A Genealogy Project Awakes

http://www.ahgp.org/index.html
Remember AHGP? It was considered to be a ‘better’ mouse trap than USGenWeb. It did well at first, but the management lacked the ability to improvise. They were stuck in USGenWeb's muddy ruts while organized around outdated Web-rings.

It is remembered that some USGenWeb members occupied AHGP State Coordinator slots and then deliberately stifled growth. They plastered links to USGenWeb on every page while the website itself contained no useful information. AHGP became known as a links-yard. Some SC’s had a ‘Main page’ that was merely a portal to their USGenWeb project. Those practices may be changing.

Genealogy Trails has eliminated the link-yard problem as did TTTP. If members don’t produce, they get the boot. But the new projects, like Genealogy Trails and TTTP, and a couple of others, are still in the USGenWeb rut. Here is a quote from a former USGenWeb transcriber,

"I've left the county-based projects. It's an outdated way of sharing/retrieving information. The wave of the future is Familysearch.org and the pay to view sites, and Find-A-Grave. USGenWeb’s sleaziness polluted the reputation of all Genealogy Projects."

Will AHGP achieve what it was intended to be? Or will it be a links-yard? AHGP’s new leadership shows the ability for success. Do they have the will?
For Daryl

Remembering The Daryl

Daryl Lytton, often referred to as “The Daryl” because of his devotion to the struggle for justice for members of USGenWeb, is now in God's hands.

Daryl died on Sunday in Las Vegas Nevada after a struggle with cancer and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease.

Members of the Advisory Board of USGenWeb and their attack dogs floated volleys of false charges, personal attacks, hounding him until his last breath. He was on his deathbed and unable to defend himself against charges, while the Advisory Board proceeded with a secret trial without him.

The behavior of the Advisory Board is USGenWeb at its worst. Will God forgive them?

We loved you, Daryl.

Charge #2

Daryl's Disciplinary Hearing
Charge #2

But wait, that's not all you get! First we start with a couple of messages from Daryl posted to State-Coord:

> [Original Message]

> From: Daryl Lytton
> To: state-coord@rootsweb.com
> Date: 7/9/2011 9:04:49 AM
> Subject: [STATE-COORD] Disciplinary Hearing Update
>
> So far there has been no change to my Disciplinary
> Hearing status. There was an agreement worked out
> while on my deathbed, that each charge would be
> handled one-by-one before moving onto the next charge.
> But then, I was also promised a fair hearing by Larry
> in accordance with the rules ... and that hasn't
> happened yet, either.
>
> Charge #1 was refused to be handled in accordance with
> the rules, and now they want to move on to Charge #2.
> If it doesn't first get established that this hearing
> must be in accordance with the rules, my rights will
> also be denied to me while discussing Charge #2.
>
> There was no problem allowing Larry to post his
> message to Board-L declaring me guilty of Charge #1,
> but my reply stating why I am not guilty was not
> allowed to be posted. The confidentiality of the
> hearing is not being used to protect the innocent,
> it is being used to protect and hide the corruption
> of the AB. I can prove it, but of course the AB would
> never allow that.
>
> With the AB is treating me this badly while on my
> deathbed, you can imagine how bad it has been when
> I was in good health.
>
> I have been accused of breaking the confidentiality
> of the hearing. But I pledged confidentiality to a
> hearing being run honestly in accordance with the
> rules ... I never pledged to keep corruption
> confidential, as it is against the rules and is
> unlawful to do so.
>
> The AB still refuses to hold this hearing in public,
> of course, and we all know exactly why.
>
> The best thing you can do to help make the USGenWeb
> a better place for all, is not to vote for anyone
> currently on the AB who is running for another term.
>
> Daryl


And then one from Daryl to Disciplinary Hearing Chair Larry Flesher, apparently first posted to State-Coord so Daryl would not be breaking confidentiality of the hearing list:

> [Original Message]
> From: Daryl Lytton
> To: state-coord@rootsweb.com
> Date: 7/9/2011 9:05:26 AM
> Subject: [STATE-COORD] [Usgwconf-3] Evidentiary
> Phase - Charge #2
>
> I am sending the below to Larry Flesher in a few
> minutes, in response to a message of his letting me
> know that even though I am moderated on the
> Disciplinary Hearing list, I can now ask questions
> about Charge #2 and if he feels like it he might
> forward them to the list. I had already informed
> Larry that until Charge #1 is handled according to
> the rules, I would be unable to deal with Charge #2
> due to my multiple health issues.
>
> Daryl
>
>
> Larry,
>
> Due to my extremely serious health issues, in
> accordance with my doctors orders, I am unable to
> participate in any further discussions regarding
> this corrupt Disciplinary Hearing you are in charge
> of, until either my health improves or I find a Rep.
>
> A legitimate hearing based upon the approved rules
> of the process does not seem to cause any further
> damage to my health, but major problems result when
> you and the AB break the rules, break your promises,
> lie to me, and I am denied my rights, because of my
> anxiety and depression disabilities which then
> directly and greatly affect my other health issues.
>
> In my current health condition there is nothing I can
> do to force you folks to be honest and give me a fair
> hearing, and it doesn't make any difference if you
> take a vote and conclude that you are treating me
> fairly, because I have the proof as a result of what
> happened during Charge #1.
>
> You and the AB refused to do your Bylaw duty of
> providing me a fair hearing; you and the AB refused
> to follow the rules of a Disciplinary Hearing; you
> and the AB refused to follow the amended rule made
> due to my disabilities. You and the AB denied my
> lawful right to have removed from the hearing those
> members of the AB who have had long-standing personal
> grudges against me. You and the AB denied me my
> lawful right to cross-examine a witness who could have
> proved me innocent of the charge.
>
> I was charged with breaking the confidentiality of the
> Grievance Process, but you and the AB were unable to
> provide any proof that I had ever been involved in a
> valid Grievance Process.
>
> You and the AB made it abundantly clear during Charge
> #1 that the facts and the truth is not what this
> hearing is about. It's all about taking out your
> personal grudges and frustrations on Daryl Lytton ...
> in secret, behind the backs of the CCs, while he is
> helpless to defend himself.
>
> Daryl


National Coordinator Sherri then let 22 messages be posted to State-Coord from State and Assistant State Coordinators who took turns shooting down Daryl with nasty messages.

