----- Original Message ----- From: Roger Swafford (by way of Tim Stowell <tstowell@chattanooga.net>) <sagitta56@earthlink.net> To: <STATE-COORD-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Wednesday, May 31, 2000 9:02 PM Subject: [STATE-COORD-L] EC - Announcement > Greetings; > > The following AB positions shall be open for election during this election > cycle. > National Coordinator - one year term - Tim Stowell, incumbent > NE/NC CC Rep. - two year term - Richard Howland, incumbent > NWP CC Rep. - two year term - Virginia Cisewski, incumbent > SE/MA CC Rep. - two year term - Jim Powell, incumbent > SW/SC SC Rep. - two year term - Betsy Mills, incumbent > SW/SC CC Rep. - two year term - Gloria B. Mayfield, incumbent > > Nominations will be open commencing 0001(CDT) June 01,2000 and continue > through 2359 (CDT) June 15, 2000. To participate, members must have at least > 60 days continueous service in good standing prior to commencement of the > election cycle, April 1, 2000. > > Members are requested to submit nominations to the appropriate regional > contact as listed below. Please include the name and email address of the > nominee. > Nominations Sub-Committee Members; > > NorthWestPlains ------------- Jerimiah Moerke moer0020@tc.umn.edu > > SouthWest/SountCentral -- Shirley Scott shirleyscott@juno.com > > NorthEast/MidAtlantic ------ Alice Gayley agayley@dgs.dgsys.com > > SouthEast/SouthCentral --- Vicki Shaffer tngibson@worldnet.att.net > > The above member (as applicable) shall; contact the nominee to determine > acceptance/rejection of the nomination and obtain qualifying details as > provided by the nominee. > Forward acceptance and qualifying details to the Election Committee. > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > >

----- Original Message ----- From: Allen Richmond <Scioto@Scioto.Org> To: <USGENWEB-ALL-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Wednesday, May 31, 2000 10:17 AM Subject: [USGENWEB-ALL-L] Re: USGW Bylaws Amendment Proposal: Article XVII (followup) > ARTICLE XVII RECALL > > SEC. 1. Recall is the power of the members to remove an elective > officer for violation of rules or confidence. > > SEC. 2. (a) An Advisory Board Secretary shall be elected at the > beginning of every Advisory Board term, or when another Advisory Board > Secretary has resigned, quit or is unable to perform the duties of the > office. The Advisory Board Secretary is to be a non-voting member of > the Advisory Board. The Advisory Board Secretary is to be chosen from > USGenWeb Members who are not members of the Advisory Board. The > Advisory Board Secretary shall keep minutes for all Advisory Board > meetings, which will be posted to the National website. > (b) Recall of an Advisory Board Member is initiated by delivering to > the Advisory Board Secretary a petition alleging reason for recall. > Reasons for recall are to be limited to: violation of bylaws, improper > handling of information or legal/ethical violations. > (c) A recall petition will consist of one or more e-mails containing > the names and e-mail addresses of those in favor of recall. This > petition must be verified to determine validity. > (d) A petition to recall an Advisory Board Member (including the > National Coordinator, who is also an Advisory Board Member) must be > signed by voting members equal in number to at least 20 percent of the > last vote for the office. Any Advisory Board Member may be recalled, > but only by their own constituents. The Advisory Board Secretary shall > maintain a continuous count of the petition signatures certified to that > office, and deliver a report to the Advisory Board and inform the > constituents in question if there are enough signatures to force a > recall vote. > > SEC. 3. (a) An election to determine whether to recall an Advisory > Board Member and, if appropriate, to elect a successor shall be called > by the National Coordinator, or Election Committee Chairman if there is > one at the time, and held not less than 30 days nor more than 50 days > from the date of certification of sufficient signatures. If the > National Coordinator is unable, and no Election Committee is seated at > the time, the Advisory Board Secretary shall call for the election and > insure all constituents of the Member subject to the recall action are > notified. > (b) In the event of a proposed recall action against an Advisory > Board Member, nominations will be taken to immediately fill the position > vacated if the recall vote is successful. The member being recalled is > not eligible for this nomination. > (c) If the simple majority vote of those voting on the question is to > recall, the Member is removed and, if there is a candidate to replace > the Member, the candidate who receives a plurality is the successor. If > the recall action fails, the Advisory Board Member retains their > position, and the election for a successor is declared null and void. > (d) Votes in recall elections are subject to verification by either > the Advisory Board Secretary or Election Committee, if there is one. > > SEC. 4. The Advisory Board Secretary shall provide for circulation, > filing, and certification of petitions, nomination of candidates, and > the recall election. > > SEC. 5. If recall of the National Coordinator is initiated, the recall > duties of that office shall be performed by the Advisory Board Secretary > or Election Committee Chairman, if there is one. > > SEC. 6. An Advisory Board Member who is not recalled shall not have > another recall action initiated against the member until six months > after the election. > > SEC. 7. Terms of elective offices provided for by this Article, > commence immediately following the election, and shall last until the > term of the recalled Member expires. > > SEC. 8. In the event of conflict between any Other Articles of the > USGenWeb Bylaws and this Article, this Article shall take precedence. > > ___________________________________ > > Since our colleague in COGenWeb, Mary Ann Hetrick, has put forth the > above-outlined Bylaw Amendment, OHGenWeb withdraws its placement request > and instead puts forth its co-sponsorship of this amendment proposal. > (COGW's proposal was posted this morning, prior to OHGW's sending.) > > OHGenWeb continues to invite our colleague state projects to consider > the above bylaw and participate by co-sponsoring this amendment for the > pending election 01-31 Jul 2000. Four colleague state projects are now > required for placement on the pending election ballot to be brought > forth for the USGenWeb Coordinators' consideration, per current USGW > bylaws (http://www.usgenweb.org/official/bylaws.html). > > Allen Richmond > State Coordinator, OHGenWeb Project > 31 May 2000 - 1317 EDT > ______________________________________________________________________ > > Allen Richmond > . Scioto@Scioto.Org > > OHGenWeb Project State Coordinator > . http://Scioto.Org/OHGenWeb/ > > In the asking comes sharing; > in sharing comes knowledge; > in knowledge comes wisdom which lasts a lifetime. -Ar. > > > ==== USGENWEB-ALL Mailing List ==== > Remember the elections start July 1. > >

