As George said I did get a bit carried away. However I believe, I (we) are entitled to have the first five answered. No joke. Nothing political. If USGenWeb is now going in this direction. We need answers so we can start getting our state's share. Richard... Steven & Ann Mensch wrote: > I trust this is a joke. > --Ann > > ILGenWeb State Coordinator wrote: > >> >> Since money has been brought in to the open, I have a few questions I >> need answered. >> >> Just how much money are we allowed to make? >> >> Is it ok to solicit funds on the county sites also? >> >> Is it ok for CC's to solicit for their county site? >> >> May we solicit from several different links? >> >> Just how many is too many links? >> >> Just how pornography is too pornography? >> >> If there are no pictures, just dirty words is that ok? >> >> Is RootsWeb going to be ok with our new found money making scams? >> >> What do you think would be a fair share to offer our servers? >> >> Do you think we should offer anyone else a share? >> >> Maybe we could sell stock? >> >> You know with our couple of million hits we should be able to really >> make some money? >> >> You know this could be a really big business? Now if we can just keep >> the government from wanting a share? Richard… >> >> >> >> >> >> Richard M. Howland ILGenWeb State Coordinator >> Mailto:RichPump@wf.net ICQ # 898319 >> >> >> >> > > > > -- Richard M. Howland ILGenWeb State Coordinator Mailto:RichPump@wf.net ICQ # 898319

I guess I would like to ask, how many more lists are you going to infiltrate, Mr. Howland, with your false statements? I cannot give you the full picture of what the discussion has been on the Discuss mail list but I will tell you that there will be a statement forthcoming. Also, Mr. Howland, Don Kelly is not the SC for Iowa, I am. Gail Meyer Kilgore ----- Original Message ----- From: George Waller To: STATE-COORD-L@rootsweb.com Sent: Sunday, August 17, 2003 5:49 PM Subject: Re: [STATE-COORD] Mr National Coordinator if you would please answer a few? While the tone of the questions below is a little strident, I too would like to express my concerns about getting USGenWeb involved in money-making. We have established ourself as an outfit with a sparkling image and it is important for us to keep it that way. Trying to do so and become a money making venture will be very difficult if not impossible. The bylaws permit soliciting money and I don''t consider it unethical to do so. However I do find it pragmatically a mistake because once States and Counties start to collect money, it will be a nightmare to "keep clean." Iowa is doing a great job at keeping it clean, but we cannot expect that everyone will be so good at it. Reminds me of the "Sorceror's Apprentice." :-) Oh another worry... once money is solicited and flows in, there will be IMO a natural urge to hire salaried people to keep track of the money and to raise more. I do consider this an important topic for the SC list, and imagine that some SC/ASC's have no clue what this discussion is about. What will we do the first time some researcher writes to complain about how a CC "ripped them off financially???" By the way, I have no political grudge against anyone on this matter. Respectfully, George (SC for MA and CT) On 17 Aug 2003 at 16:37, ILGenWeb State Coordinator wrote: > > Since money has been brought in to the open, I have a few questions I > need answered. > > Just how much money are we allowed to make? > > Is it ok to solicit funds on the county sites also? > > Is it ok for CC's to solicit for their county site? > > May we solicit from several different links? > > Just how many is too many links? > > Just how pornography is too pornography? > > If there are no pictures, just dirty words is that ok? > > Is RootsWeb going to be ok with our new found money making scams? > > What do you think would be a fair share to offer our servers? > > Do you think we should offer anyone else a share? > > Maybe we could sell stock? > > You know with our couple of million hits we should be able to really > make some money? > > You know this could be a really big business? Now if we can just keep > the government from wanting a share? Richard. > > > > > > Richard M. Howland ILGenWeb State Coordinator > Mailto:RichPump@wf.net ICQ # 898319 > > > > --- Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free. Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com). Version: 6.0.504 / Virus Database: 302 - Release Date: 07/24/2003

