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Archiver > GEN-EDITOR > 1997-08 > 0872912846


From: <>
Subject: Re: Subscribers
Date: Fri, 29 Aug 1997 23:47:26 -0400 (EDT)


Libbie,

What a great e-mail. When you mentioned forming a family association.
writing bylaws and constitution, I really saw that.

I started a family association that included the newsletter. Myself and two
other cousins, decided after a family reunion, that this was needed to keep
in touch.

We sent a complimentary newsletter to the people who had been at the reunion.
we had about 75 people there which made up about 27 families. We now publish
about 40 newsletters, because word of mouth, has made it grow, as well as
people on the net that got wind of it. They run 6 to 18 pages depending on
time of year and reunion.

I am the genealogist, treasurer, president, corresponding sec. you know the
bit.
my cousin is the publisher and vice-pres. another cousin does scottish
research, reunion committee, this year with my sister., centerpieces, etc.
and another distant cousin 7th that is, writes a column for the newsletter.

Well this year we decided that if we were going to keep this up, we were
going to have to have more help. so Sept. 14th, some of the others are going
to have to take part.and I think they will(wishful thinking) and these three
cousins are really taking the load off me for the reunion.

It is a good question, who does the research belong to. I feel that as long
as I do the research, out of my pocket, it is mine. But I have already
decided with much talk from the others, that my research with all the lines,
will either go to a library to be kept under lock and key, and only available
to the family who are searching these lines. or we will obtain a place to
have a museum of the family items, after I am gone. At 59 you start thinking
about these things. A lot of the research I have done has been on my own
before the group, so that definitely is mine. But of course I want to share.

I am making copies of my FTM for the two cousins, one for each of my children
(6) will be writing a book next year (if I find time), purchased a scanner to
put pictures in my scrapbook, scanning alot of documents. Even on Acid free
paper, how long can they last. I have a original letter 1913, that has
really weathered the storms. Did they have acid free paper for writing paper
in those times? The gentleman wrote in ink and very nice penmanship. the
paper was beige, now it is tan, but the writing is still very clear. I keep
it in a manila envelope, even have the envelope (well the front of it anyway,
with the stamp. I scanned four pages yesterday and they came out really
great. Its unfortunately 18 pages that I have to scan. But oh the genealogy
that it contains.

Another question that you brought up was: Does the association pay me for
the books I purchase, for the research. I have purchased two this year, but
from association funds, but after much talk with my vice-pres. The other
cousins do not have a vote as such, because we started the newsletter as a
partnership with two people.

We are non-profit. We all work at other jobs, and fortunately mine is here
at home, so I can be on the computer as much as I have time for.

I have seen for profit newsletters. I take a few. One I have seen recently
always puts in 36 pages a quarter. They publish a index for all the articles
that are put in that year. Also a section with the name researchers, indexed
as to family group sheets, and then in the back section, names address, etc.
Most of the information that is in that newsletter is donated by researchers
for their own specific families. The lady that writes that newsletter says
there is enough information to keep going for another 5 years. It runs $15.50
per year. She sends it to a printer. She does not have a computer, so its
hunt and peck, and then to the printer who puts it all together and she pays
him $20 per quarter for that. She has 243 subscribers, But she lives in a
small town, so larger towns would be more money. So then I checked into
postage. It costs approx. $1.00 for each newsletter. To get bulk mailing. it
is $170 up front.
that's $85.00 for the first year, and $85.00 for the application. Then its
$85.00 a year.

Just wanted to say, Thanks, you've given me some food for thought.

Pat

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