I wanted to write an individual greeting to each of the lists I
administer, but my time has run out! It is almost 3am of New Years
Eve, and as I listened to the BBC World Service, folks out in the
Pacific began celebrating the new millenium. I will leave the
2000/2001 debate to others, and simply wish all of you my very best in
the coming year.
We are fortunate in so many ways, but I feel especially blessed by
each one of you list members I have been lucky enough to correspond
with. My hope is that this next year, each one of you will make a
breakthrough in your research, and that you will each find a new
cousin. Last year, I came across some genealogical New Years
resolutions, which I will share with you now. If each of us does all
of these, we will be pro-level genealogists/family historians in no
time!
Happy New Year,
Valorie
1) I will get in touch with as many relatives as I can and gather
as much information as possible from them.
2) I will enter all of my correspondence, research, and requests in
a research log.
3) Using my research log, I will inventory all the records I have
requested/available for each family and request the records I still
need.
4) I will check my research log and follow up on any inquiries that
are overdue for a response.
5) I will make a list of libraries and archives that I have been
intending to visit and plan a trip to them.
6) I will plan a trip to my local LDS Family History Center and
become more familiar with their many offerings.
7) I will read more on the history of my ancestors' hometown, home
city, and homeland so that I can gain further insight into their
lives and possibly find some clues as to reasons for migration, and
where additional records may be found.
8) I will read more genealogical journals and periodicals, to learn
more strategies and to keep current with news items that will
affect my research.
9) I will make copies and/or photos, or photocopies of those old,
irreplaceable photos and memorabilia. This includes diary pages,
Bible pages, heirlooms, and correspondence. I will then share these
copies with other family members so that all of these valuable
items are not in one location in case of disaster.
10) I will also catalog all of these items and later expand it to
include artifacts held by other family members.
11) I will also put names and dates on all of our current family
photographs so that future generations will not have to wonder who
is in the picture.
12) I will donate some time to my local genealogical/historical
society to help with a worthwhile project. I know that by
volunteering, many times I have learned something new that has
helped my in my own research, besides giving me that warm, fuzzy
feeling of accomplishment.
13) I will investigate all of the newly available resources
available on the Internet and through various genealogical programs.
14) I will begin and maintain a separate research log for web sites
that I have searched, and make a note of the results.
15) I will make sure my email address is up-to-date with any web
site I have submitted a GEDCOM file or queries to, so that all
those long-lost cousins out there in cyberspace can find me.
16) I will make sure that all my sources have been properly cited
in the GEDCOM files that have been submitted to the Rootsweb
WorldConnect or other collections. If not, I will update my files and
send in replacement files.
17) I will backup my computer and send these backups to a remote
location so that in the event of fire, flood or some other
disaster, my work will not be lost.
18) I will update all of my virus software so that my valuable
family files will not be lost.
19) I will make sure my computer programs and equipment are Y2K
(Year 2000) compliant. (Better get to work on this one TODAY!!!)
20) I will find great satisfaction in the fact that I have helped
preserve the stories of those individuals who have contributed to
my existence.