I am forwarding this to Board-L although I have been warned not to forward messages to that list. I will not be intimidated. I think Ellen's proposal has merit. At the very least maybe it will start some meaningful discussion. Jim ********** TO: Jim Powell and Teri Pettit, SE/MA County Coordinator Representatives Linda Mason, MS SC As my SE/MA representatives, I am submitting this note in hopes that either or both will consider forwarding it to the Board-L. I would ask that, if submitted, the note be posted in it's entirety. I am also requesting that Linda Mason, MS SC, forward a copy to the SC List. Thank you for your consideration. Ellen Pack Adams Co, MSGenWeb CC Wilkinson Co, MSGenWeb CC Early SW MS Territory, MSGenWeb CC Greene Co, TNGenWeb ACC ------------- To the USGW Advisory Board Members - Since the AB apparently chose not to consider or implement my earlier proposal regarding placing the question of the Archives before a committee, and ultimately the USGW Members, and which received wide favorable attention from the general membership (witness my mailbox), and since the situation has deteriorated further over the past few days, I beg your indulgence in allowing me to submit a second proposal. I'm am still optimistic (though confidence is waning) that there are enough good people out there who will refrain from spending hours and hours picking apart every word in an attempt to find an excuse as to why this or that can't be done. There are enough people who understand that they are not the only ones who can properly and effectively maintain the Archives, and who will sincerely TRY to do something right, and in the best interests of the project, so that this horrendous problem can be resolved once and for all. --------- Proposal II Please carefully read the entire proposal before forming an opinion. This proposal is not designed to end the Archives, but to salvage it, dust it off, and give it fresh life. Simply put, it is time for the Archives to be completely dismantled on a national level, and turned over to the individual states. One of the most potent arguments in favor of a breakup lies within the history of individual state projects, as opposed to the history of the Archives. There have been sporadic (and sometimes very serious) problems within several states. However, those problems were predominately restricted to the states in question. They were eventually resolved within the states themselves, and in accordance with USGW By-Laws. Residual problems are few, and confined. Today, the states reside side-by-side, sometimes disagreeing, but respectful of one another. The same thing can hardly be said of the Special Projects in this endless battle. The Special Projects must take a lesson from the States. I implore the AB to seriously consider drawing and placing before the membership an emergency amendment consisting of the following points: 1. Removal of the Special Projects, USGW Archives, Census Project, Census Archives Project, Tombstone Project, et al, whatever the name, as national entities 2. Formation of State Archives Projects [XXGenWeb State Archives Project] that would fall under the direct auspices, responsibility, and control of each appropriate state, as opposed to any national level person(s) or entity. Each State Archives Project would have the responsibility of recruiting it's own transcribers and material, and of uploading and maintaining all archived files pertinent to it's own state, and to none other. 3. Formation of one USGW General Archives Project to procure, transcribe, upload and maintain general non state-specific files ONLY. Those files would cover such things as general histories, migratory patterns and trails, territorial information, etc. Material relative to individual states would not be allowed to be placed in the General Archives, and must be referred to the appropriate state Archives. Whole scale maintenance of duplicate files should be deemed unnecessary and inappropriate. Duplication of files should only be considered in the instances of material covering major boundary changes, and the like. 4. Continuity and quality of files and uploads would be preserved via clearly defined policy and procedure specifications re uploading and copyright disclaimer/info, as outlined within the By-Laws amendment. [For the purposes of this note, consider the proposed USGW General Archives as simply another (though unnamed) state, unless otherwise specified.] 5. Each state would be granted the right to name it's State Archive Coordinator, and indeed the number of coordinators and/or State Archive File Managers as befits the individual needs and structure of that state. State Archive Coordinators would be named via either a state election or appointment by the SC, in accordance with individual state procedure. Each State Archive Coordinator would have responsibility and authority to recruit individual State File Managers on an as-needed basis. 6. In the case of the General USGW Archives, a General USGW Archives Coordinator would be appointed by the AB, for a limited term - suggest no more than one year. Thereafter, the General USGW Archives Coordinator would be elected by it's own File Managers for two-year terms. The General USGW Archives would come directly under the responsibility and control of the AB which, in turn, is answerable to the states and to the electorate. 7. All files would be uploaded to and maintained on one USGW Archives server 8. No person or persons, on any level, will be considered overall SP or Archives Coordinator, or overall coordinator of any fraction of the Archives including census records, cemetery records, etc. 9. No person or persons other than the appropriate SC, State Archives Coordinator and/or assigned State File Managers will upload, copy, alter, or remove any file. 10. Each state should have it's own password to the appropriate directory. Each SC would have access to it's State Archives password, or in the case of the USGW General Archives, the AB Secretary would be charged with retaining the password which would be passed on to the AB or NC only after a motion to do so has been legally entered and passed by the AB, and not at the discretion or demand of any one individual. The General Archives password, if used under an AB motion, will be changed, after the specific motion has been carried out, and once again retained by the Board Secretary. 11. No person or persons other than the appropriate SC, or the AB acting on a legally submitted and passed motion, will be authorized to fire a State Archives Coordinator, change a password, alter "write" privileges, directory structure, upload, delete, or alter any archived files. 12. An Archives server change would require a special proposition presented by the AB, voted upon and passed by the general membership in either a special or general election. 13. The AB would have the responsibility of maintaining a USGW Archives TOC as part of the National pages. Links should point to the USGW Index page, each state Archives TOC, the Archives Search pages, and to a GENERAL information page that, among other things, refers potential volunteers to the appropriate state. The USGW Archives TOC, and any collateral pages, must bear USGW official logo. 14. Each state would have the responsibility of maintaining it's individual State Archives TOC, with a link to the USGW Archives TOC, the Archives search page, and to the state index page. Layout and design of that page would be determined by the State Archive Coordinator, but each State Archives TOC must bear the USGW logo, and the state logo if individual state regulations so require. 15. Each state would have the responsibility of insuring that no Archives copyright violations occurred, just like they do now relative to the counties. Pre-existing copyright violation allegations should be addressed as soon as possible after acquisition of files currently residing in the Archives or Census project (although I believe most of those allegations would evaporate once the breakup occurred.) Copyright allegations/infringements should be dealt with swiftly, firmly, and appropriately on a case-to-case basis within each state responsible for the file(s) in question. 16. State participation in the State Archives Project would be mandatory, just as queries, and pertinent logo and links are mandatory, but would *not* preclude a state from continuing with or putting in place it's own state archives, if desired. I would also strongly urge the AB to submit a second emergency amendment to the effect that any national level action by the AB or the NC be allowed ONLY upon a legally presented and passed AB motion, and not by arbitrary decision by any one person, NC included. If a picture needs to be drawn, then draw it. ------------- I believe I have given the AB more than enough food for thought, as well as an outstanding foundation upon which an effective, fair, and permanent resolution can be constructed. The States and CCs have a proven track record, and can handle things quite nicely. Let them. Permission is hereby granted to forward this note to any USGW member, and to post to any USGW List. Respectfully, Ellen Pack Adams Co, MSGenWeb CC Wilkinson Co, MSGenWeb CC Early SW MS Territory, MSGenWeb CC Greene Co, TNGenWeb ACC