Getting ready for #NGS2015GEN via #genchat

This past Friday, #genchat was all about St. Louis research. I was delighted to have the St. Louis Genealogical Society join me in a "everything you need to know" style question & answer chat. 


As the excitement builds for the National Genealgoical Society 2015 Family History Conference, I wanted to do something special. So I was very happy when the St. Louis Genealogical Society reached out to me on Twitter, and agreed to work together on a collaborative #genchat session. This was, in my opinion, a great way to put us all into the mindset for St. Louis research and a great way to introduce us to the true experts in that area. 

A few highlights for me from the chat included the timeline they provided for ethnic migation through the area. 

You get the idea, the content they were able to contribute was amazing! 

To read the entire chat, please visit the Storify page, where you can actually find several chats preserved. Everyone is welcome to join in on #genchat, every other Friday on Twitter. You can find all the details on our website: genealogygenchat.com. Follow the chats at @_genchat. 

I would encourage all of you to add the St. Louis Genealogical Society to your Twitter feed, @StLGS, as well as the National Genealogical Society @NGSgenealogy. Follow me during the conference for updates and activities! @ancestryjourney 

If your society would like to work together with me on a future #genchat, please contact me! I think this is a fantastic way to get the message out about all of the wonderful organizations around the world. 

Looking Forward to #FGS2015; an energetic experience

It's been a while. Yes, I know. It was a very long summer pulling me in numerous directions, and while most of it was absolutely incredible, some if it was quite stressful. But now? I'm back, and I'm happy to be blogging for myself again. 


The last six months have been a bit of a whirlwind for me, and one of the reasons for that is the upcoming Federation of Genealogical Societies (FGS) 2015 conference. I was absolutely thrilled - and admittedly, more than a little surprised - to be invited to speak four times at this event. Not only is this an amazing conference to attend, it is also being held in conjunction with RootsTech this year, for a truly "once in a lifetime" event. 

FGS provided us with this nifty graphics to help spread the word! 

The conference itself is going to be quite an experience for all of us who are lucky enough to attend. Between the two events, the educational offerings will be quite extensive. 


The exhibit hall and society showcase should be quite something to see, both in size and scope; and of course, let's not overlook the fact that the whole thing takes place just down the road from the Family History Library. Whew. That's a lot to do in one week. 

I'm planning on arriving a day or two in advance this year. I'll have much to do in preparation for the conference, as a speaker, FGS Ambassador, and as part of the Findmypast team. I also plan on staying on a couple days afterwards, to visit with family and spend some time doing research at the library. 

I think sometimes it is hard to write down what you experience at a conference. If you have never attended an event like this, understand that through the crowds, the rush to see a favorite speaker, the nearly frantic pace to "get as much as I can" into your schedule for a week; the energy consumes you. There is no other feeling like it, the "conference high," when you arrive home and just cannot wait to dig into your research once again. Even those who have been working on a frustrating project for decades can find renewed energy and passion for a mystery still to be solved. 

As an FGS Ambassador, I will likely put most of my time into my social media channels, sharing the news, and getting the word out from the conference committee. You can easily find updates by following the hashtag, #FGS2015, or directly from the website. 

The event takes place February 11 - 14, 2015, and I certainly hope to see you there! 

12 Months of Extraordinary… or Why Genealogy Conferences are Awesome

With J. Mark Lowe and
Terri O'Connell, NGS 2013
©Jen Baldwin, 2013-2014

Almost exactly twelve months ago today I was getting ready to depart for Las Vegas, NV and the 2013 Family History Conference hosted by the National Genealogical Society (NGS). 

It was my first major genealogy conference, and there was no point in trying to hide my excitement. I was thrilled to be attending, I was thrilled to be part of a team of Official Bloggers along with with Terri O’Connell and Jennifer Alford of the In-Depth Genealogist. I was thrilled to be meeting so many people that I had come to respect from their online presence. I was simply thrilled.


During the event, I did whatever I could to ensure that I got to the people I wanted to get to. As someone trying desperately to break into the genealogy profession, I knew that I needed to network – big time. I needed to cover every inch of that conference center, and I was ready for it. Business cards: check. Social media ready: check. Blog post drafts: check. Interviews with the big guns scheduled: check. I had it all together… I thought.

Great friendships were born! We were
"the fun table!" NGS2013
©Jen Baldwin, 2013-2014

 When the day finally came and I arrived in Las Vegas, I was standing in baggage claim at the airport and saw a familiar face walk by. It took me a minute to realize it was one of the “big gun” speakers I had hoped to meet… and I just stood there as he disappeared into the crowd. “Plenty of time for that,” I thought. I had all my lists, schedules and had allowed my Type A traits to run amok in preparation; I couldn’t be any more confident that I had it all together. The one thing I forgot to plan for ultimately became one of the most important: spontaneity.


Over the course of the week, I did manage to let myself relax… not too much, but enough. I had one interview in particular I was very anxious for. I had weeks to prep for it, I knew that far ahead that it was going to happen. But I was still unprepared for a scheduled 30 minute session to run into two hours of great conversation and unmasked laughter; I laughed so much during that interview, I was crying. And those two hours are impressed into my memory, they are moments I treasure that grew into an ongoing friendship.


