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Archiver > STATE-COORD > 2008-03 > 1204772710


From:
Subject: Re: [STATE-COORD] Comments on banner
Date: Thu, 06 Mar 2008 03:05:10 +0000


Just my 2-cents: Though it sounds nice to say "free" genealogy, it just is NOT so. People donate time and money to post information online. It is actually very misleading to continually use the word "free." As related in the e-mail below: "Operating a large Internet site is expensive. Last year, even with volunteer labor, the hardware, bandwidth, and other expenses incurred by RootsWeb exceeded $60,000..." If having a banner on a page will allow volunteers to have "free" web space, is it really so bad?

--Ann
-------------- Original message from "ltlsis2" <>: --------------


> Tina,
>
> The difference is both USGWP and Ancestry are in the business of genealogy.
>
> We offer free records and Ancestry charges for access to their records.
>
> Tripod, AOL and Tripod do charge you to access their sites. They also do
> not have a banner with their name and USGWP on it.
>
> RW was made possible because of the donations from the genealogy community.
>
> We should never allow the project pages to be branded by anyone including
> Ancestry.
>
> 1997
>
> Who Pays for Rootsweb?
>
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
> ----
>
> Operating a large Internet site is expensive. Last year, even with volunteer
> labor, the hardware, bandwidth, and other expenses incurred by RootsWeb
> exceeded $60,000.
>
> Where did those funds come from?
>
> Us. Individual members of the Internet genealogical community. Virtually all
> our funding comes from individual contributions. You can help support
> RootsWeb, too.
>
> While many folks have contributed to RootsWeb, we'd like to publicly
> acknowledge the generosity of the following donors:
>
> Paul Adams
>
> James T. Anderson
>
> Apple Computers
>
> Judi Barrett -- Dedicated to my uncle Leonard Kosoff who died February 13,
> 1998
>
> Edith Lillie Bartley
>
> Tom Bombaci, Jr.
>
> Bill Bottoms -- Dedicated to genealogy of Bottoms & Bottom Families, and to
> continue the work started by Almira Bottoms Butler
>
> Yvonne Oliver Bowers
>
> Barry K. Buchele -- Dedicated to my aunt Mary Watson Ritter who had a love
> for genealogy and got my family interested it through our daughter
>
> Cliff Burk -- In appreciation for the work of our RootsWebMasters
>
> Al Calkins -- In appreciation for your dedication to this invaluable service
>
> Cartroos Consulting, Inc. (Bob Carter)
>
> Given in memory of my Mother Edith Maddux, who was able to meet some of her
> Father's family at a reunion only six months before her passing. Her
> Daughter Patricia Caster
>
> Combs RootsWeb Research Group
> http://web.archive.org/web/19980614093220/http://www.dragonfire.net/~combs/
>
> Kendall Countryman
>
> John James and Sara Frances Hammett Dillard
>
> Dedicated to all the FIVEASHS of--Yesterday--Today--Tomorrow by Clifford S.
> Fiveash
>
> Joseph Fowler, "When free comunication stops,trouble starts."
>
> Gowen Research Foundation, a non-profit heritage society
>
> Becky Gregg
>
> Bruce Hamilton
>
> Ashley B. Hart
>
> Ted Hitt
>
> Karen Isaacson and Brian Leverich
>
> Norma Jennings -- to all those who have contributed so many hours and
> resources to bringing Rootsweb to the masses
>
> KYGenWeb and the Ancestral Trails Historical Society, Inc.
>
> In Memory of Heather Layne Brock McDANIEL
> by an anonymous donor
>
> Ann McWhirter
>
> In Memory of Lt. Cmdr. Vitas E. Mardos U.S.N.
> And
> In Honor of Mary BARTASHUNAS Mardos
> by Pam MARDOS Rietsch
>
> Mark Merritt
>
> In Memory of Frances B. Miller
> by her family -- Penny Miller Romo
>
> Margaret J. Olson
>
> Carole Palmer
>
> William Penny
>
> J.A.G. Picavet, Webmaster of Belgium Genealogy - How to find your Roots in
> Belgium!
>
> Wanda Stanton Pitt, in dedication to my Grandfather John Lloyd Phillips, a
> man of character, integrity and a hearty laugh
>
> Susan Carter White Pieroth -- To my great grandmother Amelia Maria Carter
> Kennedy, whose genealogy research is still appreciated today.
