Hi Gary, Josie, and all: The new Woodchurch site will be a boon to researchers, and I agree that a more formal organization is in order. However, unless there is an easy structure for payments, I am not sure that a paid subscription to the group is a good idea. There are several other organizations I have not joined because (a) I'm a pensioner, (b) I can't pay in sterling easily from the USA, and (c) in terms of the Rootsweb affiliation I don't think the mailing list should be anything other than free to use. Membership might be an option for visitors to the museum, especially if that also buys access to, for instance, KFHS records etc., and/or discounts on museum guides and other items. You folks have put in a great deal of effort to put together the Woodchurch site and it has certainly been helpful to me. I have also contributed to the research with census information and my own personal tree information - I feel very connected to the other Woodchurch members whom I would not have known existed but for the Rootsweb mailing list in the first place. And because of all the intermarriages in this area of Kent, most of us are literally cousins. The only proviso I have is that sometimes I do need a broader perspective, as my TAYLOR lines derive from Cranbrook, and there have been other relatives with connections to Rye, Tenterden, High Halden, Biddenden, and elsewhere, where there are no similar organizations that I've been able to find - Woodchurch is seemingly unique. The nearest thing to this organization I have seen elsewhere is the Yahoo Groups Whitby Group, which is the other side of my maternal roots. Again, a very helpful and knowledgeable group of people, a good many of them have direct connections to my maternal grandfather. Now if I could just find such a focused group in the Plymouth area, I might be able to find out more about my paternal 4th ggf!!! Regards Martin Willcocks Taylorsville, UT, USA. Peter Walker wrote: >eng-ken-woodchurch-bounces@rootsweb.com wrote: > > >>Good Morning All >> >>I agree with all that has been said. >> >>I propose that Gary Samson be our Acting Chairman (and acting >>treasurer), and that Josie Mackie be our Acting Secretary. >>Of course this needs seconding and the agreement of at least >>a substantial >>number of the 14+ Group. >> >>It can only be formalised when we have agreed a constitution. >> >>Best Wishes to All of You - Jon (Acting Woodchurch Liaison Office ?) >> >> > >I wasn't aware we were planning to formalise the group - Gary only mentioned >the change of name. But a constituted group brings a number of benefits and >I'm happy to support. If I can assist in any way (mainly at a distance), >please let me know. I have drafted a few constitutions in my time! > >Regards > >Peter Walker > > >------------------------------- >To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to ENG-KEN-WOODCHURCH-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message > > >

Hi Martin, Thank you for your e-mail. It's always encouraging to read that the Woodchurch Ancestry Group websites are fulfilling a useful role for those with an interest in the village and its families. Let me assure you that the Rootsweb mailing list (or a free-to-access equivalent) will continue to be the main way of contacting other members of the group. The list has worked well since it was set up, and I certainly don't see any reason to change. That it's hosted on the Rootsweb site also means the list has maximum exposure, so anyone looking to explore a Woodchurch connection will almost certainly come across us at some point early in their research. Intermarriages can throw up some interesting and surprising relatives. Through my BINGHAM, KING, COLEMAN, and FULLAGAR connections I'm sure I have a link, however tenuous it may be, to a good many on the list. Even in the 1960s Woodchurch was still a close community. Fortunately (or unfortunately, depending on your position), a recent increase in non-Woodchurch families coming into the village has diversified the gene pool. Not a moment too soon, some might say! However, having enjoyed the village fete over the weekend, I can tell you that the feeling of community is still very much alive and well. And most of those there had just the one nose. I wish you well with your other, non-Woodchurch lines. All the best Gary Martin Willcocks said the following on 13.07.2007 02:53: > Hi Gary, Josie, and all: > > The new Woodchurch site will be a boon to researchers, and I agree that > a more formal organization is in order. However, unless there is an > easy structure for payments, I am not sure that a paid subscription to > the group is a good idea. There are several other organizations I have > not joined because (a) I'm a pensioner, (b) I can't pay in sterling > easily from the USA, and (c) in terms of the Rootsweb affiliation I > don't think the mailing list should be anything other than free to > use. Membership might be an option for visitors to the museum, > especially if that also buys access to, for instance, KFHS records etc., > and/or discounts on museum guides and other items. > > You folks have put in a great deal of effort to put together the > Woodchurch site and it has certainly been helpful to me. I have also > contributed to the research with census information and my own personal > tree information - I feel very connected to the other Woodchurch members > whom I would not have known existed but for the Rootsweb mailing list in > the first place. And because of all the intermarriages in this area of > Kent, most of us are literally cousins. > > The only proviso I have is that sometimes I do need a broader > perspective, as my TAYLOR lines derive from Cranbrook, and there have > been other relatives with connections to Rye, Tenterden, High Halden, > Biddenden, and elsewhere, where there are no similar organizations that > I've been able to find - Woodchurch is seemingly unique. The nearest > thing to this organization I have seen elsewhere is the Yahoo Groups > Whitby Group, which is the other side of my maternal roots. Again, a > very helpful and knowledgeable group of people, a good many of them have > direct connections to my maternal grandfather. > > Now if I could just find such a focused group in the Plymouth area, I > might be able to find out more about my paternal 4th ggf!!! > > Regards > Martin Willcocks > Taylorsville, UT, USA.