Your portal to Puerto Rico Genealogy!

 

  

Using This Site
[Usando este Portal]

This page provides some guidance on how to get the most out of our website:


 

   Terms and Conditions

   ~~~ Revision as of 8 Jan 2010 ~~~  

Before using or subscribing to Searching For Our Roots, please review the following terms and conditions which define your rights, responsibilities and benefits as a user of Searching For Our Roots.

Introduction In using this website, you agree to be bound by these terms and conditions, which shall take effect immediately on your first use of Searching For Our Roots. If you do not agree to be bound by all of the following terms and conditions, please do not access or use this site.

As the site changes and grows we reserve the right to make changes to these terms and conditions if we think they are required without further notice. We encourage you to review this website and these terms and conditions for any updates or changes. Your use of this website following any such change constitutes your agreement to follow and be bound by the terms as changed. If you do not agree to the changes, you should cease using this website.   [Top of Page]
Services We provide users with access to a rich ever growing collection of online genealogical resources, including searchable databases, learning tools, graphics,  links, and other specialized content, as well as opportunities to post queries, share data, list your personal home page, and other materials on genealogical and family-related subjects.   [Top of Page]
Membership Although some sections are free and available to all, most of the transcriptions and documents are for active members only.  To review them, you must complete the Membership Application Form and send with your payment of annual dues. A $18 (non-refundable) fee is charged for a one (1) year membership. We reserve the right to deny or cancel (at any time) any membership to anyone that has violated our terms of use or copyrights.  

You are responsible for maintaining the full and total confidentiality of your username and password that will automatically be assigned to you by the system upon registration. As a result, you are fully responsible for all activities which occur under them. You must notify us immediately of any unauthorized use to which you become aware.  [Top of Page]
Rules of Conduct You agree that You will only use the website in a manner that is consistent with these Terms and Conditions and in such a way as to ensure compliance.

Unacceptable actions and content as determined by us in our discretion, will constitute grounds of blocking your access to our service, removal of posted material and possibly termination of your membership.

As condition of your use of this service, you agree that you will not:

  • use the SFOR Services to reproduce copyrighted materials.
     

  • prepare any derivative work of or alter in any way any of the material from this site.
     
  • You cannot use any of the material on this site in any product sold for profit of any kind including but not limited to selling of a book or other publications even if used for raising funds for any group or association, without the written consent of the owner of this site.
     
  • post material from this site on another website, bulletin board, mailing list or on a computer network. Instead make a reference to the page of interest and direct the reader to visit SFOR  for details. Example:  You can find additional information on Juan del Pueblo under the 1824 census in the SFOR site.
     
  • transmit, reproduce or distribute material from this site to others. If you know of a friend or fellow researcher that might benefit from data on this site, tell them about us but do not copy the data to give to them.
     
  • copy, reproduce, republish, upload, post, transmit or distribute in any way any material from this site in any form (including by email or other electronic means) without prior written permission from the owner. Of course, you're free to encourage others to access the information themselves on our website and to tell them how to find it.
     
  • distribute your password to others for access to SFOR This is expressly prohibited and shall constitute a breach of this Agreement and will result in immediate termination of your membership.
     

We are entitled to investigate and revoke a person’s membership if a member has misused the Service, or behaved in a way which could be regarded as inappropriate or whose conduct is unlawful or illegal. On the other hand, you MAY

  • Use the content on the site for your personal, non-commercial use only.
     
  • If permitted, download material from this site for your personal, non-commercial use only, provided you keep intact all copyright and other proprietary notices.  [Top of Page]
Copyright Searching For Our Roots respects the copyright law and intellectual property of our members, and we ask you to respect your fellow members as well.  If you feel that your rights to copyright law have been violated, please contact us at priscolon@gmail.com and we will examine and remove the content if need be.  [Top of Page]
Contributions to the site You can help in the growing of the site by sharing/contributing any document, photographs, graphics or listings available to you.

You agree to grant us, exclusive, free of charge and perpetual use of the data. And to use the material in any way we see fit including modifying and/or adapting it for editorial reasons. We normally show your name with your contribution, unless you request otherwise.

Here are a few of the things you can do to help make additional resources available:

-- Share a graduation program with us.
-- Transcribe old documents. Especially does that have lots of names.
-- Help with the 1910 US Census project by transcribing a barrio or a town.
-- Have you transcribed some grave stones from a cemetery and want to share?

The above are just but a few of the projects that you could be involved with. Maybe you've got an idea of your own. If that is so, don't be shy please check with us, chances are we will be able to use it.

Oops, I almost forgot to tell you that for some of the above you could earn some free membership time that will allow you access to our Members Only Area.   [Top of Page]
Security To prevent unauthorized access, to maintain data accuracy, and to ensure the appropriate use of the site, SFOR uses appropriate physical, technical and administrative procedures to safeguard the information we collect. We use and pay for technology that helps us to secure the site and data on it.  [Top of Page]
Disclaimer While every attempt has been made to ensure that the information presented on this site is accurate, let's face it, accidents and typos happen. You should not assume that our service is error-free. Although changes are periodically made to the information herein, we will not be responsible for any damage or injury that you suffer as a consequence of obsolete, outdated, omitted or incorrect data.   [Top of Page]

Our service provides hyperlinks to many other sites and organizations on the Internet. Because we have no control over such sites and information, we make no warranty as to their accuracy, content, currency, or objectionability. Our links to such sites should not be interpreted as an endorsement on our part for such sites, and their activities.

The ideas presented here are the recordings of data as I found it. I'm just the keeper around here, a history technician, not a historian, so it will be up to you to draw your own conclusions from the facts presented on this website.   [Top of Page]
