Thanks for everyone's input! I forgot to mention in my last post that I have been elected to the Board of Directors of the Historical Society! I am well aware of the many concerns that you folks (and me too!) have written about and am in the process of changing the perception of the Historical Society with the community. It has been in control of one person for way too many years and you know what that can do to an organization. In all fairness, the Board of Directors very much wants to change how things have been going for some time....there is much frustration as their hands have been tied too. They know there is much to do and are anxious to proceed. The letter I posted to the Board was addressing the issues of one misguided person and does not reflect the attitude of the Board. There will be some hurdles, but I do not expect anything serious....of course we will not get our way with everything we want! LOL There is a move to find a downtown spot for genealogy research. They may even build something. With a move into a separate space, I would hope that research issues will become a thing of the past and that there will be ready access to Society holdings. We will see. As to photos being taken in the Museum, that has gone lax. I proposed that once the collection is cataloged that we will be more able to find family oriented photos and more and possible scan and photograph everything pertaining to a family name and put it on CD for a fee. Of course this is down the road a couple of years. I am hoping that the influx of new members will help turn things around as those who resist any change will be greatly out numbered...which is why I am shooting for 500 new members in 2004. Anything you can to do to help reach that goal will be greatly appreciated of course! You know I will keep you informed as to what is going on! Next Board meeting is Nov 13th. Mike Wennin Come Visit the Cameron County Genealogy Project! http://www.rootsweb.com/~pacamero ----- Original Message ----- From: "Bernie Oswald" <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Monday, November 10, 2003 7:45 AM Subject: [PA-CAMERON] RE: The historical society > I have had a problem with not being able to research geneology for a long > time with the historical society. As I mentioned before, if any of you > want and are able to go the the Potter County Historical building in > Coudersport, it is wonderful. They have all kinds of scrapbooks, letters, > photos, research books that they will give you to go through and look at > just as if you are at the Library. (You can't take them out) > I have a interest in the old lumber town of Norwich, plus my grandmother was > born in Keating Summit, Potter County. They have taken pictures right off > the wall, and made copies of them for me right then and there. They (the > volunteers) called me to tell me of some findings they came across of my > Grandmother's family. They were so helpful and I go there all the time to > look through countless scrapbooks of the Austin flood, etc. They will > make you copies of anything you want , for a very small fee. > > One time I went to the Little Museum and asked if I could have a copy of a > photo that they had and they were flabbergasted! I asked if I could take a > picture of it with my camera and they said "No camera's allowed!" This > was several years ago and maybe that has changed now, but that was a real > turn off for me!! As far as Sandy Hornung goes, I think she has done a > great job putting everything on micro film to preserve it, but if no one can > ever see it, that's not very helpful. And yes, Sandy will look it up for > you, but it would be fun and interesting to see it for yourself. > I talked to Sandy about this one time and told her how nice it would be > to have a place like the Potter County Historical Society and she told me at > that time, they were trying to get the old Library building, but were unsure > Frank Geleski would approve it. I also don't think the town approved it, > because they seemed to pick and choose who they want in there. Then Sandy > told me, they were trying to get Jasper and Harris and Son store. I don't > know what ever happened to that, the store is still open and running. I > do know, that a new president has been elected and Mary Louise Blumle told > me they are hoping for some changes. Hopefully so, but I don't look > forward to any big changes. For one thing, the little museum is very > nice, but Sandy told me one time there is so much stuff in the basement just > rotting away that they don't have time or space to do anything with. What > a shame!!! Also, if there were a place in town to research geneology, I > think it would get a lot more traffic. At Potter county, they have it in a > big old house and most of the house is a museum. The other few rooms are the > geneology rooms sat up like a Library. > > Now on the other side of the coin, McKean County is not so generous. When > I looked at their pictures, I had to wear gloves and they were very fussy > about the whole thing. They stood over me and watched me very carefully. > First, I had to join the membership then pay for every little thing I wanted > to do. I only wanted one bit of information, but they wouldn't give it to > me until I joined, and then they didn't have it anyway. At Potter County > anyone can go there free and do research. They have loads of stuff. > Geting back to McKean County Historical Society I understand the museum is > supposed to me nice. They were remodeling it when I was there and I was > unable to see it. I haven't been back. > > Well, that's my input. I got a little long winded again. > > Bernie > > > > ==== PACAMERO Mailing List ==== > Celebrating Our 4th Year! Come check us out! > http://www.rootsweb.com/~pacamero >

I have had a problem with not being able to research geneology for a long time with the historical society. As I mentioned before, if any of you want and are able to go the the Potter County Historical building in Coudersport, it is wonderful. They have all kinds of scrapbooks, letters, photos, research books that they will give you to go through and look at just as if you are at the Library. (You can't take them out) I have a interest in the old lumber town of Norwich, plus my grandmother was born in Keating Summit, Potter County. They have taken pictures right off the wall, and made copies of them for me right then and there. They (the volunteers) called me to tell me of some findings they came across of my Grandmother's family. They were so helpful and I go there all the time to look through countless scrapbooks of the Austin flood, etc. They will make you copies of anything you want , for a very small fee. One time I went to the Little Museum and asked if I could have a copy of a photo that they had and they were flabbergasted! I asked if I could take a picture of it with my camera and they said "No camera's allowed!" This was several years ago and maybe that has changed now, but that was a real turn off for me!! As far as Sandy Hornung goes, I think she has done a great job putting everything on micro film to preserve it, but if no one can ever see it, that's not very helpful. And yes, Sandy will look it up for you, but it would be fun and interesting to see it for yourself. I talked to Sandy about this one time and told her how nice it would be to have a place like the Potter County Historical Society and she told me at that time, they were trying to get the old Library building, but were unsure Frank Geleski would approve it. I also don't think the town approved it, because they seemed to pick and choose who they want in there. Then Sandy told me, they were trying to get Jasper and Harris and Son store. I don't know what ever happened to that, the store is still open and running. I do know, that a new president has been elected and Mary Louise Blumle told me they are hoping for some changes. Hopefully so, but I don't look forward to any big changes. For one thing, the little museum is very nice, but Sandy told me one time there is so much stuff in the basement just rotting away that they don't have time or space to do anything with. What a shame!!! Also, if there were a place in town to research geneology, I think it would get a lot more traffic. At Potter county, they have it in a big old house and most of the house is a museum. The other few rooms are the geneology rooms sat up like a Library. Now on the other side of the coin, McKean County is not so generous. When I looked at their pictures, I had to wear gloves and they were very fussy about the whole thing. They stood over me and watched me very carefully. First, I had to join the membership then pay for every little thing I wanted to do. I only wanted one bit of information, but they wouldn't give it to me until I joined, and then they didn't have it anyway. At Potter County anyone can go there free and do research. They have loads of stuff. Geting back to McKean County Historical Society I understand the museum is supposed to me nice. They were remodeling it when I was there and I was unable to see it. I haven't been back. Well, that's my input. I got a little long winded again. Bernie

