Forwarded from another list Sharing, Caring, and Paying --Suzi Plooster [email protected] I always find it interesting to receive requests for my genealogy information and usually I always try to help people with their requests. I often answer queries on different mail groups. I am always happy to share the work of my labors. However, what I find perplexing is that so few who receive the information are willing to carry their share of the load. The work that I have done over 14 years has carried with it a very large price tag. I now request that everyone I share information with pay for the postage on the packets of materials and pay me 10 cents per page for copying. This barely covers the expense of the actual materials and, of course, my time and research are gained free. Yet, so often the requester tells me they do not want it if they have to pay for it. Surely they should realize that I have initially born the costs of this research and paying for postage and copying is a very minimal amount. Folks who request information should be willing to pay their own way, and not think that now because all the hard work has been done it is always free to them. Yes, I know that information posted on the Web is often free. However, I choose to keep control of my information and feel that it too needs to be honored. However, I have given information out and later find that they have posted my information on the Web without my permission and with out attributing the researcher who did the work. Every genealogical searcher whether on the Internet or in private transactions needs to be willing to: 1. Pay your own way. 2. Acknowledge receipt of all materials promptly. 3. Thank the giver for all the information. 4. Ask permission of the researcher from whom you received the information if you may post it on the Web. 5. If permission is given the researcher must be given credit for the research on the posting. Courtesy, honor, and ethics are a necessity in sharing genealogical information. _________________________________________________________________ The new MSN 8: smart spam protection and 2 months FREE* http://join.msn.com/?page=features/junkmail