The business networking was incredibly successful for me. I swallowed the advice of J. Mark Lowe, CG, when he talked of really capitalizing on your specialty - your niche - and making sure you know it inside and out. Then shout to the world that you know it inside and out. (Ok, not exactly Mark’s words, but that was the general message, and hey, it works! And yes, Mark was absolutely on that list of genealogy rock stars.)

With Josh Taylor, NGS 2013
©Jen Baldwin, 2013-2014

I had the pleasure of sitting down with Megan Smolenyak Smolenyak, D. Joshua Taylor, Warren Bittner, CG, and many, many more people that have continued to play a role in my life. I made some great friends who I continue to share a special bond with today, like Barry Kline, Julie Jones and Mary Jane Bennett. Some of these were planned, some were random meetings; like sitting down for dinner the first night with Julie and Mary simply because we were all waiting for a table at the same time. That’s another moment imprinted into my brain; sharing a great meal – albeit rushed – and great stories over dinner on day 1, and having these two dear ladies become a part of my life, become friends.

Barry, Mary Jane and Julie: laughter and
friendship in Las Vegas
©Jen Baldwin, 2013-2014

And that is one of the joys of conferences. Pretty much everyone you pass in the hall has a mutual interest, a starting point for conversation. You can jump into conversation with just about anybody and connect in some way. You learn together, you make memories together, and you plan the next conference together.
I've had twelve months of great moments, opportunity, and incredible challenges, and many are a direct result of my attendance at NGS2013. I wouldn't trade the last 12 months for anything.


Since then I've had the pleasure to represent Findmypast at the New York Family History Conference in Syracuse (Nov 2013), and RootsTech 2014. I also spoke at RootsTech, and will be happily presenting again at FGS in August. I'll be there at NGS and Jamboree, and even get to squeeze in a trip to the Ontario Genealogical Society Conference the first weekend of May; and although I'm "working," I'm really not. I love every minute of it.


So won’t you join me? Come be a part of it all, whether you choose NGS in Richmond, FGS in San Antonio, Jamboree in California or some other event close to you, you are cordially invited to be a part of this amazing family.


Here’s a few links if you are on the fence:

• National Genealogical Society 2014 Family History Conference, Richmond, VA
• Federation of Genealogical Societies 2014 Annual Conference, San Antonio, TX
• Southern California Genealogical Society 2014 Jamboree, Burbank, CA
• Conference Keeper: a site for all genealogy events!

Press Release: Registration for Conference and Events Closes 22 Apr 2014

I received this press release this morning from the National Genealogical Society.

Press Release

Contact: Erin Shifflett

Phone: 703-525-0050                                                                                                                                 

eshifflett@ngsgenealogy.org                                                                                                             

For Release: 16 April 2014

Registration for the NGS Conference

and All Ticketed Events

Closes 22 April 2014

arlington, va, 16 APRIL 2014: Have you registered for the NGS Family History Conference in Richmond? The deadline for pre-conference registration is 22 April 2014. Registration will be available on-site beginning at 12:00 noon, 6 May 2014, in the Greater Richmond Convention Center.

Registration for all meals, social events, and workshops closes on 22 April 2014. No ticket purchases will be available on-site at the conference for meals, social events, or workshops. Likewise, registration for Librarians’ Day also closes on 22 April 2014. For conference information and to register, go to http://conference.ngsgenealogy.org/attend/.

Breakfast, Luncheons, and the NGS Banquet

Participating organizations sponsor several luncheons during the conference. Seats are still available for several of the luncheons, the NGS First-Timers Breakfast, and the NGS Banquet. Make your reservations now at http://conference.ngsgenealogy.org/attend/. The NGS First-Timers Breakfast is $24, luncheons are $32, and the banquet is $51. Menus are in the registration brochure at http://conference.ngsgenealogy.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/Registration-Brochure-Final-Rev-11.pdf.

Live Streaming

If you are unable to attend the NGS 2014 Family History Conference, ten lectures featuring some of the most popular topics and nationally known speakers will be available to you via live streaming.  Details about viewing the live streaming program and the costs can be found athttp://conference.ngsgenealogy.org/attend/live-streaming-at-ngs2014gen/. Registration for the live streaming program closes on 30 April 2014.

Society Night

On Wednesday evening 7 May 2014, many Virginia genealogical and historical societies will be available in the Richmond Marriott from5:15 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. to answer questions about local repositories and resources, discuss their group’s activities, and sell their publications.

Richmond Area Tours

There are a few seats left on the historical tours prior to the NGS 2014 Family History Conference through Richmond Discoveries’ Tours onTuesday, 6 May 2014. To register go to http://www.richmonddiscoveries.com/ngs.php.  The password is NGS2014 and is case sensitive.

Add Items to an Existing Registration

To add meals to your current registration, log on at http://www.ngsgenealogy.org, click on My Account, select My Events, and then click to Add Sessions. To add pre-conference events, click on My Account and then select Upcoming Events.