Hi Mike, I feel bad about calling those people in the Historical Society old phogies when I wrote my reply on Saturday night, but my reason for saying that is not to cause conflict but rather to point out their lack of forward positive thinking. Sandy Hornung who is still on the board, is one of my favorite Ladies and helped me get started in genealogy by searching for my first grandfather for me from the files of the Society which she still has that are inaccessable to others except through her.....now that I come to think of it I paid her to look up that information! Several times over the years I suggested to her that wouldn't it really be nice if the Society had a place where people could search those microfilms themselves. She alway responded that there was no place available that the board of the Society would consider to trust people in to do their own searches. Basically saying that they wouldn't trust anyone to have the access to them and because they were stored in her upstairs room no one could access them there, although I think she did tell Don one time that he could look at them. They never in all those years tried to find a place to put them to be accessable to the public. Why not the local library? Maybe in a separate room. That has been since 1995 when I started searching. No efforts made. And now this Geleski guy who has already cast his vote........... I would never ay that they were not nice people but they are being overly protective of public informatiom. I just wonder if the wording in their charter mentions public protection of information or public access in any way? So much for old history about an old Historical Society.... Pete Send ALL mail to: [email protected] Visit my "All American" Home Page at: http://members.fortunecity.com/petee77/ Chat with me I'm "Petee" on Microsoft Messenger From: "Pete Bennett" <[email protected]> Reply-To: [email protected] To: [email protected] Subject: Re: [PA-CAMERON] Genealogy Club/Historical Society update Date: Sun, 09 Nov 2003 04:08:48 +0000 Mike, I think your response to Mr. Geleskie's three "strikes against the merger"says way more to address any issue what might be good or adverse reasons to facilitate a merger of the Genealogy Club with the Historical Society then the whole group of them might come up with all together. They've been looked on as "old phogies" for so long and your suggestions frightens them because you are bringing in new blood to a stale, dying organization. I say, keep up the good work Mike, keep your course straight as you have been and there little innuendos will not hurt you or you good intensions. You are a more legitimate then that ever were or will be. Amen, keep up the good work! Pete Bennett Send ALL mail to: [email protected] Visit my "All American" Home Page at: http://members.fortunecity.com/petee77/ Chat with me I'm "Petee" on Microsoft Messenger From: "Mike" <[email protected]> Reply-To: "Mike" <[email protected]> To: [email protected] Subject: [PA-CAMERON] Genealogy Club/Historical Society update Date: Sat, 8 Nov 2003 01:19:08 -0500 Hi! I want to bring you up to speed with regards to "merging" the Genealogy Club with the Historical Society. At the recent Board Meeting a concern was raised regarding a letter dated Oct. 18 from a member of the Society warning against such a merger. I received a copy of the letter today and have written the following response. It is still unclear to me the concerns that this person wrote about. He presented 3 "strikes" against the merger. Strike 1 was regarding the Website providing free genealogy information. In my mind the Website has nothing to do with the Club merging with the Society. Strike 2 was the website posting of Beer's History which, in this person's mind, is total fiction. Strike 3 was something about some former member of the Society writing a book about Cameron County History using Beer's as a source. I still cannot not figure out what these 2 had to do with anything. There was also a fear of putting the total inventory of the museum on the internet which I sure do not have the time or interest to do. While I do not think that anyone on the Board will be swayed by this letter, I felt it necessary to respond as I have heard other "rumblings" regarding this issue. People resist change...even good change! Here is my response. We are meeting again in a couple of weeks and I will let you know what happens! November 7, 2003 John Kautz, President Cameron County Historical Society PO Box 433 Emporium, PA 15834 Dear John: I would like to take this opportunity to clarify some of the misconceptions in Paul Geleskie's letter of October 18th and to clear up any confusion and uneasiness that Members of the Society may have regarding this issue. First, there are two separate and distinct entities being confused as one- The Cameron County Genealogy Project and the Cameron County Genealogy Club. The Cameron County Genealogy Project is a website (http://www.rootsweb.com/~pacamero) devoted to Cameron County History and Genealogy. It is one of several thousand such websites hosted by Rootsweb.com. These county websites are devoted to free access to public information and are designed to help genealogy researchers access information they normally would not have access to because many of them do not live in the areas they are researching. It is a tool in a very unique phenomena of people freely sharing information; volunteering to search courthouses, cemeteries and libraries for strangers; and offering suggestions and direction in other people's research. There is no other place where such camaraderie exists amongst complete strangers involving millions of people. It is about people helping people in its purist form. It is a good thing. The Cameron County Genealogy Project attracts over 1000 visits a month, some 41,000 visits since January, 2000. The Project contains over 450 pages of Cameron County historical and public information with more being added monthly. This information has been freely transcribed and contributed to the Website by volunteers dedicated to preserving and sharing Cameron County History. Less than 20 pages of that information are J. H. Beer's History of Cameron County. We soon will have the entire book reproduced online. After receiving an email from Paul back in May of 2000, the Beer's page has had this disclaimer posted on it : "Disclaimer: It has been brought to our attention that not all of the information in Beer's History is completely accurate. Like all such resources, it is a good starting place, but you might want to double check the information for accuracy. Please let me know of any thing that you know is wrong and I will add notes to the offending section. All in all, the book makes for good reading!" A request to Paul for a list of known errors went unanswered. To date, no one has advised of any misinformation regarding their family history as found in the book. I do not understand how Mimzi Skinner's writings (assuming this is the reference in "Strike 3") fits into this as they are not reproduced or mentioned on the Website. The point to all of this is, there just is no way that the Genealogy Project can be "merged" with the Historical Society. In addition to the Website there is a separate E-mail List ([email protected]) with over 120 subscribers who are interested in Cameron County Genealogy and History. It is a place where people can request and share information and ideas, talk about Cameron County and more. It is from the subscribers of this list that the Cameron County Genealogy Club was born. After my return to Emporium, I was asked by many of these subscribers to please start a Genealogy Club where people could meet and share information on a regular basis. This need is not presently being fulfilled by the Historical Society. In fact a request to start a Club was turned down and we were told, after we started one on our own, that it would never last. To answer a question brought up at the recent Board Meeting, it is this reason that these people did not join the Historical Society on the outset. The Cameron County Genealogy Club was launched on March 1, 2003 with over 50 Charter Members and has met monthly ever since with an average of 20-25 people in attendance- some members travel over 150 miles! Membership has now grown to almost 70 people from all over the country and includes people who do not have access to the Internet. Minutes of each meeting are posted on the Club's Website so that non-local folks can participate in the Club. The Website (http://www.rootsweb.com/~pacamero/club.htm) is housed with the Project Website as a matter of convenience. Also posted on the Website is a list of surnames being researched and contact information for the people researching them. The stated purpose of the Club is as follows: 1. Education: To Provide speakers and/or classes to expose people to all of the many sources of information available both online and locally; techniques for recording and storing information; and any other "how to" genealogy topics. Educate the general population about our hobby with a regular article in the Echo(this was written pre-Endeavor). Provide speakers for local organizations and schools. Provide occasional Workshops to help new folks get into the hobby. 2. Exchange of Information: We see this as a way to help internet and non-internet people exchange information on the families they are researching. A monthly article in the Echo would help achieve this along with postings on the website and email list and if the circumstances warrant it- a newsletter. It would also be a great forum for helping each other with brick walls. 3. Sourcing Data: We would like to see as much local data online as possible. We feel that a dedicated group of Club members could accomplish a lot in that area. The Club would also be a place to share little known places to look for data and an opportunity for non-internet folks to share family photos and information on the internet. 4. Socializing: A great opportunity to share our success stories and to pal around with folks with similar interests. 5. Down the road we talked about the possibility of an annual event (picnic?), touring (reading?) cemeteries, visiting area museums, visiting a Family Research Center and more. We also talked about advertising our group in the surrounding counties since, as far as I know, nothing like this exists in the area. It is these folks who now wish to "merge" with the Cameron County Historical Society. They feel it will be a mutually beneficial existence. In actuality, they are asking for the Society to start a Genealogy Club. The Cameron County Genealogy Club would cease to exist. The present members would become Members of the Historical Society and members of the Cameron County Historical Society's Genealogy Club. The Society would benefit greatly from this. It would provide a monthly Historical Society program, increasing and promoting the Society's presence in the Community. It would instantly add a possible 60+ new members to the Society. Many of these new members would be active members and would become valuable assets to the Society as they volunteered to assist in Society projects. It is these people who network out in the world and would help attract new members and promote the Little Museum. The online presence of the Club would attract even more new members; increase attendance to the Little Museum and be an instant market for items the Society will sell in the future. All of this activity will not go unnoticed by the present Society Membership and the Community-at- large and will motivate them into more participation-people want to be a part of something happening! The main benefit for the present Club Members would be belonging to and supporting a prestigious organization with a reputation of preserving Cameron County History for some 80+ years. It will provide many of them the satisfaction of being directly involved with that preservation and the sharing of that history. Ultimately, they would benefit from access to the Society's holdings that were donated to the Society by past family members to be shared with future generations. They feel this will be a win-win situation. Lastly, there has never been an "intent of placing a catalog and images of the museum's inventory on the "world wide web." However, there is an intent of a presence for the Society and The Little Museum on the Internet. Such a presence will only increase attendance to the Museum and help reach new members. Such a website can be viewed at http://www.rootsweb.com/~pacamero/society.htm. Society and Museum exposure on the Genealogy Project Website and E-mail list this past year was directly responsible for no less than 60 of the people who visited the Museum this year, more than a dozen new members and the sale of about 20 of Ira Collin's books. A Society website could easily increase these figures next year and into the future. I hope that this will clear-up the misconceptions and will satisfy any confusion or uneasiness regarding the Genealogy Club. If you have any further questions, please do not hesitate to contact me. I am looking forward to our next meeting. Michael S. Wennin Coordinator Cameron County Genealogy Club County Coordinator - Cameron County Genealogy Project Member- Board of Directors - Cameron County Historical Society cc: Erwin Murray Jr. Pam Kautz Mary Louise Blumle Sandra Hornung Alvin Brown Marilyn Brown Pat Martin Tony Moscato Paul Geleskie Mike Wennin Come Visit the Cameron County Genealogy Project! http://www.rootsweb.com/~pacamero ==== PACAMERO Mailing List ==== Come Visit The Cameron County Genealogy Project http://www.rootsweb.com/~pacamero _________________________________________________________________ Great deals on high-speed Internet access as low as $26.95. https://broadband.msn.com (Prices may vary by service area.) ==== PACAMERO Mailing List ==== Celebrating Our 4th Year! Come check us out! http://www.rootsweb.com/~pacamero _________________________________________________________________ From Beethoven to the Rolling Stones, your favorite music is always playing on MSN Radio Plus. No ads, no talk. 