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Archiver > CORNISH > 1998-11 > 0909976139


From: Sandy <>
Subject: Re: Report on CFHS AGM, please!!
Date: Sun, 1 Nov 1998 19:08:59 -0800 (PST)


Kathleen,

I very much appreciate your comments...and judging from the private email
messages I've gotten, it would seem you are NOT alone! What I don't
understand is why the messages are in my box and not on the list!

I see absolutley no reason why a discussion of online services by CFHS
should be any sort of argument. Any discussion on the list of this topic is
more likley to be "preaching to the choir" <grin>. I would imagine the 600+
researchers on this list....who by that very fact are online and
researching Cornwall....would heartily agree to the need for CFHS to be
concerned with everything from online data to online commerce!

The current Genuki pages built by David Holman are a great *start* (as we
all know, I "push" them enough <g>).....but they are *only* a small start!

The entire face of historical and genealogical research has changed...and
while, yes, there are many who are not yet online, there are few, if any,
who are now *beginning* this sort of research without a computer and online
access. It would be rather like thinking you could be a travel agent these
days without the net. There will always be a need and reason to provide
printed versions of data.....but inreasingly this is becoming more of a
"back up" than anything else. The preferred format for publication is
becoming the CD...it is cheaper (by far) to produce, and enables easy
importation of data into computers and databases. This *alone* is
miraculous...particularly given the type of research it enables!! If you
set up the right database and import the data, you can compile all *sorts*
of useful information about who went where and when! ;-)

Historical facts and data are public domain, and while years ago it was
hard as nails to get anyone to transcribe it ... today volunteers are
sprouting up all over the net, with some pretty well-organized volunteer
transcription projects designed to benefit everyone.

I think CFHS is a fine organization, don't get me wrong. And certainly it
began projects back when not many others were interested in undertaking
them. But times change....and along with them change the needs and desires
of researchers. If you're not going to move forward and provide material in
its most convenient and least expensive form....then you can expect to get
left in the dust as someone else steps in and provides what's needed and
wanted. I truly hate to see that happen to CFHS....but if the organization
is not discussing and putting forward proposals regarding online services,
then I see this as having a very negative effect upon the organization's
future.

I guess I just have a hard time imagining anyone would set an agenda for an
AGM of a family history society in THIS day and age and NOT have computer
technology and internet services as A MAJOR item for discussion, and
hopefully have proposals ready as well!!

Just surprises me no end, that's all. Maybe the society is more concerned
with this than I realize...and perhaps there's a logical reason why it as
given no attention at the AGM. I *dearly* hope someone will tell me this.

Sandy

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