You really don’t want to miss this year’s exciting conference program from 7–10 May at the Greater Richmond Convention Center and Richmond Marriott.

Founded in 1903, the National Genealogical Society is dedicated to genealogy education, high research standards, and the preservation of genealogical records.  The Arlington, Virginia, based nonprofit is the premier national society for everyone, from the beginner to the most advanced family historian, seeking excellence in publications, educational offerings, research guidance, and opportunities to interact with other genealogists.  Please visit the NGS Pressroom for further information.

-End-

Twitter Coaching Available in 2014

I am so excited about the crowdsourcing that is available on Twitter, I will be offering FREE "how to" sessions via Google Hangouts in 2014!  These will not be HOA's, so they will not be streamed on YouTube, and they will not be recorded. They are private, intimate sessions for you to ask any question you want. We can work through the process together, learn my best "tricks" on Twitter, and in an hour or less, get everyone comfortable enough with the platform to be able to participate in #genchat . Each session will be limited to ten people - including me! - so I'm asking you to RSVP either by posting to this message or by emailing me at ancestralbreezes at gmail dot com. There is no fee. There never will be. I just want all of my geneabuddies to understand the impact that Twitter can make on their research. The next session will be held on Wednesday, April 23 at 9:30am Mountain. I will add more hangouts to the schedule very soon, and will try to accommodate all the time zones. If you need a special time to fit with YOUR schedule, please contact me, and we can work together to set something up. Join me in learning all about Twitter and what it can do for you, your research and your genealogy education! Connect with me on G+: google.com/+JenBaldwin 9:30am Mountain 8:30am Pacific 10:30am Central 11:30am Eastern

#genchat : geography the Southwest States

Today will be the second ever #genchat : geography, and our topic is the Southwest! 

What you need to know :

Join the fun on Twitter by following the #genchat hashtag. We will start the chat promptly at 10:30am Central. For purposes of this discussion, we will "define" the southwest states as: Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, Oklahoma, California and Nevada. 



A rather broad range, I realize, but in order to have a dynamic conversation, somewhat necessary.

Here are a few helpful links to have in general, but certainly for the chat as well.

Arizona

• FamilySearch Wiki: https://familysearch.org/learn/wiki/en/Arizona_Introduction
• Arizona Geographic Alliance (Arizona State University): http://geoalliance.asu.edu/azga/
• Geography of Arizona (WorldAtlas): http://www.worldatlas.com/webimage/countrys/namerica/usstates/azland.htm
• "The Historical Geography of Arizona" by Rufus Kay Wyllys, JSTOR: http://www.jstor.org/stable/3634811
• Archaeology & Geography, Arizona State Tourism: http://www.arizonaguide.com/arizona-travel-info/learn-about-arizona/archaeology-geography

California

• FamilySearch Wiki: https://familysearch.org/learn/wiki/en/California_Introduction
• Geography of California, Princeton: http://www.princeton.edu/~achaney/tmve/wiki100k/docs/Geography_of_California.html
• California Geographical Society: http://www.csun.edu/~calgeosoc/
• The Name and the Geography: http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/cbhtml/cbgeog.html
• Historical Geography of California: http://www.sjsu.edu/geography/resources/Cal_geog/Historical/

Nevada

• FamilySearch Wiki: https://familysearch.org/learn/wiki/en/Nevada_Introduction
• University of Nevada Department of Geography: http://www.unr.edu/geography/
• Sierra Nevada Geography: http://www.sierranevadaphotos.com/geography/
• Nevada Geographic Information Society: http://www.ngis.org/
• Historical Myth A Month: Nevada Names and Geography: http://nsla.nevadaculture.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=686&Itemid=418 (From the State Archives website; a true gem in Nevada history!)
• 1895 U.S. Atlas, Nevada: http://www.livgenmi.com/1895/NV/

New Mexico

• FamilySearch Wiki: https://familysearch.org/learn/wiki/en/New_Mexico_Genealogy
• New Mexico Guide on National Geographic: http://travel.nationalgeographic.com/travel/united-states/new-mexico-guide/
• NMSU Department of Geography: http://geography.nmsu.edu/
• New Mexico Museum of Art, "New Mexico Art Tells New Mexico History" : http://online.nmartmuseum.org/nmhistory/people-places-and-politics/new-mexicos-geography/history-geography.html
• New Mexico Roots, ltd. 11 volumes of demographic data: http://repository.unm.edu/handle/1928/14546

Oklahoma

• FamilySearch Wiki: https://familysearch.org/learn/wiki/en/Oklahoma_Introduction
• OSU Department of Geography: http://geog.okstate.edu/
• Oklahoma Alliance for Geographic Education: http://alliances.nationalgeographic.com/detail/oklahoma-alliance-for-geographic-education-okage/edn6CA6FF7969E62D31D
• Oklahoma Atlas Institute: http://www.okatlas.org/
• Historical Maps of Oklahoma (at Alabamamaps.ua.edu): http://alabamamaps.ua.edu/historicalmaps/us_states/oklahoma/

Texas

• FamilySearch Wiki: https://familysearch.org/learn/wiki/en/Texas_Introduction
• Texas Guide from National Geographic: http://travel.nationalgeographic.com/travel/united-states/texas-guide/
• Texas Geographic Information Council: http://www.dir.texas.gov/sponsored/tgic/Pages/overview.aspx
• Geography: Cities of Texas Games! http://www.geography-map-games.com/geography-games-Geography-Cities-of-Texas-_pageid98.html  Test your knowledge and have a little fun! 
• Dallas Public Library Databases (if you have access): http://dallaslibrary2.org/genealogy/databases.php
• Texas State Historical Association, The Handbook of Texas Online: http://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/online

Twitter 101: A Genealogists' How To

A quick diversion from my series on fraternal societies to announce....

