Saturday, October 31, 2009

Organizing My Life - the Computer Room

I have another passion in my life besides genealogy - and that is organizing. Thankfully both interests compliment each other very well. My favorite genealogy classes to attend, deal with the subject of organizing your genealogy. I, like many others, am in the pursuit of the ultimate genealogy filing system.

Over the years I have come to realize that a filing system is a very individual thing. You need to take into consideration your mindset, what makes sense or clicks for you, after all you're the one having to work with it. Yet, it still needs to be defined enough so others that pickup after you can understand.

There have been wonderful systems, that others use, that would be totally unrealistic for me. That is because I don't have much space to work with. My computer room used to be an old utility room and measures 10'3" x 4'2" a grand total of 43 sq feet.

Welcome to my domain - the computer room.


If you look closely you can see some pipes against the wall. Those are the remains of water and power lines for a washer and dryer.


The file cabinet is 36"wide x 19" deep you can barely open the drawer and fit in front of it. Most filing is best done to the side of the drawer. Needless to say a total paper system of my 15,000 people database just isn't going to work here. I have to use this computer room to hold all household papers, not just my genealogy files.

I bet you're totally surprised that a 30" wide 3 shelf high bookcase is beside my file cabinet. Between the desk and the bookcase is a trashcan/shredder set up. In the little corner between the bookcase and file cabinet is a ceramic space heater to keep me toasty warm. There is no other heat source in this room.


Thank goodness for stackable racks and keyboard trays. It would be impossible to fit all the trappings of a functional computer setup in the room otherwise. Below the desk are two roll-able plastic storage organizers. The one on the right holds my "scrapbooking" supplies (mainly photos that need to be digitized.) You can also see I have an old monitor. I would just love a newer flat screen one but every time I think of buying one I hear my ancestors saying "Use it up, wear it out, make it do, or do without". I totally wish that monitor would die and I'm sure it will some century, when no sales are on.

Using the computer in here is a totally isolated and personal experience. There isn't room for anyone to sit beside you. I can't even fully stretch out my two arms beside me without touching the walls. Mostly visitors have to stand behind me and look at the screen. Now isn't that a comfy arrangement!


The shelves were already in the utility room when we bought the house. We just took out the bottom ones to fit in the desk. Which is an old table from the second hand store. The shelves facing you are pretty deep so a lot gets crammed up there. It's just not functional to reach stuff on the top shelf though. I have to try and fit a step ladder in or get one of my 6'3" or taller sons to reach it for me. The decorative tins behind my toys hold various office supplies, mostly backup storage.

The shelves to the right are not as deep, but I still have room to put books two levels deep. Right behind the fan is a wood brace that fits on top of the file cabinet and holds up the shelf above. When we first moved in and I filled up the shelves the bottom one collapsed.

After looking at my computer room and how much space I have, you might have guessed I am going digital in my computer filing system. There just isn't room to add any more stuff in here. Later, I will discuss my computer filing system.

See ya tomorrow, for tomorrow is always another genealogy day!

Friday, October 30, 2009

Upcoming BYU Family History Conference

The following is from FamilySearch.

As a part of our regular e-mail communications, from time to time we notify you of family history conferences or other training opportunities in your area. We would like to make you aware of the annual Family History Conference at Brigham Young University, which is sponsored by the International Commission for the Accreditation of Professional Genealogists (ICAPGen) and the Center for Family History and Genealogy. The conference will be held at BYU on November 6–7, 2009. ICAPGen is the organization that provides accreditation for the genealogists who work at the Family History Library. They have a wealth of knowledge about genealogical research worldwide.

The mission of this conference is to help individuals become excellent genealogists. A class schedule and registration form are attached. Early registration ends October 30, after which the registration fee will increase. If you want to attend, please print and send in the attached registration form, or download a registration form at http://www.icapgen.org/Programs/conference.htm.

We anticipate that this conference will be a great event. If you have questions about the conference, please direct them to Tristan Tolman, ICAPGen Public Relations, by e-mail at tristantolman@comcast.net or by phone at 1-801-380-5924.

Sincerely,

FamilySearch
support@familysearch.org
U.S. and Canada: 1-866-406-1830
International: go to http://contact.familysearch.org for more toll-free phone numbers

Thursday, October 29, 2009

New FamilySearch Roll-out Update

The following is posted on consultant.familysearch.org regarding the current roll-out status along the Wasatch Front.