Since money has been brought in to the open, I have a few questions I need answered. Just how much money are we allowed to make? Is it ok to solicit funds on the county sites also? Is it ok for CC's to solicit for their county site? May we solicit from several different links? Just how many is too many links? Just how pornography is too pornography? If there are no pictures, just dirty words is that ok? Is RootsWeb going to be ok with our new found money making scams? What do you think would be a fair share to offer our servers? Do you think we should offer anyone else a share? Maybe we could sell stock? You know with our couple of million hits we should be able to really make some money? You know this could be a really big business? Now if we can just keep the government from wanting a share? Richard… Richard M. Howland ILGenWeb State Coordinator Mailto:RichPump@wf.net ICQ # 898319

I'm very offended with the posting by Mr. Howland. As a new member of this list, and newly elected IAGenWeb ASC, I certainly hope that this list isn't another forum for distructive, disruptive, rude and flaming attacks on anyone or any of the state projects. I assumed that the State-Coord-L was used for the constructive communication between leadership of all USGenWeb state projects. If it is a political list, I don't care to take part. I believe I am required to subscribe to this list, but if not, will the list-adm. please unsubscribe me. Thank-you, Sharyl Ferrall IAGenWeb ASC ----- Original Message ----- From: ILGenWeb State Coordinator To: STATE-COORD-L@rootsweb.com Sent: Sunday, August 17, 2003 1:37 PM Subject: [STATE-COORD] Mr National Coordinator if you would please answer a few? Since money has been brought in to the open, I have a few questions I need answered. <snip> Richard M. Howland ILGenWeb State Coordinator Mailto:RichPump@wf.net ICQ # 898319

This came in from another list. It's about "Courthouse Experiences" http://www.bcpl.net/~dmg/courthouse.htm Not every state has county lisitings here, but it can be helpful anyway as it gives helpful information regarding the attitudes of those working in the courthouses. You can add a positive or negative courthouse experience you've encountered to this site, hopefully positive ones! <wink> It will possibly help others "prepare" for courthouses they wish to visit You might want to add this link to your state's home page to aid researchers/visitor's???? Bettie <><

Hi Maggie, Well, I would recommend my own county, Tom Green, but you already got it. (One of the highlights of year. :) ) However, I am very impressed with a county in the TXGenWeb system. http://www.rootsweb.com/~txpanola/ > -----Original Message----- > From: MaggieOhio@columbus.rr.com [mailto:MaggieOhio@columbus.rr.com] > Sent: Friday, August 15, 2003 12:04 PM > To: STATE-COORD-L@rootsweb.com > Subject: [STATE-COORD] Publicity on Internet Radio > > > Hi All, > > As many of you know I do a pretty much weekly > spot on the Dear Myrtle Family History hour > promoting the USGenWeb Archives and the > USGenWeb Project. What I'd like to ask is that > any of you that have a site (state, county, town, > etc) that you would like to be on this show, > please email me the URL and I'll get it on the > show. I know I'm missing some really great > stuff out there and I don't have time to surf like > I used to. Please feel free to forward this > message. This is to let the genealogists out > there know what is available within the USGenWeb > project. > > Regards, > Maggie Stewart > email arc_rwr@ev1.net > > ========================================== > Many thanks to Dear Myrtle for asking me to "appear" on > her LIVE CALL-IN RADIO TALK SHOW 9-10pm TUES > EASTERN US Time. See http://www.DearMYRTLE.com > for details on how to access this show. > ------------------------ > LINKS MYRT MENTIONS > during DearMYRTLE's Family History Hour > internet radio broadcasts > http://www.dearmyrtle.com/links.htm > ========================================== > > > > --- > Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free. > Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com). > Version: 6.0.507 / Virus Database: 304 - Release Date: 08/04/2003 > > --- Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free. Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com). Version: 6.0.510 / Virus Database: 307 - Release Date: 8/14/2003