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I know for a fact, the Historical Society has had previous problems getting everyone to agree to pretty much anything new. There are several members that would like some changes , but it usually gets voted down. Bernie ----- Original Message ----- From: "Patricia Wolfgang" <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Sunday, November 09, 2003 7:04 AM Subject: Re: [PA-CAMERON] Genealogy Club/Historical Society update > Mike, > I agree with Pete 100 %. Sometimes people do resist change because it is a > change. They are confortable in their old shoes! > Anyway, keep up the good work and know that the change will be good for both > the Historical Society and the Genealogy Club. > Patti > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Pete Bennett" <[email protected]> > To: <[email protected]> > Sent: Saturday, November 08, 2003 11:08 PM > Subject: Re: [PA-CAMERON] Genealogy Club/Historical Society update > > > > Mike, > > I think your response to Mr. Geleskie's three "strikes against the > > merger"says way more to address any issue what might be good or adverse > > reasons to facilitate a merger of the Genealogy Club with the Historical > > Society then the whole group of them might come up with all together. > > They've been looked on as "old phogies" for so long and your suggestions > > frightens them because you are bringing in new blood to a stale, dying > > organization. I say, keep up the good work Mike, keep your course > straight > > as you have been and there little innuendos will not hurt you or you good > > intensions. You are a more legitimate then that ever were or will be. > Amen, > > keep up the good work! > > Pete Bennett > > > > > > > > Send ALL mail to: [email protected] > > > > Visit my "All American" Home Page at: > > http://members.fortunecity.com/petee77/ > > > > Chat with me I'm "Petee" on Microsoft Messenger > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > From: "Mike" <[email protected]> > > Reply-To: "Mike" <[email protected]> > > To: [email protected] > > Subject: [PA-CAMERON] Genealogy Club/Historical Society update > > Date: Sat, 8 Nov 2003 01:19:08 -0500 > > > > Hi! > > > > I want to bring you up to speed with regards to "merging" the Genealogy > Club > > with the Historical Society. At the recent Board Meeting a concern was > > raised regarding a letter dated Oct. 18 from a member of the Society > warning > > against such a merger. I received a copy of the letter today and have > > written the following response. It is still unclear to me the concerns > that > > this person wrote about. He presented 3 "strikes" against the merger. > > Strike 1 was regarding the Website providing free genealogy information. > In > > my mind the Website has nothing to do with the Club merging with the > > Society. Strike 2 was the website posting of Beer's History which, in > this > > person's mind, is total fiction. Strike 3 was something about some former > > member of the Society writing a book about Cameron County History using > > Beer's as a source. I still cannot not figure out what these 2 had to do > > with anything. There was also a fear of putting the total inventory of > the > > museum on the internet which I sure do not have the time or interest to > do. > > While I do not think that anyone on the Board will be swayed by this > letter, > > I felt it necessary to respond as I have heard other "rumblings" regarding > > this issue. People resist change...even good change! > > > > Here is my response. We are meeting again in a couple of weeks and I will > > let you know what happens! > > > > November 7, 2003 > > > > John Kautz, President > > Cameron County Historical Society > > PO Box 433 > > Emporium, PA 15834 > > > > Dear John: > > > > I would like to take this opportunity to clarify some of the > misconceptions > > in Paul Geleskie's letter of October 18th and to clear up any confusion > and > > uneasiness that Members of the Society may have regarding this issue. > > > > First, there are two separate and distinct entities being confused as one- > > The Cameron County Genealogy Project and the Cameron County Genealogy > Club. > > The Cameron County Genealogy Project is a website > > (http://www.rootsweb.com/~pacamero) devoted to Cameron County History and > > Genealogy. It is one of several thousand such websites hosted by > > Rootsweb.com. These county websites are devoted to free access to public > > information and are designed to help genealogy researchers access > > information they normally would not have access to because many of them do > > not live in the areas they are researching. It is a tool in a very unique > > phenomena of people freely sharing information; volunteering to search > > courthouses, cemeteries and libraries for strangers; and offering > > suggestions and direction in other people's research. There is no other > > place where such camaraderie exists amongst complete strangers involving > > millions of people. It is about people helping people in its purist form. > It > > is a good thing. > > > > The Cameron County Genealogy Project attracts over 1000 visits a month, > some > > 41,000 visits since January, 2000. The Project contains over 450 pages of > > Cameron County historical and public information with more being added > > monthly. This information has been freely transcribed and contributed to > the > > Website by volunteers dedicated to preserving and sharing Cameron County > > History. Less than 20 pages of that information are J. H. Beer's History > > of Cameron County. We soon will have the entire book reproduced online. > > After receiving an email from Paul back in May of 2000, the Beer's page > has > > had this disclaimer posted on it : "Disclaimer: It has been brought to our > > attention that not all of the information in Beer's History is completely > > accurate. Like all such resources, it is a good starting place, but you > > might want to double check the information for accuracy. Please let me > know > > of any thing that you know is wrong and I will add notes to the offending > > section. All in all, the book makes for good reading!" A request to Paul > > for a list of known errors went unanswered. To date, no one has advised of > > any misinformation regarding their family history as found in the book. I > > do not understand how Mimzi Skinner's writings (assuming this is the > > reference in "Strike 3") fits into this as they are not reproduced or > > mentioned on the Website. The point to all of this is, there just is no > > way that the Genealogy Project can be "merged" with the Historical > Society. > > > > In addition to the Website there is a separate E-mail List > > ([email protected]) with over 120 subscribers who are interested in > > Cameron County Genealogy and History. It is a place where people can > request > > and share information and ideas, talk about Cameron County and more. It > is > > from the subscribers of this list that the Cameron County Genealogy Club > was > > born. After my return to Emporium, I was asked by many of these > subscribers > > to please start a Genealogy Club where people could meet and share > > information on a regular basis. This need is not presently being > fulfilled > > by the Historical Society. In fact a request to start a Club was turned > down > > and we were told, after we started one on our own, that it would never > last. > > To answer a question brought up at the recent Board Meeting, it is this > > reason that these people did not join the Historical Society on the > outset. > > > > The Cameron County Genealogy Club was launched on March 1, 2003 with over > 50 > > Charter Members and has met monthly ever since with an average of 20-25 > > people in attendance- some members travel over 150 miles! Membership has > now > > grown to almost 70 people from all over the country and includes people > who > > do not have access to the Internet. Minutes of each meeting are posted on > > the Club's Website so that non-local folks can participate in the Club. > The > > Website (http://www.rootsweb.com/~pacamero/club.htm) is housed with the > > Project Website as a matter of convenience. Also posted on the Website is > a > > list of surnames being researched and contact information for the people > > researching them. > > > > The stated purpose of the Club is as follows: > > > > 1. Education: To Provide speakers and/or classes to expose people to all > of > > the many sources of information available both online and locally; > > techniques for recording and storing information; and any other "how to" > > genealogy topics. Educate the general population about our hobby with a > > regular article in the Echo(this was written pre-Endeavor). Provide > speakers > > for local organizations and > > schools. Provide occasional Workshops to help new folks get into the > hobby. > > > > 2. Exchange of Information: We see this as a way to help internet and > > non-internet people exchange information on the families they are > > researching. A monthly article in the Echo would help achieve this along > > with postings on the website and email list and if the circumstances > warrant > > it- a newsletter. It would also be a great forum for helping each other > with > > brick walls. > > > > 3. Sourcing Data: We would like to see as much local data online as > > possible. We feel that a dedicated group of Club members could accomplish > a > > lot in that area. The Club would also be a place to share little known > > places to look for data and an opportunity for non-internet folks to share > > family photos and information on the internet. > > > > 4. Socializing: A great opportunity to share our success stories and to > pal > > around with folks with similar interests. > > > > 5. Down the road we talked about the possibility of an annual event > > (picnic?), touring (reading?) cemeteries, visiting area museums, visiting > a > > Family Research Center and more. We also talked about advertising our > group > > in the surrounding counties since, as far as I know, nothing like this > > exists in the area. > > > > It is these folks who now wish to "merge" with the Cameron County > Historical > > Society. They feel it will be a mutually beneficial existence. > > In actuality, they are asking for the Society to start a Genealogy Club. > > The Cameron County Genealogy Club would cease to exist. The present > members > > would become Members of the Historical Society and members of the Cameron > > County Historical Society's Genealogy Club. The Society would benefit > > greatly from this. It would provide a monthly Historical Society program, > > increasing and promoting the Society's presence in the Community. It would > > instantly add a possible 60+ new members to the Society. Many of these > new > > members would be active members and would become valuable assets to the > > Society as they volunteered to assist in Society projects. It is these > > people who network out in the world and would help attract new members and > > promote the Little Museum. The online presence of the Club would attract > > even more new members; increase attendance to the Little Museum and be an > > instant market for items the Society will sell in the future. All of this > > activity will not go unnoticed by the present Society Membership and the > > Community-at- large and will motivate them into more participation-people > > want to be a part of something happening! > > > > The main benefit for the present Club Members would be belonging to and > > supporting a prestigious organization with a reputation of preserving > > Cameron County History for some 80+ years. It will provide many of them > the > > satisfaction of being directly involved with that preservation and the > > sharing of that history. Ultimately, they would benefit from access to the > > Society's holdings that were donated to the Society by past family members > > to be shared with future generations. They feel this will be a win-win > > situation. > > > > Lastly, there has never been an "intent of placing a catalog and images of > > the museum's inventory on the "world wide web." However, there is an > intent > > of a presence for the Society and The Little Museum on the Internet. Such > a > > presence will only increase attendance to the Museum and help reach new > > members. Such a website can be viewed at > > http://www.rootsweb.com/~pacamero/society.htm. > > > > Society and Museum exposure on the Genealogy Project Website and E-mail > list > > this past year was directly responsible for no less than 60 of the people > > who visited the Museum this year, more than a dozen new members and the > sale > > of about 20 of Ira Collin's books. A Society website could easily increase > > these figures next year and into the future. > > > > I hope that this will clear-up the misconceptions and will satisfy any > > confusion or uneasiness regarding the Genealogy Club. If you have any > > further questions, please do not hesitate to contact me. I am looking > > forward to our next meeting. > > > > > > > > Michael S. Wennin > > Coordinator Cameron County Genealogy Club > > County Coordinator - Cameron County Genealogy Project > > Member- Board of Directors - Cameron County Historical Society > > > > cc: Erwin Murray Jr. > > Pam Kautz > > Mary Louise Blumle > > Sandra Hornung > > Alvin Brown > > Marilyn Brown > > Pat Martin > > Tony Moscato > > Paul Geleskie > > > > Mike Wennin > > Come Visit the Cameron County Genealogy Project! > > http://www.rootsweb.com/~pacamero > > > > > > > > ==== PACAMERO Mailing List ==== > > Come Visit The Cameron County Genealogy Project > > http://www.rootsweb.com/~pacamero > > > > _________________________________________________________________ > > Great deals on high-speed Internet access as low as $26.95. > > https://broadband.msn.com (Prices may vary by service area.) > > > > > > ==== PACAMERO Mailing List ==== > > Celebrating Our 4th Year! Come check us out! > > http://www.rootsweb.com/~pacamero > > > > > > > ==== PACAMERO Mailing List ==== > If you wish to leave PACAMERO-L, send mail to [email protected] with the single word unsubscribe in the message subject and body. To leave PACAMERO-D, do the same thing with [email protected] > > >

