This came from Tim Stowell last night: Fellow volunteers, The USGenWeb Advisory Board is working on the application for registration of our name (USGenWeb) with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (PTO). To properly accomplish this, we must hire an attorney to review the paperwork and advise us as to proper procedures. The application fee is $325 but the real cost will be the attorney fee. With attorney fees running upwards of $75 per hour we are uncertain of the total amount needed for the filing. We already have pledges from 60 members amounting to $2067, probably more than enough to accomplish this very important task. But the Board feels that everyone should be given the opportunity to participate in funding this effort, and I agree. It is my sincere wish that we could join together and, ideally, that each member would pledge $1.00 toward this very important goal. This would be a wonderful way to bring all into full participation in protecting our name through PTO registration. When we are certain of the total cost and the total number of persons making pledges, we will call in pledges based on the maximum amount needed per person, but in no case exceeding the amount of anyone's pledge. For example, if $18 per person should be necessary to cover all costs, those who pledged less than $18 will be asked to contribute their pledge amount and those who pledged more than $18 will be asked to contribute only $18. If you would like to join in this effort, please send an e-mail by February 1 to Joe Zsedeny, jzsed@westelcom.com, with a cc (carbon copy) to John Schunk, jschunk@skpub.com, with (1) the amount of your pledge (any amount from $1 on up) and (2) a yes or no as to whether it is OK to add your name as a pledge drive participant at http://home.kscable.com/jschunk/pledge.html). We would like to allow everyone who wants to participate to do so. Won't you join in this very important endeavor?