Forwarded with permission: ----- Original Message ----- From: "Corky K" <corkykn@imt.net> To: <STATE-COORD-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Wednesday, June 07, 2000 11:05 PM Subject: [STATE-COORD-L] MTGenWeb Project link > Dear Mr. Smoot and the Staff of USGenNet: > > The MTGenWeb Project, an affiliate of the USGenWeb Project, has been in > operation since July, 1996. Since that date we have seen much growth in > the national project, a few disagreements, and many fine individuals come > and go as volunteer leaders. Whenever a disagreement arose, reasonable > people eventually worked their problems out as adults and the project moved > forward. > > Nothing, I repeat - Nothing!!! - has ever indicated that the USGenWeb > Project itself was or is adopting a "for-profit" status. To the best of > their ability, volunteers in this project have helped literally thousands > of researchers. Most of us as volunteers have reached far into our own > pocketbooks to further this cause. > > The general 'population' of SC's, ASC's, CC's and ACC's have voted for > by-laws and administrative officers over the past few years, and the > democratic process has worked. This same process is perfectly adequate to > handle any decisions concerning an elected administration by virtue of a > yearly election!!! > > To even the casual observer, it appears that there is a hostile attempt to > destroy the USGenWeb Project operation as we know it. Your USGenNet site > now strongly implies that it is some type of "official" server for > USGenWeb... complete with brand new **unauthorized** USGenWeb Project Logos > displaying the words "non-profit" on them - as if we haven't been or > non-profit for the past four years! (And, I might add, implying that > *some* of the USGenWeb Project sites are "for-profit" if they don't use > that logo) > > The above actions by USGenNet.org.-com-.net, along with the numerous > inflammatory and derogatory postings made to various USGenWeb mailing lists > by it's administration, are considered offensive by many members of the > MTGenWeb Project. One of my county coordinators suggested that our state's > project should ask to be de-linked from the USGenNet site. This week I > offered the 36 volunteers, (eligible voters including SC's, CC's and ACC's) > in the MTGenWeb Project an opportunity to vote on this issue. The > statement on which they voted is as follows: > > "It is my opinion that a notice be sent to Fred Smoot, TNGenWeb SC and > Administrative Contact for USGenNet.org (.com and .net) asking that he > remove the link to the MTGenWeb Project site along with any links to > MTGenWeb Project county sites from his USGenNet sites." > > 18 of the 36 (50%) responded within the past few days. The results were as > follows: > 16 - Yes; 2 abstain > > I hereby request on behalf of 89% of the eligible voters who voted that you > remove the link to our MTGenWeb Project from the USGenNet.org, .com, .net > site. Unless at some time in the future it is demonstrated to us that > your actions and those of the USGenNet staff do not constitute a hostile > takeover of the USGenWeb Project process, we do not wish it to appear that > we are in agreement or association with your group. > > Thank you. > > Corky Knebel > Corky Knebel > MtGenWeb Project State Coordinator > http://www.imt.net/~corkykn/montana.html > > > >