I sent my letter off addressed to [email protected] and received a message that it was undeliverable. I checked to Oswego County website and realized that I had spelled the name incorrectly. Perhaps this is why others had the same difficulty. The name is spelled "Jerrett". The corrected address seemed to receive my message without a problem. This is the address that I used: [email protected] I'll include here the text of my message for those listers who are interested.................. August 11, 2003 Dear Mr. Jerrett, I recently became aware that the position of County Historian of Oswego County may be eliminated and felt compelled to write to you in the hope that this might be averted. For many years, the only connection I had to Oswego County was a Fulton address on the back of a photograph. Through countless hours researching and with the help of Barbara Dix, County Historian of Oswego County, I have identified my ancestors, their extended relationships, neighbors, and the context in which they lived within their communities. For me, this is a personal treasure. Barbara's help has been invaluable. Certainly, her historical knowledge of the area and her ability to discern clues in census and cemetery records have helped to direct my research efforts. Barbara and I have never met, although we have spoken on the telephone. I found her to be very pleasant, sincere and amazingly, able to address my specific questions on the spot. I have also directed other researchers to her for help, confident that their queries would be received with the same degree of professionalism. I plan to visit Oswego for three days in October. Research is my only reason for this trip and I was looking forward to meeting Barbara and spending time in the Oswego Records Center. I believe that the elimination of the County Historian position for Oswego County may have a detrimental effect on tourism revenue that a growing interest in genealogy is generating in your community. My planned trip to Oswego, is my sixth genealogy specific trip in the last three years. Many researchers, like myself, are spending tourism dollars in communities that they would not otherwise visit. In her role of County Historian of Oswego, Barbara Dix provides a total package; intelligence, intuitive thinking, historical knowledge and a pleasant, approachable personality. It would be a shame to squander such a valuable asset. Although cognizant of the difficulties in balancing the county budget, I remain hopeful that funds to support the historian position and public access to county records will be realized in present and future tourism revenue. Respectfully, Jane Ellis North Vancouver, B.C. Canada