Daryl, who is moderated on State-Coord by Sherri, replied to several of the messages, but of course Sherri would not let Daryl defend himself and so she refused to approve any of his messages to be posted.

Instead, and we are sure this must have taken a lot of courage, Sherri let the SCs and ASCs have there fun with Daryl for a day before saying:

"Posts from Daryl dealing with the disciplinary hearing and any rants about it will no longer be sent through to the list. Anyone that forwards any of Daryl's posts will be moderated."

That is how she discriminated against a mentally disabled member on their deathbed, you can imaging how kindly she thinks or the non-disabled members.

Second verse, same as the first

Charge #2

Larry gets caught for the 2nd time letting evidence be admitted which had nothing to do with the charge against Daryl. Daryl's claim before this hearing started, that it was nothing but railroading with no proof, has been substantiated once again.

Not only was the evidence falsely admitted, the person who submitted it, Pat Asher, voted Daryl innocent of this charge.

> [Original Message]
> From: Larry Flesher
> To: board-l@rootsweb.com
> Date: 7/16/2011 12:16:49 PM
> Subject: [BOARD] Results of Disciplinary Hearing
> deliberations regarding Charge #2
>
> The disciplinary hearing members have completed
> deliberations regarding Charge #2 and have found
> Mr. Daryl Litton guilty of the charge.
>
> Members voting GUILTY: Sherri Bradley, Tina
> Vickery, Cyndie Enfinger, Bill Oliver, Ann Allen
> Geohagen, Les Shockey, Jeff Kemp, Denise Wells, Linda
> Lewis
>
> Members voting NOT GUILTY: Alice Allen, Nancy
> Beach, Pat Asher
>
> Members voting ABSTAIN: Pauli Smith
>
> Members recused: Dale Grimm
>
> The penalty agreed to by the members is:
>
> Mr. Lytton is forbidden from submitting any grievance
> to the USGenWeb Grievance Committee for a period of
> two years beginning July 16th, 2001. The Grievance
> Committee is hereby instructed to refuse without
> comment any Grievance submitted by Mr. Lytton during
> this two year period.
>
> The Disciplinary Hearing will continue with
> commencement of the Evidentiary Phase for Charge #3.
>
> Respectfully Submitted,
> Larry Flesher
> Chair


> [Original Message]
> From: Daryl Lytton
> To: Larry Flesher
> Date: 7/16/2011 4:32:17 PM
> Subject: RE: Results of deliberations - Charge #2
>
> Charge #2 -- "Since the establishment of the
> Grievance Committee in August 2007, Mr. Lytton has
> filed multiple grievances with the Committee and
> Appeals to the Advisory Board regarding his dismissal
> as Coordinator of OHGenWeb Adams County in
> December 2005. These grievances ask the Committee
> to retroactively apply Bylaw Amendment XIV.E. which
> made their decisions binding, to the non-binding
> recommendations of the Advisory Board rendered in
> January 2006."
>
> As I have already noted to the group here, Pat
> Asher's two "proofs" of Charge #2 [see her message
> directly below this message] are seriously confused,
> and both have nothing at all to do with Charge #2.
>
> I had already told the group here that they were
> getting my grievances mixed up, but apparently no one
> cared enough about fairness and justice to check up
> on her 'facts'.
>
> OHGenWeb Grievance #1 was the one the AB heard and
> ruled on, based upon OHGenWeb SC Sandra Quinn
> failing to give me a fair hearing before expulsion.
>
> Pat cites as proof I am guilty of Charge #2, grievance
> "2008/09-01" which is not true. This was an
> ADDITIONAL grievance, OHGenWeb Grievance #2,
> against Sandra Quinn, filed under the "within 45
> days of discovery of incident" and cited USGenWeb
> Bylaw XI, B, "All Local Coordinators shall be
> subscribed to the state mailing list." It was
> originally named "Grievance 1107A" and was accepted
> by the GC with Bob Sweeney as Chair, and upon advise
> by the AB was again accepted by the GC when Dorman
> Hobbs was Chair, and then all the sudden when Tina
> was NC it was rejected with no reason.
>
> Quinn wrongfully unsubbing me from the required state
> list was not an issue of OHGenWeb Grievance #1. which
> is why I was able to file the additional #2.
>
> I have copies of the messages to prove the above, and
> the below.
>
> Pat cites as proof I am guilty of Charge #2, grievance
> "2009/11-16" which is not true. This grievance was
> against Dale Grimm for using Fraud and Lying by
> Omission (to RootsWeb) to take my Adams County URL
> from me, and had nothing to do with OHGenWeb
> Grievance #1 or #2. The Dec 21 2005 "AB Ruling" for
> my OHGenWeb Grievance #1 was that the URL
> belonged to me, having had it since Nov 20 2004.
>
> As for the punishment for being found guilty of
> charges there is no proof of, "Mr. Lytton is
> forbidden from submitting any grievance to the
> USGenWeb Grievance Committee for a period of two
> years beginning July 16th, 2001.
>
> It is a Bylaws and Sturgis right to have a fair
> hearing. Obviously only the Membership can limit the
> Rights of Members .... "A member also has the
> following fundamental rights under common
> parliamentary law, subject only to any specific
> limitations in the bylaws."
>
> If the AB wants the right to limit who can and who
> cannot have access to the Grievance Process, it
> would have to be specified in the Bylaws. It should
> be obvious that 15 members of the AB can't tell
> 1,300 members of the USGenWeb who can be denied
> fair hearings.
>
> Daryl
>
>
> > [Original Message]
> > From: Pat Asher
> > To: usgwconf-3@usgenweb.org
> > Date: 7/6/2011 9:34:59 AM
> > Subject: [Usgwconf-3] Charge #2
> >
> > I believe proofs have been offered of two grievances
> > filed by Mr. Lytton relating to his "OHGenWeb
> > grievance" since August 2007: 2008/09-01 and
> > 2009/11-16
> >
> > The evidence submitted to date indicates that the GC
> > rejected both grievances and those rejections were
> > then appealed to the AB by Mr. Lytton. Both appeals
> > resulted in an affirmation by the AB of the GC's
> > decisions to reject.
> >
> > Both grievances may represent Mr. Lytton's failure
> > to know or understand that his grievance
> > (2008/09-01) requesting that grievance procedures
> > adopted in Aug 2007 be imposed ex post facto to an
> > AB recommendation rendered in Jan 2006 is
> > constitutionally prohibited; and that his grievance
> > 2009/11-16 was thus also invalid.
> >
> > Do the proofs submitted to date substantiate the
> > allegation of "multiple" grievances and appeals
> > regarding Mr. Lytton's "dismissal as Coordinator of
> > OHGenWeb Adams County"

