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