Termination  You agree that SFOR, in its sole discretion, may terminate you as a Annual Member and your access to the Service, or any portion thereof,  including but not limited to if SFOR believes that you have breached these Terms and Conditions. SFOR may, in its sole discretion at any time, change the content or services offered on the Service or discontinue providing the Service, or any portion thereof, without notice.   [Top of Page]

If you have any questions about the rights and restrictions above, please contact us.

We do not use your information for any reason outside of operating this site, we respect and protect your privacy!

--------------- END OF TERMS AND CONDITIONS  ---------------

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   Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What can I do to help the site?

A: Let us know what you find; it may be that something useless to you but very useful to someone else.

Here are a few things you can do to help:

  • Point out errors that you see while browsing the pages.
     

  • Contribute the listing of a yearbook or graduation program from your family.
     

  • Bring to our attention the address of a site that you think can help others.
     

  • Have old personal memorabilia that would like for others to see?  Let us know we can probably host it for you.
     

  • If you like this site, spread the word to your friends. The more researchers that know of us, the more resources that we can bring together.
     

  • You can join the Online Cemetery Records Project.  The goal here is to transcribe as many cemetery markers as we can.  This project is a field project and a fun one. Please contact us at priscolon@gmail.com for further details.

  • You can join the 1910 US Federal Census Project.  This is a project to partially transcribe the Puerto Rico 1910 U.S. Federal Census in a standard format for the benefit of all the genealogical researchers on the Internet.  Please contact us at priscolon@gmail.com for further details.
     

  • Have any ideas of your own? Just contact us at  priscolon@gmail.com

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Q. Do I give up ownership of the data when I contribute to this site?

A: The data submitted tosite remain the property of the submitter although it will be permanently hosted with us. Contributor's have the option of submitting the same data to other sites for hosting if he/she chooses to do so. All our pages have a copyright statement at the bottom of each page that will have your name as the contributor.

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Q: Why do I have several browsers open?

A: Some links go to external websites (such as in the  Beginner's Corner section.) A new browser is launched to make it easy to view the other site while still keeping our site open. When you have finished with one site, you can close it by choosing the X symbol in the upper right corner of the browser window. This will close the window.

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Q: Why isn't the back button working?

A: If you are viewing an external site on the Internet, you may have launched a new browser session. In the background, you should see that is still active on your desktop. In order to get back to our site, simply close the new browser by clicking on the X in the upper right hand corner.

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Q: Where can I send a comment /questions?

A: If you have a question/comment about a particular page/section of this site, you are more than welcome to write to me at  priscolon@gmail.com.  I will respond as soon as time permits.

Due to the increase of messages as well as the constant demands of a growing site, I will not be able to answer the following type of messages:
 

  1. Requests for help on specific topics. See the Sitemap  page instead. If you don't see what you are looking for there, then we don't have it yet.
     

  2. Requests for personal research help, advice, tips, lookup of specific names. See Beginner's Corner  page instead or post your question on one of the available forums.  There you will probably receive answer to your question or guidance.
     

  3. Requests for obituaries that are NOT posted on the site. Visit a newspaper repository instead.

Also, have in mind that if the answer to your question is already in one of the site pages, we will not answer your e-mail. Thank you for understanding that my time can be much better spend updating the website and typing new records for you to review.

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Q: Can you do research for me?

A: Unfortunately, no.

While I have the experience and knowledge, I do not provide professional research services for others, not even for a fee. I am sorry, but there are just not enough hours in my day. Work on this website is my priority and it is my way of helping you with your research.

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Q: What can you do for me?

A: So far, I have located, transcribed and made available to you lots of old documents as well as other stuff that will help you in your research. We are committed to keeping the site current and with a continue flow of new transcriptions and useful things.

I am 64 yrs, in 2009, so God willing I have a few more productive years to continue with this effort.

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Q: If I tell you what I have about my family can you check your files for me?

A: Sorry I can't.  However, you can do that yourself using the search engine on our site or browsing through the pages.

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Q: I am new at this.  Can you help me get started with my research?

A:  I would love to be able to help others as I have done in the past, but I just do not have the time. Suggest you check out the sites found under Beginner's Corner on this site.  There, you will find lessons, tips and hints, databases and more to get you started.

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Q: Looking for a particular topic (i.e., cemeteries)?

A:  I am certain that if you look through the sitemap and familiarize yourself with each of the categories you will be able to answer the question yourself. You can also use our search engine to do a quick check.

I you don't find the specific topic on my site, then I haven't gotten to it yet. I'm adding new records and data to the site as quickly as I can.

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Q: Why haven't you answered the message I sent you 4 days ago?

A:  On average, I receive between 50-60 messages per day. After I delete all telemarketing, chain letters, virus warnings and such, I am left with about 20-25 messages that truly required by attention. To be fair, I answer my mail on a first come first serve basis and depending on what the request is, I can service someone in just a few minutes while others take a little bit longer.

Rest assure that your mail will be answered. Just remember that because I work on this all by my lonesome, it takes me a little bit longer than normal to reply.

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Some of your questions may be answered here. We recommend that you check this list prior to sending requests for information to us. This list will be expanded as additional common questions arise.

As the site continues to grow and I with it, I am 65 yrs young in 2010, I find less and less time to run the place. In order to continue with this passion of mine, I need to free up some of my time so, if the answer to your question is available on this page, I will NOT respond to your E-mail.

Due to staffing limitations (just me), we are unable to respond to E-mail requesting personal genealogical research assistance.

Thank you for not asking
 

Last Update January 29, 2011
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All rights reserved.