July 2009

Dear All County Coordinators:

My name is Jeff Kemp and I would like to be your SEMA Rep. You should know a little about me before you vote if there is choice for this position, so here goes.

Currently, in Mississippi, I am the state coordinator and county coordinator for Alcorn and Prentiss, and Tishomingo County, Mississippi; and Henry & McNairy Counties, TN, Garland & Hot Spring Counties, Arkansas, Graves County, KY; as well as Assistant State Coordinator for ARGenWeb.net and KYGenWeb; I also manage several USGenWeb Archive websites: Calloway, Christian & Graves Counties, KY and Giles & Tazewell Counties, VA.

I began my volunteer service with the USGenWeb in February 1996 as county coordinator for Henry County, TN. I have since continued to serve adding counties one by one as time has permitted. I joined the MSGenWeb sometime in early 2006 after assuming Alcorn County. At that time it was brought to my attention that Prentiss and Tishomingo counties were also adoptable. Realizing that all three used to be one county I agreed to manage all three.

In late 2004 I was accepted as Assistant State Coordinator for ARGenWeb (Arkansas State). I  developed the current state website and continue to manage the website serving 2nd in command to a great State Coordinator and mentor, Betsy Mills.
In 2008 I accepted the position of Assistant State Coordinator for the KYGenWeb serving under Sherri Bradley. Sherri is a first rate person who's heart is truly a part of the USGenWeb project. It is truly a honor working with Betsy Mills and Sherri Bradley.

In my real personal life I am a 47 year married Dad with two sons, a Boston Terrier named Sam and a Chihuahua named Mike. My family and I currently live in Hebron, Porter County, IN. I was born and raised in Indiana with most of my family either from or currently residing in IN, KY, TN, MS, AR, VA and Michigan.

I started working when I was 15 at a local restaurant (fine dining). I worked my way thru the ranks to management, and held the management position until I was about 36. During my off hours from the restaurant I pursued my love of computers at a local college. Graduating I left the restaurant to start my own business in late 1997. My wife and myself currently own
CompUhelp Technical Services, Inc., check it out.  I have numerous hobbies; Doo-Wop & some, gardening, computers, my pets, my sons, and of course Genealogy. I also spend time at our church in numerous projects and maintain the website there.

My start in genealogy began in early 1991. My Aunt (Dad's sister) had begun the family tree in the early 70's and had basically become complacent with it due to her raising a family. I asked if I could have what she had begun. This not only started me along the path of my genealogical hobby but also my desire to learn computers.

In regards to how I look at or my thoughts on the USGenWeb and my volunteer work for the entire scope of the USGenWeb Project as a whole and how things rank:

1. The research is the core; transcribing and getting it online ("The Genealogy")

2. Co-volunteers; the people like myself who have the love and desire to work diligently to get the records online

3. The researcher/person visiting our websites

If you choose to allow me to serve as your SEMA Rep, I will endeavor to work to:

1. Always remember Genealogy First;

2. Always remember that I am a volunteer just like everyone else;

3. Listen to your needs, wants and concerns and be open to different points of view;

4. Keep you informed of any and all information that is not confidential;

5. Do my utmost to communicate with you and respond to your email in a reasonable period of time and with a reasonable tone;

6. Work to foster and improve relationships with all coordinators;

7. Communicate with you in an open and honest manner;

8. To review all facts of an issue with an unbiased opinion;

9. Assist you in any manner within my means or control as your SEMA Rep;

10. Continue to enhance and participate in the growth and success of USGenWeb and all of its projects;

11. Operate in a courteous and professional manner; and most of all...

12. Stand up for, defend and fight tooth and nail to protect your rights as a volunteer coordinator.

If you have questions you would like to ask me, please feel free to contact me using the link below. If you wish to have your question posted, along with my response, just let me know and I will place those here as well. If you prefer that they remain confidential, just let me know that also. I promise to understand and honor any confidentiality request.

I look forward to working with each and every one of you.

Sincerely,

Jeff Kemp

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