I am so excited about the crowdsourcing that is available on Twitter, I will be offering FREE "how to" sessions via Google Hangouts starting in November! These will not be HOA's, so they will not be streamed on YouTube, and they will not be recorded. They are private, intimate sessions for you to ask any question you want. We can work through the process together, learn my best "tricks" on Twitter, and in an hour or less, get everyone comfortable enough with the platform to be able to participate in #genchat . Each session will be limited to ten people - including me! - so I'm asking you to RSVP either by posting to this message or by emailing me at ancestralbreezes at gmail dot com. There is no fee. There never will be. I just want all of my geneabuddies to understand the impact that Twitter can make on their research. The first session will be held on Thursday, November 14 at 9:30am Mountain. I will add more hangouts to the schedule very soon, and will try to accommodate all the time zones. If you need a special time to fit with YOUR schedule, please contact me, and we can work together to set something up. Join me in learning all about Twitter and what it can do for you, your research and your genealogy education! Connect with me on G+: google.com/+JenBaldwin 9:30am Mountain is.... 8:30am Pacific 10:30am Central 11:30am Eastern

Everybody’s Talking: All At Once

Thirteen months and one day ago, I had a conversation with my big brother. I remember it so well because it occurred on Christmas Day, and well, because big brother’s are good at this kind of thing. We were talking about my new “business” which at the time of course, consisted of very little. Ancestral Journeys was very new, in fact, it technically had not even been launched yet. That happened on 1 Jan.

I digress.

Big brother makes the following statement, and I took it to heart:

"Social media isn’t going anywhere. It’s only going to grow. So you can either jump in or be left behind."

I listened. I activated a new Twitter account, grabbed onto Facebook and started exploring Google+. Pinterest, LinkedIn, Tumblr… yes, I dove into them all.

Who knew that thirteen short months later, I would be hosting a Twitter Chat.

Those words had never entered my sphere before, but I now know them so very well. I have learned a great deal from a variety of chats, including #blogchat, #saturdayschool and #lulybchat; but none has ever been as enjoyable as last night’s #genchat.



The idea struck me a couple of months ago, but it was something I knew I could not do alone. I circled the wagons with Terri O’Connell and Stephanie Pitcher Fishman, and we got to work. Last night’s inaugural experience was amazing, and I cannot say thank you to my co-hosts enough, nor can I ever express how truly awesome it was to see so many genealogy folks participate. It was incredible watching the message pass by; everything and everyone coming at you so fast! I’ve seen some chats that really move before, but this was something really special.

I love the comparison of Twitter to a cocktail party. I think its an amazing analogy to explain what Twitter is designed to be. Last night’s cocktail party was absolutely one I will not forget.

Here’s some stats, in case you were interested. (Source: www.hashtracking.com, compiled at 11:15pm MST, 26 Jan 2013. This site produces statistics based on an individual hashtag for the past twenty-four hour period.)  The #genchat hash tag produced…

• 1,146 tweets, which generated…
• 766,955 impressions, reaching an audience of…
• 33,560 followers

That’s pretty impressive stuff!


It is an absolute compliment to see tweets such as this…

@familyreflect: “Totally planned my entire evening so I would be home in time for the first #genchat.”

@wakela: “Mind still going a mile a minute after the great #genchat can’t wait until Feb 8th for next one.” 

@ddaruth: “Great #genealogy #genchat tweets running in my brain! Lots of great ideas & info for today’s research. nice way to spend a Friday night!”

You can see all the topic specific tweets on Storify. I cut out a few of the jokes. You kinda’ had to be there. Make sure to read all the way through to the end, though, because that’s where all the little hints and goodies for location specific research went.

The next #genchat will occur on Feb 8, 9pm CST, when we will discuss “Your Best 60 Minutes of Research.” The schedule for the entire year is available on Conference Keeper, as well as badges you can download and put on your own blog or website.

So, Big Brother, did you ever think that Little Sister would be doing this when you gave me that fateful advice?

Big Brother playing Santa Claus, with me on his knee.
Many years ago...
Photo: Personal archives of the author.

#GENCHAT is coming! #GENCHAT is coming!

 

Are you ready? This is going to be good, you do not want to miss out!

The theme for the first #GENCHAT is “Starting your 2013 research in the right way.” Are you ready to learn via the awesome power of Twitter? Here are a few simple steps to make sure you are “good to go.”

