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, 8 Jan 2011, from 9 am to noon in the LDS "Red Chapel", 4050 North Timpview Drive (650 East), Provo. Information about the Users Group, main presentations, classes, and class notes are available on the Group website http://uvpafug.org and the press releases are at http://blog.uvpafug.org/ .

The main presentation for this meeting will be by Barbara Renick on EPUBLISHING. 

Genealogists are motivated to preserve and share what they have found and by publishing they open their work to peer review (critique) which often brings to light possible errors and additional resources. Today there are two approaches to publishing: low or no cost electronic publishing (for part or all of research summaries and family history books) and the use of the Internet to find and manage the best paper publishing options. This presentation will be an extensive discussion of electronic publishing media, including online library catalogs with Web 2.0 user-added-content, different types of Wikis and Web sites, blogs, digitized books online, plus publishing to CDs and DVDs. 

Barbara Renick is a nationally known genealogy lecturer who lectures frequently at national and local genealogy conferences. She currently serves on staff and teaches at the LDS Regional Family History Center in Orange, California. She writes for several genealogy publications and has written several genealogy books, her most recent one being Genealogy 101: How to Trace Your Family's History and Heritage. That book was sponsored by the National Genealogical Society for their 100th Anniversary. 

She is also well known for the 'Z' Links page at her website http://www.zroots.com/ which is a favorite tool for many people. Her maiden name was Zuknick and she was born in Maryland to a German immigrant father and and a Tennessee hillbilly mother. She had a four-year scholarship in electrical engineering with an eye toward designing computers, but ended up graduating from BYU in nursing in 1974. After purchasing her first computer in 1983 she was asked to train and supervise a crew of workers for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints for data entry of the International Genealogical Index and the Ancestral File. She teaches many family history classes, writes many family history articles, and is a frequent alpha and beta tester for software programs and Internet sites.

Following the main presentation there will be several classes about family history and technology with something for everyone at any level of expertise. The teachers and classes presently scheduled for this meeting are as follows: 

1. Scandinavian Research on the Internet, by Rick Mathews
2. Fun Ideas for Family History Consultants, by Bret Petersen
3. Personalized Family History Help, by Claudia Benson & Finn Hansen
4. Making A List and Checking it Twice, by Barbara Renick
5. Video of last month's main presentation: Introduction to Waypointing, by Travis Mecham
6. MAC: Uploading to Ancestry and Creating a Web Site, by Ron Snowden
7. Ancestral Quest, by Gaylon Findlay & Merlin Kitchen
8. Family Insight, by Andrea Schnakenburg
9. Legacy, by Joel Graham
10. 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, 1st VP; Laurie Castillo, 2nd VP; Liz Kennington, PAFology Editor; Kay Baker, Gerry Eliason, and Don Engstrom working with finances and membership; and Bruce Merrill 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 DVDs of past presentations and classes to members of the group. Information about the Users Group, presentations, classes, and class notes can be found at the websites mentioned above. For further information contact President Gerhard Ruf atpres@uvpafug.org (801-225-6106) or 1st VP Don Snow at snowd@math.byu.edu or 2nd VP Laurie Castillo at laurie@everythingisrelative.net.

Merry Christmas from the Zamora Family

Wishing you a very 

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!!

View our Christmas card here.

FamilySearch Records Update: New Records Added to Updated FamilySearch Website

The following is from FamilySearch.

New Records Added to Updated FamilySearch Website
Searchable U.S. Social Security Death Index Now Available

The new-look FamilySearch website now has some new records to match. Nearly three million new digital images were posted this week, helping family historians researching their ancestors in Canada, Spain, Venezuela, and the United States. The U.S. Social Security Death Index is also a new addition to the site, with over 7 million indexed records. You can search all of these records and more at FamilySearch.org.
See the chart below for the complete list of newly added or updated collections.

