I think the recent events have proven what I have suspected for some time now. I think this whole mess boils down to some wanting total control of The USGenWeb Project and some thinking that they can get a paid position in some of these non-profits orgs. and/or they just happen to have servers where they would like for these non-profits to pay for space and line "somebody's" pocketbooks, kind of through the back door. ---Barbara "Rootslady" Dore, 23 June 1998, USGENWEB-ALL
CHAPTER VII. THE DILL EPISODE. Part 3.
Over the several months that followed the public announcement of the incorporation of USGenWeb, Inc. a number of events occurred that brought the "Dill Episode" sharply back into the consciousness of the Project. The first of these occurred a month after all ties with the usgenweb.com domain were officially severed and more occurred during the ensuing summer and fall. It is unlikely that the Project will ever see the last of these outbursts.
~ Collateral Damage ~
Maureen Reed managed the Military Records Project, which was formally affiliated with the USGenWeb Project as a Special Project. When the April 4 announcement was released, Maureen decided to move her military project pages to the usgenweb.com domain on Jerry's server, both as a show of support for him and to test her right as a project member to house her pages on the server of her choice. The issue of server choice has cropped up repeatedly in the project's history, but individual server choice has always been one of the strongest held principles in USGW and attempts to limit it have met with a notable lack of success. However, in Maureen's case, the desire of the Board to disassociate the project from USGenWeb, Inc. was strong enough to thoroughly trump this principle.
During the last half of March 1998, when the Board was busily negotiating with Jerry Dill, Maureen became disgusted with attempts by Linda Lewis and Megan Zurawicz to force Jerry to accede to their demands and decided to move her pages to usgenweb.com to show her support for him. According to Maureen, "What I objected to was what I saw as Linda & Megan's blind fury at a previous friend and their unwillingness to work with him to a *mutually* acceptable end. All they wanted to do was destroy him - not just avert any possible threat to the Project, but eliminate *him* personally. I never fully approved of what Jerry did but the politics of personal destruction that L & M engaged in were downright evil, IMO." [personal communication, 12 November 1999]. Maureen announced her plans to move her pages during these early negotiations; it was her position that Jerry was not claiming ownership of all pages on his server, just of the one national page originally created by Dale for the usgenweb.com domain, and that it would be perfectly safe for project members to house their pages there. It was also her position that as a project member it was her right to choose which server her pages would be housed on, and in that matter she was absolutely correct. The project guidelines have always left server choice up to the discretion of the individual member.
On March 22, Maureen was told that if she did not remove the military records page from the usgenweb.com domain, the Board would assum she was "removing herself" from the project. Maureen did not move the pages, and formally announced the new URL to numerous lists on April 4 1998, the same day that Megan posted her general announcement regarding the controversy. All links to her project were promptly removed by the Board and the project was officially delinked from USGW. According to Megan, "The position of the board, pure and simple, is that no page at usgenweb.com will be knowingly linked to" and further that Maureen's pages were delinked solely because of the domain on which they resided [USGENWEB-ALL, 9 May 1998]. Maureen claims that she was never notified of the Board's intentions in this matter and was never personally informed that her military records project was delinked from the main pages, although both Celia Snyder and Linda Lewis later claimed she was both warned beforehand of the consequences of this action and notified of the Board's decision. Regardless, Maureen's Military Records Project was permanently removed from the USGenWeb Project, and the principle that project members can have their pages wherever they choose was demonstrated to rest solely on the whim of the Board and the NC. The Military Collections page has resided since this time with the United States Internet Genealogical Society.
In a postscript to this event, about two months after Maureen's project was delinked, another project member who was having trouble getting RootsWeb to set up an account for him, decided to move his pages over to usgenweb.com, where he could get the service he needed in a more timely fashion. After moving his pages over, he became aware of the controversy over Maureen's pages and the fact that she'd been delinked for moving them to usgenweb.com. He wrote, "Now am I going to be replaced? After all I've done for that county, am I going to be replaced?" [Chris Elledge, USGENWEB-ALL, 30 May 1998].
