Dear Fellow MNGenWeb Members: I want to share an idea with y'all. I admin a group of 946 people on Facebook called Pioneering Families of Florida. each and everyone of its members is a descendant of a Florida Pioneer. They have instituted a CHALLENGE to see who among them can transcribe the most Florida wills between Feb 8 and Mar 8. As part of the challenge they have all agreed to allow their transcriptions to be placed on the appropriate FLGenWeb County site (my suggestion, naturally. ) They are using FamilySearch.org's Un-indexed Florida Probate Record images to do these transcriptions from. In the 3 hours since the challenge was issued, 38 people have signed on and 18 wills have been posted to the group! A member of the group offered a 10.00 Walmart gift card to the winner. Just another example of how FB can be used to procure more and new data for our website! Already 3 more members have stepped up to provide a gift for March April and May! Laverne Tornow

That's the great thing about the project - individual choice as to what works best for them. I do not copyright all pages, nor do I think they need to be updated each year but I do as I see them. I try to put up pages of data that do not change, so I really never need to view them again. I have not done a page count but the last time I did it was around 5500 across all my sites. Many of those were ones I inherited, some are small, some are large for when I started with many users on slow modems I had to be concerned about page loading speeds. As I visit old pages, I tighten code to make them small and faster, that falls under maintenance which I work on from time to time, but my main focus is to put new data online - much of it in the form of public domain works that are not available in a format most would want to view. In other words, most folks don't want to download a whole book to read one chapter. I try to make it easier for my viewers. Sometimes I fail. I learn. I fix it. Tim On Sat, Feb 7, 2015 at 1:21 AM, Laverne H. Tornow <[email protected]> wrote: > Tim, > > AS the county coordinator of a genweb site that has over 12,000 html pages > on it, and several others that have 2000-3000 html pages, using a CCS file > to control the layout, font sizes, color etc is essential. Not all the > pages have to be cookie cutter either when using a CSS file. I have at > minimum 2 css files on each site, one is for a 2 or in some cases a 3 > column page and the other is for a single column page, which I use mainly > for cemeteries, census transcriptions and things of that mature. I even > have one site that utilizes different CSS files for different parts of the > site. The design and layout is the same, but different sections of the > site have a different color scheme. > > I always use a font size of at least 11pt or 14 px for the simple reason > to make it easier on the eye, I eeven will set the font weight to about > halfway between normal and bold.for the same reason. I also like css menus > for the simple reason that a change in the css file populates throughout > the site rather than have to change several hundred pages manually, even > with a find and replace feature, some pages can be missed and you have to > look at each page and check to see that the change actually occurred on > every page. I like to set the footers up the same way. so that I only have > to make the change of copyright date in a couple of files at the beginning > of each year and not the each and every page! > > CSS is does not limit creativity and style, it just makes it easier to > make changes site wide! > > Laverne > > On 2/6/2015 2:00 PM, Timothy Stowell via wrote: > >> As I have developed web sites, overhauled others, merged pages, I've tried >> to preserve the original creator's image, while updating a page's HTML >> code >> to a more modern standard. >> >> I keep tinkering with pages, tossing out some things that just make no >> sense to me, like one site I acquired that was full of .css code which >> made >> the text so small it was near the size of medicine bottle print. That was >> a disservice to the end user. It made it easier for the coordinator to >> make one change and have it change on the whole site, yet each page had >> the >> same cookie cutter look. >> >> I find, for myself, that the data itself might lend itself to better >> presentation depending on its format, rather than one size fits all. >> >> While I appreciate the concept of the Archives, sometimes reading the text >> files there especially if wider than the screen, with wrap around makes >> data harder to read. Thus presenting data like it appears as best one can >> to the original text is somewhat desirable. >> >> A couple of examples, as the result of feedback from users: >> >> giving users a choice of background on a page - >> http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~tnhamilt/ >> >> and >> >> presentation of census records - >> >> http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~nychenan/census/1860/ >> bainbridge/1860-153.htm >> >> I have found that treating folks like I'd want to be treated goes much >> further than acting like lord and master over others. Even on the county >> sites I maintain, they would not be all they are without the contributions >> of others either directly or indirectly. >> >> Tim >> ------------------------------- >> To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to >> [email protected] with the word 'unsubscribe' without the >> quotes in the subject and the body of the message >> >> >