Project	Digital Images	Indexed Records	Comments
Canada, New Brunswick Provincial Deaths, 1815-1938	81,680	80,397	New records linked to images
Spain, Granada Catholic Pre-Marriage Investigation Files Index, 1556-1899	0	456,927	New records
U.S. Social Security Death Index	0	7,144,328	New records
U.S., Indiana, Marriages, 1811-1959	407,017	315,266	New records added to existing collection
U.S., Iowa State Census, 1885	0	1,737,228	New records
U.S., Minnesota Will Records, 1849-1985	0	159,894	New records added to existing collection
U.S., Ohio, Cuyahoga County Probate Files, 1813-1900	861,653	0	New images
U.S., Tennessee, Death Records, 1914-1955	1,274,869	1,273,493	New records linked to images
U.S., Texas, County Marriage Index, 1837-1977	60,268	166,132	New records linked to images (first part of collection)
U.S., Wisconsin, Probate Estate Case Files, 1861-1933	150,280	0	New images
Venezuela, Merida Parish Registers, 1654-1992	223	78,916	New records and images added to existing collection

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 for 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.

First Ever Family Tree Week Launched in UK

The following is from FindMyPast.

Start Your Family Tree Week runs from 26 December 2010 until 1 January 2011

The 26th December 2010 will see the launch of the UK's first ever family history awareness campaign, Start Your Family Tree Week, at a time when family is at the forefront of the nation's minds.  Taking part in Start Your Family Tree Week are www.findmypast.co.uk, www.GenesReunited.co.uk, www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk, Eneclann, the Society of Genealogists, My History, BBC Who Do You Think You Are Magazine, Your Family Tree and Family Tree magazine and the week is supported by the Federation of Family History Societies and the UK's digital champion Martha Lane Fox.

Although the popularity of family history has grown dramatically in the UK over the past decade, with 42% of the population now saying they have started researching their ancestors, one in three people say they would like to start delving into their family's past but have no idea where to begin*. Start Your Family Tree Week has been launched to encourage people to discover more about their ancestors in a fun and exciting way. The week, which will run until the 1st January 2011, will show people how to take their first steps in family history research with free guides and charts to download, competitions, special offers on participating websites and daily family history activities for all the family.

Further details on Start Your Family Tree Week can be found at:

www.findmypast.co.uk/content/start-your-family-tree-week/index
www.genesreunited.co.uk/static.page/syftw
www.startyourfamilytree.ie
www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk

Debra Chatfield, Marketing Manager at findmypast.co.uk, said: "Start Your Family Tree Week will help people make the most of Christmas family gatherings to pass on their family memories across the generations, and to share in brand new discoveries by using online family history resources.
The internet has made it so much easier to trace your family tree and learn about your family's own unique story, full of colourful, real-life characters from the past. Every family has its intrigues, well-kept secrets and heart-warming tales, and I believe we could soon see family history becoming the traditional Christmas pastime for all the family."

Rhoda Breakell, head of Genes Reunited, comments: "Grannies sinking sherries, dads taking an afternoon nap and siblings squabbling is a typical Christmas Day for most, but it makes you wonder whether your family has always been like that. With this year's yuletide festivities just around the corner it's a great time for you to think about your family's roots. Start Your Family Tree Week is an ideal time to start exploring your family history, whether it's tracing great-grandparents' names, searching military records or even discovering that you have a famous sportsperson in your gene pool, the resources and offers available from 26th December will make it an easy and fun journey."

Martha Lane Fox, UK Digital Champion comments: "I think findmypast.co.uk's'Go ON: Start Your Family Tree Week' is a great idea. Whilst the internet
has become a gateway to the future for many it is also an amazingly powerful tool for uncovering the past and reconnecting people in ways that were once unimaginable. Christmas is the perfect time for families to explore their history and encourage older relatives to go online for the first time - I hope that this initiative is a great success and urge everyone to get involved."

