory Board Agenda (Agenda to be updated shortly)