I have tried to respond to the questions that have been asked but as you may imagine my inbox is quite full. I may have over-looked something. If so, please let me know and I will respond. Thanks, Shirley

While I think the issue of hosting and funding the same are not a priority right now, I would like to add my 2 cents worth on the subject. I have had dealings with hosting state projects on RootsWeb as well as other servers and honestly, I believe RootsWeb is best. I have a great working relationship with most of the staff and they have been able to help me in some sticky situations. Sometimes I had to settle for a different outcome than I would have liked, but I did understand their position. They have always provided a solution in a helpful, friendly manner. Now, if RootsWeb should decide to charge for their services that would be cause for a change in priority and some serious thought. Shirley

As Karen mentioned the MTGenWeb was a project that had to be re-built. That process was facilitated by involving the CC's in the decisions that would affect the project immediately and in the future. I truly believe that the CC's are an important part of the state project and without their input and support the project can not progress. Shirley On Thu, Feb 5, 2015 at 2:34 PM, Karen De Groote via <[email protected]> wrote: > Greetings Candidates, > As a previous SC of a state that had to be rebuilt after nearly dying, I > was curious if any of our candidates had a similar history that they could > draw upon as MNGenWeb climbs the stairs of success? I know Shirley does > have some of that experience as we rebuilt MTGenWeb but I wanted to hear > from everyone in this matter. > > Thank you, > Karen > Becker, Todd and Stearns > > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to > [email protected] with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes > in the subject and the body of the message >

That is a fair question. The answer is organization. I have assistants in place that have specific duties though each of us can fill in for one another if the need should arise. Being retired has its advantages. I am home most of the time and try to follow a routine that allows time for each segment of my volunteer work. However, when something needs immediate attention it becomes a priority. I am a firm believer in family first and that extends to the CC's. Treating CC's fairly is the key to great teamwork. Through stability in leadership, the 254 county - 130 member Texas project has become a well-oiled machine that needs little hands-on management. The Montana project is also on the well -oiled machine track and for the same reasons. As for my home life, I treasure time with my family. I live in a 3 adult home with my daughter and son in law. I only have myself and my little dog to care for. My grandchildren are scattered across the country so we keep in touch with Skype. The result is that I have lots of time to devote to my personal research and volunteer work. Shirley On Thu, Feb 5, 2015 at 3:30 PM, Colleen via <[email protected]> wrote: > Good afternoon ladies, > > I'd like to know how you, Shirley, plan to SC MNGenWeb when you are SC for > two other states - one with 254(?) counties, plus your own counties, your > mailing lists, and your in-home life. How will you balance your time > between all that? > > Martha, I have basically the same question. How do you plan to SC > MNGenWeb when your are SC for California? How will you balance your > attention between the two in addition to your counties, mailing lists, and > in-life? > > Colleen > > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to > [email protected] with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes > in the subject and the body of the message >

Laverne, Thank you for your opinions. Certainly they are food for thought somewhere down the line. Martha

Welcome back Shirley, hope all has gone well and your son is on the way to a speedy recovery! Laverne On 2/7/2015 1:17 AM, Shirley Cullum via wrote: > I am home as of 15 minutes ago. <g> > > I will catch up on my email and respond as needed tomorrow. > > Shirley > > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to [email protected] with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message >

