Hope this helps a bit to explain what the $$$ is for.
---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Sat, 16 Sep 2000 14:52:29 -0400
From: "Garnett J.(Joe) Zsedeny" <jzsed(a)slic.com>
To: STATE-COORD-L(a)rootsweb.com
Subject: Re: [STATE-COORD-L] Is this the same project?
Resent-Date: Sat, 16 Sep 2000 11:53:09 -0700
Resent-From: STATE-COORD-L(a)rootsweb.com
David, I think I understand your thinking. I have fervently
wished for a long time that we could conscentrate solely on
online genealogy to the exclusion of all the rest. Believe it or
not I have always detested politics. But with the advent of the
Bylaws politics became inevitable and so I have now (temporarily)
allowed myself to become involved. On the pledge drive let me
explain.
Because we have used the USGenWeb name since 1996 we have first
use and could win any court case hands down. But where do we get
the money for such an effort. By registering "USGenWeb" no court
case is necessary. The Federal Governement tells the world that
it is a government recognized TM. To not register the name we
could actually be denied use of our name because we could not
fight it in court. That in a nutshell is what this is all about.
Your support in this effort would be valuable. But if I can not
change your mind I do respect your position.
Thanks
Joe
Mainegen(a)aol.com wrote:
Dear Fellow SCs:
Is this the same United States GenWeb Project that did not want to
incorporate?
Is this the same United States GenWeb Project that said it was wrong to raise
money?
Are we going to elected a treasurer to hold the money?
Now this concern about the action of Linda Lewis filling for protection of
the name/trademark she has been using has put this project in a pledge drive.
I do not plan to pledge any money for the support of this project. I feel
that I am already spending enough time and money to get information online
free for the use of the public.
The same mistrust can and most likely will be made of 10 people that file for
a trademark as if there was only one person. The fact as I. State that I do
not plan to pay this new "click" will the "Click" make sure that
people can
only point and click to people supporting their ideas only?
I do not care if some of my information is used by other. In fact I want it
used.
If someone want to take my information and add something of their own and
would likely gladly grant my permission when asked.
This is want research is all about and is covered under "fair use".
I cannot say I like the way Ron Eason pulled the census project away from the
Archives.
On the other hand it is not the end of the world because he has taken that
action.
There are many problems that we have with this project. One of them is that
we do not always
put together a good table of contents or directory of what we have put online.
We get upset when others do a better job linking to our work and find ways
as passing it off as their own.
I does not matter to me a hold lot if Ron Eason gets volunteers to transcribe
census, cemetery and or whatever records
he wants to copy. What does matter is we should all unite long enough to put
together a collection of point and clicks so we can show the world that we
are the place people can look to for the sharing of genealogical data.
If we cannot do this we might need to change the name to the Non-United
States GenWeb Project.
Sincerely,
David C. Young
PO Box 152
Danville, Maine
--
Zsedeny Genealogy -
http://www.rootsweb.com/~jzed/home.htm
NDGenWeb Archives -
http://www.rootsweb.com/~usgenweb/nd/ndfiles.htm
Pembina County, ND -
http://www.rootsweb.com/~ndpembin/pembina.htm
Ramsey County, ND -
http://www.rootsweb.com/~ndramsey/ramsey.htm