1. If you do not already have a Twitter account, you will need one. It is free, and you can sign up at www.twitter.com. Learn the basics of the system before 25 Jan. There are many great tutorials and other tools to help you. If you can’t figure it out, drop me an email, and I can help you.
2. Decide if you are going to use a site like TweetDeck, HootSuite, TwitterFall or TweetGrid to follow and participate in the chat. Get into that a couple days in advance, so you can see how to use it before #genchat actually starts.
3. On the appropriate day and time, log into your preferred site (see #2) and follow the hashtag #genchat. We’ll be there!
4. Follow the hosts: @cornandcotton, @ancestryjourney and/or @tracingmyfamily.

A few other tips…

• It’s great to let other folks know you will be participating, even the hosts! We would love to hear from you before hand.
• Re-tweeting during the chat is a great way to show your agreement with a statement, or reinforce an idea that has been expressed.
• With many participants, Twitter chats can be lively and fast! Don’t worry if you miss something, we will be putting out summaries and other tools in the days that follow. You can also search for #genchat on Twitter, and get all of the posts using that hashtag.

#GENCHAT is a community event, and we are hoping for interaction from around the globe. If you have something to contribute to the conversation, please do so, but keep in mind that the central idea here is collaboration. We are hoping to learn from each other. We are hoping that although a few prompts may be necessary, the conversation will naturally flow and the chat will turn into a helpful event for all participants.
To put it simply, come ready to learn AND to teach. We can all help each other.

If you have any questions, please email me or comment below.

The full schedule for 2013 is available exclusively on the Conference Keeper website. You can also download a badge to use on your own website or blog and help spread the word about #genchat!

My three focus words for 2013 are Clarification, Collaboration and Courage. #GENCHAT is one way in which I can collaborate with genealogists and family historians around the world, and I'm excited for it to begin. Join us! 

The Grand Unexpected

Today, I received a great surprise from fellow geneablogger, Jana Last, author of Jana’s Genealogy and Family History Blog. I have learned to appreciate Jana’s blog a great deal, and enjoy reading it on a regular basis.

On 9 January 2013, she posted an article entitled, “Three Blog Awards, Kindly Given,” in which she stated that she had been nominated for three different awards at the close of 2012, and my only thought was that this was so well deserved.

As I continued to read, I was humbled and honored to see that she had chosen my blog, Ancestral Breezes, as one of her nominations for the “Blog of the Year 2012” Award.





It may seem like a simple gesture, but truly, I consider it great praise when another blogger and genealogist compliments my work. As a “transitioning” genealogist professional, I have spent countless hours in the past twelve months trying to find ways in which to turn my passion into a career path; I am truly astounded at the pride such an action invokes.

Part of this process is selecting my own nominations for ‘Blog of the Year 2012’. Thankfully, I am not limited in any way, so here are a couple of my favorites. These are people from whom I have learned, who have had an influence or impact on my professional world, or simply those that have conveyed true emotion and the spirit of collaboration in their blogs.

• Dan Curtis, “Professional Personal Historian”
• Lynn Palermo, “The Armchair Genealogist”
• The In-Depth Genealogist Blog (full disclosure, I am a contributor to this blog. The other authors, and the editors, have taught me a great deal, so this nomination goes to the collaboration effort as a whole.)
• Stephanie Pitcher Fishman “Corn & Cotton Genealogy Blog”
• Mariann Regan "Into the Briar Patch"

My thanks go out to all geneabloggers. What an incredible year it has been! I have learned much, laughed a great deal, and even cried some at the stories you tell, the personalities you bring forth in your writing. 

Raise a glass, friends, 2013 is going to be amazing. We will make it that way together.

Here’s the skinny on this Award:
1 Select the blog(s) you think deserve the ‘Blog of the Year 2012’ Award
2 Write a blog post and tell us about the blog(s) you have chosen – there’s no minimum or maximum number of blogs required – and ‘present’ them with their award.
3 Please include a link back to this page ‘Blog of the Year 2012’ Award – http://thethoughtpalette.co.uk/our-awards/blog-of-the-year-2012-award/ and include these ‘rules’ in your post (please don’t alter the rules or the badges!)
4 Let the blog(s) you have chosen know that you have given them this award and share the ‘rules’ with them
5 You can now also join our Facebook group – click ‘like’ on this page ‘Blog of the Year 2012’ Award Facebook group and then you can share your blog with an even wider audience
6 As a winner of the award – please add a link back to the blog that presented you with the award – and then proudly display the award on your blog and sidebar … and start collecting stars…

Which #Hashtag is Right For Me, Revisited

Way back in June, I posted about Twitter hashtags ( # ) , and which were being used the most by the online genealogical community. I used the website HashTracking to compile some data. Six months later, give or take, I would like to revisit this information, to see where we are, and what might have changed.

The data from both June and December are the number of tweets generated within a 24 hour period.
June: 11 Jun 2012, 4:10pm MST.
December: Friday, 21 Dec 2012 at 8:47pm MST.