Tim, AS the county coordinator of a genweb site that has over 12,000 html pages on it, and several others that have 2000-3000 html pages, using a CCS file to control the layout, font sizes, color etc is essential. Not all the pages have to be cookie cutter either when using a CSS file. I have at minimum 2 css files on each site, one is for a 2 or in some cases a 3 column page and the other is for a single column page, which I use mainly for cemeteries, census transcriptions and things of that mature. I even have one site that utilizes different CSS files for different parts of the site. The design and layout is the same, but different sections of the site have a different color scheme. I always use a font size of at least 11pt or 14 px for the simple reason to make it easier on the eye, I eeven will set the font weight to about halfway between normal and bold.for the same reason. I also like css menus for the simple reason that a change in the css file populates throughout the site rather than have to change several hundred pages manually, even with a find and replace feature, some pages can be missed and you have to look at each page and check to see that the change actually occurred on every page. I like to set the footers up the same way. so that I only have to make the change of copyright date in a couple of files at the beginning of each year and not the each and every page! CSS is does not limit creativity and style, it just makes it easier to make changes site wide! Laverne On 2/6/2015 2:00 PM, Timothy Stowell via wrote: > As I have developed web sites, overhauled others, merged pages, I've tried > to preserve the original creator's image, while updating a page's HTML code > to a more modern standard. > > I keep tinkering with pages, tossing out some things that just make no > sense to me, like one site I acquired that was full of .css code which made > the text so small it was near the size of medicine bottle print. That was > a disservice to the end user. It made it easier for the coordinator to > make one change and have it change on the whole site, yet each page had the > same cookie cutter look. > > I find, for myself, that the data itself might lend itself to better > presentation depending on its format, rather than one size fits all. > > While I appreciate the concept of the Archives, sometimes reading the text > files there especially if wider than the screen, with wrap around makes > data harder to read. Thus presenting data like it appears as best one can > to the original text is somewhat desirable. > > A couple of examples, as the result of feedback from users: > > giving users a choice of background on a page - > http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~tnhamilt/ > > and > > presentation of census records - > > http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~nychenan/census/1860/bainbridge/1860-153.htm > > I have found that treating folks like I'd want to be treated goes much > further than acting like lord and master over others. Even on the county > sites I maintain, they would not be all they are without the contributions > of others either directly or indirectly. > > Tim > > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to [email protected] with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message >

My honest opinion is purchasing domain names and a hosting contract should be last on the list, mentoring and helping CC's comes first, as does getting county sites updated and adopted and finding and placing more data o n the site. For at least the next 12 months the focus should be on getting policies and rules in place, updating sites and getting available sites adopted. Purchasing domain names and a hosting service is the very last thing to discuss or try and implement. Actually some policies reagrding that issue would have to set in place before it could even be considered. As MNGenWeb, like USGenWeb is not a legal entity, domains and hosting would have to be purchased by a member in their name, using their credit or debit card, as the project itself can not own anything. There have been problems in the past in various projects where such items were used by the person who "purchased" the domain names and hosting to leverage their own agenda. IF it were the SC who did the purchasing, what happens if they refuse to turn them over when their term ends and a new SC takes office? It has happened in the past at the National Level as well as on a state level. Also I changing ownership of a domain name can cost quite a bit more than the actual renewal of the domain name and I do not know of a hosting service where the owner of the hosting account can be changed. A new hosting contract would have to be started in the new person's name. I just think that until the project has been rebuilt and is stable this is the last thing anyone should be considering maybe 2-3 years down the road, but certainly not until the project . Also since USGenWeb States we, the CC's can host our county sites WHEREVER we wish, it is definitely not something that could be required of CCs. As for the statement that Rootsweb is not "friendly". I have had just the opposite experience with them, even when a CC has disappeared, it did not take much effort for the site to be turned over to the SC.. Yes, Rootsweb does not allow for the use of sites using php, for good reason, php driven sites (wordPress, CMS sites like Joomla and others) are very insecure and easily hacked. Again, I reiterate, purchasing a domain name and hosting service is the LAST item to be under consideration. I am not against the idea, just think that even bringing it up at this point is premature. Laverne Tornow On 2/6/2015 11:50 AM, Martha A Crosley Graham via wrote: > Good Morning. > Thank you for the question Laverne. > I am re-posting my objectives. Funding for the purchase of a domain and > server is # 5. > Setting up by-laws, policies and procedures is #2 > > I listed the objectives in order of what I felt was important in my > original post. They are: > > > Appoint 3 Assistant County Coordinators who will each be responsible for a set of Counties. > > Create a Committee to write Bylaws, Policies & Procedures > > Update State Pages > > Encourage and facilitate the adoption of all Minnesota Counties. > > Institute a system of finances [Volunteer Donations] to purchase a domain name and server space so that Minnesota can be hosted off of RootsWeb. > > Mentor New County Coordinators / Enlist a group of knowledgeable people who are able to mentor using various software and systems. > > Assist and encourage the updating and accumulation of research data from sources that are not readily evident. > > > Educate County Coordinators as to new or alternate methods of data presentation. > > Now to specifically address the issue of funding. Yes, this would be > something that we would vote on. > The reasons for taking any State or County off of RW/Anc is, in my > opinion, obvious. > 1. RW/Ans is a not so friendly system where State Coordinators have > little control over issues that come up. > 2. The purchase of a domain name and server space would enhance our > online visibility. > 3. Server Hosts provide better service and include up to date software > for many other services. > > Martha > > > > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to [email protected] with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message > . >

