Hi, good friends A sober assessment of the relationship between the Irish Palatine Association, (Rathkeale) and the Irish Palatine List (hosted by rootsweb.com) follows, based on the views of one contributor/subscriber to that List. To begin with, I think perhaps we are expecting too much of the IPA. I regard it as an authority, first and foremost: a reference point, an efficient organizing body and a hugely beneficial focus for all things Palatine to all descendants of the dispossessed German community of 1709ers. That's us. The Association (I believe) boasts more than 7 000 members worldwide. It was founded and its day-to-day business is conducted chiefly, I am told, by one very dedicated man. I have never met the Chairman, Austin Bovenizer, but on the occasions when I have spoken with him by 'phone, I have found him to be a very gentle-mannered, courteous, obliging and informative man. I hope he will forgive me for talking about him when he is in no real position to know what I am saying, or to answer back. But I do intend to speak about this when we meet in the very near future - and, more to the point I shall offer my services if they might be needed. In the meantime, I do feel the need to come to his defence if criticism is directed at him (or the Association he represents) in our busy little corner, however muted. I suspect I might be to blame to some degree and I regret that. But, quite simply, I know of several members like me who feel bereft to some degree because our only contact with something we want to be more involved with is an annual journal (excellent, but usually late) and an out-of-date Newsheet. My point here is that our List fills that gap to some significant degree. The List poses no threat, it is dynamic and - I've made the point often - it's there on the doormat all day, every day. It's warm, friendly and it's here - now. Like the Association, it doesn't focus solely on the residual Irish Palatines in Limerick, Wexford, Tipperary and Kerry, etc., it reaches out to the far more widespread family of emigrés, extending to North America, Australasia and beyond. And there's the fun of it. We can see that in everyone's wonderful messages. But the Association takes care of many more matters. It preserves, maintains and constantly builds upon a base of original Palatine documents, artefacts, homesteads and suchlike. It arranges conferences, seminars and tours/excursions, etc. The range of activities is truly vast and while there are many helpers on the ground, the sense of responsibility must surely be immense. More to the point (although no-one mentions it, or seems to consider it), the Association achieves all this on a sorely limited budget. To be honest, how many of us know of a similar organization anywhere in the world that demands such a meagre fee for membership dues? Barely the cost of a parcel and a couple of postage stamps, if you think about it. Yet I have never heard of any request for more. Credit where it's due, I think (in more than one way). I am saying all this (verbose as ever), but I felt the need to weigh in before anything calamitous threatened. We need the Association and we need the List. I see no conflict there - but I understand too the need to be able to talk to the IPA, yet there is no medium. Perhaps I was wrong to say anything at all, but I did feel provoked a little by (occasional but constant) suggestions that I should join when I was already a member. In truth, my activities here on the List are my affair - sorry, OUR affair. Kick me off, if you wish. I'll go quietly (anyway, I'm nearing the coast of southern Australia now - in my dreams). Tell me where I went wrong. If I did. Bye bye Terry