-----Original Message----- From: Tessa King [mailto:tessking@mweb.co.za] Sent: 06 December 2011 10:27 To: south-africa-eastern-cape@rootsweb.com Subject: Re: [ZA-EC] "Getting something for free" Hi All Becky I hope I am not overstepping the line here, but since we are on this topic I will mention it. Ancestry24 has a special on at the moment - 50% off. Both Ancestry24 and GSSA and eGGSA are very valuable tools and so many have given of their time, money and resources to make these sites successful. Websites cost money and to keep them running smoothly requires special skills that have to be paid for and don't come cheap and this comes out of the subscriptions we pay. You can donate transcripts to Ancestry24 and request that these not be included in the subscribers section. Right now it will cost you R16 per month to access their records. All those who go out and do cemetery readings have to travel to these various cemeteries and spend hours laboriously photographing and transcribing the info so that we can benefit. I have not heard one of these people complain about how much it has cost them to do this on behalf of the genealogical community. Petrol costs, time costs, uploading to the website costs in terms of bandwidth used (we don't all have the luxury of ADSL or unlimited bandwidth), camera equipment to photograph these graves also cost money. But this group of people has done it all willingly. There are so many who have given and given of their time doing transcripts and I won't mention names for fear of leaving someone off the list. I think we all know who they are. If it weren't for all the transcribers and those who post their Death notices and photo's of gravestones where would we be? Yes this is giving something to places like Ancestry24 and GSSA because they have the resources to put it out there on the internet which we don't have. In many instances there are transcribers who are paid and resources for which Ancestry24 has to pay in order to publish them on their sites like the Government Gazettes where the latest estates are listed. This all costs money. There aren't many sites that are free, whether it is here in SA or overseas, so if we want to pursue our hobby and build our trees it is going to cost us a bit of money. Sadly, so many expect others to just give and give and do the work for them without thinking of the cost involved in supplying that info, whether it be a website or a fellow lister. I too am a pensioner and have had to trim my budget and although it may be frustrating when you can't afford something you just get on with life and see what you can do to help others. Thanks Becky for allowing us the freedom to respond to this topic. You are the best! Take care Tessa -----Original Message----- From: Johan Dorey-Venter Sent: Monday, December 05, 2011 11:53 AM To: south-africa-eastern-cape@rootsweb.com Subject: Re: [ZA-EC] "Getting something for free" Hi Francois, You have convinced me. I have not yet paid the GSSA sub, which I am now cancelling. By the way, eGGSA membership is now R180, not R150. Johan. On 05/12/2011, Francois Greeff <goodgreeff@hiddencode.co.uk> wrote: > Dear Johan, > > You write: "From my Christmas bonus, I could at least treat myself to a > GSSA > membership. With the result that at least I am grateful for getting > something for free!" > > > > Please tell me exactly what it is that you get "for free", when you > actually > PAY to enjoy the limited advantages of GSSA membership. My point is that > the > ratio of membership fees is 150 to 400, or 15 to 40, or 3 to 8. In other > words membership of GSSA is a bit less than half the price of membership > at > Ancestry24. > > > > Now, lets have a look at what you get for your money. For free, as you > say. GSSA gives you a journal (Familia) and a newsletter (Genesis or > Maiores > or Famnea, etc, depending on your branch). GSSA has a web site that offers > you: > > > > > > Goals and Objectives > <http://www.genza.org.za/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=44%3Ag > oals-and-objectives&catid=126%3Aintro-page&Itemid=125&lang=en> > > Written by administrator. > > To promote and facilitate interest and research in genealogy and family > history to present members, to the genealogical hobbyist and to all > members > of the public who may be interested in genealogy and/or family history. > > To promote general understanding of Genealogy and its value, to understand > and MAINTAIN PROFESSIONAL STATUS AND DIGNITY for genealogists amongst > members of the Genealogical Society of South Africa and the general > public. > > To encourage the OBSERVANCE OF THE HIGHEST STANDARDS OF RESEARCH by > members > of the Society. > > To provide a WIDE RANGE OF EDUCATIONAL COURSES, research programmes and > services for the general benefit of GSSA branches and members, as well as > any other service or assistance as may from time to time be decided upon > by > the National Council of the GSSA. > > TO ENCOURAGE AND DEVELOP LINKS WITH FAMILY HISTORY SOCIETIES. > > TO ESTABLISH AND MAINTAIN CONTACT WITH LIKE MINDED SOCIETIES THROUGHOUT > THE > WORLD. > > TO ESTABLISH A CERTIFICATION PROGRAM TO PROMOTE THE RELIABILITY, > PROFESSIONALISM AND INTEGRITY of all South African Genealogists and Record > Researchers. > > To assist in the preservation of all genealogical records and memorabilia. > > > > In contrast to this dedication to professionalism Ferdie van Wyk writes: > > We serve a community of dedicated AMATEUR family researchers. > > The advantages of joining the GSSA are numerous. > > a) One becomes part of a family of likeminded researchers with vast > experience and one can interact with them on a personal level. > > b) You know that you can call on the help of people that is > supportive > and accommodating. > > c) You will gain access to research and educational resources and > remain up to date with developments in the world of genealogy. > > d) You get the opportunity to go on outings to sites of genealogical > significance and listen to experts in the research field. > > e) Benefits include discount on genealogy books, DVDs and CDs. > > > > > > GSSA offers various projects: > > 1. > <http://www.genza.org.za/index.php?option=com_content&view=category&id=44%3A > cemetery-recording-project&layout=default&Itemid=181&lang=en> Cemetery > Recording Project ( 5 Articles ) > > 2. > <http://www.genza.org.za/index.php?option=com_content&view=category&id=37%3A > gssa-google-earth-cemetery-initiative&layout=default&Itemid=182&lang=en> > GSSA Google Earth Cemetery Initiative ( 6 Articles ) > > 3. > <http://www.genza.org.za/index.php?option=com_content&view=category&id=38%3A > 1984-voters-roll&layout=default&Itemid=296&lang=en> 1984 Voter's Roll > ( 1 > Article ) > > 4. > <http://www.genza.org.za/index.php?option=com_content&view=category&id=69%3A > funeral-programs&layout=default&Itemid=297&lang=en> Funeral Programs ( 2 > Articles ) > > 5. > <http://www.genza.org.za/index.php?option=com_content&view=category&id=118%3 > Achurch-photographs&layout=default&Itemid=298&lang=en> Church Photographs > ( 1 Article ) > > 6. > <http://www.genza.org.za/index.php?option=com_content&view=category&id=119%3 > Acape-masters-office-death-notice-index&layout=default&Itemid=300&lang=en> > Cape Master's Office Death Notice Index ( 1 Article ) The digitization > of > the Cape Death Notice Index was a project undertaken by GSSA many years > ago. > The searchable database will appear on our website soon. > > > > GSSA offers various publications (Plural). These are: > > 1. Familia. (Yes, just the one.) > > http://www.genza.org.za/index.php?option=com_content > <http://www.genza.org.za/index.php?option=com_content&view=section&id=19&Ite > mid=1&lang=en> &view=section&id=19&Itemid=1&lang=en > > > > For some peculiar reason the newsletters of each branch do not count as > publications of GSSA. Consequently they are not listed on the publications > page. > > East Cape Branch publishes a quarterly journal called "Chronicles." > > eGGSA does not mention on the GSSA web page that it has a newsletter, > Genesis. It does offer eGGSA Downloads, of which Newsletter 2011 no 2 > yields the Western Cape Newsletter. > > The page for the Free State Branch does not mention that it publishes a > newsletter, Maiores. > > http://www.genza.org.za/index.php?option=com_content > <http://www.genza.org.za/index.php?option=com_content&view=category&layout=b > log&id=56&Itemid=292&lang=en> > &view=category&layout=blog&id=56&Itemid=292&lang=en > > The Northern Transvaal Branch does not mention a newsletter on the web > site. > > The North West Branch does not mention its newsletter, Famnea. > > The West Gauteng branch does mention its newsletter, West Gauteng News. > > The Western Cape branch does mention its newsletter, Western Cape > newsletter, but it does not mention its quarterly journal, Capensis. > > > > I also discovered another list of benefits of membership at > http://www.eggsa.org/benefits_e.htm > > > The Benefits of Membership! > > > Genealogy will put you on fascinating paths where you will learn not only > about your ancestors, but also about your history and culture. By joining > eGSSA you become part of the genealogical community at large. > > Membership will bring you the following: > > · Stay up to date with genealogical developments with four issues > of > eFamilia, the official journal of the <http://www.ggsa.info/> > Genealogical > Society of South Africa (GSSA), and four issues of genesis, the eGSSA > newsletter > > · Refine your research skills with our learning resources > > · Save at the eGSSA Bookstore where you will find useful CD > products > and other publications > > · You can complete your application on-line and submit it via the > Internet > > · For those people who are not currently GSSA members, or cannot > join a current branch, this is an ideal opportunity to become part of GSSA > and to step into this exciting era. > > · Members of the GSSA can use our online shop to order photographs > <http://www.eggsa.org/sales/help_archive_docs.htm> of documents in three > repositories of the South African Archives, those in Bloemfontein, > Pietermaritzburg, Cape Town