Forwarded to Maggie.. ----- Original Message ----- From: Barbara Hug To: Gail Meyer Kilgore Sent: Friday, August 15, 2003 2:46 PM Subject: Re: [IAGEN-L] Fw: [STATE-COORD] Publicity on Internet Radio You might be interested in the web site I've done for this little community of my ancestors. http://www.usgennet.org/usa/ia/county/jasper1/history/metz/index.htm I have it on the GenWeb site now for ease upkeep. Don't forget to look at the cemetery site. It's good, if I don't say so myself. At 12:43 PM 08/15/2003, you wrote: ----- Original Message ----- From: MaggieOhio To: STATE-COORD-L@rootsweb.com Sent: Friday, August 15, 2003 10:04 AM Subject: [STATE-COORD] Publicity on Internet Radio Hi All, As many of you know I do a pretty much weekly spot on the Dear Myrtle Family History hour promoting the USGenWeb Archives and the USGenWeb Project. What I'd like to ask is that any of you that have a site (state, county, town, etc) that you would like to be on this show, please email me the URL and I'll get it on the show. I know I'm missing some really great stuff out there and I don't have time to surf like I used to. Please feel free to forward this message. This is to let the genealogists out there know what is available within the USGenWeb project. Regards, Maggie Stewart email arc_rwr@ev1.net ========================================== Many thanks to Dear Myrtle for asking me to "appear" on her LIVE CALL-IN RADIO TALK SHOW 9-10pm TUES EASTERN US Time. See http://www.DearMYRTLE.com for details on how to access this show. ------------------------ LINKS MYRT MENTIONS during DearMYRTLE's Family History Hour internet radio broadcasts http://www.dearmyrtle.com/links.htm ========================================== --- Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free. Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com). Version: 6.0.507 / Virus Database: 304 - Release Date: 08/04/2003 --- Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free. Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com). Version: 6.0.504 / Virus Database: 302 - Release Date: 07/24/2003 ==== IAGEN Mailing List ==== IF YOU CHANGE YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS OR IF YOU CHANGE THE URL OF YOUR MAIN PAGE OR QUERY PAGE, PLEASE NOTIFY MARK AT IAStory@genloc.com Barbara Lane Hug, Coordinator of the Jasper Co., Iowa GenWeb site www.usgennet.org/usa/ia/county/jasper1/ bhug3@bigfoot.com

Hi All, As many of you know I do a pretty much weekly spot on the Dear Myrtle Family History hour promoting the USGenWeb Archives and the USGenWeb Project. What I'd like to ask is that any of you that have a site (state, county, town, etc) that you would like to be on this show, please email me the URL and I'll get it on the show. I know I'm missing some really great stuff out there and I don't have time to surf like I used to. Please feel free to forward this message. This is to let the genealogists out there know what is available within the USGenWeb project. Regards, Maggie Stewart email arc_rwr@ev1.net ========================================== Many thanks to Dear Myrtle for asking me to "appear" on her LIVE CALL-IN RADIO TALK SHOW 9-10pm TUES EASTERN US Time. See http://www.DearMYRTLE.com for details on how to access this show. ------------------------ LINKS MYRT MENTIONS during DearMYRTLE's Family History Hour internet radio broadcasts http://www.dearmyrtle.com/links.htm ========================================== --- Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free. Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com). Version: 6.0.507 / Virus Database: 304 - Release Date: 08/04/2003

Who is responsible for enforcing this and _how_ would this be accomplished? (This question also applies to the web page requirements in Section 1 of this Article.) As I have mentioned before, in Rhode Island there are three coordinators - for everything. As I have also stated before, this voting requirement is ludicrous for Rhode Island. I would open the election to the members of the RIGenWeb (Rhode Island genealogy) mailing list. I also see no clarification, as was included in a previous version, of whether or not this would affect incumbents. Roger Swafford wrote: > (**Please forward to all appropriate project lists**) > > The Bylaws Revision Committee (BRC) has completed a first draft revision of > Section 2 of Article XI. State Projects. > > Section 2. Each state shall have a State Coordinator (SC) elected > by majority of state members voting. A State Coordinator may not serve > more than 36 consecutive months unless re-elected. Each state shall > hold an election for State Coordinator every 36 months, or sooner if > specified by adopted state bylaws/rules.The State Coordinator, as > primary administrative officer of the state project shall appoint one > or more Assistant State Coordinator(s) (ASC) as necessary to assist in > administration of the state project. Assistant State Coordinators who > are "appointees" are not eligible to be a candidate or vote for a > candidate for the national office of State Coordinator Representative. > > Note - as mentioned in the last BRC report this article is being > restructured. > > All revision drafts may be viewed at http://home.mchsi.com/~sagitta56/ > > Members are encouraged to send comments or questions related to this or > other revision drafts. > > Roger Swafford > BRC - Chairman Susan -- Coordinator Rhode Island USGenWeb ~ http://www.rootsweb.com/~rigenweb/ Coordinator Newport County RIGenWeb http://www.rootsweb.com/~rinewpor/

