DNA Project: Discounts
A few lines about the financial aspects of CSP. First, a reminder that, as a Surname Project we get a group rate which is a large reduction on the charge for a single test.
FamilyTree DNA has also offered several discount Gift Certificates this ‘holiday season’. For the only test which this project will find useful - for 37 markers - the two 30 USD vouchers have now been taken by the first two tests. If that is a disappointment, please read on!
FTDNA also offer some 15 USD Gift Certificates, for 25 marker Y-DNA tests and for mtDNA (testing female lines). I would strongly recommend that no-one takes the 25 marker test just to get this discount - it isn’t sufficiently accurate for our genealogical purposes. With regard to the mtDNA vouchers, I would naturally support anyone who wishes to take this test, though it will not contribute to the CSP. In short, if - now or later - you want to take advantage of any such offers, please be sure to contact me first as, as project administrator, I have to carry out some formalities.
Donations: I mentioned in an early newsletter on this subject that I would be fund-raising. As a result we have three more 30 USD vouchers on offer. There is at present no time-limit on these, though all donors will be hoping they will be taken up soon! Each reduces the cost of a 37-marker test to 159 USD.
We also had a donation of 30 USD which was earmarked by the donor for a particular branch, the PM/S (Stackpole) line, so - rather appropriately - this went to subsidise our first test. There remains 90 USD in the fund, without any conditions, and I think it is most appropriate to use it to attract three more new tests.
If anyone reading this wants to sponsor a test from a particular line, this can be done by clicking on the Donations link at http://www.familytreedna.com/public/CantonSurnameProject/ and letting me know at once if you want it dedicated to a specific purpose - no need to do so if it is a general donation.
As any reader of this blog will know, I believe strongly that DNA tests will help us sort out some problems and find unexplored links in Canton genealogy. As I can’t take a test myself, I intend to make a major contribution to the costs of the first PM/P tests - this will be separate from the existing funds. The ideal is to find two PM/P descendants early on, no closer than second cousins - i.e. with a common great-grandfather in James Canton. These two tests would, I believe, provide some good base data against which to measure other results. I am trying to contact possible candidates and will keep you informed.
To take advantage of the discounts outlined above:
1. Let me know that you plan to take a test. This is only because of the discount and is not necessary otherwise. It won’t work if I am, for instance, away from home - but when I am here (most of the time) I do check my emails several times each day.
2. Complete the online form for joining and be sure to request ‘pay by invoice’.
3. Notify me as quickly as possible that you have joined, quoting the ‘Kit Number’ you will have been given. This needs to be in writing and please check you have copied it accurately.
4. I will then e-mail FTDNA and ask that the relevant discount is credited to you - the system works well in practice because the staff are very helpful. Kits are posted out, with invoices, on the next working day. (For UK members: the office is six hours behind our time.)
Of course I will let you know that the procedure has been carried out.
Finally, a reminder that readers are very welcome to leave comments here or to me by email (see below).
Sheila
My contact details are at
http://www.one-name.org/profiles/canton.html
UPDATE: The ‘holiday season’ discount vouchers are no longer available, having expired at the turn of the year. Canton Surname Project is still able to offer its own 30 USD discounts - details on request.