Corky,
I have been following some of the responses to your query and to be honest
with you I have very mixed opinions on the subject. I do believe that if
someone is seeking a professional researcher, they will find one. So, I will
cast my vote based on the by-laws for the USGenWeb Project -- I VOTE YES --
as long as such linking follows the project guidelines.
Fran
The USGenWeb Project Bylaws
ARTICLE IX. GUIDELINES/STANDARDS FOR WEBSITES/MEMBERS
... Section 2. Solicitation of funds for personal gain is inappropriate.
This is defined as the direct appeal on the home page of any of the websites
comprising The USGenWeb Project for funding to do research, to pay for
server space, to do look-ups, etc. A website may, however, acknowledge any
entities who may host their website (i.e., provide server space at no cost)
or may include a link to a coordinator's personal page on which they offer
research services for reimbursement. The acknowledgement may include a link
to the hosting entity's website. A website may list research materials
and/or services which may be for sale/hire, either by the coordinator, a
genealogy society, or others. Such a listing shall not be on the main web
page for the site, but may be linked from the main web page. It may be
appropriate to include a disclaimer that the coordinator and The USGenWeb
Project do not guarantee the contents of such research materials and/or the
expertise of any professional researchers.
on 2/7/2001 11:00 AM, Corky at ramakiki(a)home.com wrote:
Hi!
I've already emailed some of you privately, so please excuse me if this is a
duplicate message.
Over the weekend, I sent out a message asking you to vote on an issue
relavant to MTGenWeb Project. Since I need all votes that are coming in by
this Friday, I wanted to give you another chance to cast your vote.
Hope all is well with each of you!
Here's a copy of the first email:
Hi everyone!
I'm checking some links on the main page and would appreciate your "vote"
on something that passes thru my brain now and again. <G>
I often get requests for names of professional researcher in Montana
willing to do more extensive work, i.e. extensive courthouse or newspaper
work, detailed census reports, etc. - data which cannot be found "yet"
<G>
on our MTGenWeb Project site.
As many of you know, I have a research business, Genealogy Research
Service of Montana. I often receive requests by snail or by email (from
paid-for advertising I do in magazines etc.) to conduct research in parts of
the state where they would get much better research done by someone living
in that area of Montana than what I can do from here - at least it would be
less expensive for them that way.
Listing of "paid professional researchers" on USGenWeb sites is done on
some sites, and receives mixed feelings from the membership. Those who do
it always place two disclaimers on the page. 1) They urge that those
seeking research diligently check out all of the USGenWeb Archives,
GenConnect and Rootsweb surname and county searches, etc. before spending
money on research, and that 2) USGenWeb in no way endorses any professional
researcher. It is up to those seeking a researcher to check out the
services and prices available through the various researchers.
So, folks, this is YOUR MTGenWeb. Please vote on the issue of whether or
not I should add such a link to our main page so I'll know what your
feelings are. I'll count whatever votes are in to me by next Friday,
February 9th.
Thanks.