Great suggestion, Cheryl. I've got some Logan Co. death certificates that I may send. Troy Semple Cheryl Rothwell <[email protected]> wrote: If you have obtained copies of various records like marriage licenses, death certificates, probate files, etc. for your ancestors why not do a good deed by making a photocopy and sending those copies to the Logan County G&H to help future researchers? You notice I left out birth certificates. My personal opinion is I would not send a birth certificate that is not at least 70 years old. Do terrorists frequent genealogy societies? How about those who deal in identity theft? Doubtful but it never hurts to err on the side of caution. My opinion only. Cheryl Rothwell [email protected] Logan County ILGenWeb www.rootsweb.com/~illogan Central IL Regional Coordinator, ILGenWeb Clark, Downing, Harding, Lucas, et al -- No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG Anti-Virus. Version: 7.0.308 / Virus Database: 266.9.7 - Release Date: 4/12/2005 ==== ILLOGAN Mailing List ==== To unsubscribe from the Logan County List if you are in mail mode, send to [email protected] If you are receiving messages in the digest mode, send to [email protected] Check out my Launch station for the best Classic Rock, Southern Rock, Alt Country and Outlaw Music! http://launch.yahoo.com/lc/?rt=0&rp1=0&rp2=1220661034 --------------------------------- Do you Yahoo!? Yahoo! Small Business - Try our new resources site!

Cheryl Rothwell <[email protected]> wrote: >>> If you have obtained copies of various records like marriage licenses, death certificates, probate files, etc. for your ancestors why not do a good deed by making a photocopy and sending those copies to the Logan County G&H to help future researchers? >>> You notice I left out birth certificates. My personal opinion is I would not send a birth certificate that is not at least 70 years old. Do terrorists frequent genealogy societies? How about those who deal in identity theft? Doubtful but it never hurts to err on the side of caution. My opinion only.<<< Dear Cheryl and all: Your suggestion about not sending birth certificates/records that are not at least 70 years old is one I agree with - but not for the reasons you stated. I don't put such information on my web site (or elsewhere) because genealogy is not really the search for the living and because some people's sensibilities might be offended. While it is always wise to keep a close reign on "private" information, records such as births, marriages, etc., are public information. I hope everyone will read this week's RootsWeb Review (April 2005, Vol. 8, No. 15) Editor: Myra Vanderpool Gormley, CG, answers some questions about net privacy and "identity theft." I am quoted (some, facts, plus "just my opinion" <g>). More grist for the mill: 88 percent of all identity theft involves lost or stolen credit cards and account theft by using the information on a lost, stolen (or merely viewed) bank check. Only 3 percent of all so-called "identity thefts" involved obtain information from the internet - and practically all of this is deliberate hacking of financial records. (As I was quoted in Myra's article, there is no - none, zero, nada, not any - verifiable instance of "identity theft" (or other theft) involving the use of genealogical information on the Internet (as Myra says, genealogical info on the Net is not even a blip on the radar screen). The above information is from a study by the Federal Trade Commission in 2003. This won't happen to any of "us" I am sure, but the fact is that your chances of having your credit cards or other financial instruments being misued by close family members is vastly greater than suffering a loss because of ANY information that is on the Net (unless, of course you post your own SS# or credit card number or back account number). A survey by the Better Business Bureau earlier this year came up with this startling fact: Of the know perpetrators of "identity theft," MORE THAN HALF of them were close to the victim! "Identity theft" is serious and paying attention to your financial instruments is important. But cast a discerning eye on claims that the placing of genealogical information on line is dangerous. "Identity theft" is a popular buzz word these days but in reality practically all of it is plain of credit card theft. And those who wave the red flag the most turn out to be people who are trying to scare the bejabbers out of everyone on the internet so they can sell you some product or service that will save you from such a horrible fate! (Just my opinion <g>.) Richard Pence 3211 Adams Court Fairfax, Virginia