June	Tweets	Retweets	Mentions	December	Tweets	Retweets	Metions
#genealogy	35	89	21	#genealogy	348	40	8
#familyhistory	98	26	7	#familyhistory	59	17	2
#ancestry	28	2	0	#ancestry	94	4	0
#history	829	552	119	#history	947	266	54
#socialmedia	1194	269	37	#socialmedia	1279	189	19
#archives	187	81	4	#archives	257	218	8
				#familytree	25	9	2

Although I did not document this in June, for this month’s query, the 396 #genealogy tweets generated 1,929,435 impressions reaching an audience of 248,540 followers. Not bad!

Also, I added #familytree for December’s statistics.

Look at the difference in numbers on #archives. This hashtag has had the largest fluctuation by far. In 24 hours, it has had an almost even 50/50 split between original tweets and retweets; meaning that almost every tweet that was sent that included #archives got retweeted.

#familyhistory is stagnant, but #ancestry has seen some growth in usage. #genealogy has had the most growth since June. Notice there has been a reduction in the #history retweets.

The initial evaluation was done because of a question posed on Google+ by Mariann Pierre-Louis, when she wrote:

"Question for all you social media friends out there: Have any of you ever done a study to determine which Twitter keywords have strong, loyal followings and which keywords seem to remain rapid fire and random without a core group? Just wondering..."

Conversation that followed after my original post was regarding specific hashtags that other people use in the genealogy community. And the question is still valid: what do you use regularly that is not  on the list above?  I think we all use local tags, for example #Colorado, but is there a “category” style that you use to get your message across to a specific audience in the genealogy community?

Finding Your Power in Writing

Protected by Copyright.

We hear many pieces of advice every day, and the information is coming to us faster than ever. Writer's and "writing experts" talk about "finding your voice", and using impressive post titles to intrigue, and then capture, an audience. One article recently read indicated using "power words" to engage your readers. I have heard these bullet points listed for months, as recently as within this last week from comments left on my post, "SEO: Why It's Important For Your Blog", so I finally decided to put down my thoughts on the topic.


Personally, I believe that only time and practice will evolve you into the kind of writer you want to be. It is the only way to "find your voice". For me, this meant I needed to practice on eliminating the extra, filler words. The unnecessary. After reading through several of my posts over the past month's, (almost a year!), I can see the changes in my style, I can 'hear' my more direct nature coming across. In life, I am not a "beat around the bush" type of gal, and I see that reflected in my writing here.

The "power words": I had to delve into that a bit, as its been a while since my last Creative Writing class, and it was easy to find. Strong, emotional words that create an immediate connection with your audience. Use those in your title, use them in your Twitter and Facebook posts to direct traffic, use them every which way you can. Because when we read, we want to connect. We are looking to find something in what the writer is expressing the induces... anything. Whether its dread, sadness, anticipation, adrenaline, fear, anger or overwhelming awe.

And those are the words. Sensational. Lavish. Sly. (When was the last time you used 'sly' in a genealogy blog post?)

There are more than a few websites on the topic, so I will challenge you: find a great one, and share it here. I found "57 Power Words For Writing Brilliant Headlines" by Tiffany Monhollon, posted 1 Jul 2010 on Personal PR. I also found a series by Tonia Kendrick from Tonia's Roots, entitled "31 Weeks to a Better Genealogy Blog", which I will absolutely be following from now on. She's already completed several posts, so I have some catching up to do. (How did I miss this?)

Let's be savvy bloggers, shall we? Find a great resource and let me know. Or not. I suppose you could keep it to yourself. But where's the fun in that?

Which hashtag is right for me? #Twitter

Recently, Marian Pierre-Louis posed a question on Google+:

"Question for all you social media friends out there: Have any of you ever done a study to determine which Twitter keywords have strong, loyal followings and which keywords seem to remain rapid fire and random without a core group? Just wondering..."

Although she was not referring to specifically genealogy related terms, her questions and further comments were intriguing to me, so I decided to do a little digging.

I found the site, www.HashTracking.com. You input a hashtag, and it tells you how many original tweets, retweets and mentions used that tag in the last twenty-four hours.

Here's a quick look at my results. I did this from 4:10pm - 4:15pm on 11 June 2012. For comparison purposes, I used common genealogy tags that I've seen used:

• #genealogy: 359 original tweets, 89 retweets, 21 mentions
• #familyhistory: 98 original tweets, 26 retweets, 7 mentions
• #ancestry: 28 original tweets, 2 retweets, 0 mentions
• #history: 829 original tweets, 552 retweets, 119 mentions
• #socialmedia: 1194 original tweets, 269 retweets, 37 mentions
• #archives: 187 original tweets, 81 retweets, 4 mentions

 I think, simply, an interesting look at the use of social media as our community continues to grow online. Personally, I try to use as many as possible in each post, within the confines of 140 characters.

The question posed is still one to be considered, and I thank Marian for putting it out there for us to spend a few minutes pondering. I would pass it forward to all of you: what hashtags do you use regularly, what do you use in passing?

Tweets from 2012 Jamboree: Day 3

The last and final installment of my favorite tweets coming out of the SCGS Jamboree, 2012. Please make sure to look over Day 1 and Day 2, as well!