All members in the following temple districts have full access to the Web site:

  • Twin Falls Idaho
  • Monticello Utah
  • Rexburg Idaho
  • Manti Utah
  • Vernal Utah
  • Logan Utah
  • Boise Idaho
  • St. George Utah
  • Idaho Falls Idaho
  • Provo Utah
  • Ogden Utah
  • Mount Timpanogos Utah
  • Bountiful Utah

Family history leaders in the following temple districts have been sent instructions to prepare using the online training modules listed on the Prepare tab. Click on the temple name to see the announced release date for each stake in the temple district.

Family History Class Resources on LDS.org

The following is from FamilySearch.

The Church recently made new resources for family history classes available through Church Distribution Services. These resources include:

· Members’ Guide to Temple and Family History Work

· Instructor’s Guide to Temple and Family History Work

· Temple and Family History Course DVD

These new resources are also available to view and download in the Serving in the Church, Family History section of LDS.org. The Family History home page now includes a new section, “Temple and Family History Sunday School Class.” This section includes a link to a new page where you can view or download all or part of these resources and a link to the Distribution Services Online Catalog so you can order printed copies.

To view the new page and access these resources online, do the following:

· On the Internet, go to www.lds.org

· Select Serving in the Church.

· Select Family History.

· In the Temple and Family History Sunday School Class section, click the link View or download the lessons and videos online.

Sincerely,

FamilySearch

support@familysearch.org

U.S. and Canada: 1-866-406-1830

International: go to http://contact.familysearch.org for more toll-free phone numbers

Help Needed with FamilySearch Research Wiki

The following is from FamilySearch.

To: Family history consultants and center directors

The FamilySearch Research Wiki is a collaborative Web site where individuals can find answers to family history research questions and share personal knowledge with others. As individuals contribute their knowledge to the Wiki, it becomes more and more valuable as a research tool. In order to achieve its potential, the Wiki currently needs more information about local communities.

Each of you knows something about the local community in which you live. You know about the cemeteries, the schools, the newspapers, the libraries and archives, and some of the history about your community. Individuals who live in other areas are looking for the very information you have about your community. That information may enable them to find an ancestor, tie him or her into their family pedigree, and provide needed temple ordinances.

Please help us enhance the FamilySearch Research Wiki by completing one simple task. Use the attached job aid containing illustrated, step-by-step instructions to add information about the cemeteries in your local community to the Wiki. Please be sure to include the name and location of the cemetery and information about how to contact the cemetery for details about those uried there.

Thank you for your service. Your contribution will bless the lives of those searching for their ancestors who lived in your local community.


Sincerely,

FamilySearch

Continued Need for Church Service Missionaries

The following is from FamilySearch.

Family history center directors and consultants,

The Family History Department continues to need Church Service missionaries who can serve in a support role in answering family history questions. Please help by contacting Church members you know who would be interested and able to serve and encouraging them to consider this opportunity. These individuals will enjoy a unique missionary experience by providing assistance to FamilySearch patrons all from the convenience of their homes.

FamilySearch Support missionaries serve part-time from home, using their home computer and phone to receive phone calls and / or e-mails to provide assistance to patrons across the world. Missionaries receive help and training through a variety of computer and Internet-based systems. The missionaries assist in supporting the following family history programs and resources:

· The new FamilySearch

· Familysearch.org

· Internet Indexing and Name Extraction

· Record Search

· Family History Center Support

· Research Support and the Research Wiki

Missionaries help in the release and testing of new family history programs, and provide feedback and suggestions essential to this great effort. There is a special need for missionaries fluent in Spanish, Portuguese, French, German, Japanese, Korean, or Chinese. Missionary candidates may include those currently unable to serve a full-time mission due to health or other concerns. Priesthood leaders may see this service opportunity as ideal for temple-worthy young men and women who are unable to serve full-time missions.

To serve as a Church Service missionary, members will review specific service requirements with missionary support personnel. In addition, members are to meet with their local priesthood leaders to discuss the opportunity and complete a church service missionary application.

