USGenWeb-NE-L Archives

Archiver > USGenWeb-NE > 1999-01 > 0917239543


From: "Beth Wills" <>
Subject: [USGenWeb-NE-L] Fw: [BOARD-L] Standards and Ethics Statement Withdrawn
Date: Sun, 24 Jan 1999 23:45:43 -0500


-----Original Message-----
From: Yvonne James-Henderson <>
To: <>
Date: Sunday, January 24, 1999 10:46 PM
Subject: [BOARD-L] Standards and Ethics Statement Withdrawn

>I am so amazed at the scenarios that people have attached to the Advisory
Board.
>It would be laughable, if it wasn't so pathetic. "How dare the board think
that
>we should play fair, how dare they think that we should be accountable for
our
>actions."
>
>What were they thinking you ask??
>
>Folks, we were voted in by YOU and before that we were and still are cc's,
each
>and every one of us work hard for the USGW project, just like you. Why in
the
>world would you vote for a board and then use us for target practice? Look
at
>the great people the board has lost, Nancy, Bob, Terry, Kathy and many
others,
>why??? Ask them!
>
>We would like to see the "power" that the board has. Every time we hear
that,
>the board members laugh. The funny thing is ... the board is not
"empowered" to
>do anything! But yet we have pot shots taken at us, every word is dissected
>looking for ulterior motives, not to mention we are called every name under
the
>sun.
>
>People go on and on about the Board's "Grievance Procedure" and even send
>Grievances to us. How many have we acted upon? We tell you to go through
the
>process of taking it to your SC. We do not have power to do anything with
these
>grievances. WELL THAT'S THE WAY IT WORKS FOLKS! WE WANT you to take your
>grievances to your SC. The by-laws spell it out.
>
>We asked for your input, so we could better support you!
>We wanted to become a major support system for our SC's and CC's.
>We were not amending any by-laws, just trying to set some simple rules of
>conduct! But of course, you are right, we are ADULTS, we don't need any
rules
>and certainly do not need to be accountable.
>
>We felt we needed to spell out a few Standards and Ethics for our project,
maybe
>"we" can't make them stick, but we wanted to empower the SC's to take
control of
>bad situations in their area, that we needed to empower the SC's, by giving
them
>standard guidelines to work with.
>
>Listowners, do not have to take the garbage that has been going on, on
their
>lists. We wanted to set standards that let them know they don't have to
take
>"crap" and we will support them to the very end. I would think that we
would be
>embarrassed that our server has to take steps, because we can't.
>
>As we have seen from the By-Laws, each item needs to be spelled out, in
exact
>terms, step by step. People open your eyes, the people that are acting out
on
>our lists are not people that want to support the USGenWeb Project. They
are a
>few dissidents stirring trouble within the USGW, do you think they would
let us
>on their lists to cause trouble, no way!
>
>Why don't we all understand that, yes, there can be more than one project,
they
>don't need to bring USGenWeb to it's knees, but they sure have done a good
job
>of it.
>
>We HAVE to untie the hands of our SC's and CC's.
>
>But back to the point at hand.
>
>It has become abundantly clear over the last 48 hours while we were
>receiving the numerous messages from the general membership that
>
>1) Most people do not feel that we need an ethics or standards statement
>2) Most feel that the board is, once again trying one of their
>underhanded, sneaky power hungry maneuvers to take over the project ( or
>something)
>3) The people that don't believe that the project needs a statement like
>this have obviously not been on the receiving end of any of the hateful
>things that have been written or posted.
>4) Many people believe that the "bad children" of the project need to be
>dealt with by the state coordinators.
>5) Most people would like the board to crawl back into their holes and be
>silent until they receive ANOTHER grievance that they have no power to
>deal with because there are no policies.
>6) Many think the whole statement violates their right of free speech
>7) Those that feel this violates their right of free speech has never
>been attacked by e-mail or on a mailing list.
>8) Many spent time correcting spelling errors in the statement, but not
>giving any solid input.
>9) Others sent messages telling us that we need to define "netiquette",
>derogatory and other words.
>10) Many felt that what they put on their website was up to them and if
>it included something that someone else felt was offensive, tough luck.
>11) Many felt that what they did with their private e-mail was up to
>them. Again, this suggestion came from people who have never had their
>messages cut and pasted onto someone's web site or mailing list, or better
>yet, taken totally out of context and placed somewhere.
>12) And lastly, this is a problem that needs to be dealt with on a state
>level, however, most of the state projects do not have any guidelines
>either
>
>All of this said, I wish to let you know, that I am publicly withdrawing
>the motion for a Standards and Ethics Statement. Thank you for your time.
>
>Beth Wills
Ionia County MIGenWeb Coordinator
http://www.rootsweb.com/~miionia
Gladwin County MIGenWeb Coordinator
http://www.rootsweb.com/~migladwi
Saginaw County MIGenWeb Coordinator
http://www.rootsweb.com/~misagina/Saginaw.htm

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