Mike, I agree with Pete 100 %. Sometimes people do resist change because it is a change. They are confortable in their old shoes! Anyway, keep up the good work and know that the change will be good for both the Historical Society and the Genealogy Club. Patti ----- Original Message ----- From: "Pete Bennett" <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Saturday, November 08, 2003 11:08 PM Subject: Re: [PA-CAMERON] Genealogy Club/Historical Society update > Mike, > I think your response to Mr. Geleskie's three "strikes against the > merger"says way more to address any issue what might be good or adverse > reasons to facilitate a merger of the Genealogy Club with the Historical > Society then the whole group of them might come up with all together. > They've been looked on as "old phogies" for so long and your suggestions > frightens them because you are bringing in new blood to a stale, dying > organization. I say, keep up the good work Mike, keep your course straight > as you have been and there little innuendos will not hurt you or you good > intensions. You are a more legitimate then that ever were or will be. Amen, > keep up the good work! > Pete Bennett > > > > Send ALL mail to: [email protected] > > Visit my "All American" Home Page at: > http://members.fortunecity.com/petee77/ > > Chat with me I'm "Petee" on Microsoft Messenger > > > > > > > > > > From: "Mike" <[email protected]> > Reply-To: "Mike" <[email protected]> > To: [email protected] > Subject: [PA-CAMERON] Genealogy Club/Historical Society update > Date: Sat, 8 Nov 2003 01:19:08 -0500 > > Hi! > > I want to bring you up to speed with regards to "merging" the Genealogy Club > with the Historical Society. At the recent Board Meeting a concern was > raised regarding a letter dated Oct. 18 from a member of the Society warning > against such a merger. I received a copy of the letter today and have > written the following response. It is still unclear to me the concerns that > this person wrote about. He presented 3 "strikes" against the merger. > Strike 1 was regarding the Website providing free genealogy information. In > my mind the Website has nothing to do with the Club merging with the > Society. Strike 2 was the website posting of Beer's History which, in this > person's mind, is total fiction. Strike 3 was something about some former > member of the Society writing a book about Cameron County History using > Beer's as a source. I still cannot not figure out what these 2 had to do > with anything. There was also a fear of putting the total inventory of the > museum on the internet which I sure do not have the time or interest to do. > While I do not think that anyone on the Board will be swayed by this letter, > I felt it necessary to respond as I have heard other "rumblings" regarding > this issue. People resist change...even good change! > > Here is my response. We are meeting again in a couple of weeks and I will > let you know what happens! > > November 7, 2003 > > John Kautz, President > Cameron County Historical Society > PO Box 433 > Emporium, PA 15834 > > Dear John: > > I would like to take this opportunity to clarify some of the misconceptions > in Paul Geleskie's letter of October 18th and to clear up any confusion and > uneasiness that Members of the Society may have regarding this issue. > > First, there are two separate and distinct entities being confused as one- > The Cameron County Genealogy Project and the Cameron County Genealogy Club. > The Cameron County Genealogy Project is a website > (http://www.rootsweb.com/~pacamero) devoted to Cameron County History and > Genealogy. It is one of several thousand such websites hosted by > Rootsweb.com. These county websites are devoted to free access to public > information and are designed to help genealogy researchers access > information they normally would not have access to because many of them do > not live in the areas they are researching. It is a tool in a very unique > phenomena of people freely sharing information; volunteering to search > courthouses, cemeteries and libraries for strangers; and offering > suggestions and direction in other people's research. There is no other > place where such camaraderie exists amongst complete strangers involving > millions of people. It is about people helping people in its purist form. It > is a good thing. > > The Cameron County Genealogy Project attracts over 1000 visits a month, some > 41,000 visits since January, 2000. The Project contains over 450 pages of > Cameron County historical and public information with more being added > monthly. This information has been freely transcribed and contributed to the > Website by volunteers dedicated to preserving and sharing Cameron County > History. Less than 20 pages of that information are J. H. Beer's History > of Cameron County. We soon will have the entire book reproduced online. > After receiving an email from Paul back in May of 2000, the Beer's page has > had this disclaimer posted on it : "Disclaimer: It has been brought to our > attention that not all of the information in Beer's History is completely > accurate. Like all such resources, it is a good starting place, but you > might want to double check the information for accuracy. Please let me know > of any thing that you know is wrong and I will add notes to the offending > section. All in all, the book makes for good reading!" A request to Paul > for a list of known errors went unanswered. To date, no one has advised of > any misinformation regarding their family history as found in the book. I > do not understand how Mimzi Skinner's writings (assuming this is the > reference in "Strike 3") fits into this as they are not reproduced or > mentioned on the Website. The point to all of this is, there just is no > way that the Genealogy Project can be "merged" with the Historical Society. > > In addition to the Website there is a separate E-mail List > ([email protected]) with over 120 subscribers who are interested in > Cameron County Genealogy and History. It is a place where people can request > and share information and ideas, talk about Cameron County and more. It is > from the subscribers of this list that the Cameron County Genealogy Club was > born. After my return to Emporium, I was asked by many of these subscribers > to please start a Genealogy Club where people could meet and share > information on a regular basis. This need is not presently being fulfilled > by the Historical Society. In fact a request to start a Club was turned down > and we were told, after we started one on our own, that it would never last. > To answer a question brought up at the recent Board Meeting, it is this > reason that these people did not join the Historical Society on the outset. > > The Cameron County Genealogy Club was launched on March 1, 2003 with over 50 > Charter Members and has met monthly ever since with an average of 20-25 > people in attendance- some members travel over 150 miles! Membership has now > grown to almost 70 people from all over the country and includes people who > do not have access to the Internet. Minutes of each meeting are posted on > the Club's Website so that non-local folks can participate in the Club. The > Website (http://www.rootsweb.com/~pacamero/club.htm) is housed with the > Project Website as a matter of convenience. Also posted on the Website is a > list of surnames being researched and contact information for the people > researching them. > > The stated purpose of the Club is as follows: > > 1. Education: To Provide speakers and/or classes to expose people to all of > the many sources of information available both online and locally; > techniques for recording and storing information; and any other "how to" > genealogy topics. Educate the general population about our hobby with a > regular article in the Echo(this was written pre-Endeavor). Provide speakers > for local organizations and > schools. Provide occasional Workshops to help new folks get into the hobby. > > 2. Exchange of Information: We see this as a way to help internet and > non-internet people exchange information on the families they are > researching. A monthly article in the Echo would help achieve this along > with postings on the website and email list and if the circumstances warrant > it- a newsletter. It would also be a great forum for helping each other with > brick walls. > > 3. Sourcing Data: We would like to see as much local data online as > possible. We feel that a dedicated group of Club members could accomplish a > lot in that area. The Club would also be a place to share little known > places to look for data and an opportunity for non-internet folks to share > family photos and information on the internet. > > 4. Socializing: A great opportunity to share our success stories and to pal > around with folks with similar interests. > > 5. Down the road we talked about the possibility of an annual event > (picnic?), touring (reading?) cemeteries, visiting area museums, visiting a > Family Research Center and more. We also talked about advertising our group > in the surrounding counties since, as far as I know, nothing like this > exists in the area. > > It is these folks who now wish to "merge" with the Cameron County Historical > Society. They feel it will be a mutually beneficial existence. > In actuality, they are asking for the Society to start a Genealogy Club. > The Cameron County Genealogy Club would cease to exist. The present members > would become Members of the Historical Society and members of the Cameron > County Historical Society's Genealogy Club. The Society would benefit > greatly from this. It would provide a monthly Historical Society program, > increasing and promoting the Society's presence in the Community. It would > instantly add a possible 60+ new members to the Society. Many of these new > members would be active members and would become valuable assets to the > Society as they volunteered to assist in Society projects. It is these > people who network out in the world and would help attract new members and > promote the Little Museum. The online presence of the Club would attract > even more new members; increase attendance to the Little Museum and be an > instant market for items the Society will sell in the future. All of this > activity will not go unnoticed by the present Society Membership and the > Community-at- large and will motivate them into more participation-people > want to be a part of something happening! > > The main benefit for the present Club Members would be belonging to and > supporting a prestigious organization with a reputation of preserving > Cameron County History for some 80+ years. It will provide many of them the > satisfaction of being directly involved with that preservation and the > sharing of that history. Ultimately, they would benefit from access to the > Society's holdings that were donated to the Society by past family members > to be shared with future generations. They feel this will be a win-win > situation. > > Lastly, there has never been an "intent of placing a catalog and images of > the museum's inventory on the "world wide web." However, there is an intent > of a presence for the Society and The Little Museum on the Internet. Such a > presence will only increase attendance to the Museum and help reach new > members. Such a website can be viewed at > http://www.rootsweb.com/~pacamero/society.htm. > > Society and Museum exposure on the Genealogy Project Website and E-mail list > this past year was directly responsible for no less than 60 of the people > who visited the Museum this year, more than a dozen new members and the sale > of about 20 of Ira Collin's books. A Society website could easily increase > these figures next year and into the future. > > I hope that this will clear-up the misconceptions and will satisfy any > confusion or uneasiness regarding the Genealogy Club. If you have any > further questions, please do not hesitate to contact me. I am looking > forward to our next meeting. > > > > Michael S. Wennin > Coordinator Cameron County Genealogy Club > County Coordinator - Cameron County Genealogy Project > Member- Board of Directors - Cameron County Historical Society > > cc: Erwin Murray Jr. > Pam Kautz > Mary Louise Blumle > Sandra Hornung > Alvin Brown > Marilyn Brown > Pat Martin > Tony Moscato > Paul Geleskie > > Mike Wennin > Come Visit the Cameron County Genealogy Project! > http://www.rootsweb.com/~pacamero > > > > ==== PACAMERO Mailing List ==== > Come Visit The Cameron County Genealogy Project > http://www.rootsweb.com/~pacamero > > _________________________________________________________________ > Great deals on high-speed Internet access as low as $26.95. > https://broadband.msn.com (Prices may vary by service area.) > > > ==== PACAMERO Mailing List ==== > Celebrating Our 4th Year! Come check us out! > http://www.rootsweb.com/~pacamero >

