Mary Alice Benedict Grindol, Editor Benedict
Family History News
7421 Wausau Trail, Gaylord MI 49735-8836 (May 15-Oct 15) or
1821 Belfry Lane Winter Haven FL 33881-9793 (Oct 15 - May 15)
year around e-mail: mgrindol"at"avci.net
(in the above address, substitute @ for "at." This is an attempt to foil the automated e-mail gathering machines.)
This letter was sent to subscribers and recent subscribers of The Benedict Family History News, now in its seventh year. Included are the libraries and societies that have received complimentary issues of this quarterly publication.
It is with regret that I must inform you that the newsletter has ceased publication. The last issue published was Volume VII, Number 2 (Fall 1999). Those who are current paid subscribers for Volume VII will receive a $6 refund to be included with this letter. Past subscribers and those who received complementary issues will receive no refund.
The primary reason our newsletter cannot continue is a recent lack of articles and other material. We sent two series of form letters to professional genealogical researchers and potential writers. We repeatedly spoke and wrote about our need for articles. Our style sheet for authors was available by mail on request and at our website. In spite of important publicity efforts, the ratio of new subscribers to non-renewals has decreased. The editorial board agrees that, with my resignation, publication should stop.
I wish to thank all of those persons who in the past contributed high-quality articles, fine queries, and pertinent news. Each item was gratefully appreciated. I would like also to thank Treasurer Sheila Benedict, CGRS for her continued support despite a busy career in genealogical research and commitment to volunteer genealogical activities at the national level. Larry Benedict, Circulation Editor thanklessly gave of his time to see that your newsletter was mailed in a timely manner to the correct address. In addition to contributing several important articles, Roberta Pierson, Queries Editor, accepted and organized your queries. Elwyn Benedict, author of Volume II of The Genealogy of the Benedicts in America (1969) has been equally supportive, as well as a good friend of many years.
I am proud of our accomplishments. We started in 1993 as a few online correspondents who discussed the idea of a newsletter. Because of instigation by our first editor and present treasurer, Sheila Benedict, a small newsletter was born. When Sheila resigned the editorship in 1995, I eagerly accepted the challenge to continue what was already a fine publication. In 1997 our publication was named “Runner-up-Family Associations and Newsletters” in the newsletter competition of the National Genealogical Society and as a result, was featured in the July-August issue of that organization’s newsletter. The same year, the newsletter joined the Federation of Genealogical Societies and was later featured by its Forum “Family Association” columnist, Christine Rose, CG, CGL, FASG.
Also in 1998, a comprehensive index of the first five volumes of the newsletter, created by Wayne Campbell, became available to genealogical researchers at our new site on the World Wide Web. That index and subsequent name indexes are still available at http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~benedictnews/indexes/intro.htm.
Back issues of the newsletter and printed indexes will continue to be available from the treasurer, Sheila Benedict, CGRS, P.O. Box 1867, Santa Ynez CA 93460-1867. Reprints will not be made. The printed index for Volumes 1-5 will cost (postpaid) $7 and for Volume 6, $3. Back issues are $3 each. To check availability and for more information, Sheila can be e-mailed at sheilabe"at"hwy246.net. Our website will continue to function through the end of the year 2000 or until the back issue supply is exhausted.
My situation has changed in the past year and a half since retirement more than I anticipated. My husband and I moved away (both summer and winter) from major research centers, and I find it more complicated to research and write articles by myself. I do, however, apologize that I didn’t complete the current volume before my resignation.
For those with e-mail access, I would like to recommend the BENEDICT RootsWeb mail list. I will continue to serve as the coordinator for that group. To subscribe to the list, send an e-mail message with only the word SUBSCRIBE in the subject and the body of the message to [email protected] or to [email protected] (for digest mode). With the latter, instead of multiple messages from other subscribers to the list each time they respond, you will receive one message each day (or so) with all of the responses combined. Especially if you have many other correspondents, the latter plan makes it easier to handle incoming mail.
As always, I am pleased to correspond with any BENEDICT family researchers. I will review our newsletters and indexes and Volumes I and II of The Genealogy of the Benedicts in America to assist with connections. (These volumes are still available for purchase from Elwyn E. Benedict, 7949 Adams Road, Kirkville, NY 13082. Phone: (315) 656-2311. Updates of family information for Volume III should be sent to Elwyn.)
Sincerely,
Mary A. Grindol
(Mary Alice Benedict Grindol)
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