-------- Original Message -------- Subject: [STATE-COORD-L] Vital Records - California / Texas Resent-Date: Sat, 27 May 2000 22:44:58 -0700 (PDT) Resent-From: STATE-COORD-L@rootsweb.com Date: Sun, 28 May 2000 01:42:12 -0400 From: Tim Stowell <tstowell@chattanooga.net> Reply-To: STATE-COORD-L@rootsweb.com To: STATE-COORD-L@rootsweb.com The following Vital Records for California are now online for the years 1905 - 1995: Birth: http://userdb.rootsweb.com/ca/birth/search.cgi Death: http://userdb.rootsweb.com/ca/death/search.cgi For Texas the following records are online: Birth - 1926 - 1995; Marriages - 1966 - 1997; Divorces: 1968 - 1997; Deaths: 1964 - 1998: http://www.rootsweb.com/rootsweb/graphics/texas.html There are search engines for both so one can look up all of a particular surname or whatever other criteria you may wish to use. Good searching! Tim Stowell tstowell@chattanooga.net Chattanooga, TN

Greetings, I've had to place the Cumberland Co site on the adoption list again, because the recent volunteer, Libbie Griffin, hasn't been able to free up enough time to take over with the maintenance. Freddie S.

----- Original Message ----- From: Tim Stowell <tstowell@chattanooga.net> To: <STATE-COORD-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Friday, May 26, 2000 10:06 PM Subject: [STATE-COORD-L] Election Committee > From: "Roger Swafford" <sagitta56@earthlink.net> > To: "Tim Stowell" <tstowell@chattanooga.net> > Subject: Election Committee > Date: Fri, 26 May 2000 20:02:29 -0400 > > *Fwd. as appropriate. > > Greetings, > The recommendation of the NC is accepted and the following members > appointed; > Tina Vickery, Shari Handley, Marti Graham, Alice Gayely, Kristen Howell, > Jerimiah Moerke, Shirley Scott, Vicki Shaffer. > > Alternates; Carolyn Ward, Carol Montrose, Gerald Westmoreland, Diane > Montgomery Parsons. > >

From: Tim Stowell <tstowell@mccallie.org> You may wish to pass this along to your CCs: http://www.all-links.com/newscentral/northamerica/unitedstates.html From: Tim Stowell <tstowell@mccallie.org> The following link was also sent me this morning. It appears to have better coverage than the first URL I sent. http://ajr.newslink.org/statnews.html

Michele Thomas is leaving our happy group ... The new host is Frank Webb Welcome aboard Frank. --- 8^) The Fluvanna Co., Virginia page was been moved to http://markedge.home.avana.net/fluvanna/ If you have a link to Fluvanna Co, please change the URL on your pages. Also a hearty welcome to Amy Armstrong who is taking over the Tazewell Co pages, getting her request in JUST ahead of Christine Goff, sorry Christine, ... As Maxwell Smart would say "missed it by THAT much" Regards, Freddie S.

I dont understand what this is all about, i wonder if it could have been handled privately. In MHO it looks like it may have been written of the moment of anger. Those letters are better sent to the person we are mad at and settled off the list. Linda, and Freddie have always bent over backwards to help me. Thank you for the opportunity to vent my opinion as well. Lets try to help Dodie feel better about the various projects. She has done a great job on her pages. Sincerely Rena Worthen Botetourt County, Rockbridge County, Craig County, and Patrick County.

You know what. I have been around for a few years and never say much. I wish everyone would stop bickering all of the time. We are here to help get info out to people who cannot get their own access. Who cares if the archives gets it too as long as they give credit to the source/transcriber. Our job is to get reliable data out there and help genealogy in the long run. If people knew about all of the bickering going on behind the scenes, no one would want to be part of this project. Please grow up. I am 22 and can see that all of this is ridiculous. If you don't want to be part of this project, so be it. If you do, learn that the archives and coordinators are on the same team and work together! Kevin Lett - Henrico Co, VA

I remember back in 1996 doing a search on one of my ancestors and a match coming up for the archives of Ballard County Kentucky, which included a link to the Ballard County Genweb page...well that started my "love" of the internet and the GenWeb project and here I am today. We have all seen a lot of changes. Yes, Rootsweb had to start getting some advertising dollars to fund the equipment that all of us have used at one time or another, I don't fault them for that. There are a lot of genealogy lovers out there and it causes a massive amount of traffic. Doddie, I for one am sorry to see you go, your Tazwell County page is art at its truest form packed full of wonderful information! Linda, I don't fault you either, you've always been nothing but helpful. I try to stay out of the "politics" that fly around on every state list that I'm on, my policy is "if it isn't directed at me, ignore it". I have such fun with my pages and meet so many wonderful people, and a few of them I'm even able to help.....last year I helped a daughter find her father when he had been searching for her for 30 years, it was personal for them but made my heart swell to think that I had a part in it. Bless all of you that have had a part in changing peoples lives.......you give them information that provides them with a missing part of their past, you provide companionship to a lot of shut in elderly people, you provide the missing link to where they grew up, you stir their memories of long ago places. To me that is the important part of "what we do". Whether that information is in an archives, on a County page or on a family page, it all takes them back............ Tami P. Ramsey tami@i-plus.net Pulaski County VA GenWeb Coordinator & Listowner http://www.rootsweb.com/~vapulask/ Washington County VA GenWeb Coordinator http://www.rootsweb.com/~vawashin/ Overton Co. TN GenWeb Coordinator & Listowner http://www.rootsweb.com/~tnoverto/overton.htm Fentress & Pickett Co. TN GenWeb Coordinator http://www.rootsweb.com/~tnfentre/fent.htm http://www.rootsweb.com/~tnpicket/pick.htm Webmaster Wilderness Road Regional Museum http://www.rootsweb.com/~vapulask/wrrm/index.htm Webmaster for New River Historical Society Homepage http://www.rootsweb.com/~vanrhs/ RAMSEY Family Webpage http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~ramsey/ SULSER Family Webpage & Listowner http://sulser.rootsweb.com/