• @ironhide781: "So sad to leave Jamboree, it's the best genealogy conference I've ever attended." [Figured we'd start with a nice compliment.]
• @terrifraser: "Takeaways: Blogger summit 2 #scgs12 Thomas MacEntee always moderates comments. Anonymous uses Microsoft Live Writer to compose blog posts."
• @baysideresearch: "Decided on What's New with RootsMagic 5 for my first #scgs12 session of the day."
• @demascot54321: "Genealogy research and Trip planning."
• @FamilyStories: "Will be attending Warren Bittner's Complex Evidence ~ Will be streamed. Who's joining me?"
• @AuntJill: "Best mindmapping tool I've seen yet is bubbl.us. Thanks to Ancestral Breezes for @scgs12 tweets." [You are most welcome. This has become a "thing" for me. It allows me to follow the conference from home, and also keeps everything in one place. If I'm going to make the list anyway, I might as well share.]
• @ACoffin: "Attending 'Mapping Madness' with @ronarons. I'm a sucker for anything maps."
• @terrifraser: "Attending 'Using the 1880 DDD Census' at #scgs12 with Jana Sloan Broiling CG."

(I included the above tweets so you would know which session the information was coming from. The twitter stream was very active Sunday morning, and it could be easy to get lost.)

• @toniasroots: "According to @megansmolenyak there are things in newspapers other than obituaries. Who knew?"
• @ACoffin: "Some free map sites: NYPL, David Rumsey, LOC, Perry Casteneda at UTexas."
• @ACoffin: "Don't forget Cyndi's List map page."
• @toniasroots: "All newspaper sites have some content everyone has and some content no one else has."
• @ACoffin: "Arons: search Google Images for maps, too. #scgs12 Use place name."
• @a3Genealogy: "@toniasroots LOL... This is a hard concept for some researchers. Slow down, take your time, and peruse the whole newspaper!"
• @ACoffin: "Arons showing different results between Google Maps and Bing Maps. He uses both. So do I."
• @toniasroots: "GenealogyBank has a great collection for people with New England and New York colonial roots."
• @toniasroots: "NewsLibrary.com can be used a la carte - no subscription necessary. Contemporary content, not historical."
• @ACoffin: "Bing maps:can only save 10 places in your collection. We all know Google lets you save more on your map."
• @toniasroots: "Newspaper search tip. Put in surname and keyword 'died'." [Also, death, buried, burial, grave, ceremony, etc.]
• @toniasroots: "Archives.com limits you to 10 newspaper searches per day."
• @FamilyStories: "This is EXACTLY why I wish census occupations were indexed. Bonus Points to the company who does that. @findmypastUS"
• @baysideresearch: "The CountyCheck feature in RM5 is great!"
• @rjseaver: "I like sequence of Bittner's slides. Document, discussion, source type, info type, evidence type, source citation. Logical."
• @toniasroots: "Elsewhere Around the World - a curated site with links to international newspaper sites."
• @rjseaver: "Bittner finally get to the evidence conflict stage-two direct pieces from original sources don't match. Indirect evidence proves."

