Bless you, Joyce! You and people like you help make the NCGenWeb the
best Project in the USGenWeb.
You are the kind of folks we need more of. Your pages look and
exemplify the kind of pages that reflect a good deal of work and
original effort.
Sadly, the same can't be said for some others who use the work of
others and link to pages which they had no part in creating.
These are the kind of people who have attacked our leadership in an
attempt to make a name for themselves and drive off the real contributors.
Some of these individuals think that Nola incorporated the NCGenWeb
for her own purposes. Nothing could be further from the truth.
In spite of endless accusations, Nola incorporated the Project, FOR
THE PROJECT!!!! We are now protected from any hijack attempts from
sinister forces.
The truth be known, the only reason that one particular individual
discovered that Nola incorporated the NCGenWeb was because of an
attempt by that particular person to incorporate the NCGenWeb Project
as their own. Timely actions by Nola thwarted the ambitions of anyone
who would steal our Project for their own selfish ambitions. The only
reason the issue was raised was because that particular person sought
to hijack OUR Project, else, how would that particular person have
even known that the NCGenWeb Project had been incorporated. THINK
ABOUT IT!!! In the same vein, an individual who was expelled from
the NCGenWeb registered USGENWEB.US
(
) in their name for
unknown purposes. Casual observation of the discuss list archives
will readily disclose those who flock together. What is it they say
about birds of a feather....? The discussion list is overloaded with
with their accusations, complaints, endless verbiage and whinings.
The more they yap, the less they have to contribute. The proof is in
the pudding. Check the web pages of these whiners and see how much
content is ORIGINAL and how much is the work of others.
I don't know if you're sick of it but I know I am !!!
If anybody has any ideas on how to exclude members on the grounds of
being members "not in good standing," I'm all ears!
Derick S. Hartshorn
former NCGenWeb Project State Coordinator
current USGenWeb Project-County Coordinator
City of Conover/Catawba/Burke/Lincoln/Gaston/Cleveland, NC
Derick,
I agree. I love this project and want to learn more as a cc how to help
those out there who cannot come here to research. I try to ignore, but after
awhile, it just gets to be annoying. Thank you for putting it into words.
This project is the BEST.
Joyce Wilson Harrison
CC: Orange and Durham County
On Tue, Sep 16, 2008 at 6:01 PM, Derick Hartshorn <DerickH(a)charter.net>wrote:
> Folks,
>
> Without mentioning names or dwelling on subject matter, I'd like to
> express a few brief thoughts and concerns. As a member of the
> USGenWeb Project since its inception in 1996, I am again witnessing
> the same old sniping, backbiting and fault-finding by the "usual
> suspects." I can't, for the life of me, figure out why this honorable
> organization can't progress in a more civilized manner without such
> strife. Even less, I can't understand the arguments used against our
> Project. I can, however, understand the motives.
>
> These same individuals who have complained for the past decade seem
> never to relent. Their identities are well known to members who have
> been on board for any length of time. Fortunately, their reputations
> have disqualified them for elective office yet they continue to raise
> obstacles and confuse meaningful discussions.
>
> They complain about the number of voting participants and argue what
> constitutes a quorum, a majority or a membership plurality. They
> continue to attempt to re-define the number of members it takes to
> pass a resolution, seeking to thwart the existing constitutional process.
>
> The fact that their behavior has resulted in the real Project
> contributors withdrawing from productive discussions has been
> ignored. These malevolent people have formed de-facto cliques bent on
> taking over the Project for their own selfish desires. Their goal is
> to overwhelm the majority with platitudes, rhetoric and assurances
> that their goal of democratic leadership and beneficent web hosting
> is designed for the greater good.
>
> They have explored ways of incorporating segments of the Project only
> to discover that well-meaning officers and members have thwarted and
> pre-empted their attempts at commandeering our established entities.