Mary White

Daryl's Status

Knight of the Living Dead

We have some sad news regarding Daryl.

On June 5, 2011 he was engaging Larry Flesher, Chair of the Disciplinary Hearing for Mr. Lytton, of a point that the Evidentiary Phase of Charge #1 was based upon false evidence. This caused an anxiety attack which Daryl was not able to control with his usual medication, so he called 911.

911 said he might have pneumonia and so was taken to the hospital where not only was that confirmed, but they also found cancer in such an advanced stage it can not be operated on.

June 10, 2011 he was moved to the new Solari Hospice, a very fancy place exclusive to 12 patients at a time each with their own private suite. Medications for Daryl were determined, his conditions stabilized as best as possible, and on June 18, 2011 he was taken home. The hospital said he has about 60 days to live; the hospice said 90.

Herd of the Hearing

Unrelentingly, the core corrupt group of the Advisory Board pushing to have Daryl slaughtered by what ever means possible, insisted the hearing be resumed immediately. Charge #1 against Daryl:

"Mr. Lytton has violated the USGenWeb Grievance Procedures by publishing both redacted and unredacted versions of confidential emails exchanged during the grievance process. He has also published on mailing lists confidential information regarding issues, decisions, and the identities of participants in the grievance process. His breaches of confidentiality are in violation of the Grievance Procedures, Section E:
http://gc.usgenweb.org/procedures.html"

Thanks to a brave member of the AB with a conscious, we now have the facts of what happened. The USGenWeb Advisory Board (AB) had no proof of Daryl breaking the grievance procedures confidentiality rules, although proof of the charges being true was required before Daryl was notified of the charges and of the hearing.

Here is the proof the AB offered for Charge #1 being true; this was the cause of Daryl's anxiety attack. Pat Asher posted the message, Daryl added the numbering system when he replied (below):

1a -- http://www.mindspring.com/~dlytton/2010/
(OHGenWeb grievance)

1b -- http://sites.google.com/site/genwebstalkers/
(many -- for example

1c -- http://search.freefind.com/find.html?id=78620917&map=0&page=0&ics=1
(See all 3 pages of site map)

1d -- http://sites.google.com/site/genwebstalkers/home/new-site/gcc
(Diane's files)

1d -- http://sites.google.com/site/genwebstalkers/home/new-site/diane-disciplinary-hearing

1e -- http://archiver.rootsweb.ancestry.com/th/read/usgenweb-sw/2010-06/1277061236
(identifies Nola)

1f -- http://archiver.rootsweb.ancestry.com/th/read/USGENWEB-SW/2011-04/1302905553
(identifies the mediator and claims denial of right to representation)

1g -- http://archiver.rootsweb.ancestry.com/th/read/usgenweb-sw/2011-04/1301958776
(identifies Nola and claims conspiracy to declare MNIGS)

1h -- http://archiver.rootsweb.ancestry.com/th/read/usgenweb-sw/2010-06/1276997691
(states he is playing a game with confidentiality)


Now then, Tina had already stated the only confidentiality rules of the grievance process in place at the time Daryl allegedly broke them were:

"Because grievances are considered personnel matters, all [GC] volunteers must state that they are willing to abide by strict confidentiality requirements. Volunteers must also state that they understand that violation of this confidentiality agreement will mean immediate expulsion from the Grievance Committee, and could result in determination of Member Not in Good Standing by the Advisory Board."

"All discussion regarding the issues during the grievance process is to be considered privileged and private, and shall not be disclosed during or after the process by either the team or either party, except as allowed by these procedures."

