The May Meeting of the Advisory Board of The USGenWeb Project was called to order by National Coordinator Isaiah Harrison.

(5/22/04) By general consent, the minutes of the April 2004 meeting of the Advisory Board were approved as written.

(5-15-04) Roger Swafford, chair of the Bylaws Revision Committee (BRC) moved by way of Isaiah Harrison that

this report be filed and the Bylaws Revision posted at http://home.mchsi.com/~sagitta56/bylaws_revision.htm
be posted to the national website for presentation to the membership for vote during the upcoming election cycle. A 2/3 majority of those voting on the Revision is required to adopt.

The AB can approve the motion as written (adopt it) or can amend the motion as follows:
- to file or postpone indefinitely ( in effect, kills the revision)
- to postpone to a specific time ( * would require future AB action to post for vote by referendum)
- to file and post with exceptions (strike out sections or articles of the revision)
- to refer back to committee for further work

The motion was numbered 04-13.

(5-17-04) Richard Howland moved to table Motion 4-13. In presenting the motion Chair Isaiah Harrison indicated that a 2/3 majority would be required to approve the tabling.

The motion failed with 9 "yes" votes, 6 "no" votes, no abstentions, and no members not voting.

Those voting YES: Cyndie Enfinger, Pam Reid, Richard Howland, Teri Brown, Christine Goff, Denise Woodside, Larry Flesher, Phyllis Rippee, and Bettie Wood.

Those voting NO: Shari Handley, Jan Cortez, Don Kelly, Darilee Bednar, Gail Meyer Kilgore, and Linda Blum-Barton.

Those abstaining:

Those not voting:

(5-21-04) Richard Howland moved to amend Motion 4-13 to read:

The proposed revisions be returned to committee with request that they be reworked in such a way that they can be presented to states for sponsorship as soon as possible. In hopes of a special election, but no less than 60 days before 2005 election cycle, in accordance with USGenWeb bylaws amendments. This to include the ability of the USGenWeb members to approve amendments that are important to USGenWeb Project, and disapprove amendments that are not.

(5-22-04) Don Kelly requested the motion be divided into four separate motions as follows:

1. That the proposed revisions be returned to committee. (Motion 4-13A)
2. That the proposed revisions be returned to committee and be reworked in such a way that they can be presented to states for sponsorship. (Motion 4-13B)
3. That the proposed revisions be returned to committee and work on the revision be completed as soon as possible by special election, but no less than 60 days before 2005 election cycle (Motion 4-13C)
4. That the proposed revisions be returned to committee and further work provide ability of the USGenWeb members to approve amendments that are important to USGenWeb Project, and disapprove amendments that are not. (Motion 4-13D)

Additional Comments:

None.

(5-24-04) Chair Isaiah Harrison asked for a vote on Motion 4-13A:

That the proposed revisions be returned to committee.

The motion passed with 12 "yes" votes, 0 "no" votes, no abstentions, and no members not voting.

Those voting YES: Cyndie Enfinger, Shari Handley, Teri Brown, Jan Cortez, Don Kelly, Gail Meyer Kilgore, Christine Goff, Denise Woodside, Linda Blum-Barton, Larry Flesher, Phyllis Rippee, and Bettie Wood.

Those voting NO: none

Those abstaining: none

Those not voting: Pam Reid, Richard Howland, and Darilee Bednar.

Additional Comments:

None.

(5-29-04) Representative at Large Shari Handley moved

- that all Georgia County Coordinators and Assistant County Coordinators who have been dismissed in the past 6 months be immediately reinstated to their previous positions as CC, ACC or RC in GAGenWeb without prejudice, and with no loss of seniority.

- that Tim Stowell be immediately suspended (removed temporarily) from membership in The USGenWeb Project for a period of 60 days or until the results of a removal hearing are known.

- that immediate steps be taken to hold elections for State Coordinator in Georgia as soon as such elections can be arranged with the EC.

- that immediate steps be taken to hold elections for State Coordinator in North Dakota as soon as such elections can be arranged with the EC.

- that Richard Pettys be immediately suspended (removed temporarily) from membership in The USGenWeb Project for a period of 60 days or until the results of a removal hearing are known.

- that Brenda Pierce be immediately suspended (removed temporarily) from membership in The USGenWeb Project for a period of 60 days or until the results of a removal hearing are known.

