Hi Steve,
What you say is interesting, but it is not what I'm concerned about.
I'm not saying that the USGenWeb should or should not collect dues -- I'm
saying that there is nothing in the by-laws to distinguish you and me,
for instance, who are active volunteers from all the other many thousands
of genealogists who want and participate in the free collection and
dissemination of information on the Net. This is the first set of
by-laws I've ever seen that define membership by "desire."
I'd also point out that on the Net "free" has customarily referred to
First Amendment freedoms and not to money, and charging for services in
no way disqualifies an organization from non-profit status.
I don't understand your reference to the Dills. The USGenWeb Project
has no by-laws at present and never has had any for anyone to read. I
have read and considered and discussed both the draft by-laws and the
revised proposed by-laws. That's what these elections are about.
Regards,
Joanna
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Joanna M. Ashmun <jmashmun(a)halcyon.com>
<
http://www.halcyon.com/jmashmun/index.html>
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