"The mediation process is confidential, and parties involved must agree to uphold that confidentiality unless ALL parties agree to the contrary."

"The arbitration process is considered confidential, and parties involved must agree to uphold that confidentiality unless ALL parties (including volunteer arbitrators and witnesses) agree to the contrary."

Daryl's Response to the Charges

as told to the Disciplinary Hearing Committee June 27:

"1a -- Not valid. Refers to my OHGenWeb Grievance #1 which was BEFORE there was a GC and GC Procedures with confidentiality rules (Cyndie can verify that). The pages even come right out and state "my OHGenWeb Grievance #1" ... which seens to verify what I have been claiming for years, that the AB is clueless as to the differences between my OHGenWeb Grievance #1, and #2 which was wrongfully rejected after being accepted twice by two separate GCs."

"1b -- Not valid. http://sites.google.com/site/genwebstalkers/ includes hundreds of pages. Without listing particular URLs this charge is not valid, as it does not list pages I can refer to in order to defend myself. It should also be noted that I was NOT the author of any of the pages at that URL and thus impossible for me to have broken any confidentiality rules, as the rules apply only to members of the GC and parties in grievances."

"1c -- Not valid. ibid."

"1d & 1d -- Not valid. As the [items at] the URLs states, it is authored by Diane Siniard not me."

"1e -- Nola's grievance against me was declared to be invalid. i.e., her "complaint" wasn't a valid complaint. Complaints that aren't vaalid, are not confidential as they are not complaints, they are no more than simply people complaining, which is a Rights of Members protected by Sturgis. Adding to that, Nola gave me permission to talk about her complaint, although not being valid I needed no permission as no confidentiality was broken. Nola's complaint was not valid because after 42 pages of complaining, she couldn't find any rules I had broken. That's because I don't break rules."

"1f -- Not valid. Does not pertain to me, as the Confidentiality Rules pertain only to the GC members and parties in a grievance. However ... I very stribgky protest the AB knowing the GC has broken rules and has refused to do anything about it, but the AB wants to punish me for doing my duty by reporting the GC has broken the rules."

"1g -- ibid 1e."

"1h -- This charge is not valid as it does not pertain to breaking confidentiality. And it does NOT say I am "playing a game with confidentiality" as claimed ... it says, "Nope, it's confidential. See? I can play confidentiality game also," and was in reference to Pat Asher using confidentiality to hide her corruption in the grievance where she willfully went along with parties in the grievance being denied their Grievance Bylaw & Procedures rules, then being elected to the AB, despite the Bylaws not allowing a person who acts that way towards the membership being a candidate for the AB." [A Member Not In Good Standing can't be nominated for office --mary]

Daryl continued:

"I just want to make sure the records show that as of right now, I have not received a reply from Tina. My line of questioning is in a logical order, and I cannot make a final statement about Charge #1 without Tina's answers because what I say depends upon what she says.

"To make sure witnesses don't try to intentionally use delaying tactics, please consider telling the folks when we resume the hearing, that the length of time they take to reply to my questions will in no way interfere with the time frame I have to ask and/or reply to questions."

The next questions for Tina were:

"[ ] Yes, those are the 'proofs' for Charge #1 against Daryl."
"[ ] No those are not the 'proofs' for Charge #1 against Daryl.
"As for the GC Procedures:
"[ ] Yes the AB is happy with the wording of the Procedures and approved the wording."

Of which Tina never answered, and the next message posted to the hearing list was from Larry Flesher:

> ----- Original Message -----
> From: Larry Flesher
> To: Board
> Date: 6/28/2011 7:29:52 AM
> Subject: [BOARD] Disciplinary Hearing findings re:
> Charge #1
>
> The Disciplinary Hearing, now in session to consider
> charges levied against Mr.. Daryl Lytton, has completed
> deliberations regarding Charge #1:
>
> [repeat of charge omitted --mary]
>
> Mr. Lytton has requested that the Charges against him
> be disposed of one at a time, and in compliance with
> that request, the following is submitted:
>
> In the matter of Charge #1, it is the finding of the
> Disciplinary Hearing members that Mr. Lytton is guilty
> of the charge.
>
> Following the finding, it was the duty of the
> Disciplinary Hearing members to determine penalty /
> punishment. Early this morning, the members returned
> the following:
>
> "Mr. Daryl Lytton, having been found guilty of Charge
> #1 [listed above] by the Disciplinary Hearing members,
> is declared Member Not In Good Standing (MNIGS) of
> the USGenWeb Project for a period of two years, to
> commence immediately (29 June 2011). As a Member
> Not In Good Standing, Mr. Lytton is declared not
> eligible to run for nor to serve in any office in the
> USGenWeb Project.
>
> The USGenWeb Election Committee is hereby
> directed to remove Mr. Lytton's name from the list
> of candidates for the forthcoming USGenWeb
> Project Election Ballot, and is further directed to
> omit from count any ballots cast for Mr. Lytton."
>
> Mr. Lytton will be re-subscribed to the hearing list
> so he can participate in the Evidentiary Phase of
> Charge #2.
>
> Respectfully Submitted,
> Larry Flesher
> Chair

Respectfully? What is there to be respected when USGenWeb leadership goes out of its way to break the rules? The AB created and voted into place revisions of the grievance procedures on May 9, 2011 and Daryl would still not be guilty of breaking the new confidentiality rules!