Mike, I think your response to Mr. Geleskie's three "strikes against the merger"says way more to address any issue what might be good or adverse reasons to facilitate a merger of the Genealogy Club with the Historical Society then the whole group of them might come up with all together. They've been looked on as "old phogies" for so long and your suggestions frightens them because you are bringing in new blood to a stale, dying organization. I say, keep up the good work Mike, keep your course straight as you have been and there little innuendos will not hurt you or you good intensions. You are a more legitimate then that ever were or will be. Amen, keep up the good work! Pete Bennett Send ALL mail to: [email protected] Visit my "All American" Home Page at: http://members.fortunecity.com/petee77/ Chat with me I'm "Petee" on Microsoft Messenger From: "Mike" <[email protected]> Reply-To: "Mike" <[email protected]> To: [email protected] Subject: [PA-CAMERON] Genealogy Club/Historical Society update Date: Sat, 8 Nov 2003 01:19:08 -0500 Hi! I want to bring you up to speed with regards to "merging" the Genealogy Club with the Historical Society. At the recent Board Meeting a concern was raised regarding a letter dated Oct. 18 from a member of the Society warning against such a merger. I received a copy of the letter today and have written the following response. It is still unclear to me the concerns that this person wrote about. He presented 3 "strikes" against the merger. Strike 1 was regarding the Website providing free genealogy information. In my mind the Website has nothing to do with the Club merging with the Society. Strike 2 was the website posting of Beer's History which, in this person's mind, is total fiction. Strike 3 was something about some former member of the Society writing a book about Cameron County History using Beer's as a source. I still cannot not figure out what these 2 had to do with anything. There was also a fear of putting the total inventory of the museum on the internet which I sure do not have the time or interest to do. While I do not think that anyone on the Board will be swayed by this letter, I felt it necessary to respond as I have heard other "rumblings" regarding this issue. People resist change...even good change! Here is my response. We are meeting again in a couple of weeks and I will let you know what happens! November 7, 2003 John Kautz, President Cameron County Historical Society PO Box 433 Emporium, PA 15834 Dear John: I would like to take this opportunity to clarify some of the misconceptions in Paul Geleskie's letter of October 18th and to clear up any confusion and uneasiness that Members of the Society may have regarding this issue. First, there are two separate and distinct entities being confused as one- The Cameron County Genealogy Project and the Cameron County Genealogy Club. The Cameron County Genealogy Project is a website (http://www.rootsweb.com/~pacamero) devoted to Cameron County History and Genealogy. It is one of several thousand such websites hosted by Rootsweb.com. These county websites are devoted to free access to public information and are designed to help genealogy researchers access information they normally would not have access to because many of them do not live in the areas they are researching. It is a tool in a very unique phenomena of people freely sharing information; volunteering to search courthouses, cemeteries and libraries for strangers; and offering suggestions and direction in other people's research. There is no other place where such camaraderie exists amongst complete strangers involving millions of people. It is about people helping people in its purist form. It is a good thing. The Cameron County Genealogy Project attracts over 1000 visits a month, some 41,000 visits since January, 2000. The Project contains over 450 pages of Cameron County historical and public information with more being added monthly. This information has been freely transcribed and contributed to the Website by volunteers dedicated to preserving and sharing Cameron County History. Less than 20 pages of that information are J. H. Beer's History of Cameron County. We soon will have the entire book reproduced online. After receiving an email from Paul back in May of 2000, the Beer's page has had this disclaimer posted on it : "Disclaimer: It has been brought to our attention that not all of the information in Beer's History is completely accurate. Like all such resources, it is a good starting place, but you might want to double check the information for accuracy. Please let me know of any thing that you know is wrong and I will add notes to the offending section. All in all, the book makes for good reading!" A request to Paul for a list of known errors went unanswered. To date, no one has advised of any misinformation regarding their family history as found in the book. I do not understand how Mimzi Skinner's writings (assuming this is the reference in "Strike 3") fits into this as they are not reproduced or mentioned on the Website. The point to all of this is, there just is no way that the Genealogy Project can be "merged" with the Historical Society. In addition to the Website there is a separate E-mail List ([email protected]) with over 120 subscribers who are interested in Cameron County Genealogy and History. It is a place where people can request and share information and ideas, talk about Cameron County and more. It is from the subscribers of this list that the Cameron County Genealogy Club was born. After my return to Emporium, I was asked by many of these subscribers to please start a Genealogy Club where people could meet and share information on a regular basis. This need is not presently being fulfilled by the Historical Society. In fact a request to start a Club was turned down and we were told, after we started one on our own, that it would never last. To answer a question brought up at the recent Board Meeting, it is this reason that these people did not join the Historical Society on the outset. The Cameron County Genealogy Club was launched on March 1, 2003 with over 50 Charter Members and has met monthly ever since with an average of 20-25 people in attendance- some members travel over 150 miles! Membership has now grown to almost 70 people from all over the country and includes people who do not have access to the Internet. Minutes of each meeting are posted on the Club's Website so that non-local folks can participate in the Club. The Website (http://www.rootsweb.com/~pacamero/club.htm) is housed with the Project Website as a matter of convenience. Also posted on the Website is a list of surnames being researched and contact information for the people researching them. The stated purpose of the Club is as follows: 1. Education: To Provide speakers and/or classes to expose people to all of the many sources of information available both online and locally; techniques for recording and storing information; and any other "how to" genealogy topics. Educate the general population about our hobby with a regular article in the Echo(this was written pre-Endeavor). Provide speakers for local organizations and schools. Provide occasional Workshops to help new folks get into the hobby. 2. Exchange of Information: We see this as a way to help internet and non-internet people exchange information on the families they are researching. A monthly article in the Echo would help achieve this along with postings on the website and email list and if the circumstances warrant it- a newsletter. It would also be a great forum for helping each other with brick walls. 3. Sourcing Data: We would like to see as much local data online as possible. We feel that a dedicated group of Club members could accomplish a lot in that area. The Club would also be a place to share little known places to look for data and an opportunity for non-internet folks to share family photos and information on the internet. 4. Socializing: A great opportunity to share our success stories and to pal around with folks with similar interests. 5. Down the road we talked about the possibility of an annual event (picnic?), touring (reading?) cemeteries, visiting area museums, visiting a Family Research Center and more. We also talked about advertising our group in the surrounding counties since, as far as I know, nothing like this exists in the area. It is these folks who now wish to "merge" with the Cameron County Historical Society. They feel it will be a mutually beneficial existence. In actuality, they are asking for the Society to start a Genealogy Club. The Cameron County Genealogy Club would cease to exist. The present members would become Members of the Historical Society and members of the Cameron County Historical Society's Genealogy Club. The Society would benefit greatly from this. It would provide a monthly Historical Society program, increasing and promoting the Society's presence in the Community. It would instantly add a possible 60+ new members to the Society. Many of these new members would be active members and would become valuable assets to the Society as they volunteered to assist in Society projects. It is these people who network out in the world and would help attract new members and promote the Little Museum. The online presence of the Club would attract even more new members; increase attendance to the Little Museum and be an instant market for items the Society will sell in the future. All of this activity will not go unnoticed by the present Society Membership and the Community-at- large and will motivate them into more participation-people want to be a part of something happening! The main benefit for the present Club Members would be belonging to and supporting a prestigious organization with a reputation of preserving Cameron County History for some 80+ years. It will provide many of them the satisfaction of being directly involved with that preservation and the sharing of that history. Ultimately, they would benefit from access to the Society's holdings that were donated to the Society by past family members to be shared with future generations. They feel this will be a win-win situation. Lastly, there has never been an "intent of placing a catalog and images of the museum's inventory on the "world wide web." However, there is an intent of a presence for the Society and The Little Museum on the Internet. Such a presence will only increase attendance to the Museum and help reach new members. Such a website can be viewed at http://www.rootsweb.com/~pacamero/society.htm. Society and Museum exposure on the Genealogy Project Website and E-mail list this past year was directly responsible for no less than 60 of the people who visited the Museum this year, more than a dozen new members and the sale of about 20 of Ira Collin's books. A Society website could easily increase these figures next year and into the future. I hope that this will clear-up the misconceptions and will satisfy any confusion or uneasiness regarding the Genealogy Club. If you have any further questions, please do not hesitate to contact me. I am looking forward to our next meeting. Michael S. Wennin Coordinator Cameron County Genealogy Club County Coordinator - Cameron County Genealogy Project Member- Board of Directors - Cameron County Historical Society cc: Erwin Murray Jr. Pam Kautz Mary Louise Blumle Sandra Hornung Alvin Brown Marilyn Brown Pat Martin Tony Moscato Paul Geleskie Mike Wennin Come Visit the Cameron County Genealogy Project! http://www.rootsweb.com/~pacamero ==== PACAMERO Mailing List ==== Come Visit The Cameron County Genealogy Project http://www.rootsweb.com/~pacamero _________________________________________________________________ Great deals on high-speed Internet access as low as $26.95. https://broadband.msn.com (Prices may vary by service area.)