~ Night of the Living Dead, or, Some Things Just Won't Stay Down ~
In early May 1998, the RootsWeb Genealogical Data Cooperative announced its new partnership with Palladium, a company that published genealogical software, and the first-ever commercial advertisements started appearing on RootsWeb's pages. Although the Palladium sponsorship did not directly impinge on the USGenWeb Project, RootsWeb's announcemend did set off a lengthy debate about commercialization of the project, since in many respects the good name of the USGenWeb Project was being used for commercial purposes. Inevitably perhaps, the "USGenWeb, Inc. issue" came up, with a number of people pointing out the hypocrisy of "allowing the USGenWeb Project's name to be used to promote Palladium Software, and the hypocrisy of supporting Rootsweb.COM while at the same time crucifying Jerry's and Lucy's good name." [John Rigdon, USGENWEB-ALL, 28 May 1998]. By this time a number of months had passed since the initial announcement of USGenWeb, Inc.'s incorporation and the idea that the Dills and Pat Smith had connived to gain control of the USGenWeb Project for their own personal financial gain was firmly entrenched in many project members' minds. It was now commonly stated as "fact" that the incorporation was done specifically to "take over" the Archives and sell them, that Jerry Dill hoped to gain control over the entire project and plaster it with advertisements in order to gain financially, and that disaster was narrowly averted only by the integrity and fortitude of an unelected Board that operated in full secrecy. Much of the month of May 1998 was spent rehashing the incident, but little further understanding was gained. By this time, the Dills and Pat Smith were mostly invisible on the lists, and the participants in the debate were left to chew over a few scraps of fact, half-truths, and innuendo.
Then it was election time in the USGenWeb Project, and things got ugly all over again.
~ Lions and Tigers and Dills, Oh My! ~
In June 1998, the USGenWeb Project finally began the process of selecting its first ever elected Advisory Board and National Coordinator. By most accounts, that summer was ugly for a lot of reasons, including debate over bylaws, discussion once again of the values of incorporating, and accusations of disloyalty to the project directed at members who also participated in other online projects. The election cycle provided another opportunity to drag the USGenWeb, Inc. issue out for another round of discussion, and one's position on the "Dill issue" became a litmus test of fitness for office.
On July 20, 1998, project member Ellen Pack published the following questions to the candidates to the USGENWEB-ALL list:
"1. Do you support any attempt by Jerry Dill, or anyone other than Doc, the rightful owner, to gain or regain control of usgenweb.com? If so, why?2. If currently a member of USIGS, or affiliated in any way with USGenWeb, Inc., do you intend to continue as a member, and thus support USGenWeb, Inc., USIGS, it's board members, and their actions? If so, why?
3. If you are elected, and you learn that Mr. Dill, or any one else, has attempted still another takeover of usgenweb.com, what would your position be re that takeover? Would you:
a. support the takeover
b. not support the takeover
c. be non-committal
...and why?"
