George and all, To answer your question, no, I did not send to the wrong list by mistake. But yes, Bridgett did set up the TNCHAT-L list so that we could discuss things like incorporation. However, as you point out, I mailed to the TNGEN-L list. The reasons for this are: 1. The TNGEN-L list reaches all TNGenWeb volunteers. As Bridgett's latest message states, there are 110 subscribers on the official list. It is necessary that all important messages, announcements, calls for votes, etc, *always* be posed to the TNGEN-L list. 2. With only 26 CCs on the TNCHAT-L list, we need to increase those numbers so it can function well as a discussion list for us. I do not want important issues to be hidden on the TNCHAT-L without our folks on TNGEN-L knowing that the issue is on TNCHAT-L and that they have the option and right to subscribe. I originally suggested a second list (which is now established as TNCHAT-L). I did this because there are some CCs who do not want to be inundated with the same redundant opinion from the same author. Not your opinion, not my opinion, not over and over. We respect the wishes of the CCs who would rather do genealogy, their county pages and their special projects and NOT want to receive overwhelming opinions. However, from the git go, Bridgett's stated position has been; whatever we do, it will be democratic. Right now, my posting to TNGen-L is the most democratic way. I would be pleased to move the discussion to the TNCHAT-L list. Lets have some more subscribers so more CCs are represented. Once we get past the incorporation issue, we will be able to use the list for discussions about county records, cemetery preservation, dogtrot architecture, and good ol' southern cooking. Respectfully, Fred Smoot George Waller wrote: > > Fred... I thought Bridgett set up TNCHAT-L > for discussions like this. Did you send it to > the wrong list by mistake? > George > > On 11 Jul 98 at 0:46, Fred Smoot wrote: > > > Greetings fellow CCs, > > > > As our Tennessee Project enters its third year, it seems apparent that > > the project has grown enough that a small amount organization might be > > in order. > > > > As individuals, we may say we are here to honor our ancestors or because > > we love genealogy or because we have an obsession with HTML, but > > whatever > > the reason, our product is online genealogical information which we > > contribute freely to the general public. > > > > Our state project is a good project, it is getting better and better all > > the time. The dedicated efforts of, you, the CC Volunteers built this > > project and it is the efforts of you CC Volunteers that keep this > > project > > healthy and growing. > > > > Any organizational effort needs to respect both the product and those > > who give of themselves to create that product. > > > > In as much as the CCs donate their time in a totally volunteer nonprofit > > environment with absolutely no financial gain for themselves, any > > proposed organization structure must support and protect the freedoms > > that rightful belong to those CCs. > > > > A velvet glove approach is indicated, not that of an iron fist. > > Organization must not create a situation where the "Page Police" are > > looking down our necks. > > > > But the project does need some organization to protect the work we do > > and we need a "legal" organization to which we can "will" our work when > > we leave the project. > > > > Bridgett, Nancy and I have been working on a Charter that can be > > submitted to the Tennessee Department of State. It is a Charter for a > > nonprofit corporation. We would not be the first StateGenWeb to > > incorporate. KansasGenWeb has recently incorporated as a nonprofit. > > > > After the basic Charter is approved, we (all CCs), would have the > > opportunity to contribute to a fair and equitable set of Bylaws. Next, > > the Bylaws would need to be approved by a majority of the CCs. We would > > then be governed by the rules WE create, rather than being subject to > > outside intervention. > > > > Please note, there is nothing in this act of our incorporation that > > would change our relationship with USGenWeb Project. As long as the > > USGenWeb Project met OUR standards of free online nonprofit genealogy, > > there would probably never be a need for change. > > > > Before submitting the Charter, we need to hear from you. Please post > > your reply to this list so we all can share. We need to remain a team, > > and keep our three stars shining above the rest. > > > > Fred Smoot, a State Rights Westerner > > > > > > ==== TNGEN Mailing List ==== > > > > Be sure to send your updates to this mailing list to be > > included on the "What's New" page. > > -- <-> <-> <-> <-> <-> <-> <-> <-> <-> <-> <-> <-> <-> <-> <-> <-> <-> <-> Fred Smoot, Patty Sokolecki Smoot; Dog Trot X Press Art, Graphics, Maps, Panoramic Photography. ~^~^~^~^~^~^~ Fred's Projects ~^~^~^~^~^~^~ TNGenWeb; Special Projects Coordinator. Middle Tennessee Genealogical Society, WebMaster: http://www.dogtrot.com/mtgs/ TNGenWeb; Letters from Forgotten Ancestors: http://www.tngenweb.org/tnletters/ TNGenWeb; First People of Tennessee: Cherokee & Chickasaw Nations http://www.tngenweb.org/tnfirst/ TNGenWeb; People of Color in Old Tennessee http://www.tngenweb.org/tncolor/ TNGenWeb; The Maps Our Ancestors Followed: http://www.tngenweb.org/maps/ TNGenWeb; The Land of Our Ancestors: http://www.tngenweb.org/tnland/ Warren County Genealogical Association, WebMaster http://www.dogtrot.com/wcga/ TNGenWeb; Warren County Tennessee Homepage: http://www.tngenweb.org/warren/