This is in the nature of a position statement regarding the Strong Genealogical Network. It has been developed in an attempt to help give some direction to the Members of the Rootsweb Strong-List, as we contemplate the future. Robert T. Strong, Jr., the "founder" of the Strong-List, has indicated his intention to "unsubscribe" in order that he may devote his time to completion of his book re the Southern Strongs of the United States. We all owe a debt of thanks to BoB for his herculean efforts in bringing the Strong-List into being. Some of us "jumped aboard" early, back in the days when the list was carried on the Maiser server at the University of Indiana... before the big "server crash", which caused the termination of the Maiser service and transfer of the list to the Rootsweb Cooperative. BoB took us through all of that trauma, kept the list going, subscribing and unsubscribing participants, drawing out "lurkers", giving leadership and direction to the group. He was one of the "instigators" of the amorphous network of web sites we now call the "Strong Genealogical Network". Continuously, through generous application of his inate "Southern Charm" and considerable academic research qualifications, he has helped point us at a general goal of sharing and expanding our knowledge of Strong/Strange/L'Estrange/Straughn/etc., genealogy. Now that BoB needs to move on, so we remaining members of the Strong-List must move on as well. It may be helpful to re-examine our goals. I think there are at least four goals of the Strong Genealogical Network and members of the Rootsweb Strong-List: 1) Free Collection and dissemination of family history data to all researchers, putting all information available into the public forum for discussion, etc. Any errors can be corrected through group contribution and work. 2) Inform descendants about historical family places and sites. 3) Keep everyone informed about Strong/Strange/L'Estrange, etc., family history, goals, activities. 4) Establish a convenient forum and place to discuss and store our various family history. Back in mid-1997, when we were discussing the idea of creating the Strong Genealogical Network, there were several points which were developed: 1) We all have to be willing to share our research and put it out in public view for comment, critique, and further revision and input from others. That is part of the time honored "Socratic Method" of education... it is a suystem of researching for the true facts by testing theories through exposure to questioning by others... if the theory stands up under questioning, it may be accepted until something better comes along. A problem with the method is that we all tend to take pride in our research and theories, and our feelings get brised in the give and take of questioning under fire, One of the ways of protecting ourselves is to have sources and details supporting our theories throroughly documented and recorded. 2) We all need to be willing to disclose information and theories, some of which are perhaps not fully developed or "ready", in a manner with which we can feel comfortable. In an academic setting, "publication" is the manner traditionally used to expose one's theories... publication in a recognized periodical or book format. Many of us have toyed with the thought that we would like to publish a book presenting what we have developed withour research. One of the problems with this modernly in the cost of publication... which must be weighed against the marketability of teh "book" once it is published. Realistically, the cost probably far out strips the market for the publication. That leaves us all with three alternatives... (1) do nothing; (2) publish a book anyway, and bear the cost ourselves, or (3) share the information with anyone who is intereseted by whatever other means are out there... and in our case the means available for use is the internet. Several of the members of the Strong-List have put the above goals and concepts into action through development of the Strong Genealogical Network. When first discussed, the initial thought was to try to put together a central repository for all data, etc. William L. "Bill" Strong and others pointed out that the size of the computer storage needed for such a centralized approach would be enormous, it would be cost prohibitive, slow to operate, and require the full time efforts of one or more individuals to construct and maintain. Bill's suggestion, which has turned out to be the right one, was to decentralize the concept... create several web sites, each created and maintained by various individuals, and each with a differing "piece of the pie" to present. The decentralized, or distributed Strong Genealogical Network, takes advantage of available computer storage capacity on servers used by individual members of the Strong-List (such as BoB Strong's Renaisance Operation (?), or "ro.com") or supported by advertising, such as Geocities and Tripod. The cost of the storage is supported by the individual member, or by the advertisers. Each Web Site Manager has responsibility for the content of his/her own site, and the freedom to manage it anyway he/she wishes... devoting as much or as little time as they wish... and carrying the expense in time and money as they wish. The current Strong Genealogy Network member web sites are as follows: ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1) The Strong Genealogy Network Home Page, constructed, managed and operated by William L. "Bill" Strong, providing a central directory of the network, links and a forum for posting research inquiries. 