Greetings NJGenWeb CCs and TCs,
Before you respond to this post, please read this entire message, as there may be a few
surprises.
**THE ELECTION**
I want to thank each and every one of you, for your patience during the recent election
process. The most immediate point I want to make is that since The NJGenWeb Project does
not have defined and accepted bylaws and protocols, the SC (or acting SC) may inherently
wield power that might not always be constructive to the NJGenWeb. This concerns me, as it
should concern you.
The "roll call" election just held technically is binding. Sixteen (16) out of
twenty-two (22) possible CC/TCs responded to the poll which easily provides the required
2/3 coordinator participation, and made the election valid as outlined in the voting
rules.
Ten (10) out of the sixteen (16) participating coordinators (which is more than the
majority plus one needed) indicated their vote for me to become State Coordinator--which
position I now accept.
Five (5) of you indicated that you "Object to the Process." That represents less
than one quarter (1/4) of total possible votes, and only one-third (1/3) of the CC/TCs who
actually participated in the roll call. I have noted your objections, and respect you for
selecting that option.
I will mention here that those of you who did not vote (six of you), missed a great
opportunity. Of those who did not respond, three of you had previously not responded to
the monthly roll calls for 3-12 months, although you did respond recently to direct email.
I will reiterate, if it is not already clear, that ALL members of NJGenWeb (whether you
are CC or TC) should respond to the monthly roll calls, in order to be considered active
members of this project.
**WHAT'S NEXT**
My next step is to immediately generate discussion among the CC and TCs of the NJGenWeb
Project, in order to work on our bylaws and protocols. My goal is to have basic bylaws
and protocols in place within 30 days.
Since several of you have expressed upset with the amount of "spam mail"
generated through this NJGEN email list, I have created a NJGEN BLOG. [Thank you Bill
Hastings for giving me the idea].
I am the administrator of that NJGenWeb blog. Shortly after I post this message on our
email list, each of NJGenWeb's CCs and TCs (and also one or more of our regional
USGenWeb reps) will be invited to join the NJGenWeb Blog at Blogger. If you accept, you
will join the blog as an "Author." This means you will not only be able to
respond to the articles, but also to be an author, and post your own articles for review.
You need
to be an author/member of the blog in order to even view it. That will help us to
maintain our privacy.
This NJGEN email list will continue to be well utilized, as we will need a location where
we can all "vote" to accept, or not, the final product of what is discussed on
the blog. The archives of this email list are the proof of how we each voted. Once the
proposed protocols and bylaws have been commented on, and edited, through the blog, I will
be posting them to the NJGenWeb mailing list for a vote.
I urge you all to accept the invitation to join this new blog. If you choose NOT to join,
then you will simply be left out of discussion that immediately impacts your role as a
CC/TC. I empower you to read the articles on the blog, and express your opinions by
adding comments. Denise Wells and Michelle Chubenko are already a members of that blog, as
I asked them to review both the blog. This was done to get their feedback on its value to
us as a group.
If you do not receive an invitation (within 24 hours of this post) to join this NJGEN
blog, or you did and refused the initial invitation, but wish to be re-invited, please
contact me at janicebr(a)earthlink.net to let me know that you need another invitation.
Topics already posted on the blog include (NOT necessarily in order of importance):
1. Basic Requirements of CCs and SC, in order to be a part of the NJGenWeb Project
(includes both guidelines I created by reviewing other state's guidelines, and
additional suggestions made by Bill Hastings)
2. Project Bylaws and Protocols
3. NJGenWeb Goals
4. Election of A State Coordinator (Denise Wells generously created the original
guidelines)
Please visit the blog more than once. Additional topics to be reviewed may be added.
Also watch your email box carefully (the one that received email from this mailing list).
Within the next few weeks, important articles for you to vote on will appear here.
**NJGENWEB HOUSEKEEPING**
It is very important to me that NO single person in NJGenWeb have all the "keys to
the kingdom." Therefore I have appointed two ASCs (Co-ASCs) for the NJGenWeb
Project, namely Michelle Chubenko and Denise Wells. They have each received a copy of a
file which contains the log-in and passwords for our NJGenWeb mailing list, blog, and
state web site, and also a list of the email addresses and details of all CCs and TCs and
their web sites. I believe both of them to be trustworthy and careful individuals who will
maintain the confidentiality needed in that position. They also have the technical
ability to maintain each of those internet entities (ie web site, blog, email list).
Their being appointed ASC was the result of my "knowing" both of them through
various communications, and realizing they would be appropriate candidates for the
position. It does NOT mean that other CCs are not capable of filling the position. It does
NOT mean they automatically become SC should anything happen to me. It does NOT mean that
they agree with my views or my communications (actually both have been quite
"vocal" about their own ideas).
What it does mean is that information important to the continuation of NJGenWeb will be in
their possession of two other reliable people who can help with any unforeseeable
transitions.
**FUTURE OUTLOOK**
Once we as a group, determine through a democratic process, how SC elections will be held
in the future, and even more importantly what protocols and behaviors are expected of us
through accepted bylaws, then I empower each of you to make another important decision.
Following the event of our having democratically voted to accept basic bylaws and
protocols for NJGenWeb, I will be formally requesting from the USGenWeb Election Committee
a new election for SC to be held, based on our new election regulations. At that time if
you are displeased with the outcome, and my behavior in that regard, feel free to
"vote me off the island," or tell me to "pack my computer keyboard and
go."
IMPORTANT NOTE: Please DO NOT REPLY to this message in this email list.
Instead, please join the NJGEN blog when you are invited, roll up your sleeves, do some
reading and commenting.
If you have messages of a personal nature for me, email may be sent to me at
janicebr(a)earthlink.net. No rants please. Instead post something in our NJGenWeb blog and
offer creative suggestions on how to resolve the problem.
Don't be a problem for NJGenWeb, or for me, to solve--instead be part of the solution.
Janice Brown
State Coordinator, NJGenWeb