Hi Lanita, if you receive any information, books or emails from the CAOA
that is helpful you may use it. It would be greatly appreciated if you
would quote what you received and the CAOA as a source of your information.
As Archive Coordinator, I see myself as the guardian of the research that
belongs to the members of CAOA. That is why I can only share small amounts
with none members. One of the privileges of membership is access to the
data that we have. It is considerable and contained in about 40+ 4"
binders, and several filing cabinets.
We also have a library, which the members after paying a deposit can borrow
a book for 3 weeks. There is a list of the books on our website.
We publish a great Newsletter 4 times a year and if you ever get to any
major library you can read them. We send each issue to about 30 major
libraries at no charge.
We publish a membership directory in even years and in odd years new
members will receive the last published directory. Through this directory
you will be able to see anyone who is a descendant of John Caster Sr. and
thus is most likely your cousin. I would say this is the greatest
advantage because there are a lot of members who are from this line. My
husband included, but he doesn't care about genealogy, it is his brother
Leland that does all the work.
We have our own private email list that is for members only, plus we
sponsor 17 lists on Rootsweb which is open to all researchers.
You will be able to get all the information we have about your direct
line. If you would like to help edit the revision of the John Caster book,
then you would be privy to all of what we have. Or if you are willing to
help with data entry you will also be receiving data that is not your
direct line. But, I have to know that you won't take it and run which is
what has happened in the past.
Last but not lest, I will be very happy to work with you on your line, with
the understanding that sometimes it takes some time because I am helping a
lot of the members. I have to squeeze everyone in. Because of the amount
of projects I have going, I sometimes forget where I am, (senior moments
too) so I tell everyone if they haven't heard from me in a reasonable
amount of time to send me a gentle reminder of what I promised to do. I
love helping people and tying lines together. In the last 4 years I have
been able to tie up 5+ lines.
The association started in 1983 and grew from a few people to almost
300. The count fluctuates. It is a wonderful group of people and there
are no paid positions, everyone is a volunteer. We do charge for the
books. As a non-profit organization we have to find money where we can to
help pay the bills. The dues that comes in each year just about covers
what it costs to publish the News Caster. So as with any organization we
have to depend on the members to pay their dues and sometimes donate a
little extra.
If you have any specific questions I would be happy to try to answer them.
Patricia
At 06:34 PM 3/2/2005, you wrote:
Patricia,
Thanks so much for the link. I am in the process of writing my own
CASTOR/CASTER book, focusing on my husband's direct line, with
documentation. If I join and get a book and use some facts from it, will
I later be accused of stealing the info from the book if I give the book
and authors credit for whatever I gleam from it? Part of my fun is
researching myself and documenting everything myself. [I get in less
trouble that way!! : > )] so would hate to cause ill feelings in any
way. I'm not sure I understand the Association idea when one has to join
to get any info, and everyone is reluctant to share what they know...
Since I live in Daviess County, Missouri, and so many are here and in the
neighboring counties, I KNOW I can find the facts in this area for myself,
but when it comes to outside of the area, that's where I have to depend
upon other volunteers..
Interested in your thoughts and ideas, I know you are an officer of the
Assoc., so would like your take on the Association and the benefits and
what's it all about...
Lanita