Else Churchill, Genealogist at The Society of Genealogists added:  "The Society of Genealogists has been helping people discover their roots for 100 years. Hence we are delighted to support Start Your Family History Week and introduce as many as we can to the fascinations of genealogy."

---------*Research conducted by Opinium Research via 2,030 Online Interviews (UK Nat. Rep) between 26th and the 29th November 2010

The promotions run through to New Years Day, when people will be encouraged to make growing their family tree online their New Year's Resolution and an exciting new hobby for 2011.  The initiative is part of Race Online 2012 - helping the 9 million people currently not using the internet to go online.

About findmypast.co.uk
Leading UK family history website findmypast.co.uk (formerly 1837online.com) was the first company to make the complete birth, marriage and death indexes for England & Wales available online in April 2003.  Following the transcription, scanning and indexing of over two million images, the company launched the first website to allow the public easy and fast access to the complete indexes, which until then had only been available on microfiche film in specialist archives and libraries. The launch was instrumental in creating the widespread and growing interest in genealogy seen in the UK today. Findmypast.co.uk has subsequently digitised many more family history records and now offers access to over 750 million records dating as far back as 1538. This allows family historians and novice genealogists to search for their ancestors among comprehensive collections of military records, census, migration, occupation directories, and current electoral roll data, as well as the original comprehensive birth, marriage and death records. In November
2006 findmypast.co.uk launched the ancestorsonboard.com microsite in association with The National Archives to publish outbound passenger lists for long-distance voyages departing all British ports between 1890 and 1960.
In April 2007, findmypast.co.uk's then parent company Title Research Group received the prestigious Queen's Award for Enterprise: Innovation 2007 in recognition of their achievement. Findmypast.co.uk was acquired in December 2007 by brightsolid, the company who were awarded The National Archives'contract to publish online the 1911 census, which it launched in January 2009. In 2010 findmypast.co.uk completed a three year project to scan, transcribe and publish online for the very first time British Army Service Records dating from 1760 to 1913 in association with The National Archives.

About Genes Reunited
Genes Reunited was launched in 2003 as a sister-site to the Internet phenomenon Friends Reunited. Since then it has grown to become the UK's largest genealogy website. It marked a revolution in genealogy and ancestry by combining them with Internet social-networking. Members are able to build their family tree by posting it on the site and investigating which ancestors they share with other members. They can also search historical records such as census, birth, death, marriage and military records. Genes has over 11 million members and over 750 million names listed. One new name is added to the site every single second.

About the Society of Genealogists
The Society of Genealogists was incorporated under Licence of the Board of Trade as the Society of Genealogists of London on May 8th 1911. Its objects were to "promote, encourage and foster the science and knowledge of genealogy and topography by all lawful means and in particular by forming a reference and lending library, a safe depository for pedigrees and other manuscripts, and preparing indices". The SoG's first premises were in the rooms of one of our Founders George Tudor Sherwood at 227 Strand, London. The Society is now in its fourth building.  The Founding Fellows, Members and Associates would, we hope, be proud of the Society's modern achievements as it has grown to be the UK's National Library and Education Centre for Family History.

About Race Online 2012
Race Online 2012 is a challenge to everyone in the UK with the ambition to make the UK the first nation in the world where everyone can use the web.
Technology links us together like never before.  The UK has 40 million adult internet users, with 30 million people using the web every day. However, there are 9 million adults in the UK who have never used the internet - the combined size of the entire population of our five biggest cities.
Four million of those are among the most disadvantaged:
.       39% are over 65
.       38% are unemployed
.       19% are families with children.
We are calling for urgent action to inspire, encourage and support millions more people online by the end of the Olympic year 2012 through partnership with government, industry, charities and individuals.

The Gift of Service

The following is from FamilySearch.

The Gift of Service

As a family history consultant, you have the chance to work with many people who could potentially serve as family history missionaries. Certainly, many of them would serve if they were aware of the needs and opportunities available to them. There are opportunities for all who are interested in family history missionary work. Those individuals with limited time or whose situation prevents them from serving full-time could work part-time from home or in local support offices alongside full-time family history missionaries.

