----- Original Message ----- From: Tim Stowell <tstowell@chattanooga.net> To: <STATE-COORD-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Thursday, March 30, 2000 8:02 PM Subject: [STATE-COORD-L] Census - Open Letter - Alternative Proposal > State-Coordinators - please forward to your CCs - Thanks - Tim > ---------------------------- > Census Project volunteers, Board members: > > I've taken a step back and thought on the census issues raised over the > last few months. I've received input over several weeks from members > throughout the Project. > > I ask that you think of the census project as a whole series of tasks to be > completed. > > >From the time a person volunteers to transcribe a census for a > county/parish/borough until it goes on-line for all to view several items > must be addressed by coordinators along that path. Perhaps a solution can > be found by a division of tasks rather than a merger of projects. > > Since everyone knows more or less how things are handled now, I'll not go > into that here but instead offer the following for your consideration over > the next couple of days. I would appreciate feedback as to its workability > and palatability. > > I believe that the tasks involved include: recruiting volunteers, > acknowledging their requests to volunteer on a timely basis, assignment of > the transcription, maintaining web sites of what's available for > transcription and/or status, assisting the volunteer in getting the > materials to transcribe and software if need be, answering questions > concerning transcriptions, keeping in contact with the volunteers to make > sure that the transcription is proceeding without problems, assisting the > volunteers in getting the completed transcription uploaded or turned in to > the Project, formatting the files for viewing by the public, storing the > files, updating web sites to current status of completed transcriptions. > > There may be other minor jobs but I believe that this list should cover the > bulk of the process of getting census material on-line. > > Therefore please consider breaking down the tasks as follows: > > USGW Census Project (CP) retains their name, logo and project coordinator: > recruits volunteers, acknowledges their requests to volunteer on a timely > basis, assigns transcription, maintains their pages to show assigned > census, assists volunteers in getting materials, software, answering > questions, keeps in contact with volunteers, assists transcribers in > getting the materials uploaded, modifies their recruiting web sites that > transcription is complete. > > USGW Archives Census Project (ACP) retains their name, logo and project > coordinator: > receives completed transcriptions from CP, formats files for viewing, > stores files, modifies census on-line web sites to current URL for stored > files, contacts appropriate CP file manager with any questions regarding > the files. > > Division of the tasks in this manner allows both projects to continue > without duplication of transcriptions, singularity of purpose, increased > effectiveness, better service to the transcribers and to the public at large. > > Working together as a task based mission rather than being divided by > personalities would I believe lead to a stronger project in the long run. > I would encourage both projects to maintain archived mailing lists of > volunteers / transcribers to keep them abreast of news regarding software > changes, improvements and to give a FAQs section. > > As for the volunteers working within each project or in both projects, I > would encourage them to volunteer for the task(s) where they feel they > could best contribute. > > Lastly, someone needs to coordinate the process. It doesn't have to be > someone with an iron hand but it does need to be someone who thoroughly > understands every aspect of the process. It should not be a popularity > contest. This person either needs to be appointed or chosen from qualified > candidates. > > Thank you for giving consideration to this proposal of a way to give > rebirth to the Census endeavor of the USGenWeb Project. > > Tim > > > > > >