Prospective FamilySearch Support missionaries should meet the following qualifications:

· Be temple worthy (not necessarily endowed)

· Be willing to commit to a mission call of at least 12 months, and preferably 18-24 months (can extend up to 30 months of total service)

· Be able to serve at least 15-20 hours per week, and be available for 20 hours a week of training during the first two months of service

· Have prior family history experience

· Have access to a personal computer, phone line, and broadband (DSL, Cable or other) speed internet connection

· Have considerable personal computer and internet experience

For more information, please contact FamilySearch Support at 1-866-406-1830 or by e-mail at support@familysearch.org. Additional toll-free phone numbers may be found by clicking here.

Thank you for your help in sharing this FamilySearch missionary opportunity with interested members.


Sincerely,

FamilySearch

support@familysearch.org

U.S. and Canada: 1-866-406-1830

International: go to http://contact.familysearch.org for more toll-free phone numbe

Sunday, October 25, 2009

Getting the Most out of RootsMagic 4

I just finished reading "Getting the Most Out of RootsMagic 4" and highly recommend it to all RootsMagic users. It's taken me quit a while to finish all 336 pages because I spend more time on the computer lately than I do with my nose in a book.

I had some time to kill reading while at the mechanics yesterday and surprisingly was really annoyed when I was told my car was done. When I got home I decided to just keep reading. I was forming all sorts of ways to get myself totally organized by using so many different RootsMagic features.

You can play with a program all you want but still not know everything. To find out the treasures, or parts you just didn't know were there to access, you need to pick the programmer/developer's mind. Thankfully all of us have the benefit of learning how to use RootsMagic straight from the RootsMagician himself, Bruce Buzbee.

The book was not written like a software manual. Yes, you have chapters devoted to different features, so it's easy to look up answers to your questions on how-to do such and such. The thing I love is the dash of humor and conversationally way the book is written. You learn how to use the program from the ground up painlessly. But, then again, RootsMagic is a painless program to learn anyways.

I am going to have so much more fun with RootsMagic 4 now. I can't wait to play with the Correspondence List and make Custom Reports. I also have issues with some of my custom facts not having sentence templates. Getting the Most Out of RootMagic 4 was just the reference book I needed.

I had planned that when I finished the book I was going to lend it to my brother to read. Now I think I will just buy one for him for Christmas. If you have a RootsMagic user on your shopping list you can go to www.rootsmagic.com/rmbook.htm and order it for $10.00 plus s/h. The site says it regularly $14.95 so I have no idea when or if the price might change. Go ahead, order one, you know you want to!

See ya tomorrow, for tomorrow is always another genealogy day!

FamilySearch Indexing Scheduled Maintenance

The following announcement is on the FamilySearch Indexing home page.

October 24, 2009: Scheduled Maintenance

The FamilySearch indexing system will be down for maintenance on October 28 from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. (MDT, GMT-6). Please do not try to download or submit batches during this downtime.

If you plan to index during this time, you can download up to five batches before 10:00 a.m., work on them offline, and submit them when the system is back online.

Many new and updated features will be introduced during this downtime, click here to see a list and descriptions of each of them.

For questions or further assistance, contact Indexing Support toll-free at 1-866-406-1830 in the U.S. and Canada (for international calls, click here), or by e-mail at support@familysearch.org.


Monday, October 19, 2009

FamilySearch Record Search Update: 1865 Massachusetts, 1855 Wisconsin, 1869 Argentina & 1982-84 Ghana Censuses Among New Collections Added

The following is from FamilySearch.
19 October 2009

There are some fascinating new collections in FamilySearch’s Record Search. Ten million new records and images were added this update. Some particularly interesting highlights included the 1865 Massachusetts State Census, Wisconsin 1855 State Census, and 1869 Argentina Census—all now complete, the Ghana Census, 1982–1984 digital images, and the England, Cheshire School Records, 1796–1950, collections. See the chart below for a list of all the newly added collections.
These collections can be searched for free at FamilySearch.org Record Search pilot (click Search Records, and then click Record Search pilot).

Hats off to the online volunteers who help make these collections freely available by donating a few minutes of their time or talents through the FamilySearch Indexing program.

