You know what you and I and Joan all forgot to say? We all forgot to add in
how well things work inside MTGenWeb too. That a girl Corky!
Paul
-----Original Message-----
From: Cheryl Meyer [mailto:camrdm@wport.com]
Sent: Tuesday, June 27, 2000 7:06 AM
To: MTGEN-L(a)rootsweb.com
Subject: [MTGEN-L] Re: Some Thoughts
I agree with Joan's comments. I've been a CC for two years now. I LIKE the
way the USGenWeb and Rootsweb have worked together to build the best free
genealogy site on the Internet. This has to be unique in our "no one gets a
free ride" economy. Well, I've almost gotten that free ride. I've been
given the opportunity to host a web site that is mine to design and stock
with genealogical and historical information. I don't have to pay a big
monthly fee; I don't have to worry about the technical aspects; I can just
have fun and feel a big sense of accomplishment. Gee, this is almost heaven
for a genealogist. Why would I want to destroy all this with petty
infighting? With issues that all boil down to who's in CONTROL? Well, I
have quite a bit of control as a CC. I also have a vote in the USGenWeb
Project elections and believe enough in democracy to abide by the majority
vote. I can't see that fragmentation of the USGenWeb Project is a step
forward. It is counterproductive to have 50 states each negotiate with
Rootsweb/Ancestry.com, or whoever, to accomplish what one national
organization can do and has done so much better. We have strength in
numbers, but dissipate our strength if we fragment. We'll lose so much if
we allow a few disgruntled people and their States Rights Amendment to
destroy what so many of us have worked for.
What struck me about GenExchange is that they've been in existence since
1996 too. But, for whatever reasons, as far as I can see, they haven't
accomplished anything near what the USGenWeb has. I wish them well, but
can't see any advantage to build their site while the USGenWeb is working
so well. I'm happy here as long as things continue in the way they have for
the two years I've been involved. If things deteriorate in the future, I'll
cross that bridge with the rest of you.
Cheryl
Lake County
At 06:45 AM 6/27/00 -0500, you wrote:
I'm not going to make a comment about other groups (Fred Smoot,
etc.)
trying to follow the example of U.S.
GenWeb/GenConnect/RootsWeb/Ancestry.com. I will say, however, that it is
easy to be simplistic about the big picture. I have a very small corner -
the computer power and money needed to handle everything boggles my mind.
I don't have a clue as to the exact place where RootsWeb stores my two
county pages or the cost of the equipment to do that. But I'm ever so glad
it's there. I think these other groups don't really see how big a project
it is - when it's done correctly. The other thing I do know is that it
takes a lot of cooperation for something the size of GenWeb, etc. to work.
That, as we all know, is not always easy. So I will continue to try and
take care of my small corner as best I can and be in awe of what
GenWeb/GenConnect/RootsWeb have put together.
Joan Shurtliff
Sweet Grass and Stillwater Counties.