João,
Well said, and well ended.
Tish

On Mon, May 19, 2014 at 1:10 AM, João Ventura <j...@venturas.org> wrote:

> Wow,
>
> This is the classical definition of a flame war.. Usually no one wins, and
> everyone loses. So I'd invite everyone to step back, count to 10, and
> really decide if they want to kindle this fire.
>
> I've only good things to say about Cheri, and this list really works, so I
> can only praise what steps she felt she needed to take over the years.
>
> From Doug, I've had a few private conversations, but as my family doesn't
> have many ancestors in Pico or Terceira, frankly it never bothered me, that
> he doesn't share back. I do know that Doug will at some point try to sell
> his book on Pico and Terceira, so I understand why he doesn't want to do
> it. Personally, I do not believe in walled gardens: information is out
> there, and should be shared back in the same spirit it was shared by the
> CCA and the LDS church. What I don't understand is the hostility towards
> his gift. Maybe it's a Trojan horse, but maybe it isn't. Knowing that he
> just recently announced it, I'm sure no one can say yet.
>
> Now for the disclaimer. I'm also a lurker. I'll pipe in from time to time
> on subjects related to the Flores island. Usually I'll recommend that
> people buy an ebook on those posts. It's not my book. Why do I care? I've
> got two personal reasons: 1) It was me that encouraged the author to
> publish that as an ebook; and 2) I'm very interested that he continues to
> publish other books as ebooks - because my research will improve if he
> does. In my defense, I do have to say that whoever does research in those
> islands NEEDS to have that book. It's simply stupid to search for marriages
> in the parish books, when you have a perfectly good index to 99% of all
> marriages in those islands since 1675 to 1910. (Yes, there are flaws, which
> book doesn't?). However, when it's relevant, I'll post the links to the
> roots of my family Flores ancestors, where all my research is public. I
> also have a website that I'll promote here from time to time (and always in
> my sig), in which I do have a financial interest. I can tell you it's
> mostly to have it pay for itself, and again you'll never pay for anything
> in tombo.pt, as I only give back in another (hopefully better) package
> what the LDS church, the CCA and the other 20+ archives in Portugal have
> given us for free. In that spirit when my site detects something new, I'll
> come here and announce with a link to my site and to the CCA, unless
> someone has announced it before.
>
> João Ventura
> http://tombo.pt/en
>
> On Sunday, 18 May 2014 06:14:57 UTC+2, Doug da Rocha Holmes wrote:
>
>> Cheri,
>>
>> Since you wrote this to the entire list, I'll respond in the same way.
>>
>> Of all the people I recently met after my posting about Pico and Terceira
>> ancestors, I will let them speak up if they want. There is not one single
>> one of them that has a single thing to object to. Since I won't violate
>> their privacy, I'll encourage them to either write and respond on this list
>> or to you privately. That will be all the speaking I need to do on my
>> behalf.
>>
>> As to DNA fund raising, there is probably no one better qualified to do
>> the research for Pico and Terceira than myself. It's because of how I
>> approach the subject. Unlike all the published genealogists who pick
>> particular lines that interest them, which tend to be the wealthiest or
>> most famous, I try and do include everyone. Even slaves, expostos, etc,
>> into my database and for this reason it's the most complete in the world.
>> So taking a person's line from the most recent to the most distant is often
>> just a few minutes, because I might have done the research years ago. And
>> so using this to my advantage, I can selectively find ancestral lines from
>> end of the line to present day with the end goal of getting a person to do
>> the test, at the same time furthering my knowledge of these people from
>> Pico and Terceira that I have devoted myself to for over two decades so far.
>>
>> Frankly, I am probably your biggest promoter of DNA testing and it's
>> really amazing you find something to gripe about. But I suppose when you
>> had a bad day recently and acted like a school master telling a child to do
>> this or that and I didn't play your game, that was the last thing you said
>> to me until now.
>>
>> By the way, most of those who wrote me said they didn't have much to
>> contribute, but enjoy what I write about. One said they didn't know why but
>> you filtered their message and prevented their question from being asked.
>> So I'm am helping that person myself.
>>
>> It would not surprise me if after this message hits the list (IF you let
>> it hit the list) that you unsubscribe me. I already started participating
>> less because of your attitude. But it's your list that you started when the
>> old Rootsweb Azores List was taken over by some guy that started to act
>> similarly to what you are now doing. So it would not surprise me if this
>> marks the beginning of the decline here.
>>
>> But I think the decent folks on the list don't want to witness what you
>> are trying to create with me.
>>
>> As for me, I won't comment again about this, even if you insist.
>>
>> Doug da Rocha Holmes
>> Sacramento, California
>> Pico & Terceira Genealogist
>> 916-550-1618
>> www.dholmes.com
>>
>>
>>  -------- Original Message --------
>> Subject: [AZORES-Genealogy] List membership, posts, researchers for
>> hire, DNA fundraising
>> From: Cheri Mello <gfsc...@gmail.com>
>> Date: Sat, May 17, 2014 8:22 pm
>> To: Azores Genealogy <azo...@googlegroups.com>
>>
>> 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
>>
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-- 
sfig
Researching
Island: Santa Maria
Freguesia: Santa Barbara

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