Kenneth Middleton at Middle Tennessee State University has created a list of statewide digitization projects: <http://www.mtsu.edu/~kmiddlet/stateportals.html> It also includes resources on funding and digital best practices. Bob Sullivan <rsullivan@sals.edu> Schenectady County Public Library (NY) <http://www.scpl.org/> Schenectady Digital History Archive <http://www.schenectadyhistory.org/>

To All USGenWeb Members - Please forward to all USGenWeb Members and appropriate lists. - Special Advisory - The Voting Form for the USGenWeb National 2003 Run-Off Election will be unavailable: Saturday, August 16 at 9pm CT and continuing through Sunday, August 17 until 11am CT. Please plan to register your vote either before or after those times. The Indiana University, Bloomington computing services, where the voting form resides, will be unavailable during those times so that an emergency upgrade of the electrical infrastructure for the Bloomington, IN campus machine room can take place. Voting officially ends Friday Aug 22, 2003 12:00 noon CT. For more information about the current Run-Off Election, please visit: http://www.rootsweb.com/~usgwelections/nationals-index.htm Thank you, The USGenWeb Election Committee

To all USGenWeb Members: This is an Announce-only mailing. There will be five Run-Off Elections for the following positions: National Coordinator One Year Term Ending 8/31/04 Candidates: Richard Harrison Tim Stowell -- Archives Representative Two Year Term Ending 8/31/05 Candidates: Cyndie Enfinger Ken Johnson -- Representative At Large Two Year Term Ending 8/31/05 Candidates: Shari Handley Angie Rayfield -- Northeast/North Central County Coordinator Representative Two Year Term Ending 8/31/05 Candidates: Teri Brown Barbara Lavin -- Southwest South-Central County Coordinator Representative Two Year Term Ending 8/31/05 Candidates: Roger Swafford Bettie Wood -- Voting will begin Friday Aug 8, 2003 8 am CT, and end Friday Aug 22, 2003 12:00 noon CT. Passwords will be sent out beginning Friday, August 8, with instructions as to where to go to vote. If you do not receive a voting password by Tuesday August 12, please contact the EC via Ellen Pack <e.j.pack@natchezbelle.org> or Marti Graham <marti4@cox.net>. A list of candidates with links to available campaign pages may be found on The Election Committee National Election 2003 web page: http://www.rootsweb.com/~usgwelections/candidate-run-off.htm All USGenWeb Members as defined in the USGenWeb Bylaws are eligible to vote. All members may vote for National Coordinator, and Representative At Large. Only those members qualified to vote in a given region/area/position may vote for a candidate in the respective region/area/position. On the Election Committee National Election 2003 FAQ page you will find a list of the Regions, and states within each region. http://www.rootsweb.com/~usgwelections/nationals-general-info.htm Votes cast by ineligible members will not be counted. If you have any questions, please carefully read the FAQ before contacting the Election Committee. Please forward to all USGenWeb Members and appropriate mail lists. Respectfully, The USGenWeb Election Committee

Tim gave permission to forward his response. David On Wed, 6 Aug 2003, Tim Stowell wrote: > At 08:18 AM 8/5/03 -1000, you wrote: > > > >If you are elected to be national coordinator, will you open up > >the ALL-list for all MEMBERS of the USGenWeb Project (CCs, TCs, Co-CCs, > >assistant CCs, SC, ASCs, archivists) to post freely, to start their own > >topics, to engage in debate? > > > >I would expect there to be some rules that everybody has to abide by > >in order to stay on the list, but free speech is the law of the land. > >A less structured mail list is desired by a lot of us. > > > >David > > > - re-open the -ALL list make it general - non-political - but open to all > members (members being defined as those who maintain/work with x county, > state or SP sites). > > - for the Discuss list, make the list political, open to all > members (members being defined as those who maintain/work with x county, > state or SP sites) > > - let the list managers for the other lists know that unless someone complains > with a valid point of mismanagement - unfairness in list administration - that > I will not interfere in their management one iota - and even in that event > only if > it is extremely urgent - a committee will decide the best method of > handling the > situation instead of a one person approach > > Tim >

