GEN-NYS-L: Result of the Survey

Jerry Dafoe (jcdafoe@ix.netcom.com)
Fri, 19 Jan 1996 04:31:29 -0800


Two short months ago, we decided to band together, Rooters, who were
interested in New York State research alone. At the present time, we have
over 160 members and I think we have a great start.

I have just ran a new "recruiting post" on the ROOTS-L mailing list and
the USENET newsgroup alt.genealogy.

A few days ago, I asked you to participate in a survey so that we could
express our views. Some of the typical answers are listed here.
(58 persons responded)
THE CONSENSUS

( 1) How long you have been researching on the net?

(Most of those who responded have been on the net less than a year
eleven had been on the net from 2 to 10 yrs)

(2) Are you satisfied with your progress? (Some typical answers)

(1) Yes, although I have been able to help others more than myself
(2) No real breakthroughs.
(3) I don't know how I got along without the net
(4) Yes, but I'm much more productive writing letters to relatives,
visiting the National Archives or pouring over other documents.
(5) It's just great, I love it

(3) What are your complaints?
(1) The equivalent of junk mail
(2) There's too much "flaming" on the Internet, (several of these)
(3) Not enough subscribers (4 of these)
(4) No searchable databases of actual records--or indices of
records. (lots of these)
(5) Too complicated

(4) What changes would you like to see?
(1) Link all the various genealogy mail servers together.
(2) I would like to have all state's vital records searchable on
line, birth, marriage and death records.
(3) I would like to see access to more records from the government
and other archives
(4) More actual records online. ( lots of these)
(5) I would like to have the census records available on line, in a
searchable fashion.

(5) Are you getting a fair return for the hours you put in?
(1) I love the Internet -- more than fair in terms of return.
(2) I think I would get more if I had a little more time (several)
(3) A day in a library is worth a month on the Internet, at
least where genealogical studies are concerned.
(4) I really don't get a fair return for the time and money that
I put in.
(5) I spend a lot of time deleting

So now that we know our complaints and changes desired, how can we go
about improving our system? This list belongs to all members,we all have a
voice and we all have a desire to improve. A common complaint was we wer
e having "fun" but very little , if any, has been added to our personal
genealogy. Isn't that why we are on
the internet? We have narrowed our search down to one State (New York)
could or should, we narrow it down further? If so, how? I'm sure some of
you have ideas of how to improve. Don't hold back, let's hear them.

PS: Have you checked out the GEN-NYS-L archives at

http://www.mv.com/ipusers/wildcat/gen-nys-l.html

lately? You will be pleasently surprised.

Marc has been doing a GREAT job. Thanks Marc!

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