To all of the researchers and sysops out there:
         The time has come to announce the retirement of
ANCESTRY TBBS.  After nine years of providing Fidonet access to
the Central Florida Highlands, the system will no longer
take calls from the public beginning March first 1997.
         I have truly enjoyed my association with Fido and
the great people in this conference but there are other
things I want to do with my life.  The wife and I have
decided its time to move on with our own "life's pleasures"
and operating a BBS such as mine just won't be possible.
In our nine years we have served more than 65,000 callers
along with being a distribution point for software and
research info via GSDS.  I've enjoyed being the North American
coordinator for GSDS and will be turning this position over
to another individual prior to my departure.  The Genealogy
Database conference and its collected TT files have been
turned over to Michael Kirst to continue the work I started.
Such an area serves as an example of the good that Fidonet
can do for your genealogical endeavors.  I'm proud to have
started it so many years ago and very happy it turned out
as it did.
         BBS systems require attention to keep the hardware/software
operational and the messages flowing.  Since I won't be here
to give it that attention it has to be shut down.  Janis and
I intend to travel some, visiting and seeing the places we have
always wanted to.  She will have ample research time and I
will have ample "play" time.
         My thanks go out to those of you who have given so
much of yourselves to this hobby of ours.  The world is a
much better place for your having been in it.
                                       John
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