In short order, candidates were scrambling to dissasociate themselves from the Dills. Linda Lewis, Holly Fee-Timm, Shari Handley, and Tim Stowell all took swats at Ellen's straw man. Notable comments included:
"It was a great relief to me when Dale "Doc" Schneider was able to regain the usgenweb.com domain. I really felt that an injustice had been righted. Doc has publicly stated, as have the listed domain owners of usgenweb.org and usgenweb.net, Brian Leverich and Megan Zurawicz, that the domains "belong" to the USGenWeb Project. I would vehemently oppose anyone else gaining or regaining control of one of these domains. They belong to the USGenWeb Project...I remember the day that the news of USGenWeb, Inc. broke on this list. I immediately took a look at usgenweb.com, which was under the control of Jerry Dill at that time. Now, I know that the Dills and their supporters have insisted that their incorporation of the USGenWeb was an altruistic act, and that it was incorporated as "for profit" only to save on paperwork. But that day, I saw the commercial advertising banners that Jerry Dill had placed on what was at that time the main USGenWeb Project page. Oh, they were taken off *right* quick, when the stuff hit the fan, but there was no mistaking that they had been there... Now that the usgenweb.com domain is back under the control of the USGenWeb Project, that is where it needs to *stay*. And, these elections that we're in the midst of ensure that ALL of us are represented democratically in the Project, and, therefore, the domains are under the control of ALL of us." [Shari Handley]"I would fight any takeover attempt by persons without or within the Project by all means necessary until the threat had passed." [Tim Stowell]
"NO, I do not support the attempts of Jerry Dill to gain control of the usgenweb.com domain, nor would I support anyone else's attempt to do so. It's very disturbing to learn that another attempt was made as recently as July 14....I would not support the takeover. The usgenweb.com domain belongs with The USGenWeb Project and in control of the volunteers, which the legal "owner" has promised. The URL (www.usgenweb.com) has become a highly recognized genealogical site, and should not be used by other entities." [Linda Lewis]
The period during the elections also saw rampant speculation that the Dills and their "supporters", and specifically the United States Internet Genealogical Society [USIGS], were attempting to gain control of the USGenWeb Project by having many of its people run for office. USIGS was founded in 1997 by a large group of people, most of whom were either members of USGW or intimately involved in it, including Jerry and Lucy Dill, Nancy Trice, Linda Lewis, Megan Zurawicz, Brian Leverich, Ken Hollingsworth [founder of the USGW Census Project], Holly Fee-Timm, Dale Schneider, Billie McNamara, and many others. [There is a full list of the original USIGS officers on the USIGS Founders pages.] A number of Megan's hand-picked Board were founding officers of USIGS, including Megan herself, although a number of them resigned following the controversy over USGenWeb, Inc. At least one candidate for National Coordinator [Linda Lewis] joined the race because of the conspiracy she thought she saw among USIGS members to stack the USGW election with "friendly" candidates. In a message dated 24 July Barbara Dore helpfully pointed out that "(1) 75% of the three-year board members of USIGS are nominees in the 1998 USGW board election!!... Nancy Trice, John G. West, & James A. Streeter. The only other three year USIGS board member is Pat Smith, one of the incorporators of USGenWeb, INC. That's is 3 out of 4 three-year board members.... Looks stacked to me!" She also pointed that 61% of the candidates were KS CCs, although the implications of this particular statement are obscure [there was some turmoil in the project at that time over KSGenWeb's decision to incorporate.]
Here is a sample of some of the statements published during the election that implied or baldly stated the opinion that "someone" was attempting to use the election to gain control of USGW:
"What would you say if I told you Jerry and the "Dillites" haven't STOPPED trying to gain and control usgenweb.com, The USGenWeb Project, the USGW Archives since they first got the idea that they might COULD pull it off. What if I told you they planned their "strategy" and loaded the USGW election with the "right" nominees and have tried to convince many of the CC's that they are being abused, and, at the same time, accuses anyone that asks too many pointed questions, of all sorts of untruths!" [Barbara Dore, 20 July 1998, USGENWEB-ALL]"I also noticed several nominations of folks who are officers and board members of USIGS, being made a day or two after the usgenweb.com domain was returned to its rightful owner. This concerned me, because I know, as a founding member and former officer of USIGS, how important it is to them that the usgenweb.com domain remain on Jerry Dill's server. They thought it belonged to Jerry, but they were wrong." [Linda Lewis, 24 June 1998, USGENWEB-ALL]
But this was tame compared to some of the conspiracy notions floated later.
