At 10:25 PM 2/16/01 EST, WIGenWebProject@aol.com wrote: >Again.. I have listened and read what you all have to say... > >I have a story to tell you... which puts it in perspective for me. > >A few years ago, as a Maine CC (the girl from away, remember <g>), I >did a lookup and a bit of extra research inclusive of copies at my own >expense etc. for a visitor. I got right into helping this individual, >as, for those that know me.. I get excited to help, and love the >success story that follows... thrive on them to be honest <g>. > >Well, I said no, no, to any reimbursement, and thought I was all >set..MONTHS later, I got a gift cert for McDonald's for a coffee and a >muffin.. And, forgive me but that was perhaps the best muffin and cup >of coffee I had had in a long time! > >My point is... (and I do have one <g>), is that there are many, many >visitors out there, that do genealogy the old-fashioned way.. self >addressed stamped envelope and reimbursement for photocopies. I >sometimes miss those days. > >The USGenWeb Project is a volunteer organization.. one founded on a >true and genuine concept of providing free genealogical information >online to it's visitors. And I adhere to that goal and principle, and >the "official answer" is stated on >http://www.usgenweb.org/official/bylaws.html on charging, and as SC >will rigorously enforce it! > >But, to this day, I still believe that that cup of coffee and muffin >truly solidified my belief that the USGenWeb Project is much like a self- >addressed stamped envelope. > >Tina Tina and all, My 'muffin' came this past week. Sometime last year a volunteer in Richland County sent me the index for a 'newer' (1906) history of the county that the one I'm presently transcribing which was published in 1884. On Christmas Day, I posted this index on the web site. Almost immediately I began getting requests for lookups from the index. I had to report that I only had the index for the book and nothing else. After repeating this several times on the list, I said at one point that I'd love to see a copy of this book too, but unfortunately didn't have a copy nor did I know where to obtain one. On Valentine's Day a copy of the book came in the mail from the same individual who had sent the original index. He had taken it upon himself - to give me - and thus the researchers of Richland County - this 'muffin'. This book is 698 pages - 2 pages per sheet or nearly 350 pages he copied at his own expense. The only way I can repay him, that he will accept, is by putting this book online. And that I shall do. Tim