Dear USGenWeb-ALL List and USGenWeb Project Members- We have recently received this policy statement from RootsWeb.com regarding list ownership. "Resources (web space accounts, lists, boards, etc.) that contain the name of a Project are considered to be under the ultimate control/responsibility of the Project leadership. This means that the Project ultimately determines who manages the resource and is responsible for ensuring issue resolution arising from the resource. RootsWeb and its parent company, MyFamily.com, will become involved as we see necessary if any use of the resource is in conflict with our terms and conditions or privacy policies." The USGenWeb Project had considered the USGenWeb-ALL list to be unofficial and completely independent. The Advisory Board exercised absolutely no control over the list and had no responsibility for what was said there. With the above policy statement that position is no longer tenable. The NC, the AB and the Project are now ultimately responsible for the list. The list carries the USGenWeb service-marked name, and it is specifically mentioned in the Bylaws. Consequently, it's important that the list be used in a way that doesn't reflect poorly on the Project, creating negative attitudes and negative public images. Project members--including the more outspoken ones--need and deserve places where they can express opinions and discuss issues. Lists that exist under the auspices of The USGenWeb Project are appropriate venues for most of this discussion. Those few Project members who insist on an unregulated, anything-goes discussion as they have had for some time on ALL, can have that list somewhere else without besmirching the USGenWeb name. Effective immediately, the USGenWeb-ALL list will be a temporary announce-only list for project business, managed by the National Coordinator. The ultimate fate of the list will be determined by the Advisory Board. I have taken this action as National Coordinator in what I believe to be the best interests of the Project. Although the Advisory Board will decide what happens next, I bear full responsibility for what has happened so far. -Isaiah