~ Black Helicopters, the Grassy Knoll, and Little Green Men ~
One of the enduring legacies of the controversy over the incorporation of USGenWeb, Inc. is the belief in some quarters of an ongoing conspiracy by a small group of people to destroy the USGenWeb Project and rebuild it under the USGenWeb, Inc. corporate umbrella, to the personal profit of the Dills and their co-conspirators. The identities of the co-conspirators are often fluid, and just as often go unnamed. The following quotes are only a small sample of the many references to the alleged conspiracy, posted both publicly and privately since March 18, 1998. It is probably not a coincidence that the majority of the quotes come from only a few people.
"John, what am I really trying to control here??? I'm trying to keep the volunteers, the county coordinators, the lifeblood of the project, in control, NOT a small group that has done nothing but plan in secrecy to tear apart the basic freedoms that the USGenWeb Project volunteers deserve." [Linda Lewis to John Rigdon, 12 July 1999, USGENWEB-ALL]I think the recent events have proven what I have suspected for some time now. I think this whole mess boils down to some wanting total control of The USGenWeb Project and some thinking that they can get a paid position in some of these non-profits orgs. and/or they just happen to have servers where they would like for these non-profits to pay for space and line "somebody's" pocketbooks, kind of through the back door." [Barbara "Rootslady" Dore, 23 June 1998, USGENWEB-ALL]
"Personally, I figure he had greater intentions for that domain name than to just help. If not, why turn around and use it for his personal use. If it was for the good of the project, then he could have saved it aside without using it and kept it until he was reimbursed. I rather think he knew what he was doing. We can't know that for sure, but there definitely has to be a better reason for why the project got it back, than he was only doing what was right." [Ron Eason, 19 June 1998, USGENWEB-ALL]
"No the board does not need to apologize to anyone for defending themselves against the slings and arrows of people going into secret combinations to tear them down and to throw the volunteers of the USGenWeb into confusion. You [John Rigdon], the Dills, Maureen, and the Abbys are the ones who need to apologize, for doing just that. And if "this problem continues to fester", it will be because of the infection that you, and people like you are causing, not from any actions or inactions from the board or the national coordinator."[Don Spidell, 14 July 1998, USGENWEB-ALL]
"I would like clarification, too. *Is* there an attempt taking place to destroy the Project as it is now by creating dissention, accustions, rumors, so that a *new* Project can be created under the umbrella of USGenWeb, Inc.??" [Linda Lewis, 25 July 1998, USGENWEB-ALL]
"I don't hold grudges, and I'm not a sore loser. But I will continue to try to protect The USGenWeb Project from becoming a "pawn" in any groups' powerplay. Yes.. the "backroom" managers did a good job. It's too bad some of them are apparently miffed because they are not part of the current democratic process." [Linda Lewis, 25 July 1998, USGENWEB-ALL]
"Public apologies mean NOTHING when Jerry Dill continues to do devious things in order to gain control of usgenweb.com and..... all that possession of that domain implies....What would you say if I told you Jerry and the "Dillites" haven't STOPPED trying to gain and control usgenweb.com, The USGenWeb Project, the USGW Archives since they first got the idea that they might COULD pull it off...What would you say if I told you Jerry Dill has made changes and attempted to regain control of usgenweb.com by filling very questionable information with InterNIC within the last few weeks... Would you say.... "That might explain why the Dill's, fellow USIGS board members, members, and friends are so desperate to tear down the board of USGW and anyone who speaks out against them or USIGS"?? [Barbara Dore, 19 July 1999, USGENWEB-ALL]
"What does it take??? Couldn't be more obvious it if flew in the window, and hit me in the face. The "proof" lies in the nominees, and the weeks of notes/attitudes/non-responses/flames/attacks/vulgarity/attempts at disruption, etc that we have had the great displeasure of experiencing here on ALL, as well as in the series of questionable actions taken since December when Jerry secretly incorporated USGenWeb, Inc. FOR-PROFIT." [Ellen Pack, 20 July 1998, USGENWEB-ALL]