I worked towards this goal for a long time before I left the AB and plan to continue to work on it now that I am back. However, it is often like beating one's head against a brick wall since the involved parties seem unable to reach a compromise that would allow the seating of a Rep. Pam -----Original Message----- From: David W. Morgan [mailto:dmorgan@efn.org] Sent: Tuesday, August 05, 2003 2:56 PM To: STATE-COORD-L@rootsweb.com Subject: [STATE-COORD] Question for the candidates and new AB members If you are a member of the USGenWeb Advisory Board on September 1, 2003, will you work toward a compromise that will allow volunteers from both census projects to have a vote in this project, and to seat ONE person as the census projects representative? Thank you, David David W. Morgan dmorgan@efn.org Honolulu Hawaii SC - TXGenWeb http://www.rootsweb.com/~txgenweb/ FM - http://www.rootsweb.com/~usgenweb/tx/txfiles.htm ** http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~dmorgan/

If you are a member of the USGenWeb Advisory Board on September 1, 2003, will you work toward a compromise that will allow volunteers from both census projects to have a vote in this project, and to seat ONE person as the census projects representative? Thank you, David David W. Morgan dmorgan@efn.org Honolulu Hawaii SC - TXGenWeb http://www.rootsweb.com/~txgenweb/ FM - http://www.rootsweb.com/~usgenweb/tx/txfiles.htm ** http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~dmorgan/

If you are elected to be national coordinator, will you open up the ALL-list for all MEMBERS of the USGenWeb Project (CCs, TCs, Co-CCs, assistant CCs, SC, ASCs, archivists) to post freely, to start their own topics, to engage in debate? I would expect there to be some rules that everybody has to abide by in order to stay on the list, but free speech is the law of the land. A less structured mail list is desired by a lot of us. David David W. Morgan damorgan@nyx.net Honolulu Hawaii SC - TXGenWeb http://www.rootsweb.com/~txgenweb/ FM - http://www.rootsweb.com/~usgenweb/tx/txfiles.htm ** http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~dmorgan/

To all USGenWeb Members: Please forward to all USGenWeb Members and appropriate mail lists. This is an Announce-only mailing. Please do not reply. You are receiving this Announcement because you are a member of the USGenWeb Project. If you are no longer a Project member, please contact the USGenWeb Election Committee immediately via Marti Graham <marti4@cox.net>. Results of the National 2003 Election, July 1 - 31, 2003: National Coordinator Total Votes: 499 Richard Harrison - 150 30.1% Tim Stowell - 114 22.8% Ron Eason - 89 17.8% Jim Powell - 78 15.6% Bill Oliver - 68 13.6% Run-off between Richard Harrison and Tim Stowell --- Representative At Large Total Votes: 425 Shari Handley - 141 33.2% Angie Rayfield - 113 26.6% Jason Mendenhall - 88 20.7% Ellen Rohr - 83 19.5% Run-off between Shari Handley and Angie Rayfield -- Archives Representative Total Votes: 61 Cyndie Enfinger - 22 36.1% Ken Johnson - 21 34.4% Maggie Stewart-Zimmerman - 18 29.5% Runoff - Cyndie Enfinger and Ken Johnson -- Tombstone Representative Pam Reid - 14 100% Unopposed - The Election Committee Hereby Declares Pam Reid Winner -- NorthEast/North Central SC Representative Total Votes: 8 Richard Howland - 5 62.5% Marcia Kuehl - 3 37.5% The Election Committee Hereby Declares Richard Howland Winner. -- NorthEast/North Central CC Rep Total Votes: 116 Barbara Lavin - 41 35.3% Teri Brown - 39 33.6% Scott Burow - 36 31.0% Run-Off between Barbara Lavin and Teri Brown -- NorthWest Plains SC Representative Don Kelly - 6 100% Unopposed - The Election Committee Hereby Declares Don Kelly Winner. -- Northwest Plains CC Representative - Two Seats Available Total Votes: 165 Gail Meyer Kilgore - 60 36.4% Darilee Bednar - 55 33.3% Sandra Newman Sanchez - 50 30.3% The Election Committee Hereby Declares: Gail Meyer Kilgore Winner - Two year Term Darilee Bednar Winner - One Year Term -- SouthEast/Mid-Atlantic SC Representative Christine Goff - 12 100% Unopposed - The Election Committee Hereby Declares Christine Goff Winner -- SouthEast/Mid-Atlantic CC Representative - Two Positions Available Total Votes: 308 Denise Woodside - 83 26.9% Linda Blum-Barton - 77 25.0% Heather Jones DeGeorge - 72 23.4% Tom Parker - 46 14.9% Ron Dailey - 30 9.7% The Election Committee Hereby Declares: Denise Woodside - Two Year Term Linda Blum-Barton - One Year Term -- Southwest/South Central CC Representative Total Votes: 129 Bettie Wood - 53 41.1% Roger Swafford - 35 27.1% Bunny Freeman - 23 17.8% Jeff Scism - 18 14.0% Run-Off - Bettie Wood and Roger Swafford. Information about the run-offs will be announced soon. The Election Committee would like to thank all who participated, and to extend a special thank you to Larry Stephens for his invaluable assistance in operating the voting software. Thank you, The USGenWeb Election Committee

