I was ask to comment on Barb Dix in the Oswego Daily News paper online. Here is my response: Yes I am Steve. Being Vice President of the Oswego County Genealogy Society I am in touch with the private citizens that finding their roots is one of the biggest growing hobbies in the nation if not their life quest . I think it is a travesty to cut the life's blood of us researchers by cutting Barb Dix's position as head of the Research Center. It does bring in added income from genealogist from all over the states. Does anyone understand or care about the people she brings into our community? Barb is a great ambassador for the County of Oswego. Her yearly pay for having a Masters in history is about the same as a person who works in a burger flipping place. This is what I call dedication and in this day in age how many people can say that. How about cutting the cable TV at the jail that inmates enjoy for having committed a crime against humanity? The only crime Barb has committed is to love her work and helping others. This is her reward for her dedication? I don't mean to sound angry but there must be another way to cut the budget "WE NEED BARBARA DIX AS HEAD OF THE RECORD CENTER!!!!!" Marilyn Rowsey Dirk

I agree with your letter full heartedly except for one thing <snip>It does bring in added income from genealogist from all over the states. <snip> You forgot to mention the number of genealogists from CANADA that also visit Oswego looking for their information & visiting your town and the area around it. Carol (tweetybird) Home page:<http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~tweetybirdgenealogy/> Visit my home page for "Home Children" information and other "world wide" links plus various passenger lists. Searching : Hart, Haslip, Jackson, Stevens, Little, Budge, Chipman, Welch, Russell, Johns & Glover --- Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free. Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com). Version: 6.0.507 / Virus Database: 304 - Release Date: 8/4/03