Hi! I want to bring you up to speed with regards to "merging" the Genealogy Club with the Historical Society. At the recent Board Meeting a concern was raised regarding a letter dated Oct. 18 from a member of the Society warning against such a merger. I received a copy of the letter today and have written the following response. It is still unclear to me the concerns that this person wrote about. He presented 3 "strikes" against the merger. Strike 1 was regarding the Website providing free genealogy information. In my mind the Website has nothing to do with the Club merging with the Society. Strike 2 was the website posting of Beer's History which, in this person's mind, is total fiction. Strike 3 was something about some former member of the Society writing a book about Cameron County History using Beer's as a source. I still cannot not figure out what these 2 had to do with anything. There was also a fear of putting the total inventory of the museum on the internet which I sure do not have the time or interest to do. While I do not think that anyone on the Board will be swayed by this letter, I felt it necessary to respond as I have heard other "rumblings" regarding this issue. People resist change...even good change! Here is my response. We are meeting again in a couple of weeks and I will let you know what happens! November 7, 2003 John Kautz, President Cameron County Historical Society PO Box 433 Emporium, PA 15834 Dear John: I would like to take this opportunity to clarify some of the misconceptions in Paul Geleskie's letter of October 18th and to clear up any confusion and uneasiness that Members of the Society may have regarding this issue. First, there are two separate and distinct entities being confused as one- The Cameron County Genealogy Project and the Cameron County Genealogy Club. The Cameron County Genealogy Project is a website (http://www.rootsweb.com/~pacamero) devoted to Cameron County History and Genealogy. It is one of several thousand such websites hosted by Rootsweb.com. These county websites are devoted to free access to public information and are designed to help genealogy researchers access information they normally would not have access to because many of them do not live in the areas they are researching. It is a tool in a very unique phenomena of people freely sharing information; volunteering to search courthouses, cemeteries and libraries for strangers; and offering suggestions and direction in other people's research. There is no other place where such camaraderie exists amongst complete strangers involving millions of people. It is about people helping people in its purist form. It is a good thing. The Cameron County Genealogy Project attracts over 1000 visits a month, some 41,000 visits since January, 2000. The Project contains over 450 pages of Cameron County historical and public information with more being added monthly. This information has been freely transcribed and contributed to the Website by volunteers dedicated to preserving and sharing Cameron County History. Less than 20 pages of that information are J. H. Beer's History of Cameron County. We soon will have the entire book reproduced online. After receiving an email from Paul back in May of 2000, the Beer's page has had this disclaimer posted on it : "Disclaimer: It has been brought to our attention that not all of the information in Beer's History is completely accurate. Like all such resources, it is a good starting place, but you might want to double check the information for accuracy. Please let me know of any thing that you know is wrong and I will add notes to the offending section. All in all, the book makes for good reading!" A request to Paul for a list of known errors went unanswered. To date, no one has advised of any misinformation regarding their family history as found in the book. I do not understand how Mimzi Skinner's writings (assuming this is the reference in "Strike 3") fits into this as they are not reproduced or mentioned on the Website. The point to all of this is, there just is no way that the Genealogy Project can be "merged" with the Historical Society. In addition to the Website there is a separate E-mail List ([email protected]) with over 120 subscribers who are interested in Cameron County Genealogy and History. It is a place where people can request and share information and ideas, talk about Cameron County and more. It is from the subscribers of this list that the Cameron County Genealogy Club was born. After my return to Emporium, I was asked by many of these subscribers to please start a Genealogy Club where people could meet and share information on a regular basis. This need is not presently being fulfilled by the Historical Society. In fact a request to start a Club was turned down and we were told, after we started one on our own, that it would never last. To answer a question brought up at the recent Board Meeting, it is this reason that these people did not join the Historical Society on the outset. The Cameron County Genealogy Club was launched on March 1, 2003 with over 50 Charter Members and has met monthly ever since with an average of 20-25 people in attendance- some members travel over 150 miles! Membership has now grown to almost 70 people from all over the country and includes people who do not have access to the Internet. Minutes of each meeting are posted on the Club's Website so that non-local folks can participate in the Club. The Website (http://www.rootsweb.com/~pacamero/club.htm) is housed with the Project Website as a matter of convenience. Also posted on the Website is a list of surnames being researched and contact information for the people researching them. The stated purpose of the Club is as follows: 1. Education: To Provide speakers and/or classes to expose people to all of the many sources of information available both online and locally; techniques for recording and storing information; and any other "how to" genealogy topics. Educate the general population about our hobby with a regular article in the Echo(this was written pre-Endeavor). Provide speakers for local organizations and schools. Provide occasional Workshops to help new folks get into the hobby. 2. Exchange of Information: We see this as a way to help internet and non-internet people exchange information on the families they are researching. A monthly article in the Echo would help achieve this along with postings on the website and email list and if the circumstances warrant it- a newsletter. It would also be a great forum for helping each other with brick walls. 3. Sourcing Data: We would like to see as much local data online as possible. We feel that a dedicated group of Club members could accomplish a lot in that area. The Club would also be a place to share little known places to look for data and an opportunity for non-internet folks to share family photos and information on the internet. 4. Socializing: A great opportunity to share our success stories and to pal around with folks with similar interests. 5. Down the road we talked about the possibility of an annual event (picnic?), touring (reading?) cemeteries, visiting area museums, visiting a Family Research Center and more. We also talked about advertising our group in the surrounding counties since, as far as I know, nothing like this exists in the area. It is these folks who now wish to "merge" with the Cameron County Historical Society. They feel it will be a mutually beneficial existence. In actuality, they are asking for the Society to start a Genealogy Club. The Cameron County Genealogy Club would cease to exist. The present members would become Members of the Historical Society and members of the Cameron County Historical Society's Genealogy Club. The Society would benefit greatly from this. It would provide a monthly Historical Society program, increasing and promoting the Society's presence in the Community. It would instantly add a possible 60+ new members to the Society. Many of these new members would be active members and would become valuable assets to the Society as they volunteered to assist in Society projects. It is these people who network out in the world and would help attract new members and promote the Little Museum. The online presence of the Club would attract even more new members; increase attendance to the Little Museum and be an instant market for items the Society will sell in the future. All of this activity will not go unnoticed by the present Society Membership and the Community-at- large and will motivate them into more participation-people want to be a part of something happening! The main benefit for the present Club Members would be belonging to and supporting a prestigious organization with a reputation of preserving Cameron County History for some 80+ years. It will provide many of them the satisfaction of being directly involved with that preservation and the sharing of that history. Ultimately, they would benefit from access to the Society's holdings that were donated to the Society by past family members to be shared with future generations. They feel this will be a win-win situation. Lastly, there has never been an "intent of placing a catalog and images of the museum's inventory on the "world wide web." However, there is an intent of a presence for the Society and The Little Museum on the Internet. Such a presence will only increase attendance to the Museum and help reach new members. Such a website can be viewed at http://www.rootsweb.com/~pacamero/society.htm. Society and Museum exposure on the Genealogy Project Website and E-mail list this past year was directly responsible for no less than 60 of the people who visited the Museum this year, more than a dozen new members and the sale of about 20 of Ira Collin's books. A Society website could easily increase these figures next year and into the future. I hope that this will clear-up the misconceptions and will satisfy any confusion or uneasiness regarding the Genealogy Club. If you have any further questions, please do not hesitate to contact me. I am looking forward to our next meeting. Michael S. Wennin Coordinator Cameron County Genealogy Club County Coordinator - Cameron County Genealogy Project Member- Board of Directors - Cameron County Historical Society cc: Erwin Murray Jr. Pam Kautz Mary Louise Blumle Sandra Hornung Alvin Brown Marilyn Brown Pat Martin Tony Moscato Paul Geleskie Mike Wennin Come Visit the Cameron County Genealogy Project! http://www.rootsweb.com/~pacamero