Those who express interest should meet with their priesthood leaders to discuss the possibility of serving. If you wish to refer individuals directly to headquarters, please send their names, the names of the stakes that have their membership records, and their phone numbers or e-mail addresses to mission@familysearch.org.

Here is a partial list of current opportunities:

1.             FAMILY HISTORY AND CHURCH HISTORY DEPARTMENTS (Full-time missions serving in Salt Lake City)

Coordinator: Elder Robert Bertagna

Local: (801) 240-5892

Toll Free: (800) 453-3860 ext. 2-5892

This mission has two parts. On the family history side, some missionaries help patrons with their genealogical research. Other missionaries help with indexing and name processing for the temple. Other assignments may include answering phone inquiries and e-mail questions that come from family history centers and from individuals around the world.

On the Church history side, missionaries work in the Church History Library and the Church archives, doing historical research and summarizing journals and other records of historical interest.

Training programs are available to assist those missionaries who are less proficient and to upgrade the skill level of those who are more proficient. This assignment is also appropriate for members who live along the Wasatch Front (Utah) and could serve as live-at-home missionaries. Anyone with interest or skills in family and Church history work should apply.

2.             FAMILY HISTORY SUPPORT (Full-time or part-time, at home or abroad)

Coordinator: Karma Tomlinson Local: (801) 240-4546

Toll Free: (800) 453-3860 ext. 2-4546

Family history support missionaries use the Internet to provide support to family history consultants and others with family history callings. Family history support missionaries may teach leaders the principles of administering family history programs in stakes and wards and may help members and family history workers learn to use computer resources to do family history and provide ordinances for ancestors. These assignments require basic computer and family history skills. Some assignments require foreign language ability.

Current needs:

Australia, Brazil,** California, Colombia,* Dominican Republic,* Ecuador,* El Salvador,* Germany, Honduras,* Mexico,* Micronesia, Mongolia, Nicaragua,* Paraguay,* Philippines, Taiwani,*** South Africa.

*Spanish, **Portuguese, ***Mandarin

3.             FAMILY HISTORY RECORDS PRESERVATION (Full-time at home or abroad)

Coordinator: Karma Tomlinson Local: (801) 240-4546

Toll Free: (800) 453-3860 ext. 2-4546

Family history records preservation missionaries gather, organize, and record genealogical information using either microfilm or digital camera equipment. All missionaries receive comprehensive training related to their assignments and work directly with local priesthood leaders and Family History Department and Church History Department staff. In addition to family history work assignments, missionaries are encouraged to make themselves available to share the gospel with nonmembers, perform other types of service, and participate in missionary activities as directed by the mission president.

Current needs:

Belgium/Netherlands, Colombia, Dominican Republic,* Georgia, Indiana, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Zealand, Texas, Washington DC.

*Spanish

Sincerely, 

FamilySearch                    

FamilySearch December Bloginar Recording

The following is from FamilySearch.

The FamilySearch December Bloginar recording is now available for online viewing at the FamilySearch Wiki. If you were unable to attend the bloginar on December 15th, you can now watch it at your leisure. The December bloginar addressed the RootsTech 2011 Conference in Salt Lake City, Utah (see the PowerPoint slides in the bloginar link above for details) and provided a detailed demonstration of the new search engine and other new features at FamilySearch.org. Please feel free to share any of the content with your readers. Thanks.

The New LDSTech Web Site

The following is from LDSTech.

The New LDSTech web site will be launched on December 21st

For months we have been hard at work on a redesign of the LDSTech web site. The time for us to roll out the new site is finally here. On Tuesday (December 21st) we will push the new LDSTech web site live. Here is a list of some of the exciting features of this new site.