I am home as of 15 minutes ago. <g> I will catch up on my email and respond as needed tomorrow. Shirley

As a veteran of the usgenweb.org web site, it was honestly a nightmare hosting MTGW on that server. That server space had been paid for many years by an anonymous donor but hacked many times by Chinese hackers. I have paid for the domain name for many years and just recently turned it over to the SC. Domain alone at the original domain company was 25 bucks a year. Got it moved to Go Daddy and other than the recent one year for $10, it has been normally 24.99 for three years. As far as a domain host, I would ask to see what IAGenWeb is on but that hosting service is a work horse and quite reasonable for the gigs we have on the site. All 99 counties, Gravestone Photo Project with over 1 million gravestone photos, our own boards for queries, obits, docs and bios, and many large special projects. I don't think that MNGenWeb needs that much space but it seems pretty inexpensive. One thing about having your own server is you need a tech team unless you want to pull your hair out. Two of IAGW long time CCs serve in that capacity and I can think of only one 24 hour period the server was offline due to maxed out capacity with the hardware. Food for thought for the future. Karen Becker, Todd and Stearns On Fri, Feb 6, 2015 at 12:22 PM, Linda Ziemann via <[email protected]> wrote: > Thank you, Mike/Dino......You are "right on" with these statements > regarding > this issue. I will speak for myself (but strongly believe the other > candidates feel the same way.) > > Wanting the BEST for MNGenWeb is at the TOP LINE of my candidate agenda, > with this issue of funding/changes to url much later on the list. That is > not to say it can never be considered at some point later. > > No matter how this election turns out, I am looking forward to a long > tenure > with MNGenWeb. Keeping an open mind, Linda Ziemann, SC Candidate & Rock CC > > > On 2/6/15, 12:11 PM, "Mike Peterson via (Dino)" <[email protected]> > wrote: > > > I¹ve had super great service and up time with StartLogic, Fat Cow, and Go > > Daddy at about $100/year each but I would have questions if these prices > would > > hold based on the large capacity Minnesota would have and I question > other > > things like access and security. > However, most of all, I don¹t think this > > issue has a bearing on the election at all. It was a low priority for the > > candidate who mentioned it and it would be way on down the line for the > > coordinators to think about it. > Mike > Clay Co > > From: Martha A Crosley Graham > > via > Sent: Friday, February 6, 2015 9:53 AM > To: Timothy Stowell ; > > [email protected] > Subject: Re: [MNGEN] SC Election -funding > > Thank you Tim > > for your comments. > > Here in CA we pay for domain and hosting through > > donations. > Right now we are hosted on HostMonster and have been for many > > years. > County Coordinators contribute as they are able. We try to get enough > > > funds to pay for 3 years at a time which is the least expensive cost. > > For > > instance: Blue Host offers a year of hosting for 3.95 per month x > 12 = 47.40 > > [year] divided by 87 counties = .54 cents per County. > > Martha > > > > > > > > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an > > email to [email protected] with the word 'unsubscribe' without > the > > quotes in the subject and the body of the message > > > > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an > > email to [email protected] with the word 'unsubscribe' without > the > > quotes in the subject and the body of the message > > > > > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to > [email protected] with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes > in the subject and the body of the message >

As I have developed web sites, overhauled others, merged pages, I've tried to preserve the original creator's image, while updating a page's HTML code to a more modern standard. I keep tinkering with pages, tossing out some things that just make no sense to me, like one site I acquired that was full of .css code which made the text so small it was near the size of medicine bottle print. That was a disservice to the end user. It made it easier for the coordinator to make one change and have it change on the whole site, yet each page had the same cookie cutter look. I find, for myself, that the data itself might lend itself to better presentation depending on its format, rather than one size fits all. While I appreciate the concept of the Archives, sometimes reading the text files there especially if wider than the screen, with wrap around makes data harder to read. Thus presenting data like it appears as best one can to the original text is somewhat desirable. A couple of examples, as the result of feedback from users: giving users a choice of background on a page - http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~tnhamilt/ and presentation of census records - http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~nychenan/census/1860/bainbridge/1860-153.htm I have found that treating folks like I'd want to be treated goes much further than acting like lord and master over others. Even on the county sites I maintain, they would not be all they are without the contributions of others either directly or indirectly. Tim

