AZPINAL-L Archives

From: "barbawhittaker" <>
Subject: [AZPinal] Fw: [FHSA] The word must go Out!
Date: Sat, 3 Aug 2002 16:53:12 -0700

I agree with Wilola and have sent a message to NGS, Kurt Witcher, Cyndi
Howell & to the St. Louis Genealogical Society, and plan to send more out.
You may read what I sent below.

Barbara Whittaker
Former Volunteer Chair
for GENTECH 2003


----- Original Message -----
From: "Wilola Follett" <>
To: <>
Sent: Saturday, August 03, 2002 12:18 PM
Subject: [FHSA] The word must go Out!


> After the shock we have had in the past few days, it is time to get the
> word out. The AgCig officers can't say or do too much other than what
> they have done - the letter of response.
>
> We need to make contact with every genealogist/historian,
> society/association that we belong to and then, some we don't belong to.
> This needs to be done locally, nationally and even world wide. If this
> can happen to us, it can happen to anyone, anywhere. NGS has set a
> behavioral pattern that is distasteful and unacceptable to say the
> least.
>
> Some of you have already started and it is hoped that each will make at
> least fifteen or twenty contacts. By snail mail, phone calls, e mail or
> personally. I noticed there is a list of e mail address put out on this
> message board already. We can include the two official letters or give
> the web sites where they can be found. I noticed that Ancestry 's
> message board today had an article about the merger and has the letter
> from NGS for the world to read. Our response needs to be known!
>
> Mine has begun. I have contacted friends, etc., in AL, OK, UT and in
> Northern AZ . Just a few minutes ago I sent a letter to the NGS Board
> and the past GenTech Board. Two were returned - Tim Doyle,
>
> and Leslie Collier,
>
> No one is going to help us - we have to stand up and help ourselves!
> So, let's DO IT!
>
> Wilola
To Interested Genealogists in Southeast AZ:

Everyone should know what has happened in regards to GenTech2003. The
conference which was to be held in Phoenix, has been canceled for no
earthly decent reason. If you cancel something, fine, but don't rub
lies and deceit into the cancellation. NGS has blacked our good names
which in turn puts a black mark on Arizona's genealogical community..

We need to fight back! We are honest people, We do have integrity. We
do want genealogy research to press on. We do want to help others. We do
volunteer to help preserve our records/heritage. We do work hard and put
in long hours. We do care ó we care about others and we care about the
good name of our State.

Some of you may have read or heard about the GenTech cancellation. If
not, here is the official letter of cancellation and the GENTECH2003
National Conference Chairs response.


GENTECH 2003 Cancelled
July 31, 2002

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:
Curt Witcher, President
National Genealogical Society



The GENTECH Division of the National Genealogical Society regrets to
announce the cancellation of GENTECH2003, the conference for genealogy
and technology scheduled to be held January 16-18, 2003 in Phoenix,
Arizona. The National Genealogical Society's GENTECH2003 conference
liaisons, Executive Committee, and Board of Directors have affirmed and
fully support this action.

While extremely regrettable, this action was deemed necessary based on
administrative, financial, and logistical complications that were in
evidence when NGS became responsible for the conference and that would
have imperiled the success of this event. Of the unanticipated problems
in the planning and preparation that have arisen, the most disturbing
are an extreme lack of standard financial controls and contracts that
over-commit the conference. With the conference already over budget and
behind schedule, there is not sufficient time remaining to resolve
these serious problems. Making the decision to cancel the conference
was a difficult one based on a dedication to carry out our duties to the

NGS and GENTECH constituencies, as well as the genealogical community at
large. NGS and GENTECH want to thank all of the volunteers for their
efforts. We know they were numerous and substantial. We will all miss
the opportunity to join our fellow genealogists in sunny Phoenix this
winter. However, the primary focus for the NGS GENTECH Division is to
put on the best conference we can within the budgetary constraints of
the current financial environment in which we all live. We would expect
the same from any other educational conference for genealogy.

We look forward to seeing all of you at the upcoming GENTECH
events.Please watch the NGS web site www.NGSGenealogy.org> for more
details about the new NGS GENTECH Division as we are committed to seeing

that the discipline of family history meets the power of new technology.

Curt B. Witcher
President, National Genealogical Society




NGS - GENTECH2003 - From Phoenix
July 31, 2002

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:
Jeannie Rogers and Rusty Perry,
Former GENTECH2003 National Conference Chairs

---------------------------

It is deep regret that we must inform you that NGS President Curt
Witcher has canceled the GENTECH2003 conference immediately after the
NGS-GENTECH merger was final.

After nearly a week of waiting for a response, we have finally heard
from NGS in response to the information we sent them that they
requested. We were waiting to hear about the change in registration
price (and reduce the cost to attendees, by striving to increase our
attendance, and keeping in the black), as the current price is 33% more
than what other conference's charge, and nearly double what NGS normally
charges for its national conference. Because we had not heard from NGS
this past week, we have lost our window of opportunity to have the
brochures printed for the FGS conference, and placing ads in national
genealogical magazines. This was crucial to our publicity for
attendance, as we had hoped to draw a number of people from our sister
state, California.