Daryl has posted a few messages on the SW, NW and State-Coord lists, all indicating he is not being treated in accordance with the rules of a disciplinary hearing nor the USGenWeb rights of members, or some of his legal rights such as his right to reject members of the AB serving on his disciplinary hearing as judges and jurors who have had personal grudges against him for years.

One person on the State-Coord list came right out and told what was happening to Daryl -- he is being railroaded by the AB. An AB so afraid of the truth getting out, they must hold Daryl's trial in secret.

As for the brave Daryl -- he told the AB on June 27, "But *I* am the one who showed up for this hearing on my deathbed, trying to get you guys to act respectably and expediently.

I predict we will hear more about this issue from our new friend on the AB. Daryl remains very ill and for the most part is out of contact with us.

Mary White

Beat Goes On

"The beat goes on, the beat goes on
Drums keep pounding a rhythm to the brain"

Since Sherri Bradley, USGenWeb National Coordianator, posted the below message to a public USGenWeb list with the charges against Daryl as statements of facts, we have done some investigating into the matters.

With that posting to Board, the USGenWeb Advisory Board list for official USGenWeb business, Sherri has turned the issue and the charges against Daryl into matters of organizational business. In accordance with Sturgis (the AB's rule book) we will expect full public disclose of the hearing against Daryl, including the testimony. (Sturgis, "Failure or refusal to disclose matters of organizational business, are grounds for removal from office.")

The message Daryl received from Sherri containing the charges against him is signed "For the USGenWeb Advisory Board." It has been brought to our attention that Daryl, being the gentleman he is, has sent the AB a message offering each member of the AB the chance to absolve them selves of any or all of the charges made against him. There has been no response so far, but it is Sunday and we suspect the members of the AB are attending church seeking forgiveness for their sins.

Our research shows Sturgis requires the AB to have the authority to hold a disciplinary hearing for each of the charges, and proof of the charges against Daryl has to be established before he was notified of the hearing and the charges. When asked for comments we were disappointed Daryl's only reply was, "You are correct."

We have also been informed by a member of the AB that Daryl said he will have an attorney assisting him. Rumor is it's an Assistant D.A.

Mary White


> [Original Message]
> From: Sherri
> To: board@rootsweb.com
> Date: 5/19/2011 6:32:40 PM
> Subject: [BOARD] Disciplinary Hearing Being
> Convened - Daryl Lytton
>
> For the record, a disciplinary hearing is being
> convened to hear the following charges:
>
> A disciplinary hearing is being convened with the
> following as the charges:
>
> 1) Mr. Lytton has violated the USGenWeb Grievance
> Procedures by publishing both redacted and unredacted
> versions of confidential emails exchanged during the
> grievance process. He has also published on mailing
> lists confidential information regarding issues,
> decisions, and the identities of participants in the
> grievance process. His breaches of confidentiality
> are in violation of the Grievance Procedures, Section
> E. (http://gc.usgenweb.org/procedures.html)
>
> 2) Since the establishment of the Grievance Committee
> in August 2007, Mr. Lytton has filed multiple
> grievances with the Committee and Appeals to the
> Advisory Board regarding his dismissal as Coordinator
> of OHGenWeb Adams County in December 2005. These
> grievances ask the Committee to retroactively apply
> Bylaw Amendment XIV.E. which made their decisions
> binding, to the non-binding recommendations of the
> Advisory Board rendered in January 2006. His refusal
> to accept the decisions to reject these subsequent
> grievances and appeals as invalid and punitive to
> the current SC and CC who were not parties to the
> original grievance, is a violation of both the
> spirit and the letter of the law.
>
> 3) Mr. Lytton promotes the demise of the USGenWeb
> Project and maligns the Project and its members on
> public websites, causing internal dissension and
> the discouragement of genealogical researchers. These
> actions are in violation of the fundamental principle
> of the organization, i.e. to provide and promote free
> genealogical sites and resources to the general
> public and violates Section II and Section IV,
> Subsection A of the Bylaws; and the adopted
> parliamentary authority (Sturgis), authorized by
> Section XV of the Bylaws
> (http://usgenweb.org/volunteers/bylaws.shtml)
>
> 4) Since 15 May 2003, Mr. Lytton has defrauded the
> genealogical community the USGenWeb Project was
> created to serve, by soliciting financial
> contributions via PayPal to webroots.org/WebRoots,
> Inc. while falsely claiming it is a "nonprofit public
> benefit corporation" (a public charity). Such
> solicitation is in violation of Nevada Revised
> Statute NRS 598.1305, prohibited deceptive trade
> practices, where Mr. Lytton currently resides, and
> the California Corporation Code, where he registered
> the corporation.
>
> 5) Mr. Lytton represented himself as a spokesperson
> for the USGenWeb Project and implied his personal
> project, usgenweb-search.us, was an officially
> endorsed USGenWeb project in a promotional
> announcement to Dick Eastman. Mr. Lytton was not,
> nor ever has been, an elected or appointed
> spokesperson, nor was his personal project an
> official or sanctioned project of USGenWeb
> (http://www.usgenweb.org/projects/index.shtml)
>
> 6) Mr. Lytton displays the USGenWeb logo on his
> personal project USGenWeb-Search.Us without
> permission, in violation of the USGenWeb Standard
> Rules, Section IV. Permission to Use a USGenWeb Logo.
> (http://usgenweb.org/volunteers/standard-ules.shtml)
>
> 7) Mr. Lytton has used false names (aliases) on
> multiple occasions to represent himself as someone
> else in order to gain access to State projects where
> he had been removed or rejected for membership.
>
> 8) Mr. Lytton harasses individual members of the
> USGenWeb Project and duly elected representatives to
> the Advisory Board, makes libelous statements
> targeted at individual members, and threatens law
> suits against members and the USGenWeb organization,
> by private mail and on USGenWeb mail lists, causing
> a hostile working environment for USGenWeb project
> volunteers.
>
> Mr. Lytton maintains the following USGenWeb Project
> sites:
>
> LaPlata County COGenWeb; COGenWeb Assistant
> State Coordinator
>
> Derby City (CTGenWeb, New Haven County)
>
> Hawaii County HIGenWeb
>
> KSGenweb
>
> Larry Flesher will chair the hearing. A private mail
> list will be set up for the hearing; more information
> will be forthcoming.
>
> Sherri Bradley
> National Coordinator
> USGenWeb Project

