The votes are in and I appreciate everyone who took the time to voice their opinions. The
majority voting voted no confidence. However, The majority did not vote. I have decided
that going public with our vote would just rip open the wounds caused by the actions on
the National level. I WILL send the note quoted below to the board so that They will be
aware of the outcome. This has accomplished my goal of making you informed and Allowing
you to make an informed decision during the coming elections.
I encourage each one of you to get involved in the elections in July. Several CC's
have volunteered to be on the election committee and that's a great start. The only
way to change what we are unhappy with is to get involved. You may not have time to get
involved with the committee, or to run for open positions but you can support the
candidate of your choice and to VOTE!
Thanks for your patience in the last few weeks and ALL your support! Any comments PLEASE
use the CHAT list or email me privately as the list has been busy enough and our business
has concluded.
Election updates as I get them!
Linda
***********************************Letter to the AB &
Tim*********************************
When I made the move to solicit a Confidence vote from the MSGW. I had two plans. One, to
inform and educate my CC's on the things that were going on on The National level and
start them thinking and talking; and Two, to let the NC and Board know that we as a state
did not support their actions on the delinking of the CP. That we felt that the NC acted
with disregard for the Bylaws.
After much discussion, both publicly and privately, with Board Members and the NC some
CC's cast votes. In actual Voting CC's the majority voted No confidence. However,
if you count ALL CC's the majority had no opinion either way because they did not
vote.
After much consideration, despite my comments when this started, I decided NOT to go
public with this vote. One reason being that I feel that the majority of Board members
have tried to meet us more than halfway by meeting with us and answering private emails.
The other being that I feel that making this public would just rip open the wounds of the
USGWP instead of letting them heal and moving on to do what we at MSGW feel is the goal
that we should work towards. Helping the researchers and getting as much Free information
on the internet as possible.
One CC said to me, "do you realize that if as much time and effort was spent on
transcribing records in the last 18 months as has been spent on this problem, every census
and every cemetery in the whole United States would be online?" That really stopped
me in my tracks and made me realize that while the NC's actions were not in accordance
with the Bylaws as some of us interpreted them; it's done, it wasn't reversed. So
we need to just move ahead and do what we believe in. Focus our time and energy on what
matters to us. If it's changing the bylaws, transcribing records, revamping our
counties, or sitting by and doing nothing. It's up to each of us to look inside
ourselves and see where we feel focusing our energies would best accomplish something that
we can look back and be proud of.
I don't regret the decision to hold the confidence vote. It accomplished what was
intended and had some unexpected benefits as well. I have always strived to be the best SC
I could for both the researchers and the CC's. Each experience is a learning
experience if we choose it to be. This experience has been no different.
I hope that each and everyone of us, from CC's to Board Members, to Tim can work
towards healing the USGW Project and moving forward in a positive, meaningful way. I love
this project. I believe in this project. And I believe that each and everyone of you do
too.
Thank you.
Linda Mason
***************
MSGenWeb SC
CC/ Listowner Rankin, & Warren
Temp for Montgomery & Sharkey
UIN 279574