"Why are the very people who have bashed the Project, the previous board, the Elections, the Bylaws, bashed RootsWeb, started competing projects, trashed the very people who have nursed the Archives Project into what it has become, trashed anyone who disagrees with them or asks the "wrong" questions, claimed they aren't needed, twisted statements (among other things), interrupted for us, insinuated, incorporated and incinerated the -ALL list, etc., the very same people who ask for all the copies of all the Lists', logs, minutes of USGenWeb (while having closed lists, etc.), demand proof while supplying none, supported the Dills & Dill followers and expect us all to trust them and now want to make the members of USGenWeb believe that those Archives are in danger where they are!! Will they stop at nothing to get their hands on them and either the whole project or destroy what they can??" [Barbara Dore, 28 September 1998, USGENWEB-ALL]
"I have no idea who brought Maureen "down" or if they did, but do recognize when people are trying to bring me down, because certain people have been doing that to me ever since I discovered USGenWeb, Inc., and helped Doc get usgenweb.com back from Jerry Dill's clutches. I know I did the right thing, and would do it again. They hate me for it." [Linda Lewis, 1 November 1998, USGENWEB-ALL]
"Several weeks ago, I posted messages to this list stating that I had a theory about what I had come to believe is an attempt to "take over" The USGenWeb Project, the USGW Archives and other Special Projects by certain people and groups of people. I am even more convinced of that today than I was then and they are all connected to USIGS." [Barbara Dore, 18 July 1999, USGENWEB-ALL]
"To be honest, I think this is a personal attack on me. Over a year ago, I was good friends with a group of people ...Now, that same group (except Megan) are the same ones working to attack the Archives (some are even attacking The USGenWeb Project) and trying to discredit anything the file managers or I do in regards to the Archives. Those attacks started soon after Megan and I discovered the incorporation of USGenWeb, Inc. as a for-profit, and intensified against me after I helped Dale Schneider, the rightful owner, get the domain usgenweb.com back." [Linda Lewis, 11 Sep 1998, USGENWEB-ALL]
"If you have nothing to hide prove it! I claim that the STRATEGY list is the very list where you and Maureen and others meet to plan these little attacks on the USGenWeb Project and the USGenWeb Archives Project. Prove me wrong! I dare you! And your sneaking around behind everybody's back with your secret combinations IS everybody's business!" [Don Spidell, 15 Sep 1998, USGENWEB-ALL]
"One tactic in a "war" is to divide and conquer. Could there possibly another project in the wings that these "screamers" are trying to build?" [Linda Lewis, 15 Sep 1998, USGENWEB-ALL]
"There is a lot of history of personal ill-feelings behind all this. In my opinion, it's a personal attack on me. For these reasons: 1. I questioned USIGS paying for a server that was owned by the treasurer. (Jerry Dill)...2. I suggested housing the USIGS pages on Rootsweb where it was free... 3. I was the one that discovered (March 98) USGenWeb, Inc., the for-profit corp. formed in secret in December 97) by Jerry and Lucy Dill, and Capt. Pat Smith...4. I was the one that helped and encouraged Dale Schneider to get the usgenweb.com domain back...5. I was (still am) a roadblock to them at getting the USGW Archives on their server...6. They hate Brian for announcing IIGS while USIGS was being discussed... Now the Abby's. They hate me because I wouldn't let them host a VAGenWeb county when they asked for it." [Linda Lewis, giving all the myriad reasons why "everyone" hates her, personal communication, 16 Sep 1998]
..."I am one of the many hundreds who truly believe that there is something going on behind our backs. There is one small group that appears determined to undermine the hard work that so many of us are doing, and then another somewhat larger group that either is blind to the true purpose that this group has in mind and therefore are supporting them in their efforts to divide and conquer the USGenWeb Project...There are a few who now seem to think that the Project should bend to their ideas and goals. I have had several CCs indicate to me that they fear the actions that are attempting to create their own little kingdoms...I sincerely hope that this small misguided group fail in their efforts to destroy the national USGenWeb Project." [Lesley Shockey, 21 Sep 1998, personal communication]
