>From: "Connie Burkett" >To: "'Tim Stowell'" > "'Ron & Kathy'" > "'Maggie Stewart'" > "'John C. Jacoby'" >Subject: RE: Census Discussion - Introduction >Date: Wed, 1 Sep 1999 18:42:01 -0400 > >Tim, >Thanks for the introductions and ground rules. I totally agree on the >civility issue and non-sharing of the contents of our email messages. I >think the blending of the two census projects into one project should be >done as seamlessly as possible to not confuse our many wonderful, dedicated >volunteers. > >Hello everyone else: >My brief overview of how I would like to see the Census Project data being >organized in the future: > >Census File Location: >* The census files should be located where they can be included in the >archives search. >* It does not matter where the census files are stored as long as >write-access is limited to only the File Managers who upload and maintain >the census files. >* If the files are to be lumped in with the Archives files, how do we ensure >that other people who have write-access to the archives structure do not >alter the census information or change the census file names. >* If the census files are linked-to (from the county webpages and other >webpages) by subfolder rather than individual file names, we could update >partial transcriptions and do other file maintenance without having to worry >about creating broken links. > >Text Files On-Line: >* Should be consistent in appearance, with text files which are created from >spreadsheet files being formatted in appearance similar to the CART text >files. >* I would like to see all of the on-line files reviewed and if necessary >updated to make them consistent in appearance. If the links to the census >files would be done by subfolder rather than individual file name, this type >of file maintenance could be done without creating broken links. > >Images: >* With the increase in the image files being uploaded, we could limit the >transcriptions for an imaged census to just an "extended" index. >* For the 1850 and above counties with images - - the extended index would >contain Name, Page, Line, Age, and Birthplace. Since it takes such a long >time to open a .gif file, the extended index would contain enough >information to help the researchers know exactly which .gif file to open. >* Doing an extended index rather than a full transcription could help speed >up getting the transcribed information on-line. > >In the interim until the two census projects are blended, getting the state >assignment buttons as up-to-date as possible and keeping them current is a >must. How do we accomplish this without creating a lot of unneeded concern? >Perhaps we need to speed up the blending. > >Maggie, I joined the mIRC USGenWeb - Census channel several evenings ago >using the nickname "BreakOut". I monitored some of the conversation in the >background while I went through the help menus to try to figure out how to >use mIRC. I did not enter into any conversation because I did not want to >stir any unneeded concern. Seems like a great way of keeping in touch with >a team, and I like what I saw. > >Connie Burkett > > > -----Original Message----- >From: Tim Stowell >Sent: Tuesday, August 31, 1999 10:41 PM >To: Ron & Kathy; WVConnie; Maggie Stewart; John C. Jacoby >Subject: Census Discussion - Introduction > >Dear Fellow Project Members: > >Introductions are in order I suppose for the members of this list: > >Connie Burkett, West Virginia Census volunteer >Ron Eason, National Assistant Census Coordinator >John C. Jacoby, Illinois Census volunteer >Maggie Stewart, National Archives Census Coordinator > >Tim Stowell, National Coordinator USGenWeb Project > , Georgia State Coordinator > , North Dakota State Coordinator > >I don't plan to have many 'rules' for our discussion other than these two: >please be civil and please do not share any of the contents of these emails >with anyone outside of this group. > >I plan to act as moderator, asking a question now and then. > >Let us find common ground where we may and work to resolve the differences. > >I'd like to open the floor by asking each of you to give a brief overview >of how you 'see' the Census project being organized in the future. We all >pretty much know how the Census Project(s) are now and/or have been but I'm >asking each of you to look to the future. > >In your comments please try to leave out personalities and speak to data >organization and to what will best benefit our 'customers' while keeping >the historical integrity of the data. > >Thanks, > >Tim > > >