Hi Folks
It is time to address some concerns within the KYGWARCH aspect of the USGenWeb Archives
Project. As one state, we have an obligation to express our opinion relative to the
current issues at the national level of daily business. This is not a matter of what will
happen to us in the future. It is simply an administrative move to bring the host into
the limelight of the forefront within our project. Such business decisions are to be
expected and should not be a surprise to anyone. I will attempt to share the facts as
they are known at this time and try to answer any concerns or questions that derive from
our inquisitive nature.
1) TGN (The Genealogy Network) is the corporate owner of
Ancestry.com and RW (RootsWeb)
2) TGN has initiated an administrative move to include a banner (headmast at the top of
all RW hosted web pages)
NOTE: The banner will be automatically added by the host to any freely published web page
on the RW server with a projected date sometime after March 15, 2008.
3) The USGenWeb Project managers are currently in discussion with the RW server host to
iron out particulars relative to the inclusion of the banner on all freely hosted web
pages
4) I do not know if USGenWeb Archive Project managers are involved in the discussions
5) Adding a commercial banner to our web pages will not change how or what we do as
archivists for our counties
6) USGWARCH managers are considering a project relocation move away from the RW host
server with NO decision made at this time (obviously they object to the banner inclusion)
7) The USGenWeb Archives Guidelines do not impose any requirements beyond respective logos
for publishing our TOC pages
8) Linda Hass Davenport, the proprietor of the USGenWeb Archives Project, will make the
final decision relative to our involvement and any course of action we will be expected to
take in light of the TGN actions
9) NO action is necessary from any FM at this time
Your opinion is important and can be shared professionally in an open forum at your
discretion. We have our HelpDesk mail list just for that reason. To subscribe, please
visit
http://lists.rootsweb.com/index/other/USGenWeb/KYARCHIVES.html. If you are already
subscribed, you can communicate with all KYGWARCH FMs and share your thoughts relative to
the KyArchive involvement.
Please keep this admin list free of open discussions with respect to those folks that
prefer not to overfill their inboxes. Thank you.
Regards
Tom Hembrey
SFM, KYGWARCH