Congratulations to everybody that ran! David On Mon, 4 Aug 2003, Ellen Pack wrote: > To all USGenWeb Members: > > Please forward to all USGenWeb Members and appropriate mail lists. > > This is an Announce-only mailing. Please do not reply. You are receiving > this Announcement because you are a member of the USGenWeb Project. If you > are no longer a Project member, please contact the USGenWeb Election > Committee immediately via Marti Graham <marti4@cox.net>. > > Results of the National 2003 Election, July 1 - 31, 2003: > > National Coordinator > Total Votes: 499 > > Richard Harrison - 150 30.1% > Tim Stowell - 114 22.8% > Ron Eason - 89 17.8% > Jim Powell - 78 15.6% > Bill Oliver - 68 13.6% > > Run-off between Richard Harrison and Tim Stowell > --- > > Representative At Large > Total Votes: 425 > > Shari Handley - 141 33.2% > Angie Rayfield - 113 26.6% > Jason Mendenhall - 88 20.7% > Ellen Rohr - 83 19.5% > > Run-off between Shari Handley and Angie Rayfield > -- > > Archives Representative > Total Votes: 61 > > Cyndie Enfinger - 22 36.1% > Ken Johnson - 21 34.4% > Maggie Stewart-Zimmerman - 18 29.5% > > Runoff - Cyndie Enfinger and Ken Johnson > -- > > Tombstone Representative > > Pam Reid - 14 100% > > Unopposed - The Election Committee Hereby Declares Pam Reid Winner > -- > > NorthEast/North Central SC Representative > Total Votes: 8 > > Richard Howland - 5 62.5% > Marcia Kuehl - 3 37.5% > > The Election Committee Hereby Declares Richard Howland Winner. > -- > > NorthEast/North Central CC Rep > Total Votes: 116 > > Barbara Lavin - 41 35.3% > Teri Brown - 39 33.6% > Scott Burow - 36 31.0% > > Run-Off between Barbara Lavin and Teri Brown > -- > > NorthWest Plains SC Representative > > Don Kelly - 6 100% > > Unopposed - The Election Committee Hereby Declares Don Kelly Winner. > -- > > Northwest Plains CC Representative - Two Seats Available > Total Votes: 165 > > Gail Meyer Kilgore - 60 36.4% > Darilee Bednar - 55 33.3% > Sandra Newman Sanchez - 50 30.3% > > The Election Committee Hereby Declares: > Gail Meyer Kilgore Winner - Two year Term > Darilee Bednar Winner - One Year Term > -- > > SouthEast/Mid-Atlantic SC Representative > > Christine Goff - 12 100% > > Unopposed - The Election Committee Hereby Declares Christine Goff Winner > -- > > SouthEast/Mid-Atlantic CC Representative - Two Positions Available > Total Votes: 308 > > Denise Woodside - 83 26.9% > Linda Blum-Barton - 77 25.0% > Heather Jones DeGeorge - 72 23.4% > Tom Parker - 46 14.9% > Ron Dailey - 30 9.7% > > The Election Committee Hereby Declares: > Denise Woodside - Two Year Term > Linda Blum-Barton - One Year Term > -- > > Southwest/South Central CC Representative > Total Votes: 129 > > Bettie Wood - 53 41.1% > Roger Swafford - 35 27.1% > Bunny Freeman - 23 17.8% > Jeff Scism - 18 14.0% > > Run-Off - Bettie Wood and Roger Swafford. > > Information about the run-offs will be announced soon. > > The Election Committee would like to thank all who participated, and to > extend a special thank you to Larry Stephens for his invaluable assistance > in operating the voting software. > > Thank you, > > The USGenWeb Election Committee > David W. Morgan damorgan@nyx.net Honolulu Hawaii SC - TXGenWeb http://www.rootsweb.com/~txgenweb/ FM - http://www.rootsweb.com/~usgenweb/tx/txfiles.htm ** http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~dmorgan/