The removal hearing(s) shall be conducted by the Advisory Board.

Since the election nominations period is scheduled to begin June 1st, and the outcome of this motion will have an impact on the ability of those named to run for USGenWeb office, the following provision is included in this motion: In the event that the results of this motion are not known by 11:59 p.m. May 31, 2004, The USGenWeb Elections Committee is directed to place a "hold" on any nomination received for any of the persons named in this motion, pending the results of the motion. If the motion passes, those named will be considered to have been suspended from membership as of the date this motion was made. If the motion fails, any such nomination may proceed normally.

The motion was numbered 04-14. Discussion ensued.

(5-31-04) The motion passed with 10 "yes" votes, 1 "no" vote, no abstentions, and 3 members not voting.

Those voting YES: Cyndie Enfinger, Shari Handley, Teri Brown, Don Kelly, Gail Meyer Kilgore, Denise Woodside, Linda Blum-Barton, Larry Flesher, Phyllis Rippee, and Bettie Wood

Those voting NO: Richard Howland

Those abstaining: none

Those not voting: Pam Reid, Jan Cortez, and Darilee Bednar

Additional Comments:

None.

 

Other Business - Final Report of Bylaws Revision Committee

Date: 14 May 2004
To: NC, USGenWeb Project Advisory Board
From : Bylaws Revision Committee
Subject: Committee Final Report.

The Bylaws Revision Committee was established March 10, 2002 by then National Coordinator Holly Timm. Instructions were to study the USGenWeb bylaws to determine which articles or sections needed revision and to: 1) delete unnecessary sections, 2) clarify or strengthen sections, 3) add new articles as deemed necessary. In addition, the committee was prohibited from making major changes in the project structure, such as deciding which of the census project is to be officially recognized or eliminating the archives.

The committee initially considered changes by the consensus building process. Committee members with strongly held convictions regarding their views soon revealed the weakness of the process best described by the following - "To me, consensus seems to be the process of abandoning all beliefs, principles, values and policies. So it is something in which no one believes and to which no one objects. - Margaret Thatcher" The committee began the use preferential voting in a process of selecting from individual proposals resulting in a revision proposal supported by a majority of committee members. Great care was taken during committee proceedings to assure that revisions will promote fairness and equitable treatment for all USGenWeb members. The revision is our best effort to provide for stability and enable growth of the project in future years.

Many USGenWeb members have given of their valuable time and provided their own unique insight to the revision process. To all those who served, a sincere thank you! Phyllis Rippee, Marion McCreadie, Jimmy Epperson, Jeff Scism, Roger Swafford, Kelley Blizzard, Charles Barnum, Dennis Muncrief, Ginger Hayes, Carol Carwile-Head, Elva Morgan, Shari Handley, Noel Matthews, Don Kelly, Gloria B. Mayfield, Derek Hartshorn, Kimberly Taylor Morgan, Bettie Wood, Wyndell Taylor, Angie Rayfield, Ellen Rohr, Ron Henson, Derek Nichols, Denise Wells.

The BRC moves this report be filed and the Bylaws Revision posted at http://home.mchsi.com/~sagitta56/bylaws_revision.htm be posted to the national website for presentation to the membership for vote during the upcoming election cycle. A 2/3 majority of those voting on the Revision is required to adopt.

Note - appropriate "htm" files to be sent to the NC/Webmaster for posting on approval of the motion.

Approval - Signatories
Roger Swafford - Chairman
Don Kelly
Shari Handley
Bettie Wood
Denise Wells
Gloria B. Mayfield
Dennis Muncrief

Opposed - Signatories
Derek Nichols

Absentees -
Ron Henson
Marion McCreadie

(5-27-04)Earlier this month I posted an informal announcement to the Discuss list that the Advisory Board had been involved with negotiations with Tim Stowell regarding the return of control of two of the project's domains. (I intended to quite the message here , but the RootsWeb list archives are currently down.) Although Mr. Stowell and I had not directly communicated in these negotiations, he replied asking for additional time to fulfill what he had obligated himself to. That extension was granted, but on May 19, 2004, I sent him the following message:

Date: Wed, 19 May 2004 00:26:03 -0700
To: Tim Stowell <tstowell@chattanooga.net>
From: Isaiah Harrison <IsaiahH@cox.net>
Subject: Failure of Negotiations
Cc: Board Exec <Board-Exec-L@rootsweb.com>, "Vickery, Tina" <tsvickery@adelphia.net>

Tim-

Enough time has gone by without tangible results that I can no longer support the agreement that the Advisory Board attempted to conclude with you regarding the return of control of the Project's domains. Individual AB members are certainly welcome to promote some new arrangement and attempt to gather support for it, if they choose.

