Dear Mr. Lyman: I recently heard that the County Historian position is earmarked for removal from the upcoming Oswego County budget. While I recognize the managerial need to make cuts to balance your budget for the upcoming fiscal year, I would ask you to strongly reconsider the position of "County Historian." I can assure you that that single office provides many valuable services to your organization and to the residents of Oswego County. Moreover, I can also assure you that many people from all over the world make a conscientious decision to travel to Oswego County to research family history as a direct result of this office and specifically, Barbara Dix, YOUR County historian. I realize you have not resided in Oswego County very long...and may not be fully aware of the many services, time and irreplaceable knowledge this office provides the County, the State and the Nation. Genealogical and other historical researchers bring needed dollars into your economy. They dine, stay in hotels, visit attractions, etc. Perhaps you might consult with your local tourism department before you cut this position from the budget. You could even work with the State of New York Tourism Office to publicize this service, arrange for tours of cemeteries, town historian offices, monuments, Fort Ontario, County and town record storage rooms, etc. With some "thinking outside the box," you could make the County Historian's office an Oswego County attraction with the capability of helping to generate revenue. One might also consider some regular escorted "field trips" to points of historical interest sponsored by the county. These could also bring in some modest revenue. For example, the Underground Railroad tour in Oswego County could be an attraction all by itself. A bus tour stopping at several sites...with optional bed & breakfast stopover would, if properly marketed, generate revenue that could be applied to the County Historian's office expenses. Or better yet, endow a fund to provide these important services for the generations to follow. In my opinion, you are "missing the boat" if you cut this position from your budget. You should be looking for ways to INCREASE her budget rather than cutting it. It would be Oswego County's loss in so many ways if this comes to pass. Sincerely, Rusty Okoniewski Orlando, FL

Rusty: Well said. You addressed the point extremely well. I will long remember the trip my husband and I took from Florida to Albany, N.Y. to go to the Archives there, only to find out "the Library is closed this afternoon and tomorrow because of budget constraints." It made my blood boil. Needless to say we did not spend two nights in Albany, did not eat in their restaurants, and haven't been back since. Get rid of some useless politicians and keep the library and archives open. We have made many trips to Oswego doing genealogy, and Barbara Dix is the jewel in their crown as far as we are concerned. That lovely woman never met a stranger and would go out of her way to help. Dorothy from Gainesville, Florida

I lived in Oswego for the formative years of my life. I did not appreciate the old things that people mentioned. Barbara is a vein through which we all can reconnect to our past. Shame, shame on the people who think the paltry amount of her salary is a "savings". ----- Original Message ----- From: "dorothy baker" <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Wednesday, August 06, 2003 5:51 PM Subject: Re: Budget Cuts affecting County Historian's Office > Rusty: > > Well said. You addressed the point extremely well. I will long remember the trip my husband and I took from Florida to Albany, N.Y. to go to the Archives there, only to find out "the Library is closed this afternoon and tomorrow because of budget constraints." It made my blood boil. Needless to say we did not spend two nights in Albany, did not eat in their restaurants, and haven't been back since. Get rid of some useless politicians and keep the library and archives open. > > We have made many trips to Oswego doing genealogy, and Barbara Dix is the jewel in their crown as far as we are concerned. That lovely woman never met a stranger and would go out of her way to help. > > Dorothy from Gainesville, Florida > > > ==== NYOSWEGO Mailing List ==== > Northern New York History and Genealogy > www.nnygenealogy.com > > ============================== > To join Ancestry.com and access our 1.2 billion online genealogy records, go to: > http://www.ancestry.com/rd/redir.asp?targetid=571&sourceid=1237 >

I cannot believe that the county would even think of letting Barbara go. In the "big picture", she is of more value to the county than many other "necessary" functions. Many dumb things have been done by politicians, but this may be the crown of "dumbness". ----- Original Message ----- From: <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Wednesday, August 06, 2003 4:48 PM Subject: Budget Cuts affecting County Historian's Office > Dear Mr. Lyman: > I recently heard that the County Historian position is earmarked for removal > from the upcoming Oswego County budget. While I recognize the managerial > need to make cuts to balance your budget for the upcoming fiscal year, I would > ask you to strongly reconsider the position of "County Historian." I can assure > you that that single office provides many valuable services to your > organization and to the residents of Oswego County. > > Moreover, I can also assure you that many people from all over the world make > a conscientious decision to travel to Oswego County to research family > history as a direct result of this office and specifically, Barbara Dix, YOUR County > historian. I realize you have not resided in Oswego County very long...and > may not be fully aware of the many services, time and irreplaceable knowledge > this office provides the County, the State and the Nation. > > Genealogical and other historical researchers bring needed dollars into your > economy. They dine, stay in hotels, visit attractions, etc. Perhaps you > might consult with your local tourism department before you cut this position from > the budget. You could even work with the State of New York Tourism Office to > publicize this service, arrange for tours of cemeteries, town historian > offices, monuments, Fort Ontario, County and town record storage rooms, etc. With > some "thinking outside the box," you could make the County Historian's office > an Oswego County attraction with the capability of helping to generate revenue. > > One might also consider some regular escorted "field trips" to points of > historical interest sponsored by the county. These could also bring in some > modest revenue. For example, the Underground Railroad tour in Oswego County could > be an attraction all by itself. A bus tour stopping at several sites...with > optional bed & breakfast stopover would, if properly marketed, generate revenue > that could be applied to the County Historian's office expenses. Or better > yet, endow a fund to provide these important services for the generations to > follow. > > In my opinion, you are "missing the boat" if you cut this position from your > budget. You should be looking for ways to INCREASE her budget rather than > cutting it. It would be Oswego County's loss in so many ways if this comes to > pass. > Sincerely, > Rusty Okoniewski > Orlando, FL > > > ==== NYOSWEGO Mailing List ==== > New York GenExchange > http://www.genexchange.com/state.cfm?state=ny > > ============================== > To join Ancestry.com and access our 1.2 billion online genealogy records, go to: > http://www.ancestry.com/rd/redir.asp?targetid=571&sourceid=1237 > >