I can understand to some extent an external URL, if such is funded. Experience elsewhere is that many are on limited income and donations are covered by a fraction of members. Hosting is not cheap unless of course it is just the state site. I'd be curious what hosting service is being spoken of because the one I have for a couple of domains can't even do counters worth a flip, to the point I'm moving pages back to Rootsweb, which will most likely outlast me and will certainly keep my pages online after I pass, whereas once the lease runs out with my host, my wife will not renew. I'm not sure how having a domain of our own increases visibility. To me the number one issue is updating the state site and secondly in tandem finding coordinators for the counties who have no one or whose page has not been updated in forever. I certainly would ask for feedback on the state site before it went live - like does this work better, how is the presentation. I like to give my visitors choice and ask for feedback because what I view as a good look others may cringe at. Any other issue regarding the state project should in lieu of regulations to the contrary should be voted on by the membership. As for rules and standards, its something for the membership to decide. The national bylaws already state requirements for county sites - what links, logos are needed as well as providing query capability of some sort. Perhaps some clarification of those bylaws may be in order. Tim On Fri, Feb 6, 2015 at 11:34 AM, Laverne H. Tornow via <[email protected]> wrote: > One of the candidates posted their intent, if elected to set up a "fund" > for purchasing domain names and hosting for the project to get it off of > Rootsweb. I accidentily deleted that e-mail evidently as I now can not > find it. > > Anyway, My question is for that candidate. > > Why do you fell this is a priority and do you plan if elected to put > this decision to the CC's for a vote as to their wishes? > > Do you think that is a more important issue than setting up some rules > and standards? > > While this is pointed to the candidate who made that statement regarding > buying domains and hosting, I would like to hear feedback from all > candidates on this issue. > > Laverne Tornow > Nicollet County > > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to > [email protected] with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes > in the subject and the body of the message >

Thank you, Mike/Dino......You are "right on" with these statements regarding this issue. I will speak for myself (but strongly believe the other candidates feel the same way.) Wanting the BEST for MNGenWeb is at the TOP LINE of my candidate agenda, with this issue of funding/changes to url much later on the list. That is not to say it can never be considered at some point later. No matter how this election turns out, I am looking forward to a long tenure with MNGenWeb. Keeping an open mind, Linda Ziemann, SC Candidate & Rock CC On 2/6/15, 12:11 PM, "Mike Peterson via (Dino)" <[email protected]> wrote: > I¹ve had super great service and up time with StartLogic, Fat Cow, and Go > Daddy at about $100/year each but I would have questions if these prices would > hold based on the large capacity Minnesota would have and I question other > things like access and security. However, most of all, I don¹t think this > issue has a bearing on the election at all. It was a low priority for the > candidate who mentioned it and it would be way on down the line for the > coordinators to think about it. Mike Clay Co From: Martha A Crosley Graham > via Sent: Friday, February 6, 2015 9:53 AM To: Timothy Stowell ; > [email protected] Subject: Re: [MNGEN] SC Election -funding Thank you Tim > for your comments. Here in CA we pay for domain and hosting through > donations. Right now we are hosted on HostMonster and have been for many > years. County Coordinators contribute as they are able. We try to get enough > funds to pay for 3 years at a time which is the least expensive cost. For > instance: Blue Host offers a year of hosting for 3.95 per month x 12 = 47.40 > [year] divided by 87 counties = .54 cents per County. Martha > ------------------------------- To unsubscribe from the list, please send an > email to [email protected] with the word 'unsubscribe' without the > quotes in the subject and the body of the message > ------------------------------- To unsubscribe from the list, please send an > email to [email protected] with the word 'unsubscribe' without the > quotes in the subject and the body of the message

One of the candidates posted their intent, if elected to set up a "fund" for purchasing domain names and hosting for the project to get it off of Rootsweb. I accidentily deleted that e-mail evidently as I now can not find it. Anyway, My question is for that candidate. Why do you fell this is a priority and do you plan if elected to put this decision to the CC's for a vote as to their wishes? Do you think that is a more important issue than setting up some rules and standards? While this is pointed to the candidate who made that statement regarding buying domains and hosting, I would like to hear feedback from all candidates on this issue. Laverne Tornow Nicollet County