Dear Dodie, Just a few comments. First I would like to ask if you would like a free copy of my book Burgess, Mullins, Browning, Brown and Allied families that I wrote back in 1978. You may respond privately. Second - Please feel free to visit my personal web site and click on My American Family I believe you will enjoy some of my research on Logan county. Third - I do not see the Browning family information. I have been working for 30 years on Logan County Browning families and would like to share information. Fourth - If you have Fauquier County, Virginia families please visit my USGENWEB site. Fifth - I really enjoyed visiting your Logan County West Virginia web site. Sixth - Please reconsider your decision. Virginia USGENWBB needs folks like you to keep the high level of commitment to help others. Seventh - do you have Elijah Sutherland booklet on the Dickinson County, Virginia Mullins family. I think I still have an old copy he sent me 30 years ago. I am not related to that Mullins line but to the Nathaniel Mullins line of Rowan County, North Carolina. Family History IS meant to BE SHARED. Thanks for your commitment no matter what decision you make. Thanks Jim Burgess Fauquier County, Virginia USGENWEB PS - Several years ago I believe I found the ancestor of the Logan County Steele family in North Carolina. Never had anyone to share it with until now. ----- Original Message ----- From: "daisyoday" <famsteel@worldnet.att.net> To: <VAGEN-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Tuesday, May 23, 2000 6:45 PM Subject: [VAGEN-L] My Resignation > To the USGenweb Project: > This letter is very long, but it is all I have to say on the matter at > hand.. > I agree with the idea of having a centralized archives but NOT to SOLICIT > information; The archives should be a SECONDARY place where people can do > a massive search of all files. It should be ONLY a repository, and for > special projects, NOT OUT THERE SOLICITING INFORMATION for "Kingdom > building." This would mean that the CC would be the one to send copies of > submissions to the Archives, from the COUNTY pages.. That way if people > somehow do not reach the county first but the Archives, a search can be made > and they can find the files there too. THE ARCHIVES SHOULD HOLD NO DATA > THAT IS NOT ALREADY ON A COUNTY SITE AND SHOULD HOLD NO AUTHORITY OVER > COUNTY PAGES, AND WOULD EXERCISE NO AUTHORITY OVER ANY OTHER PROJECT. As > any EXPERIENCED researcher knows, to begin your search for your ancestors, > you should start in the county, NOT the archives. Our ancestors would > call that "placing the horse before the cart." > I am posting my resignation on the lists, because that is how I first > became aware that I had been approved as the coordinator of the Tazewell > County Virginia USGenweb page- on the VA-L list. > Following is my resignation that I submitted to Volunteers who had submitted > work to me for the Tazewell County USGenweb project home page: > >Dear Tazewell County Volunteers, > >(This letter is to remain INTACT- not "snipped" nor edited.) > >After much prayer and soul searching, I have decided that I >will no longer > >maintain the Tazewell County VAGenweb page. I am telling >you, the > volunteers > >first, because you are the ones where my loyalty is. I have >removed my > own > >work, including backgrounds and graphics from the >website, because it > seems > >apparent, that the county pages are being eroded and >absorbed into a > >larger data base (the archives) that is controlled by a single >individual. > >I do know that in all societies, total control ends in >dictatorship. > All > >of the archives pages are on Rootsweb, and Rootsweb is >now a for profit > >corporation. I have read on the "administrative" mail lists >that the > >individual who has control over the archives is a paid staff >member of > >Rootsweb. I have no idea where it is all leading, and won't >even > speculate > >on it. > >If you want any corrections or additions made to any of the >work you have > >submitted to the Tazewell Home Page since I took it over >the end of > >January 2000, please let me know, before I make the >announcement to > >officially resign from the USGenweb project. Thanks to the >hard work of > >each of you, I am leaving the page with literally hundreds of >files that > >were not there previously. None of the work submitted to >me was > transferred > >to the "archives." We have a POWERFUL home page, >because we chose to > share > >unselfishly and work together. That is where the REAL >POWER is- with the > >volunteers for the project. > >Most of the time, I have felt like a hypocrite taking your >work, because > >county coordinators are not allowed freedom of speech to >let volunteers > >know the actual politics, so the volunteers can make >INFORMED CHOICES. > Let > >the record show, that I did not donate any of your work to >the "archives." > >There are many wonderful, dedicated people in the >USGenweb project who > keep > >"hanging in there" but if they speak out, they are "severed" >from the > >project.. I am not going to maintain a "front" website that is >nothing > >more than a gateway to someone's personal agenda for >power. > >If you share this letter with anyone before I officially resign, I >will > more > >than likely be "severed" from the project and locked out of >the website > that > >we have put our hearts and souls into. It has happened to >others in the > >past. If that happens, my bags are packed and I am ready >to go, today, > if > >I have to..but I am leaving voluntarily- the only area of the >project > where > >I have a choice. > >One of our volunteers summed up my feelings much better >than I could have, > >and I will paste the quote here: > >"I believe that the little folks do > >better without interference and central control and with the >power to > >choose for themselves and to control what they themselves >have chosen. > >As an Appalachian, I am skeptical about remote control. >When people don't > >control what they've produced, they don't own it. Somebody >else chooses > the > >program, and the little guy simply displays it. Power always >rests with > the > >one who has the option of choosing."< > (end of quote) > >I am choosing to keep my power by leaving the project, but >I will finish > my > >work and place it some where that it will remain intact at a >"local" > >level, and be used for the purpose it was intended- to help >others find > >their families of origin. > >If I am not kicked out of the project for allowing you to >CHOOSE whether > to > >maintain control over your own work, then this letter will be >sent to all > >the USGenweb "administrative" mail lists that I am on, as >my official > >resignation and as a protest, that we are not allowed >freedom of speech > nor > >the right to know, nor the right to > >choose. The entire Ohio Genweb project was threatened >with "severance" > >just the other day, because they believe the public has a >right to know > what > >is happening and and the right to make choices. > >If I have left anyone off this list who submitted work to me, it >was not > >intentional, because I do believe everyone has THE RIGHT >TO KNOW and the > >RIGHT TO CHOOSE.. I have never seen a more caring >dedicated group of > >people anywhere than the Tazewell County VA volunteers.. >Thank you for > your > >support and your contributions. Hopefully, I will meet each >of you at > the > >Eastern Gate of Heaven when we leave this old world and >the wheat will > >finally be separated from the chaff. > >Dodie Browning > I will be working with Jeff Weaver, who was one of the original members of > the USGenweb Project. 3 of my personal websites are: > (brand new) Tazewell County VA Genealogy & History > http://www.anzwers.net/free/tazewellcova/ > Families of Steel(e) > http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Ridge/6203/ > Logan County WV Ancestors > http://members.tripod.com/famsteel/index.html > Please consider the Tazewell County VAGenweb page as orphaned, as of now. > I have tried to ignore the "politics" , because I do quality work and had > hoped to be an active member of the USGenweb Project in spite of the > "politics". I cannot do quality work under the CONTROL of the archives > and assist them in taking over special projects and the county pages, > which was the heart of the USGenweb project . > Sincerely > Dodie Browning > > > > >