Collection Indexed Records Digital Images Comments
Argentina, 1895 Census 47,007 Updated index and images. Project is now complete.
Argentina, 1869 Census 484,234 157,133 Updated index and images.
England, Cheshire School Records, 1796–1950 435,681 New index only collection. Project is now complete.
Ghana, Census, 1982–1984 11,187 New browse image only collection; project is ongoing.
Mexico, Coahuila, Catholic Church Records, 1627–1978 83,363 Updated browse image only collection. Project is now complete.
U.S., 1920 Federal Census 7,330,741 Added indexes for Wyoming, Oregon, Tennessee, Virginia, and Washington.
U.S., Illinois, Cook County Birth Registers, 1871–1915 369,962 19,781 Updated index and images.
U.S., Massachusetts State Census, 1865 1,352,817 17,656 Added indexes. Project is now complete.
U.S., Wisconsin State Census, 1855 133,164 3,088 New index and image collection. Project is now complete.

About FamilySearch

FamilySearch International is the largest genealogy organization in the world. Millions of people use FamilySearch records, resources, and services to learn more about their family history. To help in this great pursuit, FamilySearch has been actively gathering, preserving, and sharing genealogical records worldwide for over 100 years. FamilySearch is a nonprofit organization sponsored by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Patrons may access FamilySearch services and resources free online at FamilySearch.org or through over 4,600 family history centers in 132 countries, including the main Family History Library in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Saturday, October 17, 2009

FamilySearch Indexing Update: New U.S., Canada, and Argentina Projects

The following is from FamilySearch.

16 October 2009

New indexing projects added this week are:
Volunteers can help with these projects at FamilySearchIndexing.org.


(See the chart below for a complete list and current status of all indexing projects.)

Recently Completed Projects

(Note: Recently completed projects have been removed from the available online indexing batches and will now go through a final completion check process in preparation for future publication.)

  • Argentina, Mendoza, San Juan—Censo 1869
  • Guatemala, Guatemala—Censo de 1877
  • U.S., Kentucky—1920 Federal Census
  • U.S., Indiana—1920 Federal Census
  • U.S., Vermont—Militia Records, 1861–1867
Current FamilySearch Indexing Projects, Record Language, and Percent Completion