"I applaud Megan for her fairness and dedication to the USGenWeb Project and for helping to hold it together during the last year when there were factions trying to tear it apart. Why were they trying to tear it apart? Maybe they had another agenda??? Think about it. I bet their strategy is still at it." [Linda Lewis, 24 Sep 1998, USGENWEB-ALL]
"And from all the things that are being DONE now, it is very much looking like there is some motive and that you are very much going to use your new position to further the agenda's of even those rogue states that want to be separatists. You can rant and scream all you want. The underlying truth is, you are where you wanted to be so you can do what you wanted all along to be able to do..." [Ron Eason to Maureen Reed, 26 Sept 1998, USGENWEB-ALL]
"All along it's been "let's get away from top-down management", now you want it. What else will you want next? Let me guess, Make Maureen co-NC and move the project to Inc. and kick everyone else out if they don't like it....? Not a bad guess huh?" [Ron Eason to Teresa Lindquist, 26 Sep 1998, USGENWEB-ALL]
"Joanne, I'm not playing games with you. You know exactly what you are doing, who is involved and why you are doing it. So do others." [personal communication, Linda Lewis to Joanne Abbey, 26 Sep 1998, posted to USGENWEB-ALL by Linda Lewis]
"As far as I can see now and from the old messages... there are THREE FACTIONS! Faction one: aplusdata why: just few months back you or Anthony insulted the majority of the cc's and others who have the files in the USGenWeb Archives by labelling the Archives as the static files, and you or Anthony were trying to get us to move files from the Archives to your "Cold Fusion" server.... Faction 2: Maureen and her strong and overly loyalties to Jerry Dill. Why: You want USGenWeb to pay 400 bucks monthly to Jerry Dill to house the Archives there...Faction 3: USGenWeb - dedicated to protection of the files at Rootsweb and that is where whopping majority of us the SC's, CC's and volunteer transcribers chose to keep them..Brian and Karen have NO hidden agenda whatsoever... The factions that are NOT to be trusted are: Faction ONE and Faction TWO." [David Samuelsen, explaining how he sees things, 27 Sep 1998, USGENWEB-ALL]
"We (the archivists) have battled in the past against those on the outside of USGenWeb that wanted to use the Archives for their own benefit, and now we are battling against those from the inside, involved in other projects, that want to split them up." [Linda Lewis, 27 Sep 1998, USGENWEB-ALL]
"Just think what COULD/MIGHT have happened to them when Jerry Dill falsified information with InterNIC and snatched usgenweb.com. The rights to those Archives could have been GONE in 15 seconds and it might have taken a court battle to have gotten them back from USGENWEB, Inc. if at all. Anyone with access to the Archives could have copied, then deleted, whole directories, placed them on another server and claimed them for themselves or used them to line their pockets." [Barbara Dore, 29 Sep 1998, USGENWEB-ALL]
"On the other hand, I strongly believe there are "outside" sinister plans to destroy the USGenweb project because it stands in their way to build their own projects." [Linda Lewis, message to Billie McNamara, 18 December 1998]
"USGenWeb, Inc. (aka Rootsquest, USRoots, USGennet, USIGS, ALHN) -They've had a vendetta against me and the Archives ever since 1997 when I wouldn't agree to move the Archives to that server, off Rootsweb. There is still an ongoing attempt to sabotage (the only way I can describe it) the Archives, with a couple states trying to manipulate submitters into removing files and move them to ALHN, RQuest, etc." [Linda Lewis, 27 June 1999, USGW-CC-L]
Finally, we have this extraordinary "conversation" that occurred between Linda Lewis and Carol Dean, on July 27, 1999, an entire year after the events associated with the incorporation of USGenWeb, Inc. were concluded. The conversation occurred during a time when a number of USGW CCs were moving their county pages and information to Jerry Dill's server at usgennet.org, following RootsWeb.com, Inc.'s incorporation as a for-profit company and its publication of a retroactive Acceptable Use Policy. Based on the information below, this apparently drove Linda into a fury.