and Pretoria at a special price. > > NB. The Cape Town Archives Repository has banned mechanical copying by any > means of documents in their care. The KAB offers its own copying service > (printed, not digital, copies). We cannot, therefore, accept any orders > for > KAB documents. We are still offering this service for documents from the > Bloemfontein, Pietermaritzburg and Pretoria Archive repositories. Please > see our <http://www.eggsa.org/sales/help_archive_docs.htm> FAQ for the > details of this service. > > eGSSA is an indispensable resource for genealogists and family historians > seeking research guidance, publications and materials, and opportunities > to > interact with others who share the same interest > > > > TO SUM UP, FOR ABOUT R150 GSSA OFFERS MEMBERSHIP, FAMILIA AND ONE BRANCH > JOURNAL OR NEWSLETTER > > AND YOU CAN BUY BOOKS AND CDS, IF YOU PAY EXTRA > > AND ACCESS TO THE OTHER NEWSLETTERS AND JOURNALS, IF YOU PAY EXTRA > > AND PHOTOS OF DOCUMENTS IN SOME ARCHIVES, IF YOU PAY EXTRA > > AND ACCESS TO THE 1984 VOTERS ROLL, IF YOU PAID EXTRA. > > > > eGSSA OFFERS VARIOUS UTTERLY VALUABLE TRANSCRIPTIONS, IMAGES OF > GRAVESTONES > ETC, BUT NOTHING ON THE SCALE OF ANCESTRY24. > > > > ____________________________________________________ > > > > Ancestry24 should now be examines to see what you get for your R395. > > > > > AVAILABLE DATABASES > > > Ancestry24 is the most comprehensive online information source for South > African family history. Here is a list of just some of our databases, > which > grow daily. > > <http://ancestry24.com/collection-type/?id=379> Birth records > > 14,000+ records from various registers covering 1895 - 1921 > > <http://ancestry24.com/collection-type/?id=384> Baptism records > > 1000,000+ records from 1600's until the 1950's > > <http://ancestry24.com/collection-type/?id=352> Death Notice records > > Over 5,000 in a growing collection > > <http://ancestry24.com/collection-type/?id=388> Burials > > 50,000+ from various parish records and cemeteries > > <http://ancestry24.com/collection-type/?id=394> Marriage records > > >From Namaqualand, Eastern Cape, Johannesburg, Cape and Natal > > <http://ancestry24.com/collection-type/?id=380> Passenger records > > 50,000+ recorded persons travelling between England and South Africa > > Government Gazettes > > Legal announcements of deceased persons in South Africa 1992 - current > > <http://ancestry24.com/collection-type/?id=377> Deceased Estates Index > > 500,000+ individuals from the Transvaal and Cape from 1838 - 1900's > > <http://ancestry24.com/collection-type/?id=368> Cape Almanacs > > Lists of Inhabitants of the Cape 1813 - 1891 > > <http://ancestry24.com/collection-type/?id=371> Military > > various records including indexes to Anglo Boer War, Rhodesian Rebellion > and > Boer War Prisoners in Bermuda > > Newspaper Domestic Announcements > > Daily birth, marriage, death notices from national newspapers 2005 - > current > > > > > > Ancestry24 offers ten times better value for money than GSSA. Johan, if > you > are a prudent pensioner, dont waste your meagre resources on GSSA, invest > them where you get a better return: at Ancestry24. > > > > > > Regards, > > Francois > > _____________ > > Francois Greeff, 36 Aston Road, London, SW20 8BE, United Kingdom > > Phone: 0044 20 8123 4224. Mobile 0044 79 6372 2345. Skype: Greefffrancois. > > Greeff Family Web Site: www.Greeff.info > > > > > > > > -----Original Message----- > From: Johan Dorey-Venter [mailto:doreyventer@gmail.com] > Sent: 04 December 2011 21:31 > To: south-africa-eastern-cape@rootsweb.com > Subject: Re: [ZA-EC] eGGSA South African Passenger List Project > > > > Trixie and Francois, > > > > Some of us, having to live on a meagre pension in South Africa, > > actually find Ancestry24 subscription prohibitively expensive. > > > > >From my Christmas bonus, I could at least treat myself to a GSSA > membership. > > > > With the result that at least I am grateful for getting something for > free! > > > > R395, paid in british £'s is cheap, in South Africa it feeds the > > average pensioner for 4 weeks. > > > > Johan. > > > > ------------------------------- > > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to > <mailto:SOUTH-AFRICA-EASTERN-CAPE-request@rootsweb.com> > SOUTH-AFRICA-EASTERN-CAPE-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' > without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message > > ----- > > No virus found in this message. > > Checked by AVG - <http://www.avg.com> www.avg.com > > Version: 2012.0.1873 / Virus Database: 2102/4656 - Release Date: 12/04/11 > > > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to > SOUTH-AFRICA-EASTERN-CAPE-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' > without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message > ------------------------------- To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to SOUTH-AFRICA-EASTERN-CAPE-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message ----- No virus found in this message. 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