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? RichardÂ… > > > > > > Richard M. Howland ILGenWeb State Coordinator > Mailto:RichPump@wf.net ICQ # 898319 > > > >