ilovecoffeebook.com

• @rjseaver: "Bittner's talk is excellent tutorial on doing research in New York City."
• @toniasroots: "Major papers, like ATL Constitution, LA Times, etc. look for PQ in menu - this is their historical archives done with ProQuest."
• @ACoffin: "Arons: see if  your library has ProQuest Sanborn Maps Geo Edition."
• @toniasroots: "Ancestry.com obituary collection crawls sites of lots of smaller newspapers."
• @toniasroots: "Obitsarchive.com another a la carte site. Has contemporary obits."
• @rjseaver: "Bittner says software wants conclusions and limits evidence analysis. People lead complex lives."
• @ACoffin: "Hmmm.... LinkedIn Maps. Interesting." [Care to elaborate here?]
• @ACoffin: "Maps aren't just about places. Arons is discussing mind maps now."
• @baysideresearch: "RM reader for iPad/iPhone later this summer!"
• @amycrow: "Not correct. Limit is 10 views, not 10 searches RT @toniasroots Archives.com limit 10 newspaper searches/day @megansmolenyak" [Thanks for the clarification.]
• @baysideresearch: "Looks like @geneabloggers may have a full room for his Illinois session!"
• @rjseaver: "#scgs12 Lisa has her 10 Golden Rules of Genealogy on her website for free gotgenealogy.com."
• @ACoffin: "Take away from Hovorka's session: we need to allow new genealogists to be new." [Amen.]
• @toniasroots: "Be committed to ANALYZING your data."
• @amycrow: "That's the key: 'If I look at your citation, can I get back to the original?' - C Witcher (The comma doesn't matter! <g>)"
• @rjseaver: "Jana says to look for court cases associated with land deeds. Federal land records are largest pre 1900 set of records."
• @ACoffin: "Bertillon cards= predecessor to fingerprints. Incl. photos, measurements, etc of the subject."
• @rjseaver: "really need to check American State Papers for cases concerning my ancestors. Jana rocks!"
• @toniasroots: "Create timelines whenever you can."
• @baysideresearch: "It's expensive inheriting stuff from people. How to preserve?" [Ain't that the truth.]
• @baysideresearch: "Resolve to DO NO HARM to your inherited items. @familycurator"
• @susankitchens: "Frugal curation. Because we don't have budget n staff."
• @baysideresearch: "Archival cardboard storage boxes are acid-free, etc. #scgs12 they are layered to help protect docs, etc."
• @susankitchens: "First, do no harm. Temp swings not good. Moisture, pests, human handling, oils."
• @baysideresearch: "Newsprint is so inherently acidic it will break down."
• @baysideresearch: "Look for lignin-free boxes."
• @baysideresearch: "@familycurator showing damage to doll stored in china cabinet."
• @susankitchens: "Layered protection. The idea of the day for #stuff #preservation"
• @baysideresearch: "@familycurator has a curator's first aid kit w/tissue paper, sheet, tape, etc. all acid free!"
• @baysideresearch: "Make-it-yourself 4-flap-enclosure = most useful archival tool."
• @toniasroots: "Make your own archival container to fit any size item. @familycurator is showing us how." [Jealous.]
• @baysideresearch: "More DIY: custom cotton bag for multiple items."
• @ACoffin: "If you're into frugal curating, @familycurator has a book coming out about it in a few months."
• @baysideresearch: "Wash purchased muslin to remove all the sizing chemicals. No fabric softener!"
• @susankitchens: "Reversible is key for whatever you use to encapsulate it. Plastic is good for the foto to hand around @ family reunion. #preservation"
• @baysideresearch: "Put buffered paper behind newspaper to prevent acid build-up."
• @susankitchens: "Buffered paper - acid free, lignin free next to, say newspaper, in archival sleeve."
• @baysideresearch: "Avery sheet protectors are good option."
• @baysideresearch: "Also, funnily enough, ziplock sandwich bags are fine too!"
• @susankitchens: "Ziplock bags. GLAD are polypropylene. (good) @familycurator researched. Passed light test. #preservation"
• @susankitchens: "Who knew? Zip loc bags. Used by archaeologists, n for Police evidence bags."
• @baysideresearch: "Encapsulation not the best option for photos - image may stick to the plastic if you remove."
• @susankitchens: "Time capsule. Purpose, plan. AWESOME. Mama's got a milestone bay coming up."
• @baysideresearch: "Use a pretzel container. Seriously!"
• @susankitchens: "This presentation TOTALLY needs to go into #Maker magazine."
• @baysideresearch: "'just say no' to anything that will require a player 50 years from now. No good."
• @susankitchens: "Register your time capsule: International Time Capsule society, Oglethorpe Univ, Atlanta, GA"
• @baysideresearch: "@familycurator's book How to Archive Family Keepsakes coming out in August!" [You can pre-order on Amazon:  http://www.amazon.com/How-Archive-Family-Keepsakes-Memorabilia/dp/1440322236/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_nS_nC?ie=UTF8&colid=11ED8PIUYXZ2E&coliid=I30W1VQPVAQ2VA]
• @familycurator: "Caugt @acivory showing how to make genealogy Mac Dashboard #scgs12 - my take-away #1"
• @JanetHovorka: "What I learned at #scgs12 RT @susankitchens: XLNT question-how can we build more mentoring it's all about respect. Be it, act it. U got it."
• @JanetHovorka: "Nailed it. RT @susankitchens: The FEAR of doing it wrong gets in the way. Yes. You MUST make mistakes. Gatekeeping comes frm fear."

yogainthedragonsden.blogspot.com

And with that, it all comes to an end. I love the last two: 

Mentoring is all about respect.

You must make mistakes.

Well said, everyone, well said. 

Tweets from 2012 Jamboree: Day 2

Welcome to the world of tweets! As mentioned yesterday, follow the SCGS Jamboree event online using #scgs12.

Enjoy today's selections!

• @Toniasroots: "Pass judgement on each piece of family lore: true, false, exaggerated - all are possible."
• @a3Genealogy: "Mark Schaeffer says optimize social media apps/tools to improve Return On Influence. Ok!"
• @Ghyxion: "Only an hour until Genealogy Idol is streamed to the comfort of my recliner." [Yes! Enjoying from home thanks to the power of social media and streaming sessions.]
• @FamilyStories: all of the following...  
• "There is no correct way to organize your research. ~ @GenealogistEyls"
• "There is no magic pill  to become organized. It's a process that needs to be executed repeatedly. @GenealoigstElys"
• "And? @GenealogistElys is a NATURAL at this. Seriously. You should BE HERE listening & watching. #rockingit"
• "Tagging photos is suggested for photo organization. Picasa is gr8 for this. ~ @GenealogistElys"
• @toniasroots: "How do you think categorize your ancestors in  your mind? By surname, by couple, etc? Use that style for your organization system."
• @toniasroots: "Use consistent file naming, so that when you see the file name, you instantly know what the file contains. @GenealogistElys"
• @KinfoLit: "'Read broadly' to understand your ancestors' value system and priorities. -- Warren Bittner"
• @littlebyteslife: "Daughters of 1812 database of ancestors online - