Phil...a flat fee of $25!? I wouldn't pay it. No matter how badly I wanted that info. I'm still choking on Dennis having to pay $27 for a SS application!! hmmm...Maybe it should be rated by length of time it takes to find the information. As far as place to put funds...well, it's not like we are going to start doing this this weekend, or if we are even going to consider it as a group. Jayna wants me to bring it up at the next meeting. See if anyone would even be willing to volunteer the time... I'm thinking it's a win-win situation. Find their stuff...then look for yours! :o) Lisa -----Original Message----- From: Phil Heberer [mailto:pheberer@charter.net] Sent: Thursday, August 11, 2005 2:30 PM To: TX-GSGS-L@rootsweb.com Subject: Re: I have an idea... Hello Lisa, > What if we, as in GSGS, were to offer to do lookups for those out of > state...in our area...Ft. Worth, Saginaw, etc. for a small fee? > > Here's my line of thinking... > Most of us are looking for people out of state. The records office > staff is busy with everyday business, and don't have time ...or > desire...to do look ups. > So, what if we "hire" ourselves out to the records office, etc. to do > these look ups....for part of the fee sent in. > > Yes? No? Comments?? *I* think that is a good idea, but the problem is still that we have no where to deposit the funds we might accumulate. :( I'm still trying to get in touch with some people who might be able to help, but getting return phone calls is a bear. :( Your idea is exactly what the genealogy society does back in my hometown, and they charge a flat fee of $25, FWIW. The public library back there also has a person doing lookups, but I don't know if there is a fee attached with that one. I only found out about that when I stumbled upon the person at the county records section when I was doing some research myself. I didn't think to ask her if she charged a fee for her service. <sigh> Cheers, Phil ============================== Search the US Census Collection. Over 140 million records added in the last 12 months. Largest online collection in the world. Learn more: http://www.ancestry.com/s13965/rd.ashx

I just ran into a researcher in the Historical Museum in Miami Co. Indiana that charges $10 per hour to do look-ups. Fred Quoting Lisa Polk <lpolk@dpengineering.com>: > Phil...a flat fee of $25!? I wouldn't pay it. No matter how badly I > wanted that info. > I'm still choking on Dennis having to pay $27 for a SS application!! > > hmmm...Maybe it should be rated by length of time it takes to find the > information. > > As far as place to put funds...well, it's not like we are going to start > doing this this weekend, or if we are even going to consider it as a > group. > > Jayna wants me to bring it up at the next meeting. See if anyone would > even be willing to volunteer the time... > I'm thinking it's a win-win situation. Find their stuff...then look for > yours! :o) > Lisa > > > -----Original Message----- > From: Phil Heberer [mailto:pheberer@charter.net] > Sent: Thursday, August 11, 2005 2:30 PM > To: TX-GSGS-L@rootsweb.com > Subject: Re: I have an idea... > > Hello Lisa, > >> What if we, as in GSGS, were to offer to do lookups for those out of >> state...in our area...Ft. Worth, Saginaw, etc. for a small fee? >> >> Here's my line of thinking... >> Most of us are looking for people out of state. The records office >> staff is busy with everyday business, and don't have time ...or >> desire...to do look ups. >> So, what if we "hire" ourselves out to the records office, etc. to do >> these look ups....for part of the fee sent in. >> >> Yes? No? Comments?? > > *I* think that is a good idea, but the problem is still that we have no > where to deposit the funds we might accumulate. :( I'm still trying to > get in touch with some people who might be able to help, but getting > return phone calls is a bear. :( > > Your idea is exactly what the genealogy society does back in my > hometown, and they charge a flat fee of $25, FWIW. The public library > back there also has a person doing lookups, but I don't know if there is > a fee attached with that one. I only found out about that when I > stumbled upon the person at the county records section when I was doing > some research myself. I didn't think to ask her if she charged a fee for > her service. <sigh> > > Cheers, > Phil > > > ============================== > Search the US Census Collection. Over 140 million records added in the > last 12 months. Largest online collection in the world. Learn more: > http://www.ancestry.com/s13965/rd.ashx > > > > > > ============================== > Search the US Census Collection. Over 140 million records added in the > last 12 months. Largest online collection in the world. Learn more: > http://www.ancestry.com/s13965/rd.ashx > >

Hi Lisa, > Phil...a flat fee of $25!? I wouldn't pay it. No matter how badly I > wanted that info. > I'm still choking on Dennis having to pay $27 for a SS application!! It depends. If it was something I desparately wanted to have, $25 would be tolerable. Besides, I think it was a way of gaining more members as well. I forgot to mention that members got a 50% reduction, and annual membership is only $20. The genealogy society has a *wealth* of accumulated local, county and state history (way more than the local library!) Several old weekly newspapers donated their archives to the genealogy society when they merged into a single daily paper, and those old newspapers from the late 1800's are priceless, IMO! > hmmm...Maybe it should be rated by length of time it takes to find the > information. I think an hourly rate would be more reasonable, but I also know even at $10 an hour, it doesn't take much to get two and a half hours in! I guess it would depend on how adept the researcher is. > As far as place to put funds...well, it's not like we are going to start > doing this this weekend, or if we are even going to consider it as a > group. Yeah, I understood it wasn't something we were going to start tomorrow. Still, I'm hoping we will have someplace to store some funds soon. > Jayna wants me to bring it up at the next meeting. See if anyone would > even be willing to volunteer the time... > I'm thinking it's a win-win situation. Find their stuff...then look for > yours! :o) It *would* be nice to do some research and get paid for it! Even at twenty-five cents an hour, I could be a rich man in what I have invested in mine so far! LOL! I guess it would depend on what information someone wanted looked up. Personally, *I* like copies of obituaries more than death certificates, but to each their own. I guess I have an advantage there, since the County Recorder in the county seat where I grew up was a former high school classmate of mine. <grin> Cheers, Phil

I don't think an hourly rate is a bad idea. I know, that when it comes to having someone else help me, for a fee....it is great! A trip for genealogy can run up there in the way of $$. I would have to take off time from work because I only get paid for time I work (I am not receiving a paid vacation).....drive time....which is over 11 hours to Illinois....gas.....lodging.....food........it is SO worth it to pay for a look up! I have 3 kids and tons of other expenses....I'd rather spend it on a look up that let to know where...than pay for a trip to do it myself, for nothing! As far as the SS fee..........let me tell you what it was like for me, y'all. My grandfathers....both of them.......know NOTHING as far as their grandparents in Italy are concerned. I guess it was just not something that was asked/or talked about. No one knew anything about the kin in the old country. I was lucky that my little cute great-grandma Della applied for SS when she was 78 years old! I sent off my $27 and the printed out request form and waited..........when I received it, it was fantastic. I already knew her maiden name....but that was it. When I got that SS application....I found out the names of both of my GG-grandparents.....I have a copy of my g-grandma Della's signature. Everyone also thought she was from Fanano, Italy. She may have grown up there......but she was BORN in the village of Montes! SO.........in 100 years, when I can afford to go to Italy.....at least I will know the village in which to start! LOL! I think that it will come down to a priority for folks when it comes to what one is willing to spend on genealogy. I would easily spend that $27 again..........I was SO thrilled to call up my grandpa and tell him the names of his maternal grandparents....and the actual name of the village in which his mother was born!! It may just be a budgeting thing....which we ALL have to do when it comes to our genie research......especially when there are a number of other expenses in our lives. We have to do it time and time again, whether it be saving for a couch, the kids various expenses....or a genealogical expense. In the long run....a little fee for a look up is better than spending Lord knows how much $$ for a long trip to find nothing..................is it something that I could or would do for every ancestor.......no.....but for some.........YES! Just an opinion............. Jayna ----- Original Message ----- From: Phil Heberer<mailto:pheberer@charter.net> To: TX-GSGS-L@rootsweb.com<mailto:TX-GSGS-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Friday, August 12, 2005 6:09 PM Subject: Re: I have an idea... Hi Lisa, > Phil...a flat fee of $25!? I wouldn't pay it. No matter how badly I > wanted that info. > I'm still choking on Dennis having to pay $27 for a SS application!! It depends. If it was something I desparately wanted to have, $25 would be tolerable. Besides, I think it was a way of gaining more members as well. I forgot to mention that members got a 50% reduction, and annual membership is only $20. The genealogy society has a *wealth* of accumulated local, county and state history (way more than the local library!) Several old weekly newspapers donated their archives to the genealogy society when they merged into a single daily paper, and those old newspapers from the late 1800's are priceless, IMO! > hmmm...Maybe it should be rated by length of time it takes to find the > information. I think an hourly rate would be more reasonable, but I also know even at $10 an hour, it doesn't take much to get two and a half hours in! I guess it would depend on how adept the researcher is. > As far as place to put funds...well, it's not like we are going to start > doing this this weekend, or if we are even going to consider it as a > group. Yeah, I understood it wasn't something we were going to start tomorrow. Still, I'm hoping we will have someplace to store some funds soon. > Jayna wants me to bring it up at the next meeting. See if anyone would > even be willing to volunteer the time... > I'm thinking it's a win-win situation. Find their stuff...then look for > yours! :o) It *would* be nice to do some research and get paid for it! Even at twenty-five cents an hour, I could be a rich man in what I have invested in mine so far! LOL! I guess it would depend on what information someone wanted looked up. Personally, *I* like copies of obituaries more than death certificates, but to each their own. I guess I have an advantage there, since the County Recorder in the county seat where I grew up was a former high school classmate of mine. <grin> Cheers, Phil ============================== Search Family and Local Histories for stories about your family and the areas they lived. Over 85 million names added in the last 12 months. Learn more: http://www.ancestry.com/s13966/rd.ashx<http://www.ancestry.com/s13966/rd.ashx>