Greetings folks, Dodie's resignation is a complete surprise to me!!! I had no idea she was dissatisfied with anything re the Archives and the VAGenWeb Projects. There is NO requirement for CCs to involve themselves with promoting the Archives Project, and no policy to place files there rather than your county pages. As host, you're the total authority as to what's placed on your pages. Freddie S. > I am truly sorry that Dodie feels that way toward the Archives and me, > and wish she had been around longer to get to know me and not believe > the things that are being said. > > We've never required or asked that cc's submit data to the Archives and > I've been adamant about making sure the Archives html's do not compete > with county pages, and encourage links, with permission, from the > Archives tocs to the cc's pages.

Harriet, I have never met you nor Linda. I do know that Rootsweb is a for profit corporation and that ALL Archives records are to be stored there permanently. If I had not been on the CC-L list, I would not have know any of this. You and Linda both need to read my letter more CAREFULLY and stop implying that I said something I did not say, and then please unsubscribe me from this list. I see that it didn't take long for the links to my new page to be removed from the Tazewell page- In the "delinking" they have delinked a MAJOR portion of the Arfrican American Heritage section that I was working on. Wonder where the people researching their African American Ancestors will get the information? I repeat, please remove me from the list, IF this gets through- or have I been put on "read only" status as other people have been? Dodie Browning -----Original Message----- From: Harriet Lee Welch <hwelch@rica.net> To: VAGEN-L@rootsweb.com <VAGEN-L@rootsweb.com> Date: Wednesday, May 24, 2000 12:05 AM Subject: Re: [VAGEN-L] My Resignation >I really have to step in and say something here in support of Linda and the >Archives. I don't know what is being said on the lists now, as I >unsubscribed from all the general USGenWeb lists a while back. I got tired >of all the rumors and back stabbing that went on there, and found that I was >much happier just working with the Archives and my own county pages without >that hassle. > >I've been a CC for VA since 1996 when I adopted Rockingham & Orange >Counties. I also joined forces on the Archives Project very early on. I >have never understood why some CCs feel there is a competition between the >county pages and the Archives. When I transcribe data for my counties I put >it both on my web pages and in the archives. Figure I'll reach the most >people that way. And that's the name of the game. I thought that's why all >of us were in this project, to get good information out there on the >internet that would be free to all researchers. I don't really care where >they access it - I'd just like for them to find it easliy. > >Now, to Linda. I've been working with Linda all this time too, and I've >never seen any move on her part to try to "take over" anything. Protect, >yes - take over - no. As a co-file manager for the Virginia part of the >Archives, I have never attempted to take anything from anyone's county >pages, and I never will. If, as a CC you want to offer that data, fine. But >I'm certainly not going to steal it. I think the Archives is a good idea for >permanent storage of the data - and for the ease of using the search >engines. But it's totally the decision of the CC and of the contributors to >the CC's web site as to whether or not they place the data in the Archives. > >You might be surprised how many people stumble onto the archives without >realizing there are web sites for the counties they are researching in. It >seems to me that everyone should know about the USGenWeb and all the county >sites <g> but they don't. I get a lot of e-mail from the archives pages >asking questions about a particular county, and I always direct them to your >county pages. The web pages in the Archives are simply tables of content for >the files there - nothing more, nothing less. > >I apologize for the length of this message, but I felt strongly that someone >needs to put the record straight. We have a good group of people working on >the VAGenWeb, and we have little or no problems compared with some of the >states. I know that those of you who have been with the project a long time >and have seen what I have seen are not concerned about any rumors floating >around about Linda and/or the Archives. They've come and gone for years now. >But I'm sure we have some newer members who are probably wondering just what >they've gotten themselves into after the resignation letter. I'm sorry too >that Dodie believed all that she heard without sticking around long enough >to learn the truth. I hope that those of you who are new here will take the >time to get to know all of us, and I think if you do you'll find we all have >the researcher's best interest at heart. > >Sincerely. >Harriet Welch >

