Corky,
I am very happy for you, and at the same time, very sad to see you
leave. You have definitely bonded us together as a group. You have
always had a down-home attitude while keeping our goals in mind, and you
have devoted so much to the MTGenWeb. You have truely made this an
enjoyable endevor for me. Thanks for all that you have done!
You have also been a wonderful friend these past years, and so while I
am sorry to hear you are leaving, I wish you the best. Enjoy Corky, and
stay in touch!
Patti
Custer, Glacier, Pondera, and Treasure
Corky wrote:
Hi all,
Excuse the "yelling" in caps in the subject line.... just wanted to make sure
everyone reads this! <G>
(I intended to send this a few days ago but needed to re-confirm with USGenWeb that the
procedure was correct.)
Well, the time has finally come. After 4 1/2 years of heading MTGenWeb Project, I've
decided to resign effective March 1, 2001. It was a difficult decision.... one of those
'pride things' since I had started the Montana Genealogy Research site before
I'd heard about the USGenWeb Project itself - ....and just plain not wanting to
'let go'. <G> On the other hand, there have been a number of things
I've had to put aside during these years... my own genealogy research is one of the
big ones. Additionally, I've decided to get more involved with some service
ministries at our church and need to re-set my priorities. So, after thinking and praying
long and hard about it, I know it is the right thing for me to do.
Here are some important "business matters" about which you need to be aware:
1. Most of you know that in 1997 or 1998, I asked Vicki Lindsay Thauvin to be the
MTGenWeb Project State Co-Coordinator, (not "Assistant" State Coordinator).
[Massachusetts is another state with this arrangement, and at one time Connecticut also
had dual state coordinators] This was ""prior"" to the creation of a
National USGenWeb By-Law mandating that new State Coordinator positions be filled by an
election. During the time that the creation of by-laws was being considered by USGenWeb,
I presented the issue of our being "co-coordinators" to the USGenWeb for their
clarification of where MTGenWeb leadership stood with the upcoming by-law. Since the
by-laws were not yet in effect when we agreed to be co-coordinators, we were told, it
would be completely acceptable to simply turn the MTGenWeb Project site over to the other
State Co-Coordinator if one resigned anytime in the future. More recently,(and again
this week), I confirmed this fact with the National Coordinat!
or!
.
Vicki has graciously agreed to continue as MTGenWeb Project State Coordinator. As most
of you know, Vicki has very capably performed all of the duties of State Coordinator a
number of times when I was on extended vacations, . She also has continually worked as
the contact and instructional person for interested volunteers and maintains the unknown
query page. I've depended upon her technical expertise a number of times during the
years! I am very pleased that she is willing to continue this position on a full-time
basis. Should Vicki resign that post in the future, an election will be needed to fill
her position.
2. About the 1st of March 2001, the MTGenWeb Project will be taken off of my server and
placed on Rootsweb's server. I will keep a re-direct on my server for a reasonable
time to assist in the transition. If any of you know of sites that feature the MTGenWeb
Project link other than the obvious (USGenWeb Project, Cyndi's List), please let me
know so that I can include them in the URL change notification. [I now wish I'd kept
a list of those sites who've asked permission to link over the years!]
Also PLEASE be sure to read any future postings relevant to the new URL's as
you'll need to change a number of links, I'm sure.
3. 1880 and 1890 Census Projects: Since I am the only person with the data, the lists
of transcribers, and the contact person for Maggie Stewart on the 1880 Project, I intend
to follow those through to completion. It appears that nearly all of the 1880 will be in
the hands of Maggie soon, and that the 1890 is close to completion also.
4. My goal is to continue with MTGenWeb Project as a County Coordinator for now. I want
to keep Carbon Co. and I will keep Yellowstone only until a Yellowstone County resident is
willing to adopt it.
Finally, I want to express my sincere thanks to all of you great people who have come to
mean so much to me. Each of you has demonstrated a true "servant's heart"
in the way that you endeavor to assist others in their genealogy research. Words cannot
express how much I have appreciated you for your support and for your work with MtGenWeb.
Gratefully, I'll still be able to chat with you via email now and again.
Thanks so much, friends, for everything!
Corky