Salt Lake Institute of Genealogy 2016 and the UGA Award of Merit

As usual the Salt Lake Institute of Genealogy was a phenomenal success and I enjoyed myself immensely.  This year was even more fantastic though because Kim and I were able to take the whole week off and simply sit in class.  For the last five years I've been involved with UGA and the SLIG committee in helping put on the institute, but this year I was able to just relax and be a student--enjoy it with my husband--and learn tons.  Thanks so much to our employees who kept Family ChartMasters humming and to the SLIG team for making the conference such a success.

Kim and I took Blaine Bettinger's Beginning DNA for Genealogy course.  If you haven't ever attended an institute, it is really something special.  We were able to take 20 courses just about DNA and it's use in genealogy.  Even though I knew quite a bit about DNA's use in genealogy, and we've had all of our parent's generation tested who were willing, along with all of Kim's brothers and our son, I'm really sure now that I have filled in all the holes, and have a really good understanding of the foundation of DNA research.  Not only that, I have a partner now who can work with me to solve genealogy problems and extend our research.  We studied YDNA, mtDNA, and atDNA and learned about all of the companies who do the testing, their pricing and databases, the third party tools that will help you interpret the data, the ways you can apply it to genealogy and the ethical considerations to be aware of.  We heard case studies about how it has been used to solve complex problems, and best of all, we were able to discuss the issues with many of the leaders in the genealogy industry as we spent the week with them.  I learned so much, over lunch, in the hallways and with dear friends.  So so awesome.  Blaine is a phenomenal teacher.  I really appreciate him as a well-educated instructor and as a good friend. 

As usual, I didn't think to take any pictures until the last day, and I'm shy about asking to take pictures with people anyway.  Here's Kim and I extracting strawberry DNA during the last class.  So fun to take the class together. 

One of the highlights of the week was getting to meet Jessica Taylor of Legacy Tree Genealogists. It was great to be able to talk to someone who is running a genealogy company and dealing with many of the same issues that we are.  Really competent genealogy business people are hard to come by so it is a real treasure when you find a new one.  I so appreciate all of our genealogy business friends that I can bounce ideas off and learn from and I'm so excited to find a new one. 

And to top it all off, I was completely surprised Friday night when they gave me the UGA Award of Merit for my service to the association.  I had so many people come up to me and thank me and tell me I had really done great things.  I was overwhelmed. And then, when I posted this picture to Facebook, the outpouring was unbelievable.  I had so many comments and likes, I've got to be careful not to get a big head.  Tessa Keough made my day when she commented, " you are so positive and enthusiastic. Your company provides a great product and you do lots of volunteer activities - people notice and see you do things for the right reasons, furthering genealogy and family history. You show that you can be "in it" for others and also be successful, all with graciousness. Congratulations - well deserved."  Wow.  

And all of this was ten times better because Kim was able to be there with me. It was so fun to introduce him to all my SLIG friends and have him to hang out with us. Thanks so much to our awesome people at Family ChartMasters for letting us go.  Life is just really really good.

Of Being Important

This week I was mentioned in an article by Family Tree Magazine as one of the "40 Social Media Mavericks" that new people should get to know.  I don't usually get mentioned in things like that because I don't have time to be on social media full time.  In the family history community there are a lot of hobbyists who are retired, or stay at home moms who become the most prolific, go-to, stay-on-top-of-every-news-item people.  And there are the people for whom genealogy news *is* their business.  Those are usually the Mavericks who get mentioned.  I try to get my message out there over our various social media channels, but I'm also trying to do other things in the genealogy space--run a chart printing company and write books.  And that creates what sometimes feels like a vicious circle.  I've felt really stuck that I can't get the message out about what I am doing effectively and still do the job effectively. I think that is true of alot of small companies.  So thank you to Lisa Louise Cooke as well as Alison Dolan and Diane Haddad, the editor and publisher of Family Tree Magazine.  I really appreciated your acknowledgement of what we do when so many days are hard work and the normal uphill battle life gives us. And I know the other people caught in the wide net you tried to cast were appreciative too.