Argentina, Buenos Aires—1855 Censo [Parte 2] Spanish (New)
Argentina, Cordoba—Matrimonios, 1642–1931 Spanish 7%
Argentina, Santiago, Santa Fe—1869 Censo Spanish 94%
Belgium, Antwerp—Foreigners Index, 1840–1930 English 61%
Canada, British Columbia—Deaths, 1872–1986 English 56%
Canada, British Columbia—Marriages, 1859–1932 English 90%
Canada, Québec, Montreal—Régistres Paroissiaux, 1800–1900 French 4%
Chile, Concepción—Registros Civiles, 1885–1903 [Parte 1] Spanish 43%
Deutschland, Brandenburg—Kirchenbücher, 1789–1875 German 82%*
Deutschland, Mecklenburg—Volkszählung, 1890 [Div 24–38] German 95%
Deutschland, Mecklenburg—Volkszählung, 1890 [Div 39–69] German 1%
España, Avila, Madrigal y Garganta—Registros Parroquiales, 1530–1935 Spanish 4%
España, Avila, Navalmoral—Registros Parroquiales, 1530–1935 Spanish 16%
España, Lugo—Registros Parroquiales, 1530–1930 [Parte 1] Spanish 23%
France, Cherbourg—Registres Paroissiaux, 1802–1907 French 4%
France, Coutances—Registres Paroissiaux 1802–1907 French 3%
France, Coutances, Paroisses de la Manche, 1792–1906 French 90%
France, Paris—Registres Protestants, 1612–1906 [Partie 2] French 50%
France, Saint-Lo—Registres Paroissiaux, 1802–1907 French 11%
Guatemala, Guatemala—Bautismos de Sagrario, 1898–1920 Spanish 48%
Italy, Trento—Baptisms, 1784–1924 [Part 1] Italian 95%
Italy, Trento—Baptisms, 1784–1924 [Part 2] Italian 49%
Mexico, DF—Registros Parroquiales, 1898–1933 [Parte 2] Spanish 48%
Mexico, Hidalgo—1930 Federal Censo Spanish 22%
Mexico, Jalisco—1930 Federal Censo Spanish 12%
Mexico, Mexico—1930 Federal Censo Spanish 72%
New Zealand—Passenger Lists, 1871–1915 English 43%
Nicaragua, Managua—Registros Civiles, 1879–1984 [Parte 1] Spanish 14%
Perú, Lima—Registros Civiles, 1910–1930 [Parte 3] Spanish 36%
Philippines, Lingayen, Dagupan—Registros Parroquiales, 1615–1982 Spanish 1%
Russland, Sankt Petersburg—Kirchenbuchduplikat, 1833–1885 German 1%
South Africa, Cape Province—Church Records, 1660–1970 English 12%
Sverige, Södermanland—Kyrkoböcker, till 1860 [Del 1] Swedish 3%
Sverige, Uppsala—Kyrkoböcker, till 1860 [Del 1] Swedish 10%
Sverige, Örebro—Kyrkoböcker, till 1860 [Del 1] Swedish 1%
Tschechien, Litomerice—Kirchenbücher, 1552–1905 [Teil 1] German 13%
U.K., Cheshire—Parish Records, 1538–1850 [Part 2] English/Old English 47%
U.K., Warwickshire—Parish Registers, 1754-1900 [Part 2] English 13%
U.S., Arkansas—County Marriages, 1837–1957 [VII] English 59%
U.S., Georgia—1920 Federal Census English 59%
U.S., Illinois, Cook—Birth Certificates, 1916–1922 [Part 2] English 90%
U.S., Indiana, Allen County—Marriages, 1811–1959 English 71%
U.S., Indiana, Benton County—Marriages, 1811–1959 English 50%
U.S., Indiana, Boone County—Marriages, 1811–1959 English 22%
U.S., Indiana, Brown County—Marriages, 1811–1959 English 33%
U.S., Indiana, Harrison County—Marriages, 1811–1959 English 17%
U.S., Kansas—1920 Federal Census English 73%
U.S., Maine—1920 Federal Census English (New)
U.S., New York—1905 State Census English 74%
U.S., New York—1920 Federal Census English (New)
U.S., Rhode Island—1905 State Census [Part 1] English 20%
U.S., Rhode Island—1935 State Census English 39%
Venezuela, Mérida—Registros Parroquiales, 1654–1992 [Parte 1] Spanish 75%
Österreich, Wiener Meldezettel, 1890–1925 German 3%
Украина, Киев—Метрические Книги, 1840–1842 Russian 40%

(*Percentage refers to a specific portion of a larger project.)


Current FamilySearch Partner Projects, Record Language, and Percent Completion

Australia, Victoria—Probate Records, 1853–1989 English 76%
België, Mechelen—Overlijdens Registers, 1851-1900 Dutch, Flemish 48%
Belgique—Registres Des Décès—En Français, 1796–1910 French 36%*
Canada, Ontario, Toronto—Trust Cemeteries, 1826–1935 English (New)
Deutschland, Bremen—Schifflisten, 1904–1914 German 76%
Norway—1875 Census [Part 1] Norwegian 73%
U.S., Ohio—Tax Records, Post 1825 [Part 2] English 87%
U.S., Ohio—Tax Records, Post 1825 [Part 3] English 1%
U.S., Utah, Salt Lake County—Birth Registers, 1890–1908 English 1%
U.S., Utah, Salt Lake County—Death Registers, 1848–1940 English 22%
(*Percentage refers to a specific portion of a larger project.)

About FamilySearch

FamilySearch International is the largest genealogy organization in the world. Millions of people use FamilySearch records, resources, and services to learn more about their family history. To help in this great pursuit, FamilySearch has been actively gathering, preserving, and sharing genealogical records worldwide for over 100 years. FamilySearch is a nonprofit organization sponsored by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Patrons may access FamilySearch services and resources free online at FamilySearch.org or through over 4,600 family history centers in 132 countries, including the main Family History Library in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Tuesday, October 13, 2009

Ordinance Tracker Stand Alone Released

The following is from Ohana Software creator of FamilyInsight.

Ordinance Tracker was first released as an integrated part of the program FamilyInsight. Because of its success, Ohana Software has now released Ordinance Tracker as a stand alone. The program is new in that it gives LDS genealogists the ability to print and track ordinances in a what-you-see-is-what-you-get interface. When you bring up your reserved ordinances, it actually looks like a bunch of ordinance cards stacked up by type. Three stacks, pink, blue, and yellow. When asked about this design, John Vilburn said "The simple design is meant to be intuitive. You pick up the ordinance card and put it into the ordinance request preview, then click print. There's not much to learn."

