To whom it may concern:
It has been suggested by some folks who have been traditionally hostile to
the USGenWeb Project, that we are an on-line genealogical organization in
disarray. It has been further suggested that most County Coordinators have
left State Projects due to negative reasons. These same individuals have
attacked the Project for reasons best described as divisive and destructive.
In addressing this post to our National Coordinator, I am requesting that
each State and Special Project Coordinator respond to him and our esteemed
AB members, reporting your personal experiences with folks who may have
left their Projects. Without taking a poll or trying to predict responses,
I would really like to know if any former CCs left any of our Projects
because of bad vibes or because of other circumstances. Regardless, these
folks should have been included in previously-conducted polls.
Our NCGenWeb Project has been infiltrated by a fraudulent entity--and was
rightfully expelled. However, this individual's cohorts seek to frustrate
the original goals of our Project by filing grievance after grievance and
attempting to sow a field of discord. One member of your AB has even
suggested that I be removed as State Coordinator because I chose to act in
the best interests of our Project by removing one of these destructive
forces [see Board-L archives]. Others who were placed in positions of
trust within our Project have deserted and turned on us by waging hateful
campaigns. One of these weasels continues to display their name on the
USGWP "Who's Who" page because of the spineless attitudes of those who have
the authority to do the right thing and remove this cancer.
On the State level, the vast majority of those who left our Project did so
because of outside obligations and time constraints. Two were expelled for
detrimental activities and several resigned when they learned that their
divisive dissension would not be tolerated.
The very fact that the Advisory Board would suggest that I stand before a
"popularity" poll in order to retain my position as SC is absurd and
totally ludicrous. Nevertheless, a poll was conducted to determine how
"popular" I am. I never learned of this poll until after it had been conducted.
This poll was initiated because of a complainant who was removed from our
Project for just cause. This individual, and cohorts, have logged many
negative archived posts attacking the leadership of this Project and the
organization of the XXGWP in general. They have banded together to
hamper serious genealogical research. They seek instead to foster dissent.
Even worse, they have managed to divert the USGWP Advisory Board to waste
valuable time for their "cause."
Most AB members are dedicated to providing free genealogy resources. Some
have chosen to run for AB positions simply because they are energized by a
personal ego trip or have a personal agenda. Elections come and elections
go. I urge each and every USGWP member to carefully examine the track
record of all AB members. Ask yourself if they represent your views or if
they have their own personal agendas. The very future of the USGenWeb
Project is at stake.
Back to the NCGenWeb State Coordinator "Popularity" Poll.
Here are the results:
http://webpages.charter.net/derickh/Results.html as
conducted by YOUR Advisory Board.
Regardless of the results, some AB members continue to strive to re-instate
former members whose removal was made necessary in the first place by their
destructive behavior. Something needs to be done by caring folk. State
Coordinators and their associates need to make some very important
decisions: Are we here to stake out our turf....or are we here to serve the
genealogical public????
I have no axe to grind. I have publicly stated that my term as NCGenWeb SC
will end on 1 July 2003. Please, if you do nothing else, please strive to
keep this organization together. Don't elect folks who are in this for
their own self-gratification. Support those who choose to perpetuate our
dream. Please don't tolerate the jerks!!!! Read the archives to determine
who is in this for an ego trip and who is in here to promote noble goals.
Support our troops in Iraq!!!
Derick S. Hartshorn
State Coordinator, NCGenWeb Project
nc(a)usgenweb.org