It sounded to me as if Rootsweb was in financial trouble. Someone has to pay the bill and everyone researching on Rootsweb do not send in money like we have. Thus they have found someone to "foot" the rest of the bill. I belong to both Ancestry and Rootsweb. I believe you will see advertisements on Rootsweb now - I am only guessing as to this. In the long run it is better this happens than Rootsweb folding. Don't you think? Jackie