I really have to step in and say something here in support of Linda and the Archives. I don't know what is being said on the lists now, as I unsubscribed from all the general USGenWeb lists a while back. I got tired of all the rumors and back stabbing that went on there, and found that I was much happier just working with the Archives and my own county pages without that hassle. I've been a CC for VA since 1996 when I adopted Rockingham & Orange Counties. I also joined forces on the Archives Project very early on. I have never understood why some CCs feel there is a competition between the county pages and the Archives. When I transcribe data for my counties I put it both on my web pages and in the archives. Figure I'll reach the most people that way. And that's the name of the game. I thought that's why all of us were in this project, to get good information out there on the internet that would be free to all researchers. I don't really care where they access it - I'd just like for them to find it easliy. Now, to Linda. I've been working with Linda all this time too, and I've never seen any move on her part to try to "take over" anything. Protect, yes - take over - no. As a co-file manager for the Virginia part of the Archives, I have never attempted to take anything from anyone's county pages, and I never will. If, as a CC you want to offer that data, fine. But I'm certainly not going to steal it. I think the Archives is a good idea for permanent storage of the data - and for the ease of using the search engines. But it's totally the decision of the CC and of the contributors to the CC's web site as to whether or not they place the data in the Archives. You might be surprised how many people stumble onto the archives without realizing there are web sites for the counties they are researching in. It seems to me that everyone should know about the USGenWeb and all the county sites <g> but they don't. I get a lot of e-mail from the archives pages asking questions about a particular county, and I always direct them to your county pages. The web pages in the Archives are simply tables of content for the files there - nothing more, nothing less. I apologize for the length of this message, but I felt strongly that someone needs to put the record straight. We have a good group of people working on the VAGenWeb, and we have little or no problems compared with some of the states. I know that those of you who have been with the project a long time and have seen what I have seen are not concerned about any rumors floating around about Linda and/or the Archives. They've come and gone for years now. But I'm sure we have some newer members who are probably wondering just what they've gotten themselves into after the resignation letter. I'm sorry too that Dodie believed all that she heard without sticking around long enough to learn the truth. I hope that those of you who are new here will take the time to get to know all of us, and I think if you do you'll find we all have the researcher's best interest at heart. Sincerely. Harriet Welch

I am truly sorry that Dodie feels that way toward the Archives and me, and wish she had been around longer to get to know me and not believe the things that are being said. We've never required or asked that cc's submit data to the Archives and I've been adamant about making sure the Archives html's do not compete with county pages, and encourage links, with permission, from the Archives tocs to the cc's pages. We send updates on new files so that cc's can link to them. I apologize to all the VAGenWeb volunteers for any misunderstanding that has been caused by me. Sincerely, Linda

To the USGenweb Project: This letter is very long, but it is all I have to say on the matter at hand.. I agree with the idea of having a centralized archives but NOT to SOLICIT information; The archives should be a SECONDARY place where people can do a massive search of all files. It should be ONLY a repository, and for special projects, NOT OUT THERE SOLICITING INFORMATION for "Kingdom building." This would mean that the CC would be the one to send copies of submissions to the Archives, from the COUNTY pages.. That way if people somehow do not reach the county first but the Archives, a search can be made and they can find the files there too. THE ARCHIVES SHOULD HOLD NO DATA THAT IS NOT ALREADY ON A COUNTY SITE AND SHOULD HOLD NO AUTHORITY OVER COUNTY PAGES, AND WOULD EXERCISE NO AUTHORITY OVER ANY OTHER PROJECT. As any EXPERIENCED researcher knows, to begin your search for your ancestors, you should start in the county, NOT the archives. Our ancestors would call that "placing the horse before the cart." I am posting my resignation on the lists, because that is how I first became aware that I had been approved as the coordinator of the Tazewell County Virginia USGenweb page- on the VA-L list. Following is my resignation that I submitted to Volunteers who had submitted work to me for the Tazewell County USGenweb project home page: >Dear Tazewell County Volunteers, >(This letter is to remain INTACT- not "snipped" nor edited.) >After much prayer and soul searching, I have decided that I >will no longer >maintain the Tazewell County VAGenweb page. I am telling >you, the volunteers >first, because you are the ones where my loyalty is. I have >removed my own >work, including backgrounds and graphics from the >website, because it seems >apparent, that the county pages are being eroded and >absorbed into a >larger data base (the archives) that is controlled by a single >individual. >I do know that in all societies, total control ends in >dictatorship. All >of the archives pages are on Rootsweb, and Rootsweb is >now a for profit >corporation. I have read on the "administrative" mail lists >that the >individual who has control over the archives is a paid staff >member of >Rootsweb. I have no idea where it is all leading, and won't >even speculate >on it. >If you want any corrections or additions made to any of the >work you have >submitted to the Tazewell Home Page since I took it over >the end of >January 2000, please let me know, before I make the >announcement to >officially resign from the USGenweb project. Thanks to the >hard work of >each of you, I am leaving the page with literally hundreds of >files that >were not there previously. None of the work submitted to >me was transferred >to the "archives." We have a POWERFUL home page, >because we chose to share >unselfishly and work together. That is where the REAL >POWER is- with the >volunteers for the project. >Most of the time, I have felt like a hypocrite taking your >work, because >county coordinators are not allowed freedom of speech to >let volunteers >know the actual politics, so the volunteers can make >INFORMED CHOICES. Let >the record show, that I did not donate any of your work to >the "archives." >There are many wonderful, dedicated people in the >USGenweb project who keep >"hanging in there" but if they speak out, they are "severed" >from the >project.. I am not going to maintain a "front" website that is >nothing >more than a gateway to someone's personal agenda for >power. >If you share this letter with anyone before I officially resign, I >will more >than likely be "severed" from the project and locked out of >the website that >we have put our hearts and souls into. It has happened to >others in the >past. If that happens, my bags are packed and I am ready >to go, today, if >I have to..but I am leaving voluntarily- the only area of the >project where >I have a choice. >One of our volunteers summed up my feelings much better >than I could have, >and I will paste the quote here: >"I believe that the little folks do >better without interference and central control and with the >power to >choose for themselves and to control what they themselves >have chosen. >As an Appalachian, I am skeptical about remote control. >When people don't >control what they've produced, they don't own it. Somebody >else chooses the >program, and the little guy simply displays it. Power always >rests with the >one who has the option of choosing."< (end of quote) >I am choosing to keep my power by leaving the project, but >I will finish my >work and place it some where that it will remain intact at a >"local" >level, and be used for the purpose it was intended- to help >others find >their families of origin. >If I am not kicked out of the project for allowing you to >CHOOSE whether to >maintain control over your own work, then this letter will be >sent to all >the USGenweb "administrative" mail lists that I am on, as >my official >resignation and as a protest, that we are not allowed >freedom of speech nor >the right to know, nor the right to >choose. The entire Ohio Genweb project was threatened >with "severance" >just the other day, because they believe the public has a >right to know what >is happening and and the right to make choices. >If I have left anyone off this list who submitted work to me, it >was not >intentional, because I do believe everyone has THE RIGHT >TO KNOW and the >RIGHT TO CHOOSE.. I have never seen a more caring >dedicated group of >people anywhere than the Tazewell County VA volunteers.. >Thank you for your >support and your contributions. Hopefully, I will meet each >of you at the >Eastern Gate of Heaven when we leave this old world and >the wheat will >finally be separated from the chaff. >Dodie Browning I will be working with Jeff Weaver, who was one of the original members of the USGenweb Project. 3 of my personal websites are: (brand new) Tazewell County VA Genealogy & History http://www.anzwers.net/free/tazewellcova/ Families of Steel(e) http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Ridge/6203/ Logan County WV Ancestors http://members.tripod.com/famsteel/index.html Please consider the Tazewell County VAGenweb page as orphaned, as of now. I have tried to ignore the "politics" , because I do quality work and had hoped to be an active member of the USGenweb Project in spite of the "politics". I cannot do quality work under the CONTROL of the archives and assist them in taking over special projects and the county pages, which was the heart of the USGenweb project . Sincerely Dodie Browning