It made me stop and think about how we are all seeking acceptance in this world.  Even more so now that we are all looking for a few more +1s, comments, or likes.  In some ways I think social media has made us all 13 year olds again, looking for that acceptance from our peers and basing our self worth entirely too much on what other people think of us.  I happened to catch a few minutes of an interview last week--I think I was in the Dr's office, sorry I can't cite where-- and Oprah was being interviewed talking about loneliness and being validated by other people.  She said the most brilliant thing.  She said of all the interviews she's done over the years--politicians, movie stars etc, almost everyone would lean over after the interview and say "Was that ok?  Did I do ok?"  I found that to be astounding.  EVERYONE is looking for validation in this world.  And EVERYONE deserves to be validated.

I saw a wonderful TED talk this week about how to make those connections.  It has made me think. You need to watch it.

There are lots of lists.  Like everyone else, I worry about what lectures of mine are accepted, what events I'm invited to, who mentions me in an article, and how many people are on my social networks and who opens my newsletters and how many people come to my websites.  If you are a hot shot in all those areas now, just wait, you won't be in the future. Life moves that way.

AND THAT'S WHAT MAKES FAMILY and FAMILY HISTORY SO IMPORTANT.
Those are where the most important and long lasting connections are.  Everyone deserves to be validated but the world doesn't have the time or focus to validate anyone for very long.  But, if you don't have a grandmother or a mother who thought you were wonderful, I hope you have a spouse or a child, a sister, a brother, a niece, a nephew, or a grandchild.  Those are the connections that last.  That is where the long lasting acceptance is--probably because they are stuck with you and most people work to make those relationships good over the long haul.  In college I remember hearing about a parable (again--no chapter and verse--this is the blog post of missing footnotes).  It was about a dragon slayer who went to work every day to slay dragons out in the world, but came home to their family every night.  The family bound up the dragon slayer's wounds and healed them for the next day's battle.  Those family relationships, those treasured family stories that give us self esteem, those are the places we find those healing balms.  I think those are the real places that we should be worried about who we are and what people think about us.

On Twitter this week I mentioned that I've been working on ferreting out the fears that hold me back.  Like everyone, I fear not being accepted, and I also fear social networking taking up all my time.  I am so so thankful for this recognition.  It has made my load much lighter.  But I'm also going to make sure I spend enough time with my family today.  I love you all.  I LOVE this genealogy community.  It has been a blessing in my life to have so many wonderful friends here.  But my real worth lies at home.  And so does yours.

Named to Family Tree Magazine's 101 Best Websites List Again!

Woohoo!  Thanks to Diane and Alison and their team for the love.  Another award to add to the 2011 award they gave us.  Check it out:
http://familytreemagazine.com/article/Best-Online-Genealogy-Tools-and-Trees-2013

One of the 101 best genealogy websites

We've just been honored with a great award from Diane Hadad and her team at Family Tree Magazine.

Family ChArtist was named one of the 101 best websites in the tech category for using technology in your genealogy search. You can view the whole article here at http://www.familytreemagazine.com/article/101-best-websites-2011 .

We really appreciate the recognition and look forward to helping more and more people celebrate their heritage with a beautiful visual display of their family's history.

Another FamilySearch award for Generation Maps

While I was too exhausted to write much after BYU and NGS (5 lectures in two days and 2 booths and 3 conferences in the overlapping 5 days) there is one thing I MUST tell you about. We are one of the very few companies now to hold TWO (count 'em TWO) FamilySearch software awards. Press release follows.

For Immediate Release

19 May 2010

2010 FamilySearch Software Award Recipients Announced

SALT LAKE CITY—Recipients of the 2010 FamilySearch Software Awards were announced at the FamilySearch Developers Conference in Salt Lake City, Utah. The 14 recipients were recognized for their outstanding and innovative work in advancing products and technologies that integrate with FamilySearch’s emerging suite of products and services.

The annual FamilySearch Software Awards has been established to encourage and recognize software development that benefits the growing demands and needs of family history consumers. “The awards formally recognize the software achievements of those developers and companies that are making important contributions to the family history and genealogy industry,” said Gordon Clarke, FamilySearch developer services product manager.

The Best New Product awards were given to applicants in different platform categories. Products with specific features deemed important to the growth of the industry received the Best New Feature award. Community Player awards recognized individuals who have made exceptional contributions to the software developer community.