The ordinance tracker cards also show you what is going on in much the same way. If an ordinance is complete, you see the date as if it were stamped on there. If a card has been printed it says so. And if it is ready to go, it says “ready”.

Some LDS genealogists have been hesitant to submit family names to the temple because they would prefer to do them themselves and don't want their ancestors stuck waiting. This is no longer a problem because users can see exactly what is going on with their temple assigned ordinances. If a card has been processed at a temple, the card says so. If not, and a user doesn't want to wait, they can take it back from the temple list by simply dragging and dropping it back to their personal list.

“One of the factors that contributed to releasing Ordinance Tracker as its own program, was the feedback we receive from family history center directors and consultants saying that it made teaching ordinance management so much simpler for them.” said John. “By releasing it by itself, it makes it available to everyone, no matter what database program they are using” All that is needed to run the program is an active login to the new FamilySearch website. For this reason, Ordinance Tracker can be used with any of the current database programs like Rootsmagic, Ancestral Quest and Legacy. For those who have decided to work directly from FamilySearch, without a desktop database program, the program is a much needed tool to organize their reserved ordinances.

To find out more about the ordinance tracker program, Visit the Ohana Software website. Ordinance Tracker costs $12.50 and is available for both Mac and Windows computers.

For those that currently use FamilyInsight, Ordinance Tracker will still be included the tools menu for you to use.

For more information on Ordinance Tracker visit: www.ohanasoftware.com/OrdinanceTracker

Friday, October 09, 2009

Geocities is Closing

For those that might be unaware, Geocities is closing on Oct 26th. That means you need to quickly backup or copy any websites you may have created there. My first website was created at Geocities and still resides there. I spent this past week copying my websites on Geocities. I have to still upload them to Rootsweb's freepages but at least I am halfway there. For any of you not aware of Geocities closing you can read their final notice here:

Final notice: GeoCities is closing.

Dear Yahoo! GeoCities customer,

We're writing to remind you that Yahoo! GeoCities, our free web site building service and community, is closing on October 26, 2009.

On October 26, 2009, your GeoCities site will no longer appear on the Web, and you will no longer be able to access your GeoCities account and files.

What You Need to Do
If you'd like to move your web site, or save the images and other files you've posted online, you need to act now by choosing one of the following options:

Move your site to Yahoo! Web Hosting.
We know your files are important to you, and we want to make moving to Web Hosting as easy and affordable as we can. For a limited time, you can move your files automatically, take advantage of terrific features like a personalized domain name and email, even redirect your GeoCities web address to your new site — all for only $4.99 a month for a full year.

For more information and complete terms, please see our special offer now.

Download your files to your own computer.
With your pages and images saved offline, you can re-create your site with any hosting provider.

To quickly download your published files, visit your GeoCities web site, right-click on each page, and choose Save Page As... from the menu that appears. Choose a location on your computer to save your files, then click OK or Save. Learn more about downloading your files.

Don't Wait
Please be aware that after October 26, your GeoCities files will be deleted from our servers, and will not be recoverable. If you'd like to save your files, you must download them now or move to Yahoo! Web Hosting. If you need assistance, please visit the help center.

We want to thank you for being a GeoCities customer, and hope you continue to enjoy our other Yahoo! services.

Best regards,

The Yahoo! GeoCities team
See ya tomorrow, for tomorrow is always another genealogy day!

Training Video for the “Ordinance Reservation and Tracking System for PAF and AQ” is Now Available

The following is from Incline Software the creator of Ancestral Quest.

Salt Lake City, Utah (October 9, 2009) – Incline Software, the creator of Ancestral Quest, has just released a training video for the new Ordinance Reservation and Tracking system within Ancestral Quest (AQ). Because AQ can be used also by users of Personal Ancestral File (PAF), another family tree product, which is derived from an older version of Ancestral Quest, this Ordinance Reservation and Tracking System (ORTS) can benefit users of both AQ and PAF equally. (PAF users can benefit from AQ either as a FamilySearch certified PAF add-in or as an upgrade to PAF.)