2) Strong Quest by Robert T. (BoB) Strong, maintaining the Strong-List, providing research links, and directions to various Gedcom repositories, etc. 3) Strong Roots Database, providing abbreviated GEDCOMs, by Jim Gilbert & BoB Strong. 4) Strong/Strange Research in Britain & Ireland, by David B. Strong, providing a manuscript on researching Strong(e)/Strang(e)s in Britain and Ireland, together with an Irish database and a Lineage Directory 5) Archives of the Strong Family Mail List by Russell Laird, indexing the messages exchanged on the old Maiser server. 6) The Strange Home Page of the late John R. Mayer (September 16, 1952 - March 31, 1998), linked with the John R. Mayer Memorial Web Page and Outline of his major genealogical work, "Extraneus". 7) The Strong Family Association of America (SFAA) Home Page by Martha Strong, concentrating on matters of interest to descendants of "Elder" John Strong of New England, managed by Martha Strong, in cooperation with Robert S. Strong, and others. 8) Welcome To My World, by Martha Strong, concentrating on research in Southwest Engand and New England. 9) Ship's Captains - Strang, Strange, Strong, Stronge, etc. by Tracy Vickers, collecting information about mariner Strongs and Ship Passengers. 10) The Strong Genealogy Forum, independantly providing a place to post inquiries and information about research interests. To become part of the network, a web site should satisfy all the following criteria: a) the site provides information of value to Strong, Strang, Strange, etc. researchers b) it is generic, i.e it is not restricted to a single line of Strongs c) it contains links to all the other sites on the Strong Genealogy Network d) it does not require a membership or other fee: its use is free The RootsWeb Strong-List is a key component in the operation of the Strong Genealogical Network. The RootsWeb concept involves the "Ownership" of the List by a single individual. Robert T. "BoB" Strong was the original List Owner. Some time ago, Theresa Lang volunteered to replace BoB as List Owner for RootsWeb purposes. The List is Co-Managed on a revolving basis by volunteer managers who take on the responsibilty on a revolving monthly basis. Theresa Lang and Russell Laird, and now Kimberly (Tallmon) Knutson, are the volunteers who have taken on this responsibility. One of the reasons for this Position Paper is that there is a critical and urgent need for additional subscribers to volunteer to assist as Co-Managers. The duty of the Co-Manager is primarily to manage daily administrative details, such as assisting folks to subscribe or to cancel their subscriptions, especially when they send their commands to "STRONG-L" rather than to "STRONG-L-request". This can be done in about 30 minutes per day. The total transactions (subscriptions plus cancellations) have been totaling less than two per day: about 50 per month. Most of these require no intervention by the Co-Manager. We have accomplished much in the past two years... coming from a "fledgling" list on the Maiser Server, to 164 members on the RootsWeb Server, and ten general purpose Strong Genealogical Network Websites, plus numerous personal website maintained by individual members of the List and others. We have made a major step forward in presenting our collective research; and in providing directions and assistance for members and others who are interested in Strong/Strange Genealogical Research. The Strong-List and Strong Genealogical Network is a major volunteer cooperative, developed, maintained and managed by it's members... some of whom are able to be more active than others, but which is open to any level of participation when and as interested individuals are able to act. The foregoing is a summary attempt to state our present position. I invite the members of the Strong-List to use this position paper as a basis for further discussion and development. I suggest that we need to: 1) develop some coordinated efforts at research of original records which have not yet been "touched". 2) continue to improve and expand our existing Strong Genealogical Network. 3) encourage individual members to come forward to assume managerial roles for the RootsWeb Strong-List. 4) encourage individual members to establish their own websites, sharing their information with the rest of us. 5) continue to monitor technological developments which will assist us in improving the network and the research. 6) assist members and others in learning about and using and applying computer hardware and software which is available for use in researching and presenting the genealogy involved. 7) provide for long-term management and direction of the Strong-List and Strong Genealogical Network. Please consider how YOU can help make this an action plan! Share your ideas with us! Help! Respectfully, David B. "Dave" Strong Email: [email protected] Website, "Researching Strong(e)s and Strang(e)s in Britain & Ireland" http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Prairie/7530