Dear Cheri, I joined the Azorean Genealogy Group in order to gain a better understanding of my Azorean family and of the Azores as a whole.
I admit, because of my lack of confidence in this subject matter, I don't post regularly. BUT, I consistently read 95% of the posts EVERYDAY to gain an understanding of the subject matter. I am a cheer leader so to speak in the background. I am marveled at all the members commitment and involvement. I am so appreciative to everyone in this group. I can't tell you how many times I tell my family how wonderful this group is and all the intelligent people who contribute. With confidence I submitted my DNA with the Azorean Project because of it's science, goals, foresight, and the strong moral principals of the administrators. I have gained so much joy, achieved a tremendous amount of knowledge, made some miraculous discoveries that has propelled me to meet families I thought never existed both in the US and the Azores. I underscore "Miraculous". I have felt both the Azorean Genealogy Group and Azorean Project (FTDNA), functions in the best interest of genealogical science, follow ethical guidelines, monitors discrepancies to the best of their ability, and promotes an environment that is safe for ALL it's members. I did NOT ( I underscore NOT) join these groups to judged, assumed, counted, hacked, haggled, coerced, duped, stole from, lured by gift giving, made to feel uneasy, or have ONE molecule of doubt about where my genealogical and DNA information would be used for. I underscore "One Molecule". Reading the content of the email that is segmenting people off into island groups by offering gifts in exchange for ?????? What kind of information - DNA information?? So, you want my families names and histories, to be used for what??, by whom??, by YOU??? Where will this information go???? Oh I get it, you want to give me a gift (not that great of a gift to an expert genealogist), in exchange for (I am assuming) my families names, DNA information that will benefit your business model, RIGHT?? Wrong BUDDY!!! If so, your motives are unethical, selfish, self serving, and corrupt. Cheri, I appreciate you addressing this problem and nipping it in the bud. Best regards, grace Searching family names on the island Sao Miguel, Acores- Pacheco Sant'Anna, Pacheco-Moniz, Pacheco da Silva, Pereira, Figueira, da Costa Canario, Carvalho, de Medeiros, de Melo, Vieira, da Silva, de Viveiros, Tavares, Arruda, de Arruda, Futado Teixeira Primary villages on the island of San Miguel, Azores- Furnas, Maia, Lomba da Maia, Porto Formoso, and Nordeste -----Original Message----- From: Cheri Mello <gfsche...@gmail.com> To: Azores Genealogy <Azores@googlegroups.com> Sent: Sat, May 17, 2014 11:23 pm Subject: [AZORES-Genealogy] List membership, posts, researchers for hire, DNA fundraising Doug, I've posted from time to time how many subscribers are on this list. Anyone can find that number by going out to the Web board/Forum board and clicking the "About" link. The only reason I mention it is to make people aware that they are emailing 1200 people, some of whom are still working or have limited time on their hands. The list is active with genealogy posts (sometimes 20 in a day) and I would like the posts to be meaningful for the 1200 subscribers. Reading a single post that says "Thanks!" is imposing on people's time and is not meaningful nor helpful in someone's genealogical search. After teaching kids and teenagers math and then adults DNA and genealogy, I know how it works. Teach something. You get questions from some of the audience (class) at the end. People (even kids) raise their hand and ask questions. The vast majority take the information that was presented and walk away with it. Then there are the few people that come up and ask a question in private. Same thing with this list. The vast majority of people read, take the information, and walk away with it. Some people raise their hand (post) their question for all to see. And a few email privately to ask a question. Since your last post, I've received a number of emails about the underlying intent of that post. You'll give people a gift who email you? Geez, you're sounding like a used car salesman! All of us who have been into this awhile know you do research for hire. It's posted on the Azores GenWeb for all to see along with the list of other researchers for hire. And when someone asks for a researcher for hire, I post that link. So if you are drumming up business, just say so. But to bribe people with a gift....sounds like those time share things where you sit for 3 hours and listen to their spiel for the "gift" at the end. And we all know that many of those things are shady. I'm sure you don't want to be known as the "shady" genealogist! And the DNA offer? Sorry to tell you this, but we've already been doing fundraising. We've raised funds for certain lines that we wanted tested and the money was put into the General Fund at FTDNA. Basically an escrow account. That way, I don't have to handle the money and try to keep track of it. Money can create problems. Just giving money to one person with no backing....I prefer the fiduciary set up that FTDNA has. And it was nice having it there in another project I manage. People contributed money towards a kit and then they decided not to pursue that line. FTDNA knew who donated what and refunded it all back. Seriously, people are going to send you money and for all we know, you're using it to buy something you've been eyeballing! Cheri Mello Listowner, Azores-Gen Researching: Vila Franca, Ponta Garca, Ribeira Quente, Ribeira das Tainhas, Achada -- For options, such as changing to List, Digest, Abridged, or No Mail (vacation) mode, log into your Google account and visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/Azores. Click in the blue area on the right that says "Join this group" and it will take you to "Edit my membership." --- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Azores Genealogy" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to azores+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. Visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/azores. -- For options, such as changing to List, Digest, Abridged, or No Mail (vacation) mode, log into your Google account and visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/Azores. Click in the blue area on the right that says "Join this group" and it will take you to "Edit my membership." --- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Azores Genealogy" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to azores+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. Visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/azores.