For a while, when the negotiations led by Phyllis did not come to a positive conclusion, I believed they could be resurrected. I was wrong.

I regret it wasn't possible to resolve the issue through these negotiations. I and the Advisory Board hold that the domains USGenWeb.net and USGenWeb.org are the property of The USGenWeb Project and that it is your responsibility to transfer control of those domains to the person designated by the Board--Isaiah Harrison, National Coordinator.

-Isaiah

Isaiah Harrison
National Coordinator
The USGenWeb Project

This afternoon, the USGenWeb.net domain was turned over to me. I have changed the administrative and billing contacts and password, and feel this domain is under complete control of the project.

In the meantime, AB member Richard Howland negotiated with Tim Stowell and is now in control of the USGenWeb.org domain. Unfortunately, Mr. Howland neglected to keep me or the AB informed of the fact of or the nature of his negotiations. What it boils down to is that Richard Howland is now in the position that Tim Stowell was in; he is holding USGenweb property that has been designated by the Advisory Board to be held by the National Coordinator. Additionally, he is preventing the lifting of the MNGS designation imposed on Tim Stowell for not delivering the domains to the project.

It is my hope that Mr. Howland will soon realize that it is not in his interest or in Mr. Stowell's interest or in the interest of the project to stand in the way of the USGenWeb.org domain to be delivered to the project as the AB has designated.

-Isaiah

Isaiah Harrison
National Coordinator
The USGenWeb Project

(5-28-04) National Coordinator Isaiah Harrison posted the following correspondence from SEMA SC Representative Christine Goff:

After much deliberation I have come to decision. I hear by resign from my position as SEMA SC

This decision did not come easy. I need to devote more time the projects I work with. They are just as important as helping to protect those volunteers that are part of them.

I am glad I could help in acquiring the .net domain for you.

I hope that the AB will become an acting unit, full of integrity and honesty. To help restore total faith of all who are part of the USGenWeb project.

I hope I may have helped a little in making this possible. It has been a pleasure and an experience that I can only pray has made me a better and wiser person.

Christine

We cannot be less than honest, we cannot be less than true, we cannot be less than virtuous if we are to keep sacred the trust given us.

Gordon B. Hinckley, May 1976

Before removing Christine from the Board-L list, I want to take this opportunity to thank her for her contribution to the project and wish her well in her future endeavors.
-Isaiah

I too am appreciative of the efforts that Christine has made for the good of the USGenWeb Project. It was nice working with you Christine.
Respectfully
Darilee

Christine,
Thank you for your efforts on the projects behalf regarding the domains and your willingness to serve on the Advisory Board. I hope you enjoy being able to delve back into your New Jersey project.
Linda Blum-Barton

Same here. Christine did good work for which we are all thankful. I very much regret this resignation. Don

---

Additional Comments:

Due to the resignation of Christine Goff, the SEMA State Coordinator Representative seat is vacant and it is the responsibility of the Advisory Board to appoint a replacement to serve until August 31, 2004.

If you are interested in serving or in nominating someone else to serve, please contact the National Coordinator. (IsaiahH@cox.net)

QUALIFICATIONS:
Nominees for National Coordinator shall have the following qualifications: at least one year (the twelve months immediately preceding an election) of continuous service and current activity as a member in good standing, and eligibility to vote within The USGenWeb Project.

Qualifications of nominees for State Coordinator Representative, Local Coordinator Representative, and Special Project Representative are the same with the addition that their service shall have been as a State Coordinator, Local Coordinator, or one of the various positions associated with the Special Projects, respectively.

"In good standing" is demonstrated by responding promptly to email, actively supporting researchers' efforts to find information, maintaining their website with appropriate, up-to-date content, and serving as a good example of the guidelines and standards of The USGenWeb Project.

-Isaiah

Isaiah Harrison
National Coordinator
The USGenWeb Project