Derick, While I agree with you that there are some people who seem to have personal agendas in this Project and that it is the responsibility of every USGW Project member to pay attention and be involved in what is going on at organizational levels, I have to take issue with a couple of facts you have presented here. 1) The poll that was taken in NC had nothing to do with popularity. It was one toll the AB could use to determine what the voice was of CCs in NC regarding the performance of the SC in their state. Many AB members thought a poll would not be responded to and would serve no real purpose, but that was not the case. The poll was answered by very close to 2/3 of the CCs in that state. The poll determined that, while this state project, like all state projects has areas that could use improvement, largely CCs in the state are pleased with the performance of Derick Hartshorn, their SC. 2) Derick, on March 5, you stated in an email that you knew about the poll and had no objection to it. You may not have known exactly when it was being conducted, but you surely knew it was going to take place. I was the initiator of the poll concept. I am proud of its results. I am pleased to say that given the excellent response to the poll, it is now being suggested that the AB conduct other polls in other states so the AB can have an idea of the strength and weakness of the Project. The poll was initiated NOT due to the complaints of one CC but due to multiple conflicting complaints that left the AB with no way to gauge what the truth, in fact, was in the state. Now we know you, as SC in NC, are largely supported and that is a good thing! The point is for the AB to use appropriate tools to discover ways to grow and improve this Project across the board. This tool provided the AB with the information that it needed to put aside further conversation regarding the project in NC until and unless another set of facts are presented by a large enough (10%) contingent of CCs in NC. If that is an agenda, I think it is "right on." What concerns me about your post is that it lumped facts together that are unrelated to one another. I do agree with you that "Most AB members are dedicated to providing free genealogy resources." I also agree that every Project member needs to "I urge each and every USGWP member to carefully examine the track record of all AB members. Ask yourself if they represent your views or if they have their own personal agendas. The very future of the USGenWeb Project is at stake." Lastly, I completely agree with your statement, "State Coordinators and their associates need to make some very important decisions: Are we here to stake out our turf....or are we here to serve the genealogical public????" I for one do not believe that the Project has changed to the point where if examined it would be proved that most SCs were here to "stake out turf" - but I certainly agree it is a concern in some states and that the purpose of a national Advisory Board is to examine each state Project to ensure that we, as a Project, continue to be here to serve the genealogical public. Jana Black SW/SC CC Rep USGW Project -----Original Message----- From: Derick S. Hartshorn [mailto:derickh@charter.net] Sent: Sunday, March 23, 2003 7:18 PM To: STATE-COORD-L@rootsweb.com; NCGENWEB-DISCUSS-L@rootsweb.com Cc: Richard Harrison; Tim Stowell; Jimmy Epperson; Jana Black; Larry Flesher; Bill Oliver; Phyllis Rippee; Vicki Shaffer; Tina Vickery; Robert Bremer; Roger Swafford; Jan Cortez; Karen Mitchell; Shari Handley; Roger Swafford; USGW-ALL-L@rootsweb.com; PaulDBuckley@worldnet.att.net; angie@angiesplace.behosting.com; crystal@pebbles.net; CDZ4U@aol.com; nduffy@patch.net; ncgen@mindspring.com Subject: USGenWeb Project CC turnover To whom it may concern: It has been suggested by some folks who have been traditionally hostile to the USGenWeb Project, that we are an on-line genealogical organization in disarray. It has been further suggested that most County Coordinators have left State Projects due to negative reasons. These same individuals have attacked the Project for reasons best described as divisive and destructive. In addressing this post to our National Coordinator, I am requesting that each State and Special Project Coordinator respond to him and our esteemed AB members, reporting your personal experiences with folks who may have left their Projects. Without taking a poll or trying to predict responses, I would really like to know if any former CCs left any of our Projects because of bad vibes or because of other circumstances. Regardless, these folks should have been included in previously-conducted polls. Our NCGenWeb Project has been infiltrated by a fraudulent entity--and was rightfully expelled. However, this individual's cohorts seek to frustrate the original goals of our Project by filing grievance after grievance and attempting to sow a field of discord. One member of your AB has even suggested that I be removed as State Coordinator because I chose to act in the best interests of our Project by removing one of these destructive forces [see Board-L archives]. Others who were placed in positions of trust within our Project have deserted and turned on us by waging hateful campaigns. One of these weasels continues to display their name on the USGWP "Who's Who" page because of the spineless attitudes of those who have the authority to do the right thing and remove this cancer. On the State level, the vast majority of those who left our Project did so because of outside obligations and time constraints. Two were expelled for detrimental activities and several resigned when they learned that their divisive dissension would not be tolerated. The very fact that the Advisory Board would suggest that I stand before a "popularity" poll in order to retain my position as SC is absurd and totally ludicrous. Nevertheless, a poll was conducted to determine how "popular" I am. I never learned of this poll until after it had been conducted. This poll was initiated because of a complainant who was removed from our Project for just cause. This individual, and cohorts, have logged many negative archived posts attacking the leadership of this Project and the organization of the XXGWP in general. They have banded together to hamper serious genealogical research. They seek instead to foster dissent. Even worse, they have managed to divert the USGWP Advisory Board to waste valuable time for their "cause." Most AB members are dedicated to providing free genealogy resources. Some have chosen to run for AB positions simply because they are energized by a personal ego trip or have a personal agenda. Elections come and elections go. I urge each and every USGWP member to carefully examine the track record of all AB members. Ask yourself if they represent your views or if they have their own personal agendas. The very future of the USGenWeb Project is at stake. Back to the NCGenWeb State Coordinator "Popularity" Poll. Here are the results: http://webpages.charter.net/derickh/Results.html as conducted by YOUR Advisory Board. Regardless of the results, some AB members continue to strive to re-instate former members whose removal was made necessary in the first place by their destructive behavior. Something needs to be done by caring folk. State Coordinators and their associates need to make some very important decisions: Are we here to stake out our turf....or are we here to serve the genealogical public???? I have no axe to grind. I have publicly stated that my term as NCGenWeb SC will end on 1 July 2003. Please, if you do nothing else, please strive to keep this organization together. Don't elect folks who are in this for their own self-gratification. Support those who choose to perpetuate our dream. Please don't tolerate the jerks!!!! Read the archives to determine who is in this for an ego trip and who is in here to promote noble goals. Support our troops in Iraq!!! Derick S. Hartshorn State Coordinator, NCGenWeb Project nc@usgenweb.org