I made an error in the URL's listed for files that were uploaded on May 2. The correct URL's are below. ftp://ftp.rootsweb.com/pub/usgenweb/va/amelia/military/revwar/pensions/self1.txt ftp://ftp.rootsweb.com/pub/usgenweb/va/amherst/cemeteries/elbthl1.txt ftp://ftp.rootsweb.com/pub/usgenweb/va/bedford/courts/dcknsn1.txt ftp://ftp.rootsweb.com/pub/usgenweb/va/bedford/courts/mrchnt1.txt ftp://ftp.rootsweb.com/pub/usgenweb/va/brunswick/deeds/clayton1.txt ftp://ftp.rootsweb.com/pub/usgenweb/va/brunswick/vitals/marriages/ha1.txt ftp://ftp.rootsweb.com/pub/usgenweb/va/brunswick/wills/mtlnd1.txt ftp://ftp.rootsweb.com/pub/usgenweb/va/buckingham/military/revwar/pensions/self1.txt ftp://ftp.rootsweb.com/pub/usgenweb/va/carroll/cemeteries/brchm1.txt ftp://ftp.rootsweb.com/pub/usgenweb/va/carroll/vitals/marriages/bedsaul1.txt ftp://ftp.rootsweb.com/pub/usgenweb/va/dinwiddie/deeds/baird1.txt ftp://ftp.rootsweb.com/pub/usgenweb/va/dinwiddie/deeds/bissett1.txt ftp://ftp.rootsweb.com/pub/usgenweb/va/isleofwight/cemeteries/wilson.txt ftp://ftp.rootsweb.com/pub/usgenweb/va/louisa/deeds/smith1.txt ftp://ftp.rootsweb.com/pub/usgenweb/va/patrick/census/1866afam.txt ftp://ftp.rootsweb.com/pub/usgenweb/va/patrick/census/freeppt1.txt ftp://ftp.rootsweb.com/pub/usgenweb/va/patrick/census/freeppt2.txt ftp://ftp.rootsweb.com/pub/usgenweb/va/patrick/deeds/dehart1.txt ftp://ftp.rootsweb.com/pub/usgenweb/va/patrick/deeds/lee1.txt ftp://ftp.rootsweb.com/pub/usgenweb/va/patrick/deeds/lee2.txt ftp://ftp.rootsweb.com/pub/usgenweb/va/patrick/deeds/lee3.txt ftp://ftp.rootsweb.com/pub/usgenweb/va/patrick/deeds/lee4.txt ftp://ftp.rootsweb.com/pub/usgenweb/va/patrick/deeds/lee5.txt ftp://ftp.rootsweb.com/pub/usgenweb/va/patrick/deeds/lee6.txt ftp://ftp.rootsweb.com/pub/usgenweb/va/patrick/deeds/lee7.txt ftp://ftp.rootsweb.com/pub/usgenweb/va/tazewell/bios/belcher1.txt Sorry for the inconvenience. :( Linda