The Sons of Confederate Veterans are forming the General Josiah Gorgas Camp in State College that will serve this area. Thousands of Pennsylvanians served in the Confederate military and it is the purpose of this organization to honor them. More information can be seen on their website at http://scv.duminiak.com/Gorgas/ Through a generous donation, membership for this year will be free. If you have a Confederate soldier in your family you may become a member of the SCV. Membership is restricted to men over the age of 12. The SCV is strictly a Heritage organization honoring Confederate Soldiers and does not participate in any political or racial agendas. If you know of anyone interested in something like this, please forward this to them. Mike Wennin Come Visit the Cameron County Genealogy Project! http://www.rootsweb.com/~pacamero

Two days ago, on what is probably the most beautiful day we have had this fall, I was driving back from Dividing Ridge Road on top of 4-mile road where Pete and I had been hiking. Dividing Ridge Road is another easy walk, and so once again the dog got to go, too. As many times as I have ridden up that way , it was the first time I noticed the cemetary. Well, everything is so bare this time of year. It was the Russell cemetary. I suppose their farm stood on that land, and as you look around, you try to imagine what it was like and what life was like for them. All this history is so interesting, to bad we can't step back in time, even for a few hours. Life was hard, and all the babies and young children that are buried in those cemetaries. So sad for them.... Well, I wondered if Mike had located that one and as soon as I got home, I checked. There it was already listed on the site. There is no getting ahead of you guys! You have already discovered everything. You have a ton of info and are truely amazing. Once again, what a great job you all do! Bernie

I found a picture of Jack Miller and Mary Logue in my mother's album. If anyone is interested, I'll try to scan it in and send it to them. Marie

Cleary, Thomas head rents male white 72 married 1868 NA 1871 able to R&W IRE IRE IRE speaks English no occupation listed

If anyone out there has access to Ancestry.com for the US Census Records, could I beg a favor. I need all the information on the line from Emporium Borough, Cameron County for the 1920 US Census for: Thomas Cleary, (wife named Margaret) age about 70 - 73. My local FHC doesn't have that particular film and I would have to order it which ordinarily would not be a problem, but I am putting together a packet to mail overseas for help interpreting old notations made on religious records from Ireland and I would like to include the info from the 1920 Census. Waiting for the film could take a month or so, longer than I want to wait as than I would be getting into the holiday season. Thanks and God bless, Diane Perkins __________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? Exclusive Video Premiere - Britney Spears http://launch.yahoo.com/promos/britneyspears/

Nice Story Bernie I think everyone should explore Cameron County and find out first hand the Wonders you have there. I also second your comments about Mike He IS a real mover & shaker! Pete Bennett Send ALL mail to: [email protected] Visit my "All American" Home Page at: http://members.fortunecity.com/petee77/ Chat with me I'm "Petee" on Microsoft Messenger From: "Bernie Oswald" <[email protected]> Reply-To: [email protected] To: [email protected] Subject: [PA-CAMERON] RE: exploring Date: Fri, 31 Oct 2003 06:14:01 -0500 Blank Hi all, The other day, we took advantage of the milder weather and hiked the Fred Woods trail. For anyone in the area that has never done that, the rock formations and size of the rocks are really impressive. It seemed like a long walk , if you complete the loop. It is actually only 3.8 miles, but we kept a steady pace and it took about 2 hrs. and 40 minutes. I'm sure the next time it will seem a little shorter. Since it's the first time, we were unfamiliar with it and it seemed like we walked and walked and walked, and since it gets dark so early, we were a little pressed for time. I think there may be a few shortcuts, but we didn't want to get lost, so we stuck on the marked trail. Pete and I took the dog along, whom is quite old, and even though it is long, it is an easy walk and he was able to complete it just fine and loved it!( Although he collapsed when we got home and barely moved all evening!). On the way there, we passed the Mason Hill Cemetary. It looked really i! nteresting, and I want to look around there when I get a chance. I'm sure Mike has explored that before, since I see it mentioned once in awhile. One the way home, we were lucky to see some Elk practically standing in the road. I have been pretty lucky and always see Elk when I go in that direction. What beautiful animals. Well, I know lots of people have hiked the Fred Woods trail and this is not news to them. In fact, our church had a Sunday outing (Catholic) a few weeks ago and did it. Anyway, since it was a first for me it was a really nice hike and amazing to look over the mountains and see just how high and how far back in the woods you are. Cameron County is really something! Mike, I want to tell you that you are one of the best things that ever happened to us! What a go-getter and full of the greatest ideas! We have needed someone like you for a long time. So, that's it. You don't hear from me for awhile, but when you do, I get a little long winded! Just wanted to share that with you. Bernie ==== PACAMERO Mailing List ==== List your surnames in the Queries section of the Site to get the full benefit of what there is to offer. http://www.rootsweb.com/~pacamero _________________________________________________________________ Cheer a special someone with a fun Halloween eCard from American Greetings! Go to http://www.msn.americangreetings.com/index_msn.pd?source=msne134