>
> Anne Pyle, dedicated to the unflagging efforts by Brian and Karen to keep
> RootsWeb running smoothly no matter what the circumstances
>
> Kay Rockett
>
> Deloris and Pat Roys
>
> Marlies and Fred Rump
>
> Sylvia Sawyer Sebelist, in memory of my ancestors
>
> Marilyn Hough Stern
>
> Sidney A. Terry -- Donation for the unfailing support of Karen and Dr. Brian
> Leverich of RootsWeb
>
> Jane McCann Walsh, in honor of Edward E. Dunlevy the listserv owner of our
> PAFAYETT list. He has done a incredible job for those of us researching
> Fayette County, PA ancestors.
>
> Robert L. Ward, in memory of Mrs. Sarah H. Ward
>
> Beth Williamson, in memory of Laura Jane Bobo 1843- abt 1880, the mysterious
> great-great grandmother who hooked me on genealogy
>
> And a number donors who wish to remain anonymous
>
> An apology to our other donors: we deeply regret it if we've missed you as
> we built this new page. We'll find you as we review our records, or feel
> free to drop us a note.
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From:
> [mailto:] On Behalf Of Tina S. Vickery
> Sent: Wednesday, March 05, 2008 7:00 PM
> To:
> Subject: Re: [STATE-COORD] Comments on banner
>
> Margie,
>
> The Board has struggled for many months with how to deal
> with this. A mainstay of the USGenWeb Project is that
> State/County and Special Project sites may be hosted on a
> server on one's choice. The USGenWeb Project is very
> unique in that the majority of our sites are hosted on
> Rootsweb.
>
> If I may give *my* opinion, these banners are no different
> than banners Geocities, Tripod, AOL or other hosting
> servers offer up, , but a fact. The fact that
> TGN/RW has worked with us to provide a custom USGenWeb
> Project banner is testament to our long and established
> relationship. The Board and I have, and are continuing to
> explore options for the National Pages, but I must
> reiterate a mainstay of the USGenWeb Project is that
> State/County and Special Project sites may be hosted on a
> server on one's choice.
>
> Tina
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "ltlsis2"
> To:
> Sent: Wednesday, March 05, 2008 7:30 PM
> Subject: Re: [STATE-COORD] Comments on banner
>
>
> > Respectfully,
> >
> > I have to ask Tina and the board why are you allowing this to happen?
> >
> > It is within your power to simply move the site to another host.
> >
> > I think the volunteers of this organization deserve better treatment. We
> > have manned mail lists and message boards all at no cost to RW.
> >
> > Honoring promises for donations is the responsible, ethical and moral
> > thing
> > to do.
> >
> > TGN ethics were brought into question this last year when TGN harvested
> > the
> > entire internet grabbing sites including NAMBLA and placing them behind
> > their Ancestry subscription site.
> > Only after a beating in the public did they remove the content from their
> > site.
> >
> >
> >
> > Margie
> >
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From:
> > [mailto:] On Behalf Of Tina S. Vickery
> > Sent: Wednesday, March 05, 2008 5:09 PM
> > To:
> > Subject: Re: [STATE-COORD] Comments on banner
> >
> > All *.html* USGenWeb Project pages hosted on RW.
> >
> > Tina
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: "W. David Samuelsen"
> > To:
> > Sent: Wednesday, March 05, 2008 5:59 PM
> > Subject: Re: [STATE-COORD] Comments on banner
> >
> >
> >> you mean EVERY page of the USGenWeb Project county sites? Even Archives?
> >>
> >> David Samuelsen
> >>
> >> Tina S. Vickery wrote:
> >>> David,
> >>>
> >>> All USGenWeb Project pages hosted on TGN/RW.
> >>>
> >>> Tina
> >>>
> >>> ----- Original Message -----
> >>> From: "W. David Samuelsen"
> >>> To:
> >>> Sent: Wednesday, March 05, 2008 2:09 PM
> >>> Subject: Re: [STATE-COORD] Announcement: USGenWeb Project sites hosted
> >>> on
> >>> TGN/RW ("RootsWeb")
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>> Tina,
> >>>>
> >>>> Omitting the signature - the Flag and eliminating the 3 dots between
> >>>> Free and Genealogy?
> >>>>
> >>>> Will the banner be restricted to home page only, not on every page on
> >>>> each County site, each Project site?