Over the years, Incline Software has made Ancestral Quest available to the general public for use in recording and researching their family history, while paying attention to the special needs of some groups. For example the Page of Testimony capability was put in place to help the Jewish community in its quest for recording those who perished in the Holocaust. Similarly, this new Ordinance Reservation and Tracking System is a special feature that is only of use to members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS).

The training video is about 35 minutes, and will teach LDS users how to:

  • Identify records in their PAF or AQ data file which appear to need LDS ordinances

  • Verify with official temple records whether the ordinances are completed

  • Easily update the PAF or AQ records if the ordinances are completed

  • Reserve the ordinances and create Family Ordinance Requests right from within AQ if the ordinances can be reserved

  • Manage records of ordinances so that the local PAF or AQ data is kept up-to-date with the official temple records

  • Use the Ordinance Card Inventory System of AQ to keep track of the ordinance cards as the user gives them to others to help perform the ordinances.

This video can be watched at no cost by accessing this page: www.ancquest.com/Ver12-1Tutorials.htm and activating the video entitled, “Ordinance Reservation and Tracking System Full Training”. In order to use ORTS, the user must have access to New FamilySearch. If the user does not yet have a login ID for New FamilySearch, he/she can take the database to a local Family History Center, where one of the consultants can use AQ’s Helper Access to sign in as a helper for the user and use ORTS to reserve the user’s ordinances and update the PAF or AQ database with ordinance information right out of the LDS temple records.

AQ has a unique feature that can benefit any LDS person, regardless of whether they use AQ or another program as their main family tree product. This video will teach how to see more details on reserved ordinances of any record in New FamilySearch, such as who reserved the ordinance, when the reservation was made, and how to contact the person who reserved the ordinances.

Ancestral Quest can be used for free during a 60-day trial period. It is fully functioning, and is not crippled in any way. After the trial, AQ becomes a database viewer unless it is activated. Many features of AQ are available while in the viewer mode, including the ability to examine the details of an ordinance on any record in New FamilySearch. Ancestral Quest can be fully activated at any time, during or after the trial period, by purchasing a registration key from Incline Software.

To find out more about Ancestral Quest, Incline Software, the Ordinance Reservation and Tracking System or to download the 60-day free trial of Ancestral Quest, visit the web site www.ancquest.com or call Incline Software at 1-800-825-8864.

Monday, October 05, 2009

New FamilySearch Roll-out Update

The following is posted on consultant.familysearch.org regarding the current roll-out status along the Wasatch Front.

All members in the following temple districts have full access to the Web site:

  • Twin Falls Idaho
  • Monticello Utah
  • Rexburg Idaho
  • Manti Utah
  • Vernal Utah
  • Logan Utah
  • Boise Idaho
  • St. George Utah
  • Idaho Falls Idaho

Family history leaders in the following temple districts have been sent instructions to prepare using the online training modules listed on the Prepare tab. Click on the temple name to see the announced release date for each stake in the temple district.

New FamilySearch to Go Live - in My Stake!

It's true, the American Fork Stake has finally received word we are going live!

5 October 2009

To: Priesthood leaders, family history center directors, and family history consultants in selected stakes in Utah

Beginning on Monday, October 12, 2009, Church members in your stake may begin using the new.familysearch.org Web site to prepare ancestral names for temple ordinances. No additional notice will be sent to priesthood leaders or members of the Church in your stake concerning this release date.

Church members in the Mount Timpanogos Utah Temple district should no longer take TempleReady disks to the temple for processing. Family history center directors and family history consultants have access to a conversion feature in the new.familysearch.org Web site that will allow them to upload a TempleReady submission file and print a Family Ordinance Request form for the temple. These instructions may be found on the Assist Members page of the Utah and Idaho Release section of consultant.familysearch.org. Scroll down to the Things You Should Know section of the Assist Members page, and click on the Creating an FOR from a TempleReady Disk link.

There is also important information about how to include more than one name on a Family Ordinance Request. Click on the Include more than one person on a Family Ordinance Request link, and follow the steps. If you are clearing multiple individuals or families, please do not print one individual per Family Ordinance Request. You can include up to 50 individuals on a single Family Ordinance Request form.

