Rules can be abusive and confining but lack of rules creates problems,
inefficiencies, frustrations, and more. If Rootsweb didn't have rules we
would not get free websites from them. If World Wide Consortium didn't have
rules we would not have standards for websites to work, like colors, fonts,
hyperlinks, etc. If our servers did not have rules our websites would more
easily be hacked and/or destroyed. If our households didn't have rules, kids
would just grow up the way they want. If USGenWeb did not have rules we
wouldn't be here. USGenWeb has basic rules. One of their rules is that
outside the basic nationwide rules the states would have their own rules.
And, every state has them now except some have nothing written and are at
the whim of the State Coordinator. Sort of like my rule is what the
coordinators will go by. MNGen needs their own basic rules. Things happen
that are of no business to USGenWeb but when things go wrong USGenWeb has to
step in or just let the state things flop around. We were lucky that we have
the current National Coordinator who stepped in to start things going right.
There are National Coordinators in the past who would not do it. Minnesota
was without leadership for over two years until Kermit finally said hey
what's going on. Some and probably most of the coordinators probably didn't
even know it. Some knew and could not have cared less. Some just didn't do
anything or walked away from their county. Rules of the USGenWeb do not
cover everything in the state. They don't have to be extensive. Nor
elaborate. Nor lengthy. But, I believe some basic rules need to be in place.
We are electing a State Coordinator. How long will that person be the SC?
There is no rule so the SC can stay as long as she/he wishes or just
disappear and we know what that causes. What should an SC be doing? Without
rules exactly what they feel like doing. What if we don't want the SC
anymore? Sorry, without rules the decision lies with the SC. So what are the
SC's roles, how long is a SC term, how is a new election done, how do we,
the CC's, remove an SC, or, what do we do when an SC or even a CC abandons
their function? Once a rule is established how do we change it? For example,
right now there is no rule which says we need to display a MNGenWeb logo on
our websites. That's sorry. We don't need a book. But we certainly need a
page or two of bylaws, and maybe a page or two of general rules. At the
beginning of this election, I asked for candidates to explain their
feelings/positions on having state rules. I didn't expect anyone to come
right out and say we don't need them but I was very interested in how they
felt about them and how high on their list of priorities were they. All
four, I think, clearly stated their position and clearly indicated their
enthusiasm or lack of it. And many of you also made it clear your position.
Thanks for sharing. I don't know about the rest of you but it certainly was
good input for my vote. I got carried away and I'm sorry for that.
Sincerely,
Mike
Clay Co