1. LDS Acount integration with the LDSTech forums. No longer do you have to remember a separate username/password to access the forums. Now you can use your LDS Account username and password to login to our forum software.
2. Imrpoved site navigation. The site has been designed to make it easier for people coming to the LDSTech web site to find the information that they need. If you are interested in helping out with projects, there is an easy 3 step process to follow to get involved.
3. New "Talent Pool" seciton of the web site makes it easy to get involved with projects. From the Talent Pool, you can fill in your skills portfolio, find projects that match your skills, and sign up to help on projects.

There are several things that you should know before we launch the new site.

1. Warning Forum Users: Because the forum will now use LDSAccount, you need to migrate your forum username to your LDS Account username. This MUST be done before we roll the new site live if you desire to link all of your forum posts to your LDS Account username. To migrate your forum username with your LDS Account username, please visit the LDSTech Forum Account Migration page to migrate your account.
2. Starting Tuesday morning at 9:00 AM MST, the site will be down while we update the site and perform the necessary forum migration. We expect the outage to be no more than 2 to 3 hours.
3. Once we have launched the site, please let us know if you have any issues or problems. Send email totech@ldschurch.org with your comments.

Thank you for your patience and support through this transition process.

Family Tree Magazines' Top 40 Blog Nominees

The list of blog nominees for the coveted Family Tree Magazine Top 40 Genealogy Blog's is out.

I am so excited to be nominated again this year!  Thank you readers. It's always great to know that the time I spend away from my own genealogy actually means something to other people.

To see the list and/or vote for me visit:  http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/ft40-2011voting

I'm listed under the Technology category.

LDS Women's Book Review: True Miracles With Genealogy by Anne Bradshaw - Countdown to Christmas 2010

LDS Women's Book Review: True Miracles With Genealogy by Anne Bradshaw - Countdown to Christmas 2010

Countdown to Christmas 2010 Contest - True Miracles with Genealogy

I just received in the mail my copy of Anne Bradshaw's latest book "True Miracles with Genealogy - Help Beyond the Veil".  I am trying my hardest to not open it before Christmas!  Ever since I read about the book I have wanted to get my hands on a copy.

If you want to get your own copy, here's a chance - enter the "Countdown to Christmas 2010 Contest" going on at LDS Women's Book Review.  I would say "I hope you win", but I want too! There's just soooo many good books on the list, plus the apron and $50 Amazon Gift Card at stake.

***Countdown to Christmas 2010 Contest***

LDSWBR will hold a drawing on December 26, 2010 for a $50 Amazon Gift Card, as well as a variety of books being offered by some great LDS authors.

Book prizes generously donated by the authors:

• Oh, Say Can You See? by Laurie (LC) Lewis

• Backlash by Traci Hunter Abramson

• Alma the Younger by Heather (HB) Moore

• True Miracles with Genealogy by Anne Bradshaw

• Dingo by Anne Bradshaw

• Second Kiss by Natalie Palmer

• Cross My Heart by Julie Wright

• Cold As Ice by Stephanie Black

• Meg's Melody by Kaylee Baldwin

• Save the Child by Margaret Turley

• Anasazi Intrigue (ebook) by Linda Weaver Clarke

• Mayan Intrigue (ebook) by Linda Weaver Clarke

• The Star Prophecy by Joan Sowards (and Walnut Springs Press)

• A cute, handmade apron by Joan Sowards

How to enter:

• Post a thoughtful comment on the Countdown to Christmas 2010 posts. Comments can be added on any of the countdown posts at anytime during the contest period (December 1, 2010 through December 25, 2010). Only one comment per person per "Countdown to Christmas" post will be entered into the drawing. Feel free to comment more than once per post if you'd like, but only one comment will be accepted as an entry.

• Follow us on Twitter: @LDSWBR - then send us a direct message to let us know you want to be entered in the Countdown to Christmas 2010 Contest. If you are already a follower send a direct message telling us you want to be included in the contest.