AB Resignation

From: Colleen
To: board@rootsweb.com
Date: 1/28/2011 12:10:51 PM
Subject: [BOARD] RESIGNATION

Sherri,

Please consider this my resignation from the Advisory Board. For several months I've no longer felt I could make a difference in the USGenWeb. It seems lately, that the only thing on the AB's agenda is to go after people and bring them down, or lay out more rules. The *_Advisory_* Board no longer functions as its name says, but has become more or less a dictatorial group. This isn't the USGenWeb I joined back in 1998.

Sadly, I feel you are one of the people that is helping to destroy the project. You are two-faced, saying things out of one side of your mouth, then turning and saying or implying something else. As NC, your dabbling in the grievances is reprehensible. Your micro-management of everything is totally unwarranted. Your tenacity to show favoritism is contemptible.

I would also warn others that if they should ever file a grievance, to expect your hand right in the middle of it, something that is totally against procedure.

I am no longer interested in serving on a Board whose sole purpose has become self-satisfaction instead of encouraging a quality project. To the members of the NWPL, please accept my humble apology for leaving my post before the end of my term. I hope my replacement can achieve on the AB what I couldn't.

Colleen Pustola
NWPL SC Representative

Diane's Trail

The message from USGenWeb National Coordinator Sherri Bradley announcing the Disciplinary Hearing for Diane Siniard was in our "Grievance Committee Confessions" post at
http://genwebstalkers.blogspot.com/2010_06_01_archive.html

Before we get to the continuation and results of this Hearing there are some items of note.

When we first heard of the Hearing it took us about two (2) minutes to verify the charge against Diane for violating the Grievance Committee oaths of confidentiality, was not valid. Quoting from the Grievance Procedures,

"Because grievances are considered personnel matters, all volunteers must state that they are willing to abide by strict confidentiality requirements. Volunteers must also state that they understand that violation of this confidentiality agreement will mean immediate expulsion from the Grievance Committee, and could result in determination of Member Not in Good Standing by the Advisory Board."

"Must state"? Where does that take place? The Grievance Committee has two lists, one archived for public business and one not archived for confidential business. "The confidential list may NOT be used for public business, or in an effort to avoid public disclosure," say the Procedures.

Advisory Board members must take a confidentiality oath if they want to be subscribed to the Board-Exec list (aka Sekrit Sandbox), their unarchived list for confidential business. They take the oath on the Board list, their archived list for public business.

Locating and examining the GC list for public business shows no evidence of any GC member having taken their oaths of confidentiality. This is something that Linda K Lewis should have done, before presenting her charge against Diane.

During the Hearing (link to that is below) NC Sherri admitted having no knowledge of Diane having taken the oaths because she was not the NC at the time the GC members should have taken the oaths. The previous NC, Tina Vickery, present during the Hearing, had no comments. At this point the hearing should have been halted until it was clearly established that Diane did, or did not, take the oath because the charge against her was for violating the oath.

But the hearing continued, and as you will see it is Diane who gets blamed for not taking the confidentiality oath, rather than the AB taking any responsibility for their sub-committee they are in charge of.

Diane became frustrated with the process and refused to continue. She was then unsubscribed from the hearing list. In the real world when a defendant refuses to participate in their hearing, they are not removed from the court room. Why not? Procedural Due Process gives defendants the right to be present during testimony. Diane did not request to be unsubscribed, her rights of Due Process were violated which in many legal cases has been grounds for dismissing the case and/or the charges.

A link to transcripts of Diane's hearing is at the end of this post.

Mary White


From: Diane Siniard
To: usgwconf-2@usgenweb.org
Cc: usgenweb-sw@rootsweb.com
Date: 8/2/2010 10:47:36 AM
Subject: [USGENWEB-SW] A Little Note

Due to careful consideration, long conversations with JAG, information that has been passed to me and various other things I will not be continuing with this hearing. This hearing has been a farce since the beginning.

1. I never did sign a confidentiality agreement for the Grievance Committee.

2. Thereby this hearing is breaking the rules of the USGWP and Sturgis and my rights as a member of the Project.

3. The mailing list is supposed to be un archived but in fact it is archived and I do have screen shots to prove this and that is another violation of the rules.

4. Nothing has been done about the proof I gave about Sherri and Tina breaking the rules and bylaws of this project prior to me being brought into this hearing.

5. I asked for something to be done about Sherri breaking the rules about the notification of the hearing and nothing was done which again violates Sturgis.

6. Whistleblowers are protected by law, therefore if you wish to continue with this JAG is prepared to have their lawyers in each state file suits against each of you for violating my rights.

