Shari Handley <srh(a)tyaskin.com> wrote:From: "Shari Handley"
Date: Fri, 10 Sep 2004 20:24:05 -0400
To: STATE-COORD-L(a)rootsweb.com
Subject: [STATE-COORD] RAL Candidate: Mike St. Clair
Name:
Mike St. Clair
EMail:
mike(a)saintclair.org
Positions:
County Coordinator - Taney County Missouri and Grainger County Tennessee
URLs:
http://www.taneymo.us and
http://www.graingertn.us
(note that the latter is a brand new assignment and I have just started
my work there)
Why I wish to be considered:
Although I haven't been one of the pioneers of the USGenWeb Project, I
have been one of the pioneers of the concept of helping genealogists by
using the Internet and some of it's predecessors, such as the GBBS and
Fidonet systems. I see the great potential of this Project to help
genealogists in their research, as it has helped me personally and as I
have seen it help countless others I have worked with as neighbors,
friends, family, and members of classes that I've taught. I would like
to give something back to the thousands who have been contributing of
their time, talent, and energy over the years by serving them on the AB.
One of my personal goals in life is to contribute to the advancement of
genealogical computing and USGenWeb is currently the area I see with the
most untapped potential. I have great admiration and respect for the
many of the current board that I've become somewhat acquainted with over
the last couple of years. I truly believe this would be a fun group to
work with.
Why I would be a good choice:
I'm going to start by saying I don't know if I would be the best
candidate, not even knowing who the other possibilities are, which is
why I changed the title of this section to "why I would be a good
choice."
I am an experienced genealogical researcher and understand the value,
the sources, and the difficulties of the broad range of records that are
of value to genealogists. Having worked on my own genealogy, as well as
having helped others over the course of 37 years (that's NOT my age but
my tenure as a researcher), I'm seasoned and have learned much about
what works and what doesn't, what's available and what isn't. In this
time I've spent many years in two of the major record centers in our
country, Washington DC (16 years) and Salt Lake City (20 years), and
have learned how to use the records available in both places. I've also
been able to research in the state archives of half a dozen states, the
county archives of dozens of counties, and libraries and archives of
many universities and other organizations. I think my experience as a
researcher would be helpful in serving and representing the members of
the Project.
I have substantial experience with the technology that supports
genealogists and this project as a practicing information technology
professional. I currently provide technology planning and support for
a small startup company. My employer is pioneering an innovative
approach for our country's public schools that is similar in some
fashion to what USGenWeb is pioneering for genealogists. We provided
support for a fee to school systems who primarily use one vendor's
computing products but we are also developing an open source system that
is being made available without license fees. The hope is to help
stimulate a movement of the open source concept into other areas such
curriculum development and sharing. I work with computers, software,
networks and the Internet every day and am experienced in helping find
and solve problems, and coming up with solutions that prevent future
problems. This includes developing, learning, and taking advantage of
standards in the technology arena. I have a good understanding of what
works, and what developing technologies are bringing. I think my
experience with technology would be helpful to me in serving and
representing the members of the project.
I have worked with many other national volunteer genealogical
organizations in technology roles. This not only gave some insights
into how such organizations work, but put me into close contact with
many of those who are currently in leadership roles in such
organizations. It's not clear to me that USGenWeb has spent any time on
developing relationships with other organizations that could work
cooperatively with us to help us accomplish our objectives. Over time I
think this would be a good thing to do, and I believe I could help that
to happen should the Board buy off on the concept. Those I have worked
with include: The National Genealogical Society (I've spoken at several
of their national conferences, I was their first webmaster and have been
elected a Fellow of the NGS, one of just a few dozen nationally),
Federation of Genealogical Societies (I was an early webmaster there and
helped promote making many of their materials available on the Internet
for free), Board for Certification of Genealogists (first webmaster),
Association of Professional Genealogists (first webmaster), GENTECH
(early webmaster, speaker at conferences, on several conference
committees, program chair for one of their national conferences).
I am a long time proponent of making free resources available to
genealogists through the Internet, starting in fact before the Internet
existed. My efforts prior to becoming part of USGenWeb helped deliver
resources like tools and education, rather than data, and one of my
efforts remains very popular approaching 20 years after it was first
launched (that one is called PAF Review). I think this experience will
help me in all aspects of service on the Advisory Board.
I believe those in leadership positions such as the Advisory Board are
both leaders and servants, but not masters. I'm especially good in the
servant role, and am effective in being a peacemaker, and in persuading
opposing parties to compromise. I know how to be polite to those who
are angry, upset, even obnoxious, and I can listen through the strong
words that come from strong feelings. I tend to get along with the nice
people as well as the ornery ones. These attitudes and skills would be
valuable when dealing with some of the issues that come before the
Advisory Board.
Let me assure you that if chosen I will give this my best, and if
someone else is chosen I will do everything in my power as a project
member to help them and the project be successful. I greatly appreciate
the service of those currently on the Board and think I would be a good
fit with the current group. I'd be happy to answer any questions from
any member of the board as they consider the candidates for this board
vacancy.
If you want to learn more about me, you are invited to visit my personal
home page at
http://www.saintclair.org.
If you'd like to check out some of the free resources I provide to
genealogists, take a look at:
www.saintclair.org/numbers/ - Genealogical Numbering Systems
www.countylookup.us - Helps you find US counties
www.paf-review.com - Resources for users of Personal Ancestral File
www.taneymo.us/forum/ - Ozark Conversations, part of the Taney County
Missouri USGenWeb site