Ginny, thank you for putting this message out here. You are so very right, we
need to all get educated and vote our choices. I hate the politics, but know
that if I sit back and do nothing, especially vote, lots of things can happen
that I will hate even more. We, owe it to our future generations, and future
researchers to take notice now, find out what we need, and vote!!!
Terry
Ginny English wrote:
Permission to repost in its entirety.
Fellow CCs:
We owe it to ourselves as well as the USGWP to urge our membership (that is
allowed to vote) to become aware of the issues of our organization and make
informed votes. That informed vote will be individualized to each person.
How that individual absorbs and processes information is unique. I'm not
suggesting strong arming someone into voting a certain way, but urge your
co-volunteers to educate themselves on the issues and place that informed
vote!
In my opinion, we are all well within our right and furthermore, it is our
duty to urge members to become aware of the politics behind USGWP. Before
you jump, please know that I don't mean that in a derogatory manner. . .. ..
what I mean is the day to day handling of the project. The USGWP is me and
each of you. We have a say in what happens and it is important that we have
LEADERS that communicate with, not dictate to, us.
We need to vote for LEADERS who will listen to our concerns. We need
LEADERS who know the art of fair play, who are ethical . . . LEADERS who
don't have a problem saying, "Hey, I was wrong . . . but I'm only human, so
let's fix it! " or more importantly, "What is your opinion on this
matter?",
and the most crucial of all . . . our Leaders must know THE ART OF
COMPROMISE and HOW TO WORK TOGETHER FOR THE COMMON BENEFIT OF THE PROJECT AS
A WHOLE! We need LEADERS who will follow the (by)-LAWS as they are
written and not leave them open to interpretation at a whim. IF one doesn't
like the (by)-LAWS there are ways to change them. Change the by-(LAWS), but
don't expect to be our leader and break them. Our LEADERS set examples for
us, be that good or bad. (The least important qualification would be that
they know by heart Robert's Rules of Order - after the election, they'll
have plenty of time to memorize it . . .(grin).
I find urging your co-volunteers to educate themselves to make a political
stand no different than teaching my sixteen year the responsibilities of an
adult by discussing political candidates, issues that will affect us
individually, as a family, town, county, or state. The most important
factor that I have stressed to my son is that his singular voice is first
heard when he places his vote, and secondly, when he makes it his business
to stay abreast of current events, how his representatives are voting, laws
on the table, and follows up by voicing his ideas to his representative (I
wish I would have followed my own advice!). In doing those things, he has
done his part in creating and maintaining a democratic society.
When I first started with this project about 4 years ago, I had no idea of
the politics. Didn't even faze me. I was so excited having just bought our
first computer (and having been a genealogist since the age of 13 - some 25
years now) that I just went out and started busting my chops trying to do
what we are all here for . . . I let everyone else worry about the politics.
Then . . . .
A while back our State Coordinator (Mississippi) opened the door for those
of us with our heads in our county work by suggesting or reminding us that
we could/should educate ourselves on the current issues of the project. She
didn't try to persuade us one way or the other, but simply suggested that we
may want to educate ourselves on the project as a whole. For some odd
reason this time I followed that suggestion. Others did as well, while some
did not and that is their choice.
You see, she, Linda Mason, is a Leader. She reminded us that the USGWP is
OUR (all-inclusive) project. I don't know what Linda's opinion is on the
issues, just as I don't know what most of your opinions are, but I respect
Linda's opinion because I know that she has educated herself and formed that
opinion. Although she probably doesn't know it from my posts the last few
days, I thank her on a daily basis for once again advising me (and my fellow
MS CCs) that I/we have a voice. If I were a volunteer in any other State,
or with any other Special Project, I would expect no less of our LEADER. We
don't always agree on things, but we RESPECT each other's right to disagree.
I urge every one of you to contact a fellow CC and remind them of the VOTE
on July 1st. I'm going to start spending my time in a more constructive
way. I'll contact those that I work with and urge them to vote. I'll offer
the reasons why I am voting for the candidates that I am voting for. If
they want to offer a rebuttal or give me the reasons why they are voting for
a particular candidate, I will listen with an open mind. If it turns out
their vote cancels mine at the poll, so be it. At least I will know that
two informed votes were cast. That my friends, is how a DEMOCRACY works.
Thanks for your time. I know that I have quipped here and there on the list
in jest and meant no harm. My friends know that, but for those of you who
do not know me, I do have a serious side and I am very serious about what I
do. I love working with my counties and I love MSGenWeb and MS ALHN. . . .
and . . . . I can love them both, just like I can love both of my children.
They each offer that little unique something that the other can't. Please
also know that I am very distressed over the history and ongoing turmoil of
the USGWP. It is time to move on toward a more productive working
atmosphere and make it fun again.
Ginny Walker English
CC MSGenWeb, Lamar, Forrest, Perry
SC MS ALHN
CH MS ALHN Forrest, Perry
**********************************************
Cast your vote for LEADER(s) - Jim Powell, Jr., NC and Ellen Pack, CC Rep
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