(**Please forward to all appropriate project lists**)
First I wish to thank everyone who has sent comments and suggestions
regarding the latest revision draft. I'm confident that some rewording and
grammar changes will be made during final review.
Our project consists of volunteers with a common purpose. To provide "free
access" information. Project members are those who maintain a website as a
component part of the project or a XXGenWeb project, and abides by the basic
requirements for those websites, such as the display of the logo. It follows
then that when the bylaws refer to websites it means those which are
associated with The USGenWeb Project.
It has been commonly accepted that whenever a change in CC's (Local
Coordinators) occurs, material contributed to the website remains with the
associated website (regardless of where hosted). The task of being a CC is
to provide the means of "free access" to those materials on behalf of the
project and to add to those materials whenever possible. Therefore, the CC
(Local Coordinator) is also a contributor. It is reasonable to expect that
all contributions to a project website remain part of the website regardless
of who the coordinator is or where the site is hosted.
The draft revision contains "shall remain with the website, unless the
contributor(s) otherwise request." Very often contributors can't be
contacted to obtain permission to continue use or to move to another host.
Therefore all contributions should be considered as for permanent use by The
USGenWeb Project as long as the material is available for "free access".
The purpose of the project and the spirit of volunteerism in providing free
access material is best served by XXGenWeb county websites which continue to
grow and remain intact. Members who depart are entitled to keep copies of
their own work and are expected to provide copies for continued use by the
project.
Roger