Proposed new society committee on publications

Here are the proposals the society will vote on at the 14 February meeting.

First a new committee added to the constitution and bylaws:

Section 4. The Indexing, Abstracting and Publications Committee consisting of five members with the following duties (1) To encourage and support the indexing and publishing of public and private genealogical records, (2) To oversee Society initiated abstracting and indexing projects, (3) To solicit and negotiate with authors and compilers for publication and sale of their work by the Society, (4) To oversee printing, binding, and distribution of publications, (5) To oversee on-line publication via the website, including possible on-line publication of older publications, and (6) To report to the membership and the board.

Second, a set of policies for the committee:

POLICIES OF

INDEXING, ABSTRACTING & PUBLICATIONS COMMITTEE

(A) Society-initiated projects. Anyone volunteering to work on indexing/abstracting projects under the direction of the Society would sign an agreement relinquishing their rights to the completed project. All necessary materials to do the work on the project would be furnished by the society. All proceeds from sales would go to the treasury of the La Porte County (IN) Genealogical Society. Compilers would each receive one free copy of the published book.

(B) Independent compiler projects. Anyone who wishes to do abstracting or indexing on his/her own may offer the work to the society for publication. The Society could also approach such a person and offer to publish and sell. If an agreement was reached, the individual compiler(s) would sign a Donation of Work form relinquishing all or part of their rights to the work and allowing the Society to publish and sell. All proceeds from sales would go to the treasury of the La Porte County (IN) Genealogical Society. Compilers would each get one free copy of the published book.

(C) Independent publisher projects. Anyone who privately publishes and markets their work may offer the Society a quantity of copies at a lesser price, to be sold by the Society at the same market price offered by the individual, so a small profit would be added to the Society's coffers. Specific arrangements would be subject to negotiation between the committee and the author. These products could be offered for sale by the Society on its web site, in its quarterly newsletter, or in any other manner, but they would not be Society publications. The compiler(s) would retain all rights.

(D) The committee will establish necessary procedures, including forms for the above situations.