----- Original Message ----- From: Don in FL <donb@megabits.net> To: Joyce Cox Lund <lundway@rockisland.com> Sent: Sunday, March 14, 1999 7:36 PM Subject: America's First Families -- Deadline for charter members >Your genealogy group might be interested in the exchange I had with a >researcher who became a member of America's First Families (AFF) during >1998. He was quite happy with the nice certificate they sent him. However, >since he and I exchanged views on an open forum, he has had some second >thoughts about Americas First Families. I still maintain that America's >First Families is selling vanity in the form of colorful paper certificates. >For $25 you get a real pretty piece of paper with the AFF logo. I should go >into this line of business and offer even fancier genealogy certificates for >$9.95. I bet I could make a killing on the deal. Problem is I have this old >conscious looking over my shoulder that tells me it just wouldn't be right. > >Don.- > >Subject: RE: America's First Families -- Deadline for charter members > > >Hello, all. >Two months ago there was a discussion on this list, between Don and myself, >as to the possible dubious motives of the lineage society known as America's >First Families. > >Don's assessment of the organization put them in the same league as >Halbert's of Bath, OH, and warned list members away from being "suckered in" >by such an organization. > >I posted a rebuttal, stating that my experience with America's First >Families had been favorable, and shared an observation that we should not be >too hasty to judge such a group, since they might be one of the rare groups >who have honest intentions. >Don concurred, but expressed skepticism about AFF's continual extension of >their "deadline for charter members." > >I agreed this was curious, and offered to ask the staff of AFF directly >about it. It took a while to get a response, and I think readers will agree >the tone of the response was somewhat defensive. It appears Don's >assessment may have been the more accurate, but I'll let list members be the >judge. > >I have posted the entire communication chain below, for those who might be >interested. >Thanks! >John C. Carter >spiff@atlantic.net >St. Petersburg, FL > >------ > >(Start at the bottom, and work your way upward). > >(There was never any subsequent follow-up message, as stated in the March >1st reply from AFF). > >JCC > >---------- >From: First Families[SMTP:firstfamilies@linkline.com] >Sent: Monday, March 01, 1999 11:07 PM >To: John C. Carter >Subject: Your Message > >Hello John: > >Thank you for your two messages. > >I have had a great amount of email today to handle >before I can get back to you. > >We receive 300-400 emails a day and some are must >answers. > >Not that any are more important than yours. But yours >deserve more time. > >I'll get back to you either late tonight or early in the AM >as time dictates. > >Best to you and yours. > >Harold Oliver >America's First Families > > >---------- >From: John C. Carter[SMTP:spiff@atlantic.net] >Sent: Monday, March 01, 1999 9:34 PM >To: 'First Families' >Subject: RE: Deadline for Charter Members > >Attn. Harold Oliver, > >First of all, I do not "have a problem" with your open enrollment. Last >time I checked, asking a question did not constitute "having a problem." I >merely thought it curious that the deadline kept being extended and >extended, in a manner that some might describe as dubious. > >However, I do "have a problem" with the tone of your reply. > >When first hearing about your organization, I admit I had suspicions, >but your group had always been helpful and informative to me, and I could >detect no ill intentions in any of your methods. I sent my application for >membership in your organization, was accepted, and proudly displayed your >certificate on my wall. > >I even defended your organization in a listserve discussion about >America's First Families! However, keeping an open mind, I listened to the >question that a detractor posed against your group, and, in the spirit of >honesty and openness, I offered to ask the question of your organization and >relay the answer back to the group. > >You can be assured that I will relay your response (and its tone) quite >accurately. > >Your defensive reply certainly calls attention unto itself, and draws >even more suspicion than I had in the beginning. Perhaps I was indeed naive >to think your group had no ulterior motives. > >Sincerely, >John C. Carter > > >---------- >From: First Families[SMTP:firstfamilies@linkline.com] >Sent: Monday, March 01, 1999 1:49 PM >To: John C. Carter >Subject: RE: Deadline for Charter Members > >Hello John: > >You seem to be having a problem with our open >enrollment and I am not sure why. > >Open enrollment is allowing people to enter the >Society without having a sponsor present them >for membership. > >When a new organization starts, they do not have >enough members throughout an area to present >new people for membership, they must use open >enrollment to grow. > >Until an organization has in place enough members >in all areas to refer a person for membership they >can not close enrollment. > >Closed enrollment will always produce more members who >share ideas and in general promote the organization better >than do open membership applicants. > >The membership committee will determine when open >enrollment is to end and the decision should be of no >importance to present members as it will not affect them >in any manner > >I hope this answers your concern. > >The best to you and yours. > >Harold Oliver >Director >America's First Families > > >---------- >From: John C. Carter[SMTP:spiff@atlantic.net] >Sent: Friday, February 26, 1999 6:56 AM >To: 'First Families' >Subject: RE: Deadline for Charter Members > >Hello. >Just thought I would send another inquiry, as it has been over a >month and I haven't received a response to my message below. >Thanks. >John C. Carter > >---------- >From: John C. Carter[SMTP:spiff@atlantic.net] >Sent: Saturday, January 16, 1999 10:20 AM >To: 'First Families' >Subject: Deadline for Charter Members > >Hello, Harold & staff. >I am a member of America's First Families, having joined in the latter >part of 1998 under my ancestor Rev. Nathaniel Brewster. I received my >certificate, and have been pleased with your organization. >In fact, I have been planning to apply with a few more supplemental >applications under other ancestors, but have been busy through the Holiday >season, etc. >However, I'm curious about one thing: >Why does the deadline for charter membership keep being extended >over and over again? When I first became aware of your organization, the >deadline was July 31, 1998. Then it was extended to Aug 31, 1998. (I think >this was when I joined). Then, I later saw it had been extended to Oct 31, >1998. Now the deadline is Jan 30, 1999. What is the reason for this? >Just curious.... >Thanks! >John C. Carter >spiff@atlantic.net >St. Petersburg, FL > > > > > > > >