Since the last report, the following Virginia files have been uploaded to the USGenWeb Archives: http://www.rootsweb.com/~usgenweb ftp://ftp.rootsweb.com/pub/usgenweb/va/louisa/wills/t3000001.txt ftp://ftp.rootsweb.com/pub/usgenweb/va/princessanne/vitals/marriages/marr0003.txt ftp://ftp.rootsweb.com/pub/usgenweb/va/princessanne/vitals/marriages/marr0002.txt ftp://ftp.rootsweb.com/usgenweb/va/amelia/military/revwar/pensions/self1.txt ftp://ftp.rootsweb.com/usgenweb/va/amherst/cemeteries/elbthl1.txt ftp://ftp.rootsweb.com/usgenweb/va/bedford/courts/dcknsn1.txt ftp://ftp.rootsweb.com/usgenweb/va/bedford/courts/mrchnt1.txt ftp://ftp.rootsweb.com/usgenweb/va/brunswick/deeds/clayton1.txt ftp://ftp.rootsweb.com/usgenweb/va/brunswick/vitals/marriages/ha1.txt ftp://ftp.rootsweb.com/usgenweb/va/brunswick/wills/mtlnd1.txt ftp://ftp.rootsweb.com/usgenweb/va/buckingham/military/revwar/pensions/self1.txt ftp://ftp.rootsweb.com/usgenweb/va/carroll/cemeteries/brchm1.txt ftp://ftp.rootsweb.com/usgenweb/va/carroll/vitals/marriages/bedsaul1.txt ftp://ftp.rootsweb.com/usgenweb/va/dinwiddie/deeds/baird1.txt ftp://ftp.rootsweb.com/usgenweb/va/dinwiddie/deeds/bissett1.txt ftp://ftp.rootsweb.com/usgenweb/va/isleofwight/cemeteries/wilson.txt ftp://ftp.rootsweb.com/usgenweb/va/louisa/deeds/smith1.txt ftp://ftp.rootsweb.com/usgenweb/va/patrick/census/1866afam.txt ftp://ftp.rootsweb.com/usgenweb/va/patrick/census/freeppt1.txt ftp://ftp.rootsweb.com/usgenweb/va/patrick/census/freeppt2.txt ftp://ftp.rootsweb.com/usgenweb/va/patrick/deeds/dehart1.txt ftp://ftp.rootsweb.com/usgenweb/va/patrick/deeds/lee1.txt ftp://ftp.rootsweb.com/usgenweb/va/patrick/deeds/lee2.txt ftp://ftp.rootsweb.com/usgenweb/va/patrick/deeds/lee3.txt ftp://ftp.rootsweb.com/usgenweb/va/patrick/deeds/lee4.txt ftp://ftp.rootsweb.com/usgenweb/va/patrick/deeds/lee5.txt ftp://ftp.rootsweb.com/usgenweb/va/patrick/deeds/lee6.txt ftp://ftp.rootsweb.com/usgenweb/va/patrick/deeds/lee7.txt ftp://ftp.rootsweb.com/usgenweb/va/tazewell/bios/belcher1.txt ftp://ftp.rootsweb.com/pub/usgenweb/va/buckingham/cemeteries/cobb.txt ftp://ftp.rootsweb.com/pub/usgenweb/va/buckingham/cemeteries/jones.txt ftp://ftp.rootsweb.com/pub/usgenweb/va/charlescity/cemeteries/oldtombs.txt ftp://ftp.rootsweb.com/pub/usgenweb/va/charlotte/wills/w0boothp.txt ftp://ftp.rootsweb.com/pub/usgenweb/va/grayson/cemeteries/flwms.txt ftp://ftp.rootsweb.com/pub/usgenweb/va/grayson/cemeteries/trimble.txt ftp://ftp.rootsweb.com/pub/usgenweb/va/lunenburg/census/1860/imagindx.txt ftp://ftp.rootsweb.com/pub/usgenweb/va/mathews/pensions/h623w1pn.txt ftp://ftp.rootsweb.com/pub/usgenweb/va/montgomery/cemeteries/creasey.txt ftp://ftp.rootsweb.com/pub/usgenweb/va/montgomery/cemeteries/corell.txt ftp://ftp.rootsweb.com/pub/usgenweb/va/rockingham/vitals/l516mmar.txt ftp://ftp.rootsweb.com/pub/usgenweb/va/rockingham/vitals/l516fmar.txt ftp://ftp.rootsweb.com/pub/usgenweb/va/washington/cemetery/larmer.txt ftp://ftp.rootsweb.com/pub/usgenweb/va/lunenburg/wills/c2000000.txt ftp://ftp.rootsweb.com/pub/usgenweb/va/essex/wills/b6250001.txt ftp://ftp.rootsweb.com/pub/usgenweb/va/essex/wills/b6250002.txt ftp://ftp.rootsweb.com/pub/usgenweb/va/fluvanna/wills/b6520000.txt ftp://ftp.rootsweb.com/pub/usgenweb/va/gloucester/cemeteries/tombs000.txt ftp://ftp.rootsweb.com/pub/usgenweb/va/gloucester/cemeteries/tombs001.txt ftp://ftp.rootsweb.com/pub/usgenweb/va/gloucester/cemeteries/tombs002.txt ftp://ftp.rootsweb.com/pub/usgenweb/va/tazewell/obits/lowe1.txt ftp://ftp.rootsweb.com/pub/usgenweb/va/tazewell/vitals/marriages/lowe1.txt ftp://ftp.rootsweb.com/pub/usgenweb/va/tazewell/vitals/marriages/marr9.txt ftp://ftp.rootsweb.com/pub/usgenweb/va/charlotte/deeds/d0harvey.txt ftp://ftp.rootsweb.com/pub/usgenweb/va/charlotte/wills/w0pughwi.txt ftp://ftp.rootsweb.com/pub/usgenweb/va/warren/cemeteries/linden.txt ftp://ftp.rootsweb.com/pub/usgenweb/va/nelson/cemeteries/c-ste01.txt ftp://ftp.rootsweb.com/pub/usgenweb/va/nelson/cemeteries/c-tho01.txt ftp://ftp.rootsweb.com/pub/usgenweb/va/charlotte/wills/b3000000.txt ftp://ftp.rootsweb.com/pub/usgenweb/va/buckingham/cemeteries/kitchen.txt ftp://ftp.rootsweb.com/pub/usgenweb/va/buckingham/cemeteries/wood.txt ftp://ftp.rootsweb.com/pub/usgenweb/va/buckingham/cemeteries/ragland.txt ftp://ftp.rootsweb.com/pub/usgenweb/va/grayson/cemeteries/bedwell.txt ftp://ftp.rootsweb.com/pub/usgenweb/va/grayson/cemeteries/dailyknob.txt ftp://ftp.rootsweb.com/pub/usgenweb/va/grayson/cemeteries/rhsutherland.txt ftp://ftp.rootsweb.com/pub/usgenweb/va/isleofwight/cemeteries/evergreen.txt ftp://ftp.rootsweb.com/pub/usgenweb/va/kinggeorge/cemeteries/arkstones.txt ftp://ftp.rootsweb.com/pub/usgenweb/va/petersburg/cemeteries/blandford2.txt ftp://ftp.rootsweb.com/pub/usgenweb/va/accomack/cemeteries/tombs000.txt ftp://ftp.rootsweb.com/pub/usgenweb/va/gloucester/cemeteries/tombs003.txt ftp://ftp.rootsweb.com/pub/usgenweb/va/gloucester/cemeteries/tombs004.txt ftp://ftp.rootsweb.com/pub/usgenweb/va/gloucester/history/hist0000.txt ftp://ftp.rootsweb.com/pub/usgenweb/va/mathews/cemeteries/tombs000.txt ftp://ftp.rootsweb.com/pub/usgenweb/va/northampton/cemeteries/tombs000.txt ftp://ftp.rootsweb.com/pub/usgenweb/va/pittsylvania/land/process.txt ftp://ftp.rootsweb.com/pub/usgenweb/va/westmoreland/history/w2520000.txt ftp://ftp.rootsweb.com/pub/usgenweb/va/westmoreland/history/w2520001.txt ftp://ftp.rootsweb.com/pub/usgenweb/va/history/witchcraft.txt Thanks! Linda