The following recipients were announced and awards presented at the FamilySearch Developers Conference:

Best New Product Awards

· The MagiKey for the “Best New Windows” product

· Arcalife for the “Best New Web site”

· MobileTree for “Best New Mobile” product

· FamilyInsight for “Best New Macintosh” product

Best New Feature Awards

· OurFamilogy for “Best Research” feature

· SharingTime for “Best Collaboration” feature

· Genetree for “Best DNA” feature

· Ancestral Hunt for the “Best Geo-Mapping” feature

· FamilyPursuit for the “Best Groups” feature

· Photoloom for the “Best Media” feature

· FamilyChArtist for the “Best Print” feature

· AppleTree for the “Best Celebrity Tree” feature

Community Player Awards

· Gaylon Finlay, Incline Software, “Bug Hunter” award

· Michael Booth and Bruce Buzbee, Roots Magic, “Trailblazer” award

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 can 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.

Breaking my silence.

As you know, if you follow me on facebook, twitter, or this blog, I have been unusually quiet lately. Being quiet isn't one of my strong suites you know. I have thought of it as a kind of drum roll leading up to a new product we are just about to launch. We have been ultra busy getting something really exciting ready for you. And we have a second FamilySearch certification under our belts as of last week. But it isn't quite ready yet. So keep your eyes glued and I'll have some wonderful things to show you shortly.

But in the meantime I have to break my silence on two things. First, I was featured in an exciting new publication. Mormon Entrepreneur Magazine http://www.mormonentrepreneur.net/. Mark Mugleston was a delight to talk to and I quite enjoyed our interview, but I wasn't really thinking about what would be in the rest of the issue. This month's issue is all interviews with some of the leading company founders in genealogy. It was THE MOST fascinating read. I clicked to give it a quick glance and got totally engrossed tonight. I'm sitting in Mesa, about to show off our new product tomorrow at the Family History Expo, finishing things up, haven't been to bed before 2 am for way way way too many days, and I completely couldn't stop reading. I finally tore myself away because I have several hours more work to do tonight. But I can't wait to get back to it tomorrow night after the conference. Congratulations Mark on tapping into the core of the family history industry and helping us all learn from some of the leaders out there. I'm so so honored to be included.

Second, I've been really remiss in not sharing with you the press release sent to me by Lisa Louise Cooke. She and I are real kindred spirits and I so enjoy her work. So in case there is someone who hasn't heard already, I add my endorsement to her new iphone app. I'm so excited for her to be breaking into this new territory. Congratulations Lisa. You are an inspiration as usual. I hope it is really successful for you.

Press Release:

SAN RAMON, Calif. – January 4, 2009 - The Genealogy Gems Podcast, the #1 podcast in the genealogy category in iTunes has launched the first ever genealogy podcast app for iPhone and iTouch (in partnership with Wizzard Media). The Genealogy Gems Podcast app provides users with streaming genealogy audio and video on the go, and exclusive Bonus Content.

A free “online genealogy radio show,” The Genealogy Gems Podcast has provided innovative research strategies, family history expert and celebrity interviews, and genealogy news since 2007. These “gems” of genealogical information inspire family history researchers of all experience levels and helps them make the most of their valuable research time. The new app provides one more way for the popular podcast to reach it’s worldwide audience.

“Mobile technology is the wave of the future,” says Producer and Creator Lisa Louise Cooke. “At Genealogy Gems we strive to be out in front bringing the highest quality genealogy education to those seeking to enrich their lives through family history research. The app makes this possible on a whole new level.”

The app streams all the episodes (including show notes!), and new episodes are downloaded automatically. Bonus content on the new app includes exclusive material such as audio files and custom genealogy themed wallpaper, as well as Cooke’s 20 page pdf e-book 5 Fabulous Google Research Strategies for the Family Historian. New bonus content will be added as episodes are published. Cooke says users have much to look forward to, “There’s always something new coming to your iPhone and iTouch with the Genealogy Gems Podcast app!

About Genealogy Gems

Genealogy Gems is one of the leading producers of online quality genealogy-related media. Also found at the Genealogy Gems Web site http://www.GenealogyGems.TV , recognized as one of the 101 Best Web Sites for Family History 2009: The Family History: Genealogy Made Easy Podcast, the Genealogy Gems TV Channel at YouTube, the Genealogy Gems News Blog, Genealogy Gems Premium Membership including exclusive podcasts and videos, and The Genealogy Gems Podcast Toolbar.

