Happy Halloween

Teenager update--Trading for Family History

Plug in to your family

 From our Newsletter

One of the things I've tried recently with my kids is to "trade" them for family history.  I'll play their video game or do something else they want me to do with them for an hour, in trade for them letting me give them a tour of their family history.  It as worked remarkably well and I highly suggest you give it a try with your family.  I have learned a lot about their interests, which has strengthened our relationship--a great thing in and of itself.  But then they've been quite patient with me as I've plugged them in to some of the things they can learn about their history.  There have been a few "hmmm" and "wow" moments that I know will only strengthen their sense of self and grounding in their roots.  Every little piece of the puzzle helps put together that big picture that I want them to have as adults.  Give it a try.  And let me know how it goes.

Genealogy could be boring because....

From our newsletter.

When you start talking about your family's history do your family members suddenly have a "pressing engagement?"  Do you see eyes rolling when you show your latest find to your children?  Why are genealogists so misunderstood?  Why don't your family members get how cool this all is?

Maybe your genealogy is boring because you haven't been using your pictures enough.  I just found a new picture for my family tree today on Wikipedia of all places--a super exciting find.  And like your family members, I was so excited to see the similarities, to see what my ancestor was really like.  One of your best friends in going from snoring and boring, to exciting and inviting is the pictures in your family's history. 

We love creating genealogy picture charts to help you show off your family tree.  I think my mom eventually turned me into a genealogist by having those pictures on the wall.  But a chart goes even further--it gives you context with the time and places of each persons life.  The graphical representation of your family is a great communication tool.  You might try pulling them in visually.  We would love to help you create a beautiful, distinct chart.  We start with a personal appraisal of your genealogy information, and then create an unique presentation just for your loved ones.

As I've said many times, family history is all in the way you tell it.  No one

Modern and antique photos combined together can be the best genealogy bait.

will turn down a chance to look at a picture of their Great Grandfather who looked like them, see their father's report card, or find out about the trouble their Grandmother got into as a child.  It's all in the way you present it.  Let us help you present your history to your family in a visual way, with context in time and place, and your family will start to become curious. 

Kudos to Erin

Erin's been racking up the kudos lately.  Here are a few of them:

Just wanted to let you know that the charts have been received by Paul and Ake Sellin and they are very surprised and thrilled. Thanks so very much for all your work.

Helen

Dear Erin

Saw Dad on Saturday and he loved his family chart.

Thanks for all the work you put into it.

Regards

Judith

The chart was a big hit and was a great generator of family stories.  I think we talked more at that reunion than at any other.

I did get a picture of Archibald Douglas Leafgreen as an adult and I do need to make add a sibling for Milton Leafgreen.  Milton had an older sister
named Emma born August 28, 1853 in New Sweden, Jefferson County, Iowa.  She died April 9, 1924 in Fairfield, Jefferson County, Iowa.

This time when you print it for me I would like it to be something I can frame.

Thanks so much for making this a great reunion.
S. Leafgreen

Hello Erin,

We received our Family Tree Chart...The work was beautifully done, we are so pleased with it, and know it will be a hit at our family reunion. Even though this will be a interactive chart, we know that it will serve a purpose in gathering the information we need to complete our family history. We look forward to working with you again.

Thank you and your company for your hard work and service. We will pass it forward your good work of Art!!!!!

Roxanne M

 

More Happy Grandparents

PRESIDENT PORTER AND I VISITED AND HE AGAIN THANKED US FOR HIS CHART. HE SAID IT IS A MAGNET FOR HIS GRANDCHILDREN WHEN THEY COME FOR A VISIT. THEY LOVE TO FIND THEMSELVES ON THE CHART AND SEE HOW THEY FIT INTO THIS WONDERFUL FAMILY. PLEASE PASS THIS ALONG TO YOUR STAFF AND LET THEM KNOW THAT WHAT THEY DO MAKES A DIFFERENCE IN THE LIVES OF 1000'S OF PEOPLE AROUND THE WORLD.  NOT A LOT OF JOBS HAVE THAT KIND OF A PAYBACK. SO THE NEXT TIME A COMPUTER CRASHES, THE PRINTER JAMS, THE POST OFFICE DESTROYS A CHART OR A CUSTOMER MAKES A CRAZY REQUEST, TAKE A DEEP BREATH AND KNOW THAT IT IS ALL WORTH IT. HOPE YOU ALL HAVE A GREAT WEDNESDAY AND THE REST OF THE WEEK. 

Dave D.

I just wanted you to know that our Family Chart was a big hit.  We had 100 cousins participate in our Family Reunion and they loved finding  their names on the chart.
We had a Meet and Greet game that involved the chart and we were off and running for a wonderful weekend.  Thanks so much for your help.  The chart is beautiful.
Kathy N.

