Dear All, After a week of absence I visited SOG yesterday and was disappointed to find that the machines in the lower library had been converted to Windows XP during closed week. Nothing wrong in that in it's self but alas the access to 1837 Online had not been put onto the new configuration. Others seemed to be having glitches with Origins and to cap it all Familysearch was down for an apparently unrelated reason. Moral of the story for those intending to make a visit and use the kit in the lower library, a phone call to the society to determine the state of things would be a wise move. Julian Duffus --------------------------------- Yahoo! Messenger NEW - crystal clear PC to PC calling worldwide with voicemail

OK - things were not quite right for a number of reasons when we reopened after this years closed week. My comment is that I do not recall seeing anyone assisting the three IT volunteers during the five days we were doing a myriad of tasks. As well as the computer upgrades, a lot of book movement took place to improve the use of the limited space on the shelf and improve security of some items. May I point out that the staff are assisted by a number of members who give up their free time to do things for OUR society. A number of bits of shelf tidying and computer work, let alone minor maintenance, didn't get done during closed week due to lack of bodies. By the way, before you start, I know that not everyone has the free time or lives within range to come and help. Next year, why not come and assist a hard pressed group of members who are giving up their time to benefit the Society. The volunteer effort throughout the year saves something like 4 full-time staff and the subscription would have to go up by some ten pounds to get paid employees to do the work. As Chairman of the Library Committee, I publicly thank everyone who came in during closed week for their efforts. I think I saw most of them personally to thank them, but if you were missed, your efforts were greatly appreciated. Frank Hardy

"Frank Hardy" <frank@fchardy.freeserve.co.uk> wrote : > OK - things were not quite right for a number of reasons when we > reopened after this years closed week. > > My comment is that I do not recall seeing anyone assisting the three IT > volunteers during the five days we were doing a myriad of tasks. As well > as the computer upgrades, a lot of book movement took place to improve > the use of the limited space on the shelf and improve security of some > items. > > May I point out that the staff are assisted by a number of members who > give up their free time to do things for OUR society. A number of bits > of shelf tidying and computer work, let alone minor maintenance, didn't > get done during closed week due to lack of bodies. > > By the way, before you start, I know that not everyone has the free time > or lives within range to come and help. > > Next year, why not come and assist a hard pressed group of members who > are giving up their time to benefit the Society. The volunteer effort > throughout the year saves something like 4 full-time staff and the > subscription would have to go up by some ten pounds to get paid > employees to do the work. > > As Chairman of the Library Committee, I publicly thank everyone who came > in during closed week for their efforts. I think I saw most of them > personally to thank them, but if you were missed, your efforts were > greatly appreciated. Frank, you may remember me as a helper at your Birmingham Fair 3 or 4 years ago when I was not even a member (maybe even longer ago now but time does seem to pass ever-more quickly), and I must support your comments on this. I visit the Society as often as I can, but I am too far removed to provide any sort of regular input in London. If I lived nearer, I would certainly try to be more active. I echo your thanks to those who did provide support during the closed week, however, I wonder how well advertised the need for assistance was. I may be shot down in flames but I don't recall seeing much publicity about either the closure or the need for helpers. John Brown Leic., Eng

Frank, Some of us like me are severely disabled and HAVE offered to do transcriptions etc at home, even to pick up & drop off the material chez vous. Because a member let down the Society you informed me that I cannot be trusted either! So, let us be totally truthful when it comes to lack of volunteers. Perhaps if you and the SOG trusted old timers like me a bit more you would have more volunteers? <vbg> Let us have the whole truth & nothing but the truth, please! I have an illness that is variable, that is why I cannot be up in London on any named day. uff said?! Phil A disabled & willing member-volunteer At 20:08 20/02/2006, Frank Hardy wrote: >OK - things were not quite right for a number of reasons when we >reopened after this years closed week. > >My comment is that I do not recall seeing anyone assisting the three IT >volunteers during the five days we were doing a myriad of tasks. As well >as the computer upgrades, a lot of book movement took place to improve >the use of the limited space on the shelf and improve security of some >items. > >May I point out that the staff are assisted by a number of members who >give up their free time to do things for OUR society. A number of bits >of shelf tidying and computer work, let alone minor maintenance, didn't >get done during closed week due to lack of bodies. > >By the way, before you start, I know that not everyone has the free time >or lives within range to come and help. > >Next year, why not come and assist a hard pressed group of members who >are giving up their time to benefit the Society. The volunteer effort >throughout the year saves something like 4 full-time staff and the >subscription would have to go up by some ten pounds to get paid >employees to do the work. > >As Chairman of the Library Committee, I publicly thank everyone who came >in during closed week for their efforts. I think I saw most of them >personally to thank them, but if you were missed, your efforts were >greatly appreciated. > > >Frank Hardy