• Tweet this message each day (one entry per day). Just copy and paste into your twitter message window to send it (LDSWBR must be able to see the tweet): LDSWBR Countdown to Christmas 2010 at http://ldswbr.blogspot.com! Enter to win a $50 Amazon Gift Card & great books! @ldswbr

• Follow LDSWBR on Facebook, then send an email to ldswbr at gmail dot com that you’d like to be entered into the Countdown to Christmas 2010 Contest. If you already follow LDSWBR on Facebook, send us an email to let us know you’d like to be included in the contest.

• **BONUS +5 entries**- Blog about this contest on your blog in a post that includes a link back to the LDSWBR blog, then send us the link to your specific blog post.

Here are the rules:

• Contest ends at 12:00 Midnight MST on December 25, 2010. Drawing winners will have until 12:00 Midnight MST on January 3, 2010 to claim their prize. After that time, another name will be drawn to receive the prize.

• LDSWBR reserves the right to decide what determines a "thoughtful" comment.

• Physical book prizes can only be shipped within the contiguous United States.

• Authors taking part in the countdown are eligible to participate in the contest.

• The drawing held on December 26, 2010 will be a raffle-type drawing. All entries will be combined and names drawn for the prizes.

RootsMagic Adds FamilySearch Discussions and More

The following is from RootsMagic.

RootsMagic 4 becomes First Genealogy Software to Support FamilySearch Discussions

SPRINGVILLE, Utah. — December 14, 2010 — RootsMagic, Inc. announced the immediate availability of an update to their RootsMagic 4 and RootsMagic Essentials genealogy software which is certified by FamilySearch for their new "Discussions" service.  They become the first- and currently the only- software to offer this feature.  The update also adds new FamilySearch features including temple ordinance card tracking, historical record searching, saved logins, sharing of Family Ordinance Requests (FORs), and more.

Discussions Certified

The new FamilySearch system gives RootsMagic users a central platform where they can share their information and work together.  When the new FamilySearch system first became available, one of the principal collaborative tools were "disputes"- the ability to mark a piece of information as incorrect with a basic explanation.  In the latest update to FamilySearch, disputes have been replaced with fully-interactive "discussions".  By joining a discussion about a given person, you can make comments, ask questions, and post answers with others who are also interested in that person.

RootsMagic is the first and only software certified by FamilySearch to offer this feature.  "Discussions are a tremendous step-forward in collaborative research," said Bruce Buzbee, president.  "As more and more people join discussions about their ancestors, the information contained in new FamilySearch will be more complete and hopefully more accurate.  Plus, you'll be surprised how many new cousins you will meet."

New Temple Ordinance Tools

RootsMagic is the first software certified by FamilySearch to reserve and request temple ordinances for deceased ancestors.  The new update adds even more tools to manage and track these ordinances.  "One feature that many of our users have requested is the ability to track temple ordinance cards," said Michael Booth, vice-president.  "RootsMagic can now retrieve a list of all your printed cards from FamilySearch and lets your keep track of to whom you've given each card and their progress as the ordinances are completed."  Added Booth, "I know my mom has been waiting a long time for this feature and will be putting it to good use."

The update also adds other enhancements such as graphically visualizing ordinance cards and the ability to e-mail and share Family Ordinance Requests (FORs) with others.

Search Over 1 Billion Historical Records

With today's launch of the updated FamilySearch website (www.familysearch.org), RootsMagic can now search for your ancestors through over a billion historical records using the integrated WebSearch feature.  Just click on the ancestor's name and RootsMagic will search FamilySearch's collections of censuses, probates, military records, and vital records for possible matches.  Many of the collections include pictures of the original records which are viewable at no charge.

FamilySearch Made Easy

The latest update to RootsMagic adds other new features to make working with FamilySearch even easier.  These features include filtering and narrowing-down groups of people to work with FamilySearch, saving your username and password for automatic sign-in, and several improvements in speed and reliability.  "Our mission is, 'Family History Made Easy', and that is exactly what this is," said Buzbee.  "As FamilySearch evolves, so does RootsMagic to make the process as simple as possible."