We also received a call yesterday, from the conference hotel stating
that Bob Anderson had contacted them over a week ago, and that they had
finally made contact with him. He wanted a copy of the signed hotel
contract because the one that we had given him in Milwaukee was not
signed. The hotel stated that Bob had told them that NGS had merged
with GENTECH and that he was an "independent contractor" hired by the
president of NGS to take over the conference. That all information and
correspondence was to go through him - and that AGCIG was no longer
involved. Since there was nothing official from NGS confirming that
they had hired an independent contractor, we were contacted and of
course, we told the hotel they could fax the contract, but imagine our
surprise that AGCIG was no longer involved! (How much does a hired
independent contractor cost?)

A response was finally sent to us this morning, July 31st, from NGS,
Curt Witcher, President National Genealogical Society that boiled down
to the last paragraph:

"Many individuals have spent enormous amounts of time trying to find
common ground in an effort to make the GENTECH03 Conference work.
However, we find ourselves at an impasse. Therefore, with the full
support of the National Genealogical Society Executive Committee, the
NGS Board of Directors, and the NGS GENTECH03 liaisons, I am canceling
the GENTECH03 Conference. We are reviewing the recently submitted
expenses and will reimburse those that are adequately documented. No
further expenditure is authorized. I recognize that many volunteers
have given much to this endeavor-and deeply regret the outcome wasn't
much more positive."

Of course, there are always two sides to every story, and obviously,
both sides think they are in the right. The thing that bothers us the
most is that in Mr. Witcher's e-mail, he implied that GENTECH2003
volunteers were incompetent, behind schedule, over budget, and were not
doing our jobs, directly affecting the bottom line, therefore NGS could
not in good conscience go forward. We do not see evidence that the
GENTECH Board of Directors (aka the GENTECH Advisory committee) were
included or consulted in the NGS decision, which is contrary to the
merger agreement. We therefore, cannot in good conscience, let these
accusations go unanswered -- i.e.:

1. "...budget you submitted which remains an incomplete document and
projects a record number of paid attendees
with minimal publicity initiatives" and "... the most
disturbing are an extreme lack of standard financial
controls ..." .

Our reply: We asked NGS for money to advertise in national magazines,
and it was under review. We asked them for money for the ezine service,
it was under review. We have been waiting for tri-fold brochures, and
posters that have been sitting at the printers for weeks waiting for
payment. As stated earlier, we are waiting for the go ahead for the
printing of the registration brochures, which was ready on July 22 as
scheduled. We suggested advertising in local newspapers throughout
Arizona, and were told that it was not effective. The referenced budget
was 20 pages of detailed items, and projected costs - and it was in the
black. It was submitted and approved, by the GENTECH Board of Directors
back in January of 2001 in Dallas; a revised version was submitted and
approved again January 2002 in Boston. GENTECH's treasurer did not
question any items or ask for clarification on any items until a year
and a half later when he became candidate for NGS Treasurer and the
interim treasurer of the NGS-GENTECH advisory committee.

2. Another point was that the conference "hotel room block was too
high" and "...contracts that over-commit the conference".

Our reply: At the time that we negotiated the contract, (pre 9-11); we
were told we could expect 800-1000 attendees based on previous GENTECH
conferences. Going on the assumption that 70% of attendees would be from
the local area, we blocked 100 rooms for the first night, 350 for the
second (Friday) and 100 for the third night, Saturday. Thirty of those
rooms would be for speakers for each night. Our contract commitment was
to fill 80% of the rooms in the block and we negotiated a "no
cancellation clause" which is unheard of in the industry. We guess that
is a judgment call.

3. Finally, the GT03 logo merchandise was an issue, because NGS had
not authorized it.

Our reply: This was a documented agreement between AGCIG and GENTECH
in June 2002 and approved by both AGCIG and the GENTECH Board, prior to
the merger with NGS.

4. Were we behind schedule - NO.

5. Were we over budget - NO.

Who is right? Probably both sides. We could have been more co-operative
and responsive to the email demands for information, and they could have
been less demanding at a time when we were trying to get all the program
schedule, speaker contracts, registration brochure layout and content,
menu's selected, finding local societies to host the 4 luncheons,
revamping the website to reflect all these changes, and meeting with
different subcommittees at least three times a week, making sure that it
was all wrapped up in time to print the registration brochure for FGS.
We could take the defensive posture that we were following the
guidelines outlined in the GENTECH conference manual. They could take
the defensive posture that they were only looking out for NGS, we could
have agreed to sign a new contract with NGS, and they could have not
withheld funding and stalled the project, but in truth, both sides lost.

The most heartbreaking aspect is that we now have to scrap more than 2
years of hard work and planning, the man-hours that all the volunteers
have put into this project is astounding. We would say that looking on
the bright side, the one good thing that has come out of this conference
planning is that Arizona Genealogists - Statewide - formed a coalition,
rolled up their sleeves, and worked together. We have all made new
friends and found out about organizations, and made the Arizona
genealogical community the better for it.

The decision to reveal the facts of the GENTECH2003 conference conflict
with NGS was a difficult one, but based on our dedication to carry out
our duties to the AGCIG and GENTECH constituencies, as well as the AZ
genealogical community at large... We will not let our volunteers work
be smeared and categorized as mediocre, over budget and behind schedule.
When NGS regional conference was here in Arizona 3 years ago, it was in
our opinion a disaster. When we committed to the GENTECH Board of
Directors, to do GENTECH2003, we were adamant that we would need control
to make decisions quickly, to make this conference a success. Shame on
us, we believed NGS in the merger talks, when they said it would not
happen again, and we were asked to trust the newly revised focus on
"this is your society" NGS philosophy. The moment the merger was filed
and complete, they canceled the conference; it makes one wonder with all
their stalling tactics if they ever intended to go forward with the
conference in the first place.

Arizona genealogists know the truth about GENTECH2003, they were always
kept informed about everything by email, committee work, and meetings,
and they knew their target dates, budget and were always on target.
There is no doubt in their eyes of what has taken place at their
expense.

Jeannie and Rusty
FORMER GENTECH2003 National Conference Chairs
www.agcig.org/gt03

???????????????????????????

I would think that genealogy is above politics and all the lies that go
with it, but evidently not. Please spread the word to all your contacts
throughout the country about this injustice. We need to keep our
Arizona good name clean and above reproach.

Personally, I know the chair persons and a very great majority of the
volunteers. They are honest, ethical and have more integrity that most
people around.

Wilola Follett
FHSA, AzGAB, Cochise Genealogical Society, State Archives/Research
Library Voluneer, Former GenTech2003 volunteer.

Here is a list of the members of the new NGS GENTECH Advisory
Committee.

> Bob Anderson,
> Earl Beaty,
> Pierre Cloutier,
> Sandy Clunies,
> Cyndi Howells,
> Liz Kerstens,
> Steve Kyner,
> Joan Kirchman Mitchell,
> Bill Mumford,
> Jim Slade,
> Bob Velke,
> John Wilbanks,
> John V. Wylie,
To: "Cyndi Howells" <>; "'Witcher, Curt'"
<>
Cc: <>; <>
Sent: Wednesday, July 31, 2002 9:13 PM
Subject: Re: GENTECH 2004 in St. Louis, Missouri


> Dear NGS, Mr. Witcher & Ms. Howells,
>
> I am writing to let you know just how very disappointed I am in you, and
> your organization for your conduct this last week, and your decision today
> to cancel GENTECH 2003 in Phoenix. My job for the last seven months has
been
> to recruit volunteers to help in the many aspects of putting on a
conference
> of this magnitude. We had signed up 50 volunteers so far, and that did not
> include all the committee chairs. Understandably these hard working
> volunteers are now very upset with you and NGS for your betrayal and the
> lack of honor in ignoring an agreement made with GENTECH before your
merger
> occurred. The hours that all of us have spent working to make this a
> fantastic conference, and you choose to dismiss all our efforts like
> yesterday's dish water with lame unfounded excuses. I would like to warn
the
> St. Louis Genealogical Society about your unethical practices, and tell
them
> to watch their backs. Speaking on my behalf, it will be a cold day in
> Arizona before I participate in any activity related to NGS.
>
> Barbara Whittaker
> GENTECH 2003 Volunteer Chair

To: NGS, Curt Witcher, Bob Anderson, Steve Kyner, and Cindy Howells

I, like so many of my fellow volunteers on GENTECH2003, was shocked,
dismayed, and disappointed that you and your group elected to cancel the
GENTECH2003 conference. Although I was privy to much of what went on between
AGCIG
and NGS, I will not regurgitate it here. What disturbs me most is the lack
of
professionalism on your part in finding common ground so that the conference
could take
place, and even more disturbing, the slanderous press releases to the
genealogical community on the heels of a recent defunct conference.

What benefit did you hope to receive by slinging mud at a group whose only
concern was to put on one of the best and most successful GENTECH
conferences ever? (In my opinion, the GENTECH2003 program had
outstanding topics and speakers.) Wouldn't it have been enough to say, "We
have decided to cancel the conference"? Did you have to go out of your way
to smear the reputations of honest, hard-working volunteers with half-truths
and lies?

I have never seen two people work any harder on a volunteer project than
Jeannie Rogers and Rusty Perry, GENTECH2003 Co-Chairs. They are honest and
moral women and their integrity is
impeccable. To smear them, AGCIG, and all the volunteers in public is
unconscionable. What kind
of people are you that would do such a thing, certainly no one with whom I
would ever want to associate.

Canceling this conference not only impacts AGCIG and the thousands of hours
that Jeannie and Rusty and all the many volunteers put in, but what about
all the
speakers who have put countless hours into preparing their presentations? Do
you have any idea
the impact your decision has on future genealogy conferences? Since your
press release, people are already on the genealogy listserves writing and
e-mailing how worried
they are about signing up for any future genealogy conferences.

I have lost respect for you and the NGS organization, and it will be a long
time
before I ever have anything to do with NGS again.

Stephanie Thalman
Former GENTECH2003 Publication Chair

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