Genealogy Forum NEWS
March, 1998
Beginning SIG Update
BEGINNER'S TEAM INSIGHTS
A look into the work that goes on behind the scenes!
submitted by
GFS Susi@aol.com
Susi has written this article for those who are just beginning their on-line family history research, as well as for those of us who assist these newbies in For Starters. She does a good job of summarizing the essentials!
As a forum host in four SIGs besides Beginners I think Beginners has a big responsibility to its participants. I am hoping as our new participants join the Genealogy Forum that they really look at what the beginner's area can offer in helping them move throughout the special interest groups and drop-in hours.
We have some terrific programs here on-line to help people master their genealogy and computer problems at the same time. The beginners chat that I am working with attempts to inform beginners of certain tools or elements in the forum. Here online we use a different language, in many cases, that some beginners do not understand. We use symbols, and expressions that can bring up questions by beginners.
Of course, we have areas that they can go to learn about the terms and the expressions to solve these queries. We try to teach our beginners the elements: about protocol, and how to log a chat; how to use an instant message, where and how to send e-mail. We are asked: "where is the profile box?" and "why should we fill in the profile box?" It is my hope and I am sure the hopes of all the beginners hosts to do the same.
These items ensure the beginner of not loosing data they may need, via logging, when a room is busy or important data being given. Protocol teaches the format used when you enter a room and someone may be imparting some very important information for all in the room to retain. E-mail is the sending and recieving of electronic mail by our members and members of other organzations. Instant message is a message that can be received immediately when you are in a chat room and will not interrupt the entire room. Needless to say profiles are the least time consuming and easy-to-use asset that can be used by fellow members to find what names people are researching. If you go to the profile box and fill in your name and type of computer and then add the names of families you are researching instead of the other answers requested, people can check your name and see the names you're researching and contact you. You do not have to be in a chat room for this valuable asset to happen. It is like posting a query but you don't have to read through pages and pages of names to get the answer.
I hope this bit of information will help more people to promote beginners to come to the classes that are offered. Of course, we do answer genealogical questions about where to do research and what books, libraries, genealogical societies to contact, URL's to use, and informing the new people about the USGenWeb Project
March Topics
submitted by
GFS Barb@aol.com
Upcoming"To me the beginners room is a great tool to teach the basics of researching and the basic of finding their way around the forum. To try and get them interested in more advanced areas just seems to confuse the majority of the visitors."
GFS BARB speaks candidly about what works in For Starters and what she's been up to the last month or so in her forum work.
What I've done this month is quote sections out of the Ancestors of American Presidents by Gary Boyd Roberts, showing how some were related to each other even though they were from different states. I also covered some of the wives and their famous ancestors in an effort to remind beginners to check every source for any type of lead. I was able to give about three For Starter's room visitors an ancestor's name they did not have (mostly the maiden names of women). I had GRANT, POLK and ADAMS' bingos.
In March we will be concentrating on the BASIC steps to research and have macros in the beginners chat area. If we concentrate on one basic a week we can cover the main items, but I'm sure we can at least stress five each nite. Good basics to start with will help more later on and make research easier and more fun! Giving them more than one source to solve problems should be a good beginning for them, such as the 11 places George mentioned in his first weekly article on Births or marriages. (See "Along Those Lines ..." Column ) As we don't usually do protocol in a beginner's room, our method of asking each other questions has worked well for us. It creates interest among the crowd, so many say "I never thought of that" this makes us feel we have accomplished something. The night I talked about using the Funeral Home Blue book, for addresses all over the US was a case in point I had many come back later in the month with success stories, and that their local funeral home gave them older copies of the book to add to their own home library or to give to FHC or library made them happy because now they had something to share with other beginners.
The month of March will be one of our greatest sharing months in beginners! I think we will accomplish much and end the month with satisfaction of a job well done. :)
GREAT BINGO I got this past week was with KATTLEKATE! :D I mentioned I'd finally found an ancestor that was hung and had found the history of the hanging in the Tower of London. I said it was my Sir Thomas WYATT and Kate said, "Sit down, BARB. That's my line and I have two filing cabinets full on that line, and have it back to the 200s!" GFS MARY also said she had a connection to them through the Irish King McMurragh which is also one of my other lines. Kate told me the FHC had lots on them back to AD 271, so I tried it last Tuesday and found some back to AD 341! It blows your mind to look at dates like that when you're really only wanting to know (for now) the information it takes to fill in the blanks on pedigree charts you have for the 1800's
NEXT MONTH: BARB's interesting article on her WYATT family and her excitement in finding them mentioned in English history!
Beginner's Center | File Libraries
Internet Center | Message Boards | Resource Center
Reunion Center | Surname Center
Previous NEWS Issues
BACK to Cover Page - GFSNEWS 3/98
© 1999 - 2006 Graphics By Carol, All Rights Reserved
Content © 1999 - 2006 GFNEWS, a monthly publication of GenealogyForum.com of Armada, MI The Editors welcome your ideas and articles, success stories, favorite genealogy research tips, comments and suggestions.