Lisa Louise Cooke is the author of Genealogy Gems: Ultimate Research Strategies, and national genealogy speaker. She also produces and hosts The Family Tree Magazine Podcast, teaches online webinars, and writes and produces videos for the magazine.

Media Contacts:

Genealogy Gems

Lisa Louise Cooke, Producer and Creator

Phone: (925) 272-4021

Email: genealogygemspodcast@gmail.com

Website: http://www.GenealogyGems.TV

The vibes are goin' on...

The last week has definitely been good for my ego. It is so nice to be appreciated by my peers. Especially people that I admire and appreciate so much.

Lisa Alzo has passed me the Genea-Speak award. Thank you so much Lisa for the kind words. I'm so honored to receive it from you. It is given "for excellence in writing, speaking, and the promoting of good genealogical practices." The requirement upon receiving the award is to pass it on to at least two deserving recipients. I am going to send it on to the two people who have completely inspired me this last couple of months. Ancestry Insider and Mark Tucker.

The Ancestry Insider keeps us up on two of genealogy's biggest entities Ancestry.com and FamilySearch.com. I am honored to know the identity of and be able to work with AI and it seems every time I get to talk to him I come away with a shift of paradigm. He is a brilliant person and I look forward to learning lots more from him.

Mark Tucker from the Think Genealogy Blog is another of the great thinkers in the genealogy world. He has a wonderful graphical mind that he has used to come up with good ways to help beginners understand complex ideas. He also turned me on to the book Slideology. I look forward to learning lots more from Mark as well.



Lisa Louise Cooke and James Tanner have also both passed me the Kreative Blogger Award. I so appreciate their recognition and highly recommend their blogs to you as well. With this award, I have to reveal 7 things you may not know about me and then recommend 7 more blogs to you.

1. I "know" (read: have studied) German, Greek, Contemporary and Ancient Hebrew, Standard and Colloquial Arabic and Egyptian Hieroglyphics.

2 My favorite sandwich is cream cheese and raspberry jam, and my favorite color is purple.

3. I spent a week in the Massai Mara Game Preserve. Giraffes are absolutely beautiful in the wild.

4. The last 5 months have totally overhauled my research methodology in genealogy. But I haven't talked about that much on my blog yet.

5. I've decided to write a book. Don't hold your breath, but I think I have something to say. You'll catch some of it here I'm sure.

6. I am going to begin teaching in the Genealogy Program at Salt Lake Community College in January.

7. I am astounded to have been elected last weekend as the Vice President of the Utah Genealogical Association for 2010 (more on that in the next post.)

For the Kreative Blogger Award, I pass the baton to:
Carolyn L Barkley Genealogy and Family History.com
Renee Zamora Renee's Genealogy Blog
Elyse Doerflinger Elyse's Genealogy Blog
Tom Kemp at Ask the Genealogist
Marlo Schuldt The Heritage Collector's Blog A brand new blog by a great writer.
Elizabeth O'Neal Little Bytes of Life (and she beat me barely so I'm counting it anyway.)
the Footnote Maven Shades of the Departed. (The master.)

Go check them out and tell them I said hi.

Wow. I'm Geneasmacked.

I'm Verklempt. Or perhaps Geneasmacked.

Tamura Jones named the Chart Chick the best genealogy vendor blog in his 2009 Geneablog Awards. I'm so honored to be recognized by such a well respected blogger. Thanks.

Generation Maps receives Family Search Developer Award

At the Family Search Developers conference today, Generation Maps received the:
WEB USE OF MEDIA CATEGORY: Best Website Feature for Printing Award.

By simply typing in your New FamilySearch username and password, Generation Maps can take data from the new database to print any kind of decorative or working genealogy chart. The award highlights our work in making navigation of the database easier by printing the big picture of the data—off the screen and out where it is all visible.

Early users are really excited to see the extensive data from the database in one piece. One lady said she thought she had been the only person working on her Eastern European lines, and was thrilled to find other cousins to collaborate with, and to be able to see exactly what they had done and compare it to her work.

New FamilySearch is built to encourage collaboration. On each of your ancestors, you are able to see what other people have added about that person. While the system is still being rolled out, and has lots of improvements in the works, it promises to bring a whole new level of collaboration to family history work.

