Hello, Steve.
To use your words, I guess I could ask why you "keep harping" about what a
bargain Ancestry is, and also tell you to "Quit making Ancestry out to
be..." a gaggle of charitable folks. However, as professionals, I think we
both might rise above such snide remarks. Whatever.
We both have been equally remiss. You have not told the readers that your
comments about Ancestry are in large measure reflective of the needs of a
professional whose costs and time are limited and must be carefully managed,
all to the end that you not overcharge your clients, and, moreover, one who
often is hurried by the demands or desires of such clients. You might go on
to say that your desires are two-fold; a) to enjoy the search for your own
family, and b) to be of service to others and at the same time produce a
measure of income.
I have been equally remiss in not revealing that my remarks arise, not from
the requirements of a practicing and highly knowledgeable professional such
as you, but rather, from one who teaches both beginning genealogy and the
writing of genealogical narrative at local colleges, at libraries here and
near here, and in seminars in and about the middle Southeast. I might go on
to reveal that my students and attendees, almost without exception, are
those folks of limited means, who have little or no knowledge of computer
searching, are interested in "climbing their family tree", and yet have no
plans to do other than search locally at their leisure, at the libraries and
archives, and within the courthouses.
Enough of such verbiage. You asked what I charge; nearly the same as do
you. I get 30.00 an hour here or wherever + copies + gas for all mileage
over 15 miles one way. I charge the seminars 200.00 for 6 hours again, plus
all expenses, and always maintain the right to sell my own books as
textbooks. I might add that I do little teaching since last fall (and
likely very little in the future) since I had 2 minor strokes that causes my
left leg to refuse to obey and thus affects my driving. :-)
I enjoy your remarks. By the way, where do you live ??
Cordially
Paul
www.DrakesBooks.com
-----Original Message-----
From: Research and writing about Virginia genealogy and family history.
[mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Steve Stevens
Sent: Thursday, January 31, 2008 7:48 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: [VA-ROOTS] Family researches online
Paul,
Why do you keep harping on Ancestries fees? I pay about $155 US for a years
subscription. That breaks down to less than $13 a month. If I drove to my
local library once a week and spent the same 8 hours a day, it would cost me
$20 in gas, $32 in parking fees, 9 hours of my time, and still would not get
done what I do at home in less time.
Quit making Ancestry out to be robbers. Just for the record Paul, what do
you charge your clients? My fees are $35/hour plus expenses if I do the
work, and $25/ hour to teach you how to do the work yourself, plus expenses.
In some cases I will do workshops for groups at cost depending on where it
is. That is a lot more than an Ancestry membership my friend.
Regards,
Steve Stevens
-----Original Message-----
From: Research and writing about Virginia genealogy and family history.
[mailto:[log in to unmask]]On Behalf Of Paul Drake
Sent: Wednesday, January 30, 2008 10:11 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: [VA-ROOTS] Family researches online
Despite the myriad duplications, your numbers are important, Tom, just as
would be similar, though greater, lists of the records available at the
giant libraries and LDS. As are those MANY other sites, Ancestry is
important, and in some cases provides access to records that otherwise would
be difficult for many to personally access.
However the problem is not what is there, it is what about the countless
millions of sources that are not there, and how can anyone ever know what is
missing?? Plus, those fees are beyond the purse of VERY many of those of us
who enjoy this hobby.
I think a summary of our several ideas posted here is important. So, if you
can afford it, have a pay-for program that has the censuses available. If
you can not afford it, attack the problems the old fashioned way; that is,
make connections with those societies that are to be found there and with
the researchers who live in the area, have access to, and understand the
records that are available at that ancestral "where". Short of hiring a
accomplished professional, it is only those local people can guide you
through the peculiar record problems that always are present (and there are
tens of thousands of those), and then exhaust what is there that relates to
your search.
Enough of the subject for me. It has been fun.
Paul
---Original Message-----
From: Research and writing about Virginia genealogy and family history.
[mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Excalibur131
....Subject: Re: [VA-ROOTS] Family researches online
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