2012 Genealogical Challenge

EGS 2012 Genealogical Challenge

1.  Organize your research.

2.  Review your research:  Go through your notes and identify those areas needing more research.

3.  Set a research goal:  Identify what you’d like to accomplish and move towards completing that goal.            

    

4.  Schedule a research time:  Identify a specific amount of time in your schedule to work on your research.  A pre-determined time, long or short, will help you find the time to reach your goals.

5.  Follow up on a genealogical clue:  Perhaps you’ve forgotten to follow up on a clue or failed to follow a trail that has been discovered or passed on to you.  Take a look at that clue and follow it.  You may be surprised what you find.

6.  Discover a new resource:  Purchase a new book or enroll in a trial subscription.  Then take the time to study the new resource for its information.     

7.  Visit an new genealogy blog or website:  Visit Cyndi’s list for links to sites and blogs.  Geneabloggers (www.geneabloggers.com) has a list of over 2000 genealogy blogs.  Do a Google search to see what comes up for one of your areas of interest.

8.  Visit a message board for your area of interest:   Rootsweb states that they have over 161,000 message boards.  Find one that is of interest to you and post a message.

     

9.  Plan a library visit:  Newberry, Ft. Wayne, Arlington Heights, Madison.  The Newberry and Arlington Heights libraries are close enough to spend a hour or a day there.  The closer they are the harder they are to visit.

10.  Write about a family member:  If you’re having trouble getting motivated to write, join the EGS Writer’s Group.

11.  Share information with family:  The holidays are perfect times to share your information.  Start preparing now and by next Thanksgiving or Christmas you should have something you can share.

12.  Write a journal, keep a daily calendar.  Future generations will thank you for keeping a journal.  It will tell them how you lived and what events you experienced.

13.  Strategize with a friend.  Get together with a genealogy buddy and discuss your research goals or problems.  Don’t forget that two heads are better than one when it comes to problem solving.

14.  Attend a local workshop, seminar or meeting at another genealogical society.  There are quite a few societies in our area that hold monthly meetings.  Check the white book for a listing of societies and programs.  The DuPage County society holds a conference every February.  You do not have to be a member to attend these events. For out-of-area members, check the internet or local papers information about societies near you.

15.  Write an article for a newsletter.  Newsletter editors appreciate submissions from members.  Sharing your research challenges and accomplishments may help others in their research.

16.  Pay it forward.  Almost everyone has received unexpected genealogical help.  If you’re able and have the opportunity, take the time to do something for someone else.  Post a response to message board or blog posting, take cemetery photos and post them to FindAGrave

17.  Help Index the 1940 Census.  Between January and April, set up an account on familysearch.org and get familiar with the indexing process so we'll all be ready to dig in when the 1940 census is released in April. As the year goes on, more information and instructions will become available.