I just  wanted you to know that the wall chart was a highlight of our reunion of 300 cousins (of the approx 800 in the tree). It was about 2 feet shorter than the wall! 

Each person present put a 1/4" removable coloured dot beside his/her name to show attendance.

Sorry I don't have a better photo.

Thanks again for your help.

Marilyn T.

Hi Erin,

Received my charts Monday, look great!!!!!  I know that they will be a big hit at the family reunion next month. Thanks for the prompt service. I couldn't be happier.

Paul

We are so lucky to have Erin.  If you want to create a fantastic chart, Erin has an amazing sense of design, an incredible sense of service and an attention to detail that continually amazes me.  You can send her a file to look at through our new Personal Appraisal Page.  We'll get started right away on a masterpiece for you. 

UGA Conference Keynote: Youth and Family History

Bret Petersen, Suzanne Curley and I gave a presentation at the recent UGA conference entitled "The Cool Parts of Family History-Kids Having Fun"  In it I was able to talk about my vision for how family history conferences need to change in the United States and why it is so important to involve youth in our family history efforts.  We had many requests for the recording so I put them up on Youtube.  Unfortunately the recording isn't so hot.  But I hope you can still hear it somewhat.

Suzanne gave a wonderful presentation with great ideas about what is happening around the world.  Unfortunately her portion of the video couldn't be recorded because of copyright permissions on some of the things she showed.  But Bret had some great ideas too:

Enjoy!

Spectacular successes, Learning from failures

Reprinted over on the UGA Blog

We say that Lincoln, Edison, etc had many spectacular failures and yet we know them to be spectacularly successful.  I think as I begin to finish up my 2 year tenure as president of the Utah Genealogical Association, we can see both in the innovative conference that UGA tried this fall too.

UGA's fall conference this year was both a spectacular success, and one of those experiences you learn alot from.  

• Vendors were generally happy even though we put them up to a lot of extra work and had very few people there to pay them for it. Each had to have an activity booth and there were lots of great ideas they came up with.  There is alot of refinement to do there but I think we struck on an idea that was a win win for everyone.  Everyone especially loved Family Roots Publishing's free popcorn.  Thanks Leland!
• Everyone loved the classes.  Bret Petersen did a great job of changing things up. He was a tireless conference organizer and I can't imagine anyone better suited to the task.  We had new people and new topics and all of the reviews were great.  
• We really resonated with people.  During the Keynote Saturday morning (Recordings Posted to YouTube Here) I tried to explain our rationale for changing things up and why I'm so passionate about involving youth in genealogy.  We had person after person come up to us on Saturday and tell us that if that was what UGA was about, they wanted to be more involved.  I received some information a couple of weeks ago from a market analysis that Family Tree Magazine did. When asked what their goals were for their family history activities 85.1% said they wanted to record their family tree for posterity and 65.6 % to share their family tree with others.  We want to involve our families in our family history but we are having trouble figuring out how to do it without making their eyes gloss over. 

But...

• There were very few families who attended like we had hoped.  We've analyzed this and I think it comes down to a couple things.  I don't think anyone trusted us to make this entertaining enough for children.  And when I look at it--I think if I'd been on the other side, I would have had the same reaction.  Would a bunch of genealogists be able to come up with something my children would enjoy? or would they turn my kids off even more to something I so want them to love. Hopefully we gained some trust and began to turn the ship. 

What we learned:  We charged too much for families.  For the next time, everyone 18 and younger just need to be free.  In fact, across the board, throughout the genealogy community, for every event, 18 and younger just need to be free.  Also, you need to clearly label your youth activities.  We had lots of innovative classes but we should have labeled a "young and young at heart" track.  Likewise we needed shorter classes.  We knew that going in this time but weren't ready to change track quite that much.  But you do have to market to adults.  The kids won't come on their own, but they will have fun once they get there. 

On a personal level it was a spectacular success for my family.  I was able to spend the day with my kids rather than be away from them at another genealogy conference weekend.  There was little to no complaining which was a complete miracle.  They were genuinely happy to be there and enjoyed having their friends there to help them.  They had a fantastic opportunity to develop their communication skills and deal with the public.  In that--I am again continually amazed at the richness genealogy brings to the lives of my children.  Who would have thought they'd gain experience like that from family history.  I think it was good for them to watch their parents, and UGA try to change something in the world, and I personally enjoyed having them see so closely an issue that I care so deeply about.  I hope they will participate in helping me solve it.

UGA has seen some spectacular successes in the last several years.  Our membership continues to grow and grow.  Our board is young and dynamic (even those of us who are older are dynamic.) And we are trying things and moving along with the times.  I'm so proud of UGA and what we've been able to accomplish.  Board meeting is this weekend and I'm excited to see where we go next.  I hope you'll come help us move forward into the next successful things UGA decides to do.