Several years ago Generation Maps was asked with 6 other companies to become one of the LDS church's early commercial affiliates and to develop products to work with the new database that will eventually replace FamilySearch. We have since become one of the first certified affiliates. (http://www.familysearch.org/eng/affiliates/index.html). As we sat in the development meetings, we tried to come up with ways that Generation Maps could help the user navigate that database. We focused on getting things out and off the screen to be able to see the big picture--something we do best.

Overall, Generation Maps continues to be your one-stop, easy to use, very affordable source for all kinds and sizes of genealogy charts—all of these available with new FamilySearch data or any easily uploaded genealogy file.

Working Charts -

Inexpensive, expansive charts designed to display many generations of data all on one chart. Perfect for assisting your research, family reunion displays, etc.

FamilySearch Family Tree Charts -

Designed to help you navigate the information, then efficiently analyze, organize and clean up the data found in the new program.

Decorative Charts -

Beautiful handcrafted, decorative charts for framing. Select from various backgrounds, fonts and embellishments; add photographs, include step families or other relationships, then create exactly what you want. Generation Maps individually handcrafts each chart, giving personal attention to quality and detail. With decorative charts, the user will receive a website link to your chart via email so you can approve your creation before it is printed.

There is no software to purchase, no program to learn, and no need to search for an over-sized, professional, archival printer. Extra copies of any personalized genealogy chart are half-price, making them perfect for gift giving. Gift certificates are also available. Generation Maps helps you surround your family with a sense of their heritage and charts are a wonderful, easy way to explain to your family members the research that has been accomplished. With Generation Maps, it's easy — just pick out your chart, upload your files, and it arrives on your doorstep! Generation Maps (http://www.generationmaps.com/) is the place to come for all your genealogical chart printing needs.

More information can be found at http://thechartchick.blogspot.com/search/label/New%20FamilySearch and http://www.generationmaps.com/

I love your blog award.

Tremendous honor today for the ChartChick blog. I have been nominated twice over with the

award. Both Msteri River of the Heritage Happens blog and Footnote Maven of FootnoteMaven.com and Shades of the Departed have nominated me for the award. I'm so honored to be mentioned by two fabulous bloggers. I'd send one back to them but I guess we are supposed to branch out (dumb joke, get it?)

The rules for the award are thus:

1. Can put the logo on his/her blog

2. Must link to the person who gave the award

3. Must nominate 7 other blogs and link to them

4. Must leave a comment on each of the nominated blogs

So: the 7 blogs I nominate are:

1. Geneamusings by Randy Seaver (He and I think the same.)

2. The Genealogue by Chris Dunham (I wish I thought as funny as Chris)

3. About Genealogy by Kimberly Powell. (I met Kimberly for the first time at FGS. An instant great friend)

4. Renee's Genealogy Blog by Renee Zamora (The first genealogy blog I ever saw.)

5. Dear Myrtle by aka Dear Myrtle. (The icon in genealogy news.)

6. RootsMagic blog by Bruce Buzbee (The slow drip is marketing genius I believe someone once said.)

7. The Practical Archivist by Sally Jacobs. (Great Practical Advice.)

I'm glad this award has been going around because I don't think I could have kept this list to 7 if I hadn't seen the award already on some of my other favorite blogs. And I can't believe the blogs above haven't gotten one yet. Hopefully I'm the first. For another list of great blogs, check out the bloglist on my facebook page.

Official Certification from New FamilySearch.

Received this from Gordon Clarke today:

Dear Certified Affiliate,

Please save this email as an official record of your product feature certification.Effective July 1, 2008, the below applications are now certified for the designated features.
GENERATION MAPS

Generation Maps (WEB) - Access, Print

Please use the FamilySearch and Certified logos as defined by the legal agreement......

We are now officially certified to print straight from the New FamilySearch database. One of the first companies to get certified.

We have had our printing capabilites for New FamilySearch up and running for almost 6 months now but buried in the website so they were not obviously accessible. We'll move them up to the front now. As soon as you have a login for that database, let us know and we'll print you out a chart of what your family looks like in the data.

Gordon says that www.familysearch.org will link to certified products in the next 30-60 days. And then New FamilySearch will be integrated into www.familysearch.org towards the end of the year.

Chocolates and flowers of congratulations are being accepted. :-)