RootsMagic 4 received FamilySearch Developer awards for "Easiest to Sync" and "Best Dashboard" as well as the "Trailblazer" award for pioneering FamilySearch features.  Video tutorials, demonstrating how easy it is to work with New FamilySearch using RootsMagic 4 are available at http://www.rootsmagic.com/fs.

Free and Available Now

Discussions and ordinance card tracking are included in RootsMagic Essentials, free genealogy software which includes all of the FamilySearch features.  It is available for download at http://www.rootsmagic.com/essentials.  Current users of RootsMagic 4 and RootsMagic Essentials may update their software for free at http://www.rootsmagic.com/updates.

Users of other genealogy software products will find it easy to experiment with RootsMagic using their own data. RootsMagic can directly import data from PAF, Family Tree Maker (through 2006), Family Origins, and Legacy Family Tree. It can also read data using the popular GEDCOM format.

About RootsMagic, Inc.

For over 20 years, RootsMagic, Inc. has been creating computer software with a special purpose- to unite families.  One of our earliest products- the popular "Family Origins" software, introduced thousands of people to the joy and excitement of family history.

That tradition continues today with "RootsMagic", our award-winning genealogy software which makes researching, organizing, and sharing your family history fun and easy.  "Personal Historian" will help you easily write and preserve your life stories.  "Family Reunion Organizer" takes the headaches out of planning those important get-togethers.  And "Family Atlas" creates beautiful and educational geographic maps of your family history.

For more information, visit http://www.rootsmagic.com.

Source: RootsMagic, Inc.

RootsMagic Holiday Sale

The following is from RootsMagic.

We have extended our holiday offer until the end of the year (although if you wait until after about Dec 21st you probably won't get it in time for Christmas).

In what has become an annual tradition, RootsMagic owners can buy discounted copies of our software to give as gifts.

During this special holiday sale, you can order gift copies of RootsMagic 4 PLUS the book "Getting the Most Out of RootsMagic" for $20 (plus shipping).  That's right, both the full program (on CD) and the book for just $20.

There is no limit on the number of discounted gift copies you can buy during this limited time offer which will expire December 31, 2010. You will receive the full program for each copy you order.

To take advantage of this offer, just visit:

http://www.rootsmagic.com/holidayoffer

or order by phone at 1-800-ROOTSMAGIC (1-800-766-8762).

Renee's Note:  The above link will also give you a discount on other products.

Personal Historian $19.95

Family Atlas $19.95

Family Reunion Organizer $19.95

RootsMagic & Book $20.00

RootsMagic Family History Suite $59.95

FamilySearch News: Big Changes at FamilySearch.org

The following is from FamilySearch.

Big Changes at FamilySearch.org

Updated Site Now Available; More Improvements to Come

SALT LAKE CITY–FamilySearch announced several changes today for its family history website, FamilySearch.org. Online patrons will find millions of new records and images, over 40,000 helpful articles, over 100 interactive courses of instruction, and a dynamic forum to ask personal genealogy questions. The changes have been in testing for some time. FamilySearch will continue to implement the new website in phases to ensure all critical elements are functioning as desired. Once complete, the website will be promoted more broadly.

The new site offers the following free benefits to FamilySearch patrons: 

• Millions more scanned, historical documents and indexes that are published more frequently.
•  An improved search experience that looks through more content and gives more accurate results.
• A thriving online genealogical community where patrons can give and receive help.
• One user name and password for all FamilySearch products and services.
• Responsive, reliable, and scalable hardware and software that will allow the site to grow and improve.

FamilySearch has published a helpful document called “Adjusting to the New Version of www.familysearch.org” and a video tutorial that summarizes the changes to the new site.  These new guides can be found under the “Changes at FamilySearch.org” link.

The prior version of the site will still be available through the transition period.