Liverpool & South West Lancashire FHS - Forum

All,

I have made a plea to the Committee to reconsider the decision to restrict accessibility to the site in my reply to the post 'Frank Radcliffe 14506 Kings Liverpool Regiment'.

Thank you

Joe,

There's no doubting the information you contribute is invaluable and I'm sure all recipients are very grateful, there are also many on here who contribute invaluable information covering many aspects and most help the best they can.
I fail to see for the sake of equality how anyone can be treated any different than anyone else, what criteria should the forum committee use to distinguish who and who should not join the society. When I joined the forum I knew what was expected and even if I was offered a freebie I would refuse, because I wouldn't want to be treated any different than anyone else.
I would ask you to consider joining the society, hopefully you will.

Bertieone wrote:what criteria should the forum committee use to distinguish who and who should not join the society.

It is not the Forum Committee decision on this matter, but the Society's ruling.

The Forum is funded by the Society.

I entirely echo Bertieone's thoughts on this issue. However, if access is restricted to subscription members only, how is the Society going to continually attract new members? It would be a case of pay the sub and then find out how broad and deep is the spectrum of available knowledge and expertise, and most of all the readiness of so many 'active' members to offer encouragement, support and advice to newcomers just starting out on their own family history trail.

Some people may be tempted to sign up for just one year, avail of all the help they can muster in order to advance their own research, then drop out. The subscription would be a great deal less than paying a professional researcher or signing up to one of the Family History online sites. And they would have contributed nothing to the Society apart from their once-off sub. On the other hand, someone who avails of the help etc, may well be attracted by the general camaraderie evident from off-topic posts among others and decide to join the Society because we are a nice bunch as well as being knowledgeable.

On the practical side there is the method to be used to determine who is a member and who isn't when they attempt to log on to the Forum. Would any member who hasn't paid their sub by say January 31st be automatically 'locked out'? Would a 'red flag' warning email be sent to forgetful delayed-payment members? To be efficient the method would require that all log-in attempts be checked against an active up-to-date database of paid-up members, an area prone to input error despite the best efforts of those involved.

dickiesam wrote: Would a 'red flag' warning email be sent to forgetful delayed-payment members?

This has been undertaken in previous years.

The committee might be asked to consider the different situations of non-members who come for help and those who contribute in a positive manner.
Is there a specific number of posts allowed by non-members?
D

I don't think there is a formal rule laid down, some thinking a number of posts, others thought a length of time. I do believe this will be part of the matter for discussion by the Committee.

As you know at this time of year is when non members and late renewals are reminded and this is when the subject raises it's head.

I think there should be a list or category for helpers who are non-members if there are plans to restrict access to non-members after so many posts. Anyone who helps on a regular basis or every now and then should be allowed access for volunteering on the forum.


Blue

Blue70 wrote: if there are plans to restrict access to non-members after so many posts

These are not future plans, they have always been in force as the forum is funded by the Society for the Society Members.

Blue70 wrote:I think there should be a list or category for helpers who are non-members if there are plans to restrict access to non-members after so many posts. Anyone who helps on a regular basis or every now and then should be allowed access for volunteering on the forum.
Blue

Perhaps a new classification of 'Associate' for those people who have no real interest in genealogy but are, nevertheless, a veritable goldmine of information related to their specific interests. Joe, aka Promenade, is a typical example where his vast knowledge of military history is of immense value to family historians trying to put detail onto the scant knowledge they have of a relative who fought in WW1.

I agree with Dickie Sam that Joe has such a vast experience on the Liverpool Military that his help would be a great loss to the Forum. However Joe may also find that he could ask for information from members on the soldiers he is still researching. I have used his website on numerous occasions whilst doing research and have been able to add a lot of Family History details to the information that he has already done.

For the nominal cost of £10 a year Joe could gain lots of knowledge that he may not find on the normal sites like Anc & FMP.

Maybe someone who is only giving information and answers to queries could be excused membership but will incur a charge when they start to ask for help? Maybe this could provide an answer to the problem.

Eileen

I was going to suggest something similar to Eileen, it seems to go against common sense to limit access to people giving information. I think anyone who has researched anything to do with the King's Liverpool Regiment will have come across Promenade (Joe Devereux) as a source of information either through Joe himself or the database of his research at the museum.

I do realise that the society needs the fees to keep going but personally I didn't want to pay out until I'd seen that the forum was going to be of use, allowing users like Promenade to contribute their considerable resources can only help convince others to join - people with more questions than answers.

What about an honorary membership for Promenade in recognition of the Devereux Database made available to all at no charge??

Amanda

Amanda

I agree that it would be a nice gesture to Joe to give an honorary membership for all the FREE access that we all have through his work with the Liverpool World War casualties which is an ongoing source of information for everyone via the website and the musuem.

No answers have been received by any of the administrators on this subject, so is there any chance of it being discussed by the committee as other people seem to agree that Joe is a special case for the information he can provide to forum members.

Eileen

This will be getting discussed on Sunday at a Group Committee meeting.

Thanks for your reply Katie, I hope that you don't mind me asking as I have found Joe's research so helpful in my research for Litherland WW1 memorials.

Eileen

42aitch wrote: No answers have been received by any of the administrators on this subject

Committee meetings are only three monthly.

I have already stated my support for an exception to be made in this case, but will add this two pennorth, making four pennorth in old or new money.
D

From Amanda: What about an honorary membership for Promenade in recognition of the Devereux Database made available to all at no charge??

I would also like to reiterate my support for some sort of exception be granted to people such as Promenade. Honorary membership sounds a good idea.

Ditto the above. If however an exception cannot be made how about an honorary member fund for nominated persons?


Blue

I'm hoping the Status Quo will remain, my opinion is formed only on equality and fairness.
However, should the committee decide in the affirmative to the proposal raised, I shall submit a list of names to the committee for the same consideration, based on their knowledge, forum activity and the willingness to help others.

I believe this is only fair if new membership rules are going to apply, unfortunately the committee will have to decide who is worthy and who is not.