If you have not done so already, please complete the release preparations as instructed on the Utah and Idaho Release section of the consultant.familysearch.org Web site prior to the release to your stake. This will greatly benefit your preparation to help members to use the new.familysearch.org Web site as part of the new process for preparing ancestral names for the temple. Please contact FamilySearch Support by e-mail or phone if you have any questions or problems.

Thank you for your support of temple and family history work.


Sincerely,

FamilySearch

support@familysearch.org

U.S. and Canada: 1-866-406-1830

WAHOO!! I am Nominated Please Vote for ME

Family Tree Magazine has been taking nominations for best genealogy blogs for quite a while. I didn't say boo about it because I didn't want to make people feel they had to nominate me. The list has just come out and YES! I am on it. I really appreciate my kind readers that nominated me all by themselves. Now the voting is taking place and I will promote myself. If you enjoy Renee's Genealogy Blog you can vote for me in section 8 the News/Resources category. The link is here: http://www.familytreemagazine.com/article/40BestVoting

Thanks everyone!

See ya tomorrow, for tomorrow is always another genealogy day!

Thursday, October 01, 2009

Mark Your Calendars - UVPAFUG Meeting!

UTAH VALLEY PAF USERS GROUP MEETING

The next regular, second-Saturday-of-the-month meeting of the Utah Valley PAF (Personal Ancestral File) Users Group will be on Saturday, 10 Oct 2009, from 9 am until noon in the Edgewood/Riverside LDS Chapel, 3511 North 180 East, Provo, Utah. The chapel is in the Provo "River Bottoms" behind the Jamestown shopping plaza on the east side of University Avenue. You get to it by turning east from University Avenue at 3700 North ("Will's Pit Stop") and then south on 180 East. There is a map showing the location on the group's website http://uvpafug.org .

The main presentation for this meeting will be THE GENEALOGY GAME SHOW by Robert Raymond. Think you can read a census record? Properly interpret old documents? Do online records have special pitfalls? Come and quiz yourself. This presentation provides a fun way for beginners to learn, experienced genealogists to review, and advanced genealogists to challenge their knowledge of interpreting records and genealogical skills.

Robert Raymond is a genealogical technologist. He's a 40 year veteran of genealogy and a 30+ year veteran of computers. Robert works for FamilySearch International and previously worked for The Generations Network (Ancestry.com). He holds over a dozen patents and received a Masters Degree in Electrical (Computer) Engineering from BYU where he was a Kimball Scholar. Robert is a popular presenter and a shadow writer for one of the most popular genealogical blogs on the web.

Following the main presentation there will be several classes taught concerning technology and family history. As usual, there will be something for everyone at all levels of expertise. The classes currently scheduled for this meeting are the following:

  1. How to do FamilySearch Indexing, by Duane Dudley
  2. Getting to Know New FamilySearch (Class 1 of 4), by George Scott
  3. Genealogy on Your MAC, by Venita Parry
  4. Q&A: The Genealogy Game Show, by Robert Raymond
  5. Video of last month's main presentation by Crista Cowan, If You Get Stuck Going Backward, Go Forward: Tracing Descendants of Your Ancestors
  6. Ancestral Quest, by Gaylon Findlay
  7. Legacy, by Dean Bennett
  8. RootsMagic, by Bruce Buzbee.

All meetings of the Users Group are open to the public whether members of the Group or not. The Users Group has the goal of helping individuals use technology to further their family history and there are usually 100-125 attending the monthly meetings on the second Saturdays. The officers are Gerhard Ruf, President; Don Snow and Brian Cooper, VP's; Beth Ann Wiseman, PAFology Editor; Kay Baker, Gerry Eliason, and Don Engstrom working with finances and membership; and Bruce Merrill, Lynne Shumway, and Marie Andersen, working with the DVD Library. Several of these will be there to help with membership, answer questions, distribute the current issue of the monthly newsletter PAFology, and check out DVD's of past presentations and classes to members of the group. Information about the Users Group, main presentations, classes, and class notes are available on the Group's website http://uvpafug.org and the press releases are online at http://blog.uvpafug.org/. For further information contact President Gerhard Ruf at pres@uvpafug.org (801-225-6106), VP1 Don Snow at snowd@math.byu.edu, or VP2 Brian Cooper at vp2@uvpafug.org.