Good morning. My post was a statement assuring subscribers and list members, and notifying spammers, that commercial sites are not to be endorsed on the Rootsweb lists and boards. When an email does manage to slip through undetected the list administrators will receive angry email from subscribers asking why they are being spammed. The email of the spammer is then put on reject and all email posts are "reviewed" by each respective county's list administrator to determine if they are fit to post. List subscribers have the right to expect their privacy, and their email address, are being protected from bombardments by commercial enterprises and spam. The second part of my post was merely a warning to be wary of commercial organizations. I believe all savvy consumers know better than to send money to an organization before learning more of said organization. <To me it implies that someone at EMGS embezzled money from the organization and the remaining members scrambled to reorganize.> Surely you are making the above comment in jest! That's a very large leap from my comment to your comment! But since you opened that door, I would like to ask, since you seem to be "in the know," when the societies in the Allegany, Cattaraugus, Chautauqua, Steuben, McKean and Potter areas could expect a donation. Per the EMGS bylaws if the Society was dissolved all assets were to be sold and the net proceeds to be distributed amongst the societies serving that area. While I am sure those area societies will be dismayed to learn of the scandalous fall of EMGS, they could undoubtedly use the donation to further their work. Furthermore, I would strongly caution you to be very careful when using that term "embezzlement." It is my understanding that an accusation, TOTALLY UNFOUNDED AND COMPLETELY WITHOUT MERIT, was made by EMGS toward one of their own, and that the potential exists that it will be addressed through legal avenues. Unless you want to be dragged into that mess you would be wise to stay out of it. <Who was the EMGS founder that you received the email from?> I received the email from the list. If you would have kept reading the "string" you would have seen the author. I am including it for you: <----- Original Message ----- From: "Michael Disorbo" <disorbo@novocon.net> To: <NYCATTAR-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Thursday, 03 October, 2002 3:25 PM Subject: [Fwd: [NYCATTAR] PAINTED HILLS GENEALOGY SOCIETY] Sorry to bother the list with this, but an error has been made concerning this statement made by Mary Bryant. The Enchanted Mountains Genealogy Society did not just change its name. The society was dissolved and the former EMGS members decided to start a new society called PHGS. Again, I apologize but I needed to set the record straight. Thanks and good luck to all of you in your research. Sincerely, Michael Disorbo> As I stated, the author's name and email address is clearly posted for all to see. <Maybe the way I should interpret the message is that EMGS was a legitimate site but to beware as others aren't. Is PHGS a legitimate site?> I suppose one way to interpret that would be to say EMGS was a legitimate site but to beware as others aren't. However, I would never have interpreted it in that manner, knowing what I have known for years. As I stated above, each individual will have to form their opinion of the organizations they chose to do business with. Would I do business with Painted Hills? In a word, "No." PHGS charges for posts to their boards and to access the volunteer lookups. Those services are provided free of charge on a myriad of other sites, the terrific and well hosted usgenweb sites come immediately to mind. Furthermore, PHGS holds no open elections, it is run as a dictatorship, something I, as an American, cannot support. Additionally, I find the president of PHGS to be an abusive, egotistical, self-serving individual. It is high time this individual steps up to the plate and takes responsibility for past and present actions. I, as a volunteer, have been the innocent victim of her wrath on more than one occasion and I refuse to keep my mouth shut any longer. Maureen M. Lee ----- Original Message ----- From: "Brian Milks" <bmilks@penn.com> To: <NYCATTAR-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Saturday, 05 October, 2002 7:53 AM Subject: RE: [NYCATTAR] PAINTED HILLS GENEALOGY SOCIETY] What do you mean by the statement that follows? While commercial sites are not to be endorsed on the Rootsweb lists and boards, occasionally a few manage to slip through. An email was posted to various lists this morning about the name change of EMGS (Enchanted Mountains Genealogy Society). The following email was received on the Cattaraugus County (NY) list from the EMGS founder. As a courtesy, I am forwarding it to those lists that did not receive it. Speaking of commercial sites, I would also like to say: "Caveat! It is unfortunate, but there are many "societies" and "research sites" that claim to exist for the benefit of their members or researchers, when in reality these so-called-societies exist to further their own agendas. I cannot state strongly enough how important it is that each "society" or organization that charges a fee (no matter how minimal) be fully investigaged. While genealogy is quite a popular pursuit, the "genealogy world" is quite small, meaning that with a few keystrokes and a few inquiries one can almost always learn a "society's" true colors. A leopard never changes its spots. To me it implies that someone at EMGS embezzled money from the organization and the remaining members scrambled to reorganize. Was that your intended context? Or are you saying that was a research site that has people pay for freely available information? I am stumped. Who was the EMGS founder that you received the email from? It seems kind of unfair to quote someone without using there name. I just want to inform myself about the situation. After all someone mentioned "Buyer Beware". Maybe the way I should interpret the message is that EMGS was a legitimate site but to beware as others aren't. Is PHGS a legitimate site? Brian Milks