----- Original Message -----
From: <TVick65536(a)aol.com>
To: <BOARD-L(a)rootsweb.com>
Sent: Wednesday, May 31, 2000 12:35 AM
Subject: [BOARD-L] FW: Proposed Amendment to Bylaws
Forwarded with permission, and by request.
Tina Vickery
___
Subj: {not a subscriber} Proposed Amendment to Bylaws
Date: 5/31/00 12:14:55 AM Eastern Daylight Time
From: pecos(a)texasisp.com (Pecos)
To: USGenWeb-NE-L(a)rootsweb.com
All authority is vested at state (XXGenWeb) and local levels, including
Special Projects; all grievances handled at XXGenWeb and local level only;
prohibits national sanctions; does away with all national positions other
than a national webmaster and national special project webmasters, each
elected by the membership, and each with no authority other than website
maintenance; all national list managers (State-Coord, USGW-CC-L, etc.)
elected by subscribers; adds perpetual prohibition against commercial
activity.
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I am writing this note to warn all parties of (as I see it) the impending
takeover bid of usgw by
http://www.usgennet.org/ and Fred Smoot, Carole
Hammett, Ron Eason, Sue Soden, Teresa Lindquist and others who seem bent on
destroying the USGW. I make no apology for what is written below, if the
shoe fits wear it. Besides, since no one but myself signs my paycheck, I
can say what I want, whether anyone likes it or not.
When you have an organization, even a local one, someone has to be in
charge. If you don't you have anarchy. I believe this particular
amendment was put forth simple because a few malcontents do not like the
way things are run, because THEY are not the ones in charge. If am wrong,
send me back to Vietnam or bend my dogtags, NOT very damn likely. This
entire major problem started when Kay Mason arbitrarily moved the census
files without Board authority and the NC and Board at that time and even
after did not have the courage to do anything about it.
Folks, if you run for any office, you have to have the courage to make hard
decisions, it you are afraid to hurt some ones feelings by doing the right
thing, then you have NO business being in that office. And folks, until
recently, that was how the NC and Board conducted business, they did
nothing because they were afraid to hurt some ones feelings, or make
someone mad by requiring them to abide by the current bylaws. Now the
current bylaws do need to be revised in a major way, but the above
amendment is NOT the way to go.
If the above amendment passes, the current USGW Project as we know it will
cease to exist. Mr Smoot and his cronies at
http://www.usgennet.org/ will
have what they want.
They for what ever reason, want the USGW Project off of the RW server, and
on theirs. I for one have serious doubts that they could support it even
if they got it. They say they are benevolent and non profit and they do
not interfere in other entities policy. Well if you read Article X Section
3, I think that gives a strong hint that *they* will be looking to try to
make $$ on current and future USGW data. Also, why do the folks who
proposed the amendment not have the courage to sign their names to it. It
was sent out from "a few concerned CC's". That tells me that whoever wrote
it has something to hide, and do not want to be questioned.
I could care less where an individual CC or an entire State chooses to
house their pages, as long as it is voluntary, as it currently is
now. And I have nothing against
http://www.usgennet.org/ as long as they
mind their own business and stay out of the business of USGW. However,
when they have their Board Secretary submit 5 grievances against the AB, I
personally think that is a conflict of interest. Even though she submitted
them as a CC.
Mr Smoot has stated he did not write a single word of the amendment, and I
happen to believe him, he probably didn't. But I would bet my last dollar
that he had some input and he is actively encouraging other states to go
along and sponser it, as is his right.
Therefore as is my right, I am sending this to try and counter and defeat
this particular amendment.
To read the entire amendment here is the
url <
http://www.geocities.com/usgenwebamend/index.html>
Ken Short