Here is additional information fron Dick Eastman's Online Newsletter. Yopu are free to forward these articles on non-commercial lists, but please include the ollowing disclaimer: The following article is from Eastman’s Online Genealogy Newsletter and is copyright 2003 by Richard W. Eastman. It is re-published here with the permission of the author. Information about the newsletter is available at http://www.eogn.com. I highly recommend subscribing o this newsletter. -Isaiah Isaiah Harrison National Coordinator The USGenWeb Project An Unincorporated Non-Profit Association - Genealogy Scam Operator Arrested! Life just got more interesting for genealogy scam operator Elias Abodeely. Four weeks ago I wrote a lengthy article about the scam best known as GenSeekers.com and identified the owner as Elias Abodeely of Cedar Rapids, Iowa. You can read that article at http://www.eogn.com/archives/news0327.htm. This week the Cedar Rapids police department arrested Abodeely and charged him with a variety of crimes, including three felonies. If convicted, Elias Abodeely could serve up to 47 years in prison for bilking genealogists. Using the name GenSeekers.com as well as number of other Web site names, Abodeely would send out thousands of "spam mail" messages claiming to have access to millions of genealogy records. The hapless victim would pay about $60 for this "service" and then be given access to a password-protected Web site that simply listed links pointing to free genealogy Web sites. GenSeekers.com and its other Web sites had no records of their own. Even more upsetting, subscribers who tried to cancel and receive a refund found that their e-mails bounced back as undeliverable. According to police reports, Elias Abodeely II, age 22, of 340 Owen St. NW, Cedar Rapids, was arrested on August 1 on suspicion of identity theft and three felonies: first-degree theft, money laundering, and ongoing criminal conduct. Police investigators claim Abodeely masterminded a 3-year genealogy scam that netted at least $14,000 and between 220 and 260 victims -- a handful of them from overseas. The total could be higher, but investigators haven't added up everything yet, according to Cedar Rapids Police Investigator Greg Koenighain. Abodeely was booked and released from the Linn County Jail. Abodeely's operation originally collected money via a PayPal account, but PayPal soon shut him out after they received complaints. Abodeely then used a variety of other methods of collecting payments by credit cards. When the credit card companies shut him down, Abodeely switched to payment by electronic checks. That worked well for the young swindler, as checks do not enjoy the same protection as credit cards. Victims who paid by credit card could obtain refunds from the credit card companies, if they asked. However, those who paid by check had no recourse. Abodeely and associates then reportedly conducted other crimes. The same electronic checks were cashed time and again, with each new occurrence using a new check number. The identity theft charge stems from an accusation that Abodeely stole four women's Social Security numbers and then used the numbers to establish new merchant accounts to process credit card payments. Elias Abodeely has been involved in other online scams, not involving genealogy. He has promoted "get rich quick" business opportunities promoting porno sites. Click here to see examples. At least one of Abodeely's Web sites -- Genseekers.com -- is still operating as these words are written, but officials expect to shut it down soon. In addition, the investigation is not yet complete. This week's arrest and arraignment was by the local police department. The federal government also has an interest in this case for possible income tax evasion, violation of interstate commerce laws and more. Mr. Abodeely's legal problems are only beginning. In addition, two of his accomplices are also facing possible arrest, according to Investigator Koenighain. You can read a bit more about this story at KWWL Television's news site at http://www.kwwl.com/Global/story.asp?S=1386145 as well as at the Des Moines Register's news site at: http://www.dmregister.com/news/stories/c4788998/21905604.html. The Cedar Rapids Gazette has a longer story written by Public Safety Reporter Christoph Trappe. However, you have to purchase a subscription before you can read that article at: http://www.gazetteonline.com What Do You Think? Comments and discussion are