7. JAG is also working on the copyright violations as is the FBI that Sherri and the AB allowed the NCGenWeb to violate of the US Copyright Laws Title 17. So, you might want to be prepared for some Federal charges to come your way as well as to the NCGenWeb Project from that as well because the copyright violations are continuing. They are still continuing to copy my sites up to and including new information that I am adding to my sites.

8. I hereby resign as a member of the USGWP effective immediately. I want no part of an organization that is full of lies, deceit, cover ups, sweeping things under the rug and protecting those that are in positions of power that break the most rules.

I will be letting anyone and everyone know that asks everything they want to know about this farce of a hearing up to and including copies of the screen shots of the archives of the unarchived mailing list so that future hearings that are held the CC's are aware of how low down and dirty the AB actually is.

Y'all are a bunch of lying conniving power hungry punks that think everything belongs to you that is genealogical in nature. Well, I got another thing coming for you. It doesn't and mark my words. You will fail and this project will fail. You are not holier than thou, you are not all that and a bucket of peanuts, and each and every one of you with the exception of Colleen, David and Alice can kiss my Lilly white ass!

Diane Siniard
Now back to Trails to the Past where peace reigns supreme, friends have fun and genealogy is what it is supposed to be, fun and friends helping each other to provide the most genealogy possible for researchers!

=========================

From: Diane & Mike Siniard
To: USGenWeb.Us ALL List all@usgenweb.us
Date: 8/2/2010 12:48:56 PM
Subject: Re: [ALL] (no subject)

The AB brought me up on charges fro exposing Sherri and Tina for breaking the bylaws and rules of the USGWP. Instead of filing charges against Sherri and Tina they came after me. I sat through the first part of the hearing and watched as they pulled emails from mailing lists that other people had sent in to use as information against me, even when I didn't even reply to them. They even used simple conversations as information against me. Then they pulled information from the Florida hearing, which by the way was held after the Florida members had already been removed from the project and were again dragged into a hearing to be made MNIGS, which is against the project rules and sturgis because they were no longer members, and used that material against me. 90% of that material had information in it of Sherri interfering in GC business.

The person that brought the charges against me, Linda K Lewis was allowed to be in the hearing which is against Sturgis, and common law procedures, Sherri and Tina were both involved and they were the ones I had accused of breaking the rules which is against common law procedures, and it was 13 against 1. All 13 of them asking questions and producing so called evidence and proof against me and myself and my advisor who is moderated and not allowed to speak on the list, against all of them. No one stands a fair chance. To top all of that off, it is announced in the beginning it is an un archived mailing list, well guess what? I have tons of screen shots to prove that it is archived.

They constantly break rules, lie about it, cheat, they allowed NCGenWeb to copy my sites and are continuing to allow them to copy my sites which breaks US Copyright Laws Title 17. I also found out today from a trusted member of the election committee that the election was rigged in favor of Sherri and her little clique.

So, you tell me, if the project is in trouble or not? I got the hell out, several other people are in the process of leaving and I know a lot more that will be leaving soon as well. Time to get out while the getting is good before the new commandants take over on September 1st. It is going to become a dictatorship. They are already taking over the states one at a time....and getting rid of the good CC's. Mark my words...it is going to fail very soon.

Diane
_____________________________________
ALL@usgenweb.us Mail List
http://usgenweb.us/mailman/listinfo/all_usgenweb.us

=========================

From: Diane & Mike Siniard
To: Mary White
Date: 8/2/2010 8:19:10 PM
Subject: Re: Next Blog Post

Linda Blum Barton was my advisor but she was moderated and wasn't allowed to speak. They did all gang up on me and pounded me with questions and evidence all at once. Denise sent through a whole list I think it was like 13 or 14 questions, then Colleen sent in some and after that no one else sent any in besides Linda Lewis.

Sherri, AnnieG, Linda Lewis, Denise, etc all pounded the hell out of me with all this evidence of emails from mailing lists, hell they even sent in links to the blog...LOL they even stooped so low as to include my campaign page to use it against me. They pulled things from the Florida MNIGS hearings to use against me, and I wasn't even on the GC when that took place. It is just unreal the crap they tried to pull and use against me. Some of it I did manage to get thrown out and then Cyndie had this bright idea and told me if I had one more objection I would be violating the rules of the hearing. What a crock! So, then I was obviously screwed because I couldn't object to anything else they brought forth or said. I think she did that because I corrected her on an issue of Linda Lewis jumping all over David on the mailing list and her not saying or doing anything about it and it went on for 2 days and I was tired of seeing it in my inbox. So I quoted a bunch of sturgis rules about it to her and basically called her out on it with a point of order.

Then I demanded 15 days to prepare my defense after they were finished presenting their case because they had well over a month before they announced the hearing to prepare and she got all pissy about that. When I asked for it I quoted Sturgis and told her it was my right and common law procedures dictated that I be given the same amount of time to prepare my defense.

=========================

From: Cyndie
To: ncgeniehunter@yahoo.com
Cc: board-exec@rootsweb.com
Sent: Sun, August 22, 2010 7:23:17 AM
Subject: Disciplinary Hearing - Diane Siniard

The resolution of the disciplinary hearing against Diane Siniard.

This resolution is hereby adopted, effective August 22, 2010.

The USGenWeb Advisory Board issues this finding in response to the charges brought against Ms. Diane Siniard.

Charges:
1) the sharing of private GC communications with parties involved in Grievance 2009-08-15 as demonstrated within the evidence submitted to the AB for the resulting disciplinary hearing against two FLGenWeb, Inc. members.
2) the posting of private GC communications to the archived SWSC list that included the name of a party to Grievance 2009-08-15.