I will comment on the issues that Laverne asked about, as she requested of the other candidates. As SC, the discussion regarding funding issue should be addressed and discussed and hopefully brought to a member vote. This would create a huge change, but one that long-term would be excellent for the project. It would take much discipline and involvement from all the members, thus the reason for the discussion of all the options. I agree with Martha about the funding and changes for all the same reasons. Respectfully, Linda Ziemann SC Candidate On 2/6/15, 10:50 AM, "Martha A Crosley Graham via" <[email protected]> wrote: > Good Morning. > Thank you for the question Laverne. > I am re-posting my objectives. Funding for the purchase of a domain and > server is # 5. > Setting up by-laws, policies and procedures is #2 > > I listed the objectives in order of what I felt was important in my > original post. They are: > > > Appoint 3 Assistant County Coordinators who will each be responsible for a set > of Counties. > > Create a Committee to write Bylaws, Policies & Procedures > > Update State Pages > > Encourage and facilitate the adoption of all Minnesota Counties. > > Institute a system of finances [Volunteer Donations] to purchase a domain name > and server space so that Minnesota can be hosted off of RootsWeb. > > Mentor New County Coordinators / Enlist a group of knowledgeable people who > are able to mentor using various software and systems. > > Assist and encourage the updating and accumulation of research data from > sources that are not readily evident. > > > Educate County Coordinators as to new or alternate methods of data > presentation. > > Now to specifically address the issue of funding. Yes, this would be > something that we would vote on. > The reasons for taking any State or County off of RW/Anc is, in my > opinion, obvious. > 1. RW/Ans is a not so friendly system where State Coordinators have > little control over issues that come up. > 2. The purchase of a domain name and server space would enhance our > online visibility. > 3. Server Hosts provide better service and include up to date software > for many other services. > > Martha > > > > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to > [email protected] with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in > the subject and the body of the message

I’ve had super great service and up time with StartLogic, Fat Cow, and Go Daddy at about $100/year each but I would have questions if these prices would hold based on the large capacity Minnesota would have and I question other things like access and security. However, most of all, I don’t think this issue has a bearing on the election at all. It was a low priority for the candidate who mentioned it and it would be way on down the line for the coordinators to think about it. Mike Clay Co From: Martha A Crosley Graham via Sent: Friday, February 6, 2015 9:53 AM To: Timothy Stowell ; [email protected] Subject: Re: [MNGEN] SC Election -funding Thank you Tim for your comments. Here in CA we pay for domain and hosting through donations. Right now we are hosted on HostMonster and have been for many years. County Coordinators contribute as they are able. We try to get enough funds to pay for 3 years at a time which is the least expensive cost. For instance: Blue Host offers a year of hosting for 3.95 per month x 12 = 47.40 [year] divided by 87 counties = .54 cents per County. Martha ------------------------------- To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to [email protected] with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message

Thank you Tim for your comments. Here in CA we pay for domain and hosting through donations. Right now we are hosted on HostMonster and have been for many years. County Coordinators contribute as they are able. We try to get enough funds to pay for 3 years at a time which is the least expensive cost. For instance: Blue Host offers a year of hosting for 3.95 per month x 12 = 47.40 [year] divided by 87 counties = .54 cents per County. Martha

Good Morning. Thank you for the question Laverne. I am re-posting my objectives. Funding for the purchase of a domain and server is # 5. Setting up by-laws, policies and procedures is #2 I listed the objectives in order of what I felt was important in my original post. They are: Appoint 3 Assistant County Coordinators who will each be responsible for a set of Counties. Create a Committee to write Bylaws, Policies & Procedures Update State Pages Encourage and facilitate the adoption of all Minnesota Counties. Institute a system of finances [Volunteer Donations] to purchase a domain name and server space so that Minnesota can be hosted off of RootsWeb. Mentor New County Coordinators / Enlist a group of knowledgeable people who are able to mentor using various software and systems. Assist and encourage the updating and accumulation of research data from sources that are not readily evident. Educate County Coordinators as to new or alternate methods of data presentation. Now to specifically address the issue of funding. Yes, this would be something that we would vote on. The reasons for taking any State or County off of RW/Anc is, in my opinion, obvious. 1. RW/Ans is a not so friendly system where State Coordinators have little control over issues that come up. 2. The purchase of a domain name and server space would enhance our online visibility. 3. Server Hosts provide better service and include up to date software for many other services. Martha