=====
LindaVa48: carol.. I just noticed Candi cc'd you LindaVa48: everything I said is true. CDean46561: yes. CDean46561: who is this???? Linda??? LindaVa48: I am sick of the lies LindaVa48: yes LindaVa48: Linda Lewis LindaVa48: you can tell Jerry Dill.. that everything he has posted.. from two years ago.. will be online soon CDean46561: cc'd me on what then? I don't have anything sent to you. LindaVa48: and expose his tricks LindaVa48: Candi horton cc'd you when she replied to my private message LindaVa48: and quoted my message.. you will see it when the mail gets to you CDean46561: What private message. I have n't gotten one. LindaVa48: also.. tell Jerry Dill that his attempts to get control of the usgenweb.com domain while he was secretly incorporating USGenWeb, Inc. as a for profit will be more public than before CDean46561: I haven't the foggiest idea what you are talking about LindaVa48: Carol.. the message will get to you eventually LindaVa48: it just arrived in my mailbox LindaVa48: tell Jerry Dill I am sick of his lies, and if he doesn't stop his "campaign", I will contact his church LindaVa48: and forward to them all his mail about how he hates Brian and wants all of USGW to move off RW LindaVa48: all of this is documented.. and I have not used it *yet*.. but I never thought anyone could be as slimey.. especially a "high priest" of the Mormon Church CDean46561: What the f**k are you talking about!!!! there is NO Campaign. LindaVa48: really???you are wrong.. and if you doNT realize it.. you are blind LindaVa48: the "campaign" started in the fall of 97 LindaVa48: ask Jerry about the Black-Helicopter@usroots.com list CDean46561: NO Linda you are so wrapped up in kissing B. Leverich's ass you can't see anything but that. LindaVa48: and ask him if he wants all those messages made public LindaVa48: ha!! LindaVa48: Brian NEVER incorporated usgenweb,inc SECRETLY as a for-profit companuy CDean46561: And Doc lying and Brian Lying and name calling. LindaVa48: who did??? JERRY DILL LindaVa48: Doc lying???? LindaVa48: you are believing Jerry's lies CDean46561: I wasn't secret Megan knew it. LindaVa48: I have messages from jerry AND Lucy contradicting their stories about what happend LindaVa48: CAROL.. MEGAN DID NOT KNOW LindaVa48: Jerry tried to make people think she KNEW LindaVa48: she did NOT know CDean46561: I will NOT argue about it. You do what you have to do. I will no longer talk to you about this or anything else. LindaVa48: Just tell Jerry his lies are about to be exposed... CDean46561: no LindaVa48: I am SICK of it.. and his lies.. and what he is doing to people LindaVa48: he's a sick man LindaVa48: vindictive CDean46561: oh you are so full of crap. LindaVa48: we'll see, Miss Dean LindaVa48: bye=====
This pretty much speaks for itself, and is a fitting end to the tale of the Dill Episode.
~ Where Are They Now? ~
Surprisingly enough, most folks involved in this saga are still active in the USGenWeb Project, in one capacity or another.
On to Chapter VII!
Back to Chapter V
Back to the TOC
|
© 1999 by Teresa Lindquist, all rights reserved. The opinions expressed above are solely those of the author; they may not reflect those of the USGenWeb Project or its members. The USGenWeb Project Advisory Board does not endorse this site and is not affiliated with it. Most of the preceeding information was gleaned from the archives of the USGENWEB-ALL and STATE-COORD mailing lists, and some was obtained from personal communications with the author. Jerry and Lucy Dill, Pat Smith, and Maureen Reed graciously consented to be interviewed for this article. As Dale Schneider has only a rootsweb.com email address it was not possible to contact him directly; attempts to contact him by alternate means were apparently not succesful. Several other people have helped me research this material, I'd like to thank them by name, but as they are still project members to do so would invite reprisals against them. SoYou Know Who You Are, and you have my thanks! |