Finding:
The Advisory Board finds that Diane Siniard, during the incident in question, was responsible for sharing and publically posting private communications related to Grievance 2009-08-15. Grievance Committee members are tasked to operate within the Grievance Procedures, which specifically state: "All discussion regarding the issues during the grievance process is to be considered privileged and private, and shall not be disclosed during or after the process by either the team or either party, except as allowed by these procedures."

Despite Ms Sinard's protest that she did not take an oath of confidentiality, it was her duty as Chair of the Grievance Committee to insure that all members of the GC not only took the oath of confidentiality but that each understood the terms of it and to make sure that all members abided by this oath. Her failure to comply was a major disservice to the USGenWeb Project.

Resulting Decision:

1.) Ms. Siniard shall not be recognized as a USGenWeb Project member (whether recognized as a XXGenWeb Project member or not) for a minimum of two years retroactive to her resignation of August 2, 2010; after that mandatory period, she must publically admit her wrongdoing and apologize to the members of this Project prior to being reinstated as a member of the USGenWeb project.

2.) Beginning August 2, 2012, should Ms. Siniard return as a member of the USGenWeb Project, Ms. Siniard shall be considered "on probation" within the USGenWeb Project for a period of five years. Diane may not run for, serve, hold, be appointed or elected to any position higher than the Local Coordinator level in any state or special project, or the national project prior to August 2, 2017.

Members voting to accept:
Sherri Bradley
Larry Flesher
Ann Allen Geoghagen
Dale Grimm
Jeff Kemp
Bill Oliver
Les Shockey
Pauli Smith
Tina Vickery
Denise Wells

Members voting to reject.
None

Members abstaining.
Alice Allen
Colleen Pustola
W. David Samuelsen

Sincerely,
Cyndie Enfinger, SP Rep., Disciplinary Hearing Chair

=========================

From: Diane Siniard
To:
Cyndie;dcaallen@pacifier.com;anniegms@gmail.com;lflesher@yahoo.com;pauli1028@msn.com;SEMACCrep@gmail.com;tsvickery@gmail.com;usgenwebnc@windstream.net;usgwsema@gmail.com;webmaster@cottonhills.com;wnoliver@sbcglobal.net;wvgenweb@wildblue.net;David Samuelson;Colleen;Daryl Lytton;Charles Barnum;Diane Mason-Kelly
Cc: board-exec@rootsweb.com
Sent: 8/22/2010 10:24:58 AM
Subject: Re: Disciplinary Hearing - Diane Siniard

In light of the AB continuing on with this Witch Hunt of a hearing in spite of many failures to follow Sturgis, no oaths being taken even when I was NOT the original chair when the oaths should have been taken, the mailing list being archived when it should have been an non-archived mailing list, etc. I have no alternative but to let the public know of these proceedings and how the AB handles their hearings. I will be providing the public with copies of the archived copies of the supposed non-archived mailing list, as well as the failure to follow Sturgis.

As for your supposed findings and discipline of me, y'all can all still kiss my lilly white ass, I wouldn't return to USGWP if it was the last genealogy project on earth even if you begged me to return! You are more interested in being power hungry, making a quick buck, and running the CC's into the ground as well as running the best ones off.

So, let's see just how long you can continue to do this before it all blows up in your faces!

Dale, libel me once more and you will regret your words! You are the one that asked for copies of everything in the beginning. Watch your back because they are going to come after you next. They are filing a disciplinary hearing against you next among other members of the AB. Mark my words. Facts are facts buddy.

Diane
http://trailstothepast.org/
Trails to the Past

Diane's Hearing Transcripts

2010 Elections

2010 Elections Results

I don't know if I need a bottle in front of me
or a frontal lobotomy

Eligible Voters overall 1466
# of voting members: 313 (21.351%)

National Coordinator:
Sherri Bradley: 142 (47.811%)
Bill Oliver: 59 (19.865%)
Diane Siniard: 46 (15.488%)
Billie Walsh: 50 (16.835%)
The EC declares a run-off between Sherri Bradley & Bill Oliver.

NENC CC 1 Year:
Alice Allen: 70 (100%)
The EC declares Alice Allen the winner.

NENC CC 2 Year:
Daryl Lytton: 28 (38.356%)
Paul Smith: 45 (61.644%)
The EC declares Pauli Smith the winner.

NWPL CC:
Sundee Anderson: 11 (13.415%)
Ann Allen Geoghegan: 48 (58.537%)
Don Kelly: 23 (28.049%)
The EC declares Ann Allen Geoghegan the winner.

NWPL SC:
Colleen Pustola: 9 (100.000%)
The EC declares Colleen Pustola the winner.

SEMA CC:
Sandra Smith: 37 (34.259%)
Denise Wells: 71 (65.741%)
The EC declares Denise Wells the winner.

SEMA SC:
Les Shockey: 11 (100%)
The EC declares Les Shockey the winner.

SWSC CC:
Pat Asher: 58 (69.880%)
W. David Samuelsen: 25 (30.120%)
The EC declares Pat Asher the winner.

SWSC SC:
Larry Flesher: 13 (100%)
The EC declares Larry Flesher the winner.

Amendment:
For: 239 (76.849%)
Against: 45 (14.469%)
Pass: 27 (8.682%)
The EC declares the amendment has Passed.

142 people voted for Sherri, 155 voted against her.

1466 eligible voters this year; 1516 in 2009; 1578 in 2008. We predict 1400 eligible voters in 2011, of which 300 will vote.

Mary White