> These crafty individuals have created web domains for the potential
> housing of their own self-serving and selfish goals of Project
> domination (please check a whois on usgenweb.us)
>
> They seek to abolish the 2/3rds majority for parliamentary changes, a
> mandate utilized by the vast majority of all constituted
> organizations. They seek a simple majority rule on bylaw changes
> based on what they define as a majority. They have a fervent desire
> to overturn traditional representation with a board of officers of
> their personal choosing. Their minions have attempted to get the
> issue placed as a national referendum through questionable means.
> Rarely in human history, in any organized body, has a simple majority
> been given the power to overturn parliamentary matters!
>
> During my Project membership, I have witnessed the majority of the
> membership sitting back, tolerating the presence of these
> trouble-makers. Those who materially contribute to the Project
> generally are the real silent majority who choose to be left alone to
> do what they do best. A careful examination of the trouble-making
> minority will instantly expose their lack of contributions to the
> Project. If they are CCs, Asst.CCs, or individual contributors, their
> activities are evident when examining their craft:
>
> 1. Their web pages generally lack originality or individual
> contribution, co-opting the hard work of others.
> 2. Their web pages are heavily reliant on links to other individuals
> or external web sites.
> 3. Their allegiance to the state or USGenWeb Project is generally of
> a grudging nature and any mention is often found at the bottom of
> their web page.
> 4. They promote other genealogical/historical entities which were
> created (by a single individual) to compete with the USGenWeb Project.
> 5. They are either slow to respond to specific queries related to
> their so-called area of expertise or they ignore them entirely.
>
> These, my friends, are the individuals who, for the most part, have
> been incessantly complaining about the issues I have outlined above.
> Our Project officers have been slow to act but are to be commended
> for their toleration of this subterfuge and blather. However, the
> time has come to say, "enough is enough." These usurpers,
> trouble-makers and obstacles to organized progress need to be stifled
> and ignored. They have nothing to contribute to the well being of the
> USGenWeb Project except dissension. One might wonder what changes
> they would implement in the unlikely event that they might be able
> take over our Project. The repercussions are, indeed, frightening!
>
> The choice is to either strengthen the USGenWeb Project or to allow
> selfish interests have their way. We can either exercise a voice in
> the direction of the ideals we first espoused or we can do nothing at
> all and ignore the voices of dissent. Our voices, who, for so long
> have been silent, need to step forward and express our honest opinion.
>
> If you personally believe that the USGenWeb Project is the very best
> thing that has ever come along in the form of free Internet genealogy
> and history, join with me in supporting the National organization and
> the Advisory Board and our elected officials. While we are all less
> than perfect, the USGWP By-Laws have been in place since our
> inception. They may have flaws, but during our existence, they have
> been successfully amended in a coherent and parliamentary manner.
> Nothing has occurred to alter the excellence of the USGenWeb Project.
> Attacking our elected officers and the manner in which the Project
> conducts business is non-productive. Only when we accept the fact
> that the USGenWeb Project has been chartered for the purposes
> outlined in the By-Laws can we come to a common purpose.
>
> Please pay careful attention to the responses to this message. The
> dissenters may be the same folks I have described in my message. Ask
> yourself if they have the best interests of the Project in mind when
> they find fault and criticize me and what I have said. I fully expect
> that these same folks will respond in a negative manner. I ask only
> that you gauge their response by their past messages and actions.
> Most importantly, I ask you to examine their achievements and what
> they have done for the Project. If you don't know, ASK THEM and visit
> their web pages.
>
> Derick S. Hartshorn
> former NCGenWeb Project State Coordinator
> current USGenWeb Project-County Coordinator
> City of Conover/Catawba/Burke/Lincoln/Gaston/Cleveland, NC
>
http://www.ncgenweb.us/catawba/
>
http://www.ncgenweb.us/ncburke/
>
http://www.ncgenweb.us/clincoln/
>
http://www.ncgenweb.us/gaston/
>
http://www.ncgenweb.us/cleveland/
>
http://www.ncgenweb.us/conover/
>
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>
--
Joyce Harrison
Editor: The Alamance Genealogist
http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~mmorton
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