Blank Hi all, The other day, we took advantage of the milder weather and hiked the Fred Woods trail. For anyone in the area that has never done that, the rock formations and size of the rocks are really impressive. It seemed like a long walk , if you complete the loop. It is actually only 3.8 miles, but we kept a steady pace and it took about 2 hrs. and 40 minutes. I'm sure the next time it will seem a little shorter. Since it's the first time, we were unfamiliar with it and it seemed like we walked and walked and walked, and since it gets dark so early, we were a little pressed for time. I think there may be a few shortcuts, but we didn't want to get lost, so we stuck on the marked trail. Pete and I took the dog along, whom is quite old, and even though it is long, it is an easy walk and he was able to complete it just fine and loved it!( Although he collapsed when we got home and barely moved all evening!). On the way there, we passed the Mason Hill Cemetary. It looked really i! nteresting, and I want to look around there when I get a chance. I'm sure Mike has explored that before, since I see it mentioned once in awhile. One the way home, we were lucky to see some Elk practically standing in the road. I have been pretty lucky and always see Elk when I go in that direction. What beautiful animals. Well, I know lots of people have hiked the Fred Woods trail and this is not news to them. In fact, our church had a Sunday outing (Catholic) a few weeks ago and did it. Anyway, since it was a first for me it was a really nice hike and amazing to look over the mountains and see just how high and how far back in the woods you are. Cameron County is really something! Mike, I want to tell you that you are one of the best things that ever happened to us! What a go-getter and full of the greatest ideas! We have needed someone like you for a long time. So, that's it. You don't hear from me for awhile, but when you do, I get a little long winded! Just wanted to share that with you. Bernie

Pete, Are you related to everybody? I heard that's possible in Cameron Co. Ken Ostrum [email protected] >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> >>>>> On Wed, 29 Oct 2003 22:26:56 +0000 "Pete Bennett" <[email protected]> writes: > Hi Rebecca, > I have information on the Brooks' but the Mary Ellen you speak of is > not the > daughter of Benjamin Brooks, buried in Pine Street Cemetery, but > rather the > daughter of Benjamin Brooks Jr.. > If you will email me directly I will give you the information I have > on > them. Mary Ellen is my Great-GrandAunt. > Pete Bennett > > > > Send ALL mail to: [email protected] > > Visit my "All American" Home Page at: > http://members.fortunecity.com/petee77/ > > Chat with me I'm "Petee" on Microsoft Messenger > > > > > > > > > > From: "Mike" <[email protected]> > Reply-To: "Mike" <[email protected]> > To: [email protected] > Subject: [PA-CAMERON] Fw: info for d.a.r. for mary ellen brooks > mason > Date: Wed, 29 Oct 2003 11:28:07 -0500 > > Does anyone have the information on Benjamin Brooks for DAR filing? > > > Mike Wennin > Come Visit the Cameron County Genealogy Project! > http://www.rootsweb.com/~pacamero > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: Rebecca Johnson > To: [email protected] > Sent: Wednesday, October 29, 2003 9:28 AM > Subject: info for d.a.r. for mary ellen brooks mason > > > HI I AM REBECCA JOHNSON BECKY J @penn.com what can you find on > brooks > who fought in the rev war he is buried in pine st cemetery? mary > ellen mason > was a daughter this info is needed to join dar thank you rebecca > johnson > > > ==== PACAMERO Mailing List ==== > Come Visit The Cameron County Genealogy Project > http://www.rootsweb.com/~pacamero > > _________________________________________________________________ > Never get a busy signal because you are always connected with > high-speed > Internet access. Click here to comparison-shop providers. > https://broadband.msn.com > > > ==== PACAMERO Mailing List ==== > Invite your family and friends to join us! > http://www.rootsweb.com/~pacamero > > > Ken Ostrum [email protected] ________________________________________________________________ The best thing to hit the internet in years - Juno SpeedBand! Surf the web up to FIVE TIMES FASTER! Only $14.95/ month - visit www.juno.com to sign up today!

Hi Mike, Sign me up on the waiting list for one of those too. Pete Send ALL mail to: [email protected] Visit my "All American" Home Page at: http://members.fortunecity.com/petee77/ Chat with me I'm "Petee" on Microsoft Messenger From: [email protected] Reply-To: [email protected] To: [email protected] Subject: Re: [PA-CAMERON] Genealogy Club Meeting Date: Wed, 29 Oct 2003 19:25:56 EST In a message dated 10/29/2003 2:23:32 PM Eastern Standard Time, [email protected] writes: We will be showing the entire 1940 Tour of Emporium video. We will show the 2nd part first and then after the meeting is over, we will show the first part for those of you who missed it. Any news on if/when this will be available on video or DVD? It would make a GREAT christmas present for my mother! Cathi ==== PACAMERO Mailing List ==== If you wish to leave PACAMERO-L, send mail to [email protected] with the single word unsubscribe in the message subject and body. To leave PACAMERO-D, do the same thing with [email protected] _________________________________________________________________ Surf and talk on the phone at the same time with broadband Internet access. Get high-speed for as low as $29.95/month (depending on the local service providers in your area). https://broadband.msn.com

Hi Rebecca, I have information on the Brooks' but the Mary Ellen you speak of is not the daughter of Benjamin Brooks, buried in Pine Street Cemetery, but rather the daughter of Benjamin Brooks Jr.. If you will email me directly I will give you the information I have on them. Mary Ellen is my Great-GrandAunt. Pete Bennett Send ALL mail to: [email protected] Visit my "All American" Home Page at: http://members.fortunecity.com/petee77/ Chat with me I'm "Petee" on Microsoft Messenger From: "Mike" <[email protected]> Reply-To: "Mike" <[email protected]> To: [email protected] Subject: [PA-CAMERON] Fw: info for d.a.r. for mary ellen brooks mason Date: Wed, 29 Oct 2003 11:28:07 -0500 Does anyone have the information on Benjamin Brooks for DAR filing? Mike Wennin Come Visit the Cameron County Genealogy Project! http://www.rootsweb.com/~pacamero ----- Original Message ----- From: Rebecca Johnson To: [email protected] Sent: Wednesday, October 29, 2003 9:28 AM Subject: info for d.a.r. for mary ellen brooks mason HI I AM REBECCA JOHNSON BECKY J @penn.com what can you find on brooks who fought in the rev war he is buried in pine st cemetery? mary ellen mason was a daughter this info is needed to join dar thank you rebecca johnson ==== PACAMERO Mailing List ==== Come Visit The Cameron County Genealogy Project http://www.rootsweb.com/~pacamero _________________________________________________________________ Never get a busy signal because you are always connected with high-speed Internet access. Click here to comparison-shop providers. https://broadband.msn.com

Plans are in the works for both a video and a DVD....you folks will be the first to know when they are ready. Don't I always let you guys know first?? :) Mike Wennin Come Visit the Cameron County Genealogy Project! http://www.rootsweb.com/~pacamero ----- Original Message ----- From: "Susan Metz" <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Wednesday, October 29, 2003 9:34 PM Subject: Re: [PA-CAMERON] Genealogy Club Meeting > Or video....I think many of us would be interested... > > Dale > ----- Original Message ----- > From: <[email protected]> > To: <[email protected]> > Sent: Wednesday, October 29, 2003 7:25 PM > Subject: Re: [PA-CAMERON] Genealogy Club Meeting > > > > In a message dated 10/29/2003 2:23:32 PM Eastern Standard Time, > > [email protected] writes: > > We will be showing the entire 1940 Tour of Emporium video. We will show > the > > 2nd part first and then after the meeting is over, we will show the first > > part for those of you who missed it. > > Any news on if/when this will be available on video or DVD? It would make > a > > GREAT christmas present for my mother! > > > > Cathi > > > > > > ==== PACAMERO Mailing List ==== > > If you wish to leave PACAMERO-L, send mail to > [email protected] with the single word unsubscribe in the > message subject and body. To leave PACAMERO-D, do the same thing with > [email protected] > > > > > > > > ==== PACAMERO Mailing List ==== > If you wish to leave PACAMERO-L, send mail to [email protected] with the single word unsubscribe in the message subject and body. To leave PACAMERO-D, do the same thing with [email protected] >

Or video....I think many of us would be interested... Dale ----- Original Message ----- From: <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Wednesday, October 29, 2003 7:25 PM Subject: Re: [PA-CAMERON] Genealogy Club Meeting > In a message dated 10/29/2003 2:23:32 PM Eastern Standard Time, > [email protected] writes: > We will be showing the entire 1940 Tour of Emporium video. We will show the > 2nd part first and then after the meeting is over, we will show the first > part for those of you who missed it. > Any news on if/when this will be available on video or DVD? It would make a > GREAT christmas present for my mother! > > Cathi > > > ==== PACAMERO Mailing List ==== > If you wish to leave PACAMERO-L, send mail to [email protected] with the single word unsubscribe in the message subject and body. To leave PACAMERO-D, do the same thing with [email protected] > >

In a message dated 10/29/2003 2:23:32 PM Eastern Standard Time, [email protected] writes: We will be showing the entire 1940 Tour of Emporium video. We will show the 2nd part first and then after the meeting is over, we will show the first part for those of you who missed it. Any news on if/when this will be available on video or DVD? It would make a GREAT christmas present for my mother! Cathi