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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