Forwarded as requested: (I didn't write this or propose it, and am only sending it for the VAGenWeb volunteers to decide if they want to approve this amendment to be placed on the ballot in August. I think it takes six states, and I have no idea how many others have voted on it.) The proposal is as follows: Current Version: ARTICLE XIII. SPECIAL PROJECTS Section 1. Special projects shall be established by The USGenWeb Project to promote the gathering of information in specialized areas. A coordinator shall be appointed by the Advisory Board to organize the project and enlist volunteers. In addition, each special project shall have an Assistant Project Coordinator or other support team in place that can take charge in case the Project Coordinator becomes unavailable for a period of 30 days, unless there are extenuating circumstances. Special projects shall be repositories for public domain or research documents and shall provide an easily accessible website for online research by the genealogical community. A collection of links does not constitute a special project, although links to appropriate websites maintained by other individuals or organizations are encouraged. Section 2. The name of the special project shall be The USGenWeb ______ Project Section 3. The staff members of The USGenWeb Archives Project, The USGenWeb Project, and The USGenWeb Tombstone Project shall each elect one Special Project Representative to serve as a voting member of The USGenWeb Project Advisory Board. Section 4. Project Coordinators shall be elected to those positions by the project staff. Section 5. Project Coordinators are subject to possible removal by a 2/3 vote of the Advisory Board and a 2/3 vote of the project staff. A quorum of 75% of the project staff shall participate in order for the vote to be binding. Section 6. If a Project Coordinator is unable to perform his/her duties, the Assistant Project Coordinator, or other support team, shall serve until an election can take place among the project staff. In the case of special projects with more than one Assistant Project Coordinator, they shall choose one among themselves to serve in the interim. ** Proposed Version: Article XIII. THE ARCHIVES PROJECT Section 1. The USGenWeb Archives Project shall have a Coordinator and an Assistant Coordinator or other support team in place that can take charge in case the Coordinator becomes unavailable for a period of 30 days, unless there are extenuating circumstances. The USGenWeb Archives(Digital Library) shall be a repository for public domain or research documents and shall provide an easily accessible website for online research by the genealogical community. Section 2. The name of the project shall be The USGenWeb Archives Project. Section 3. The staff members of The USGenWeb Archives Project shall elect one Representative to serve as a voting member of The USGenWeb Project Advisory Board. Section 4. The Archives Project Coordinator shall be elected by the project staff. The Coordinator in place at the time this section of the Bylaws is amended shall be exempt from election procedures, unless he/she is removed, resigns or is unable to perform his/her duties. Section 5. The Archives Project Coordinator is subject to possible removal by a 2/3 vote of the Advisory Board and a 2/3 vote of the project staff. A quorum of 75% of the project staff shall participate in order for the vote to be binding. Section 6. If the Archives Project Coordinator is unable to perform his/her duties, the Assistant Coordinator, or other support team, shall serve until an election can take place among the project staff. In the case of more than one Assistant Coordinator, they shall choose among themselves to serve in the interim. ** Other Proposed Changes: Article II. Section 2. Change "The USGenWeb Project Archives" to "The USGenWeb Archives Project" Article V. Change "one(1) representative each from The USGenWeb Archives Project, The USGenWeb Census Project, and the USGenWeb Tombstone Project," to "one(1) representative from The USGenWeb Archives Project," Article VI. Section 9. Change "and Special Project Representative" to "and Archives Project Representative" Change "with the Special Projects" to "with the Archives Project" Article VIII. Section 1. Change "Eight(8) voting members of the Advisory Board shall constitute a quorum." to "Seven(7) voting members of the Advisory Board shall constitute a quorum." Article XII. Section 2. Change "The USGenWeb Project Archives" to "The USGenWeb Archives Project" -----------

Wayne, Yes, please, I'd like your new home address ... And for everyone else on the VAGEN mailing list, if you don't think I have your home address and/or telephone number, please send it to me by private email ... Just in case your mail starts bouncing and I have to find out wha' hoppen --- 8^) Freddie S. > Hi Freddie, > > How are you? I moved to a new condo recently and I would like to know if you > need my new home address? Also, I would like to report an address change for > the Loudoun Web Page. Please change my url from > http://www.rootsweb.com/~valoudou/index.html to > http://www.rootsweb.com/~valoudou/loudoun.html. I've put up an address > change page at the old url so people can find their way to the new page. > Thank you very much, > > Wayne Greene > Loudoun County Coordinator >