available on this newsletter's Discussion Boards. - Comment about Genealogy Scams For reasons that are not clear to me, genealogy seems to attract more than its fair share of fast buck artists. The article about GenSeekers is probably the most flagrant example I have heard of, complete with identity theft and money laundering. However, we all have seen plenty of other charlatans who peddle goods and services of questionable value. The late and unlamented Halberts of Bath, Ohio, quickly pops to mind. They folded up a few years ago, hounded by court actions and competition from the Internet. However, Halberts' imitators are still in business in Colorado, Ontario, and elsewhere. In many shopping malls you can also find pushcart "businesses" claiming to sell "authentic" family coats of arms and other such schlock on paper, t-shirts, coffee cups and key chains. Most of their materials are bogus, not worth the paper (or key chain) that they are printed on. Then there is the Internet. Did you ever stop to think that there are similarities between the World Wide Web and the Wild, Wild West? Not only do the two phrases sound a lot alike, but they both are also full of fake medicine men, snake oil salesmen, and other fast-buck characters of disrepute. Simply look at the spam mail that you receive, claiming to sell "medical cures and solutions" to make various parts of your body bigger or smaller or to make you wealthy by using your computer to make money while you sleep. Their ads seem to have been written by ex-carnival barkers. I have a mental image of these people selling their products from the back end of a horse-drawn wagon. How do you protect yourself from these scam artists? The best advice hasn't changed in centuries: if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is! Be suspicious. Luckily, today's World Wide Web gives you more power than you ever had before. If a company's claims are questionable, do a search on the Web to see what the company's customers have said about it. If it is a genealogy-related product or service, go to this newsletter's Web site at http://www.eogn.com and search past newsletters. You can quickly find any articles I have ever written about the company. Next, post a message on the newsletter's Discussion Board at the same Web site and ask about the company there. Chances are that someone knows about the company and will respond to your query. Finally, pay only by credit card. Never purchase by check, money order, or cash. Credit cards are fully insured against fraud by the credit card companies themselves. If you are scammed, the credit card companies will issue a refund to you; then they will pursue the offending company for reimbursement. Sadly, payments by check, money order, or cash have no guarantees at all, as those who paid money to GenSeekers.com found out. Last year at this time, I wrote similar words about a genealogy conference in Dearborn, Michigan, that folded and disappeared just a few weeks before the scheduled start of the conference. The organizers simply took the money and closed their offices. Here again, those who had used credit cards to pre-register quickly received 100% refunds from VISA, MasterCard, and American Express. Those who paid by check, money order, or cash still have not received a dime. In short, verify the company's products or services before you spend money. When you do decide to purchase, make sure that you use a payment method that has fraud guarantees: use a credit card – not a check, money order, or cash. This is a rule of thumb to follow in genealogy and everywhere else that I can think of. What Do You Think? Comments and discussion are available on this newsletter's Discussion Boards.

Betsy I too am sorry to see that you are no longer with rootsweb. You have been a great help the few times I have asked you for help. Sundee Maynez > -------Original Message------- > > From: STATE-COORD-L@rootsweb.com > Date: Saturday, August 02, 2003 07:22:41 > To: STATE-COORD-L@rootsweb.com > Subject: [STATE-COORD-L] News Flash > > As some of you may have already heard, I'm no longer with RootsWeb. You > can still contact me at my personal e-mail address - betsym@1starnet.com. > I've had a great time at RootsWeb--working with all the wonderful online > genealogists. I'm not leaving genealogy or USGenWeb, just regrouping. > > Anyone with ideas or job opportunities, please e-mail me. > > Will work for genealogy, er food, er . . . > > Betsy > > . > >