> >>>>
> >>>> W. David Samuelsen
> >>>>
> >>>> Tina S. Vickery wrote:
> >>>>> Please forward to all USGenWeb Project lists.
> >>>>>
> >>>>> ---
> >>>>>
> >>>>> To All USGenWeb Project members who host sites on TGN/RW ("RootsWeb"):
> >>>>>
> >>>>> TGN/RW ("RootsWeb") has implemented a policy change in
> >>>>> which banners are to be placed on all TGN/RW hosted
> >>>>> websites. The USGenWeb Advisory Board contacted RootsWeb
> >>>>> in regard to their plan to install banners on their
> >>>>> webspace and have negotiated a banner specific to The
> >>>>> USGenWeb Project that will be placed on the national pages
> >>>>> of The USGenWeb Project. While these negotiations were
> >>>>> ongoing, TGN/RW postponed applying the banners to sites of
> >>>>> the USGenWeb Project to work on the concept of USGenWeb
> >>>>> having a custom banner.
> >>>>>
> >>>>> The banner that we have negotiated identifies the USGenWeb
> >>>>> Project as being hosted by RootsWeb and RootsWeb as a
> >>>>> community of The Generation Network.
> >>>>>
> >>>>> The banners are viewable here:
> >>>>>
> >>>>> http://www.usgenweb.com/images/rootswebbanner/default1.jpg [default
> >>>>> one]
> >>>>> http://www.usgenweb.com/images/rootswebbanner/default2.jpg [default
> >>>>> two]
> >>>>> http://www.usgenweb.com/images/rootswebbanner/default3.jpg [default
> >>>>> three]
> >>>>> http://www.usgenweb.com/images/rootswebbanner/custom.jpg [custom to
> >>>>> USGenWeb Project]
> >>>>>
> >>>>> RootsWeb intends to begin the placement of the banners
> >>>>> beginning on or about March 15, 2008. The
> >>>>> generic/freepages banner will be included on the server
> >>>>> side [TGN/RW], and will not require any involvement from
> >>>>> the webmasters. Any USGenWeb Project site that wishes to
> >>>>> have the USGenWeb Project specific banner instead of the
> >>>>> generic/freepages banner will be supplied with code to
> >>>>> insert on their pages in order to cause that banner to
> >>>>> show up when their pages are viewed. The line of code
> >>>>> they will provide us is not a replacement banner. It will
> >>>>> simply include a parameter on the page that the server can
> >>>>> read when rendering the banner that will tell it to render
> >>>>> the customized USGenWeb [Project] banner instead of the
> >>>>> default one.
> >>>>>
> >>>>> The Board has made it very clear to TGN/RW that they
> >>>>> should be the ones to implement the custom banner on
> >>>>> Project pages. TGN/RW understands how editing each
> >>>>> individual page could be a concern for account holders
> >>>>> with a large number of pages. Most solutions they have
> >>>>> looked at for doing this involve significant initial or
> >>>>> ongoing development or operations work, but they are still
> >>>>> brainstorming to try and find a good solution. They will
> >>>>> get back to the Advisory Board this week after they have
> >>>>> been able to investigate further.
> >>>>>
> >>>>> The Advisory Board has strived to maintain a balance of
> >>>>> TGN/RW business needs as our host, while being mindful of
> >>>>> the Project's paramount mission and goal to provide free
> >>>>> genealogical data to our visitors and the USGenWeb Project
> >>>>> community as stated in our bylaws.
> >>>>>
> >>>>> As National Coordinator, I want to thank all involved for
> >>>>> their patience and input as we have worked to achieve this
> >>>>> balance.
> >>>>>
> >>>>> In tandem with this, and perhaps more importantly, the
> >>>>> Advisory Board is discussing a hosting agreement with
> >>>>> TGN/RW. While that hosting agreement is confidential in
> >>>>> nature, due to business concerns of our host, the Board is
> >>>>> working to insure that the work of our many volunteers and
> >>>>> contributors is protected.
> >>>>>
> >>>>> We welcome any of your questions/concerns as we all work
> >>>>> together to finalize this negotiation process.
> >>>>>
> >>>>> Tina Vickery
> >>>>> National Coordinator
> >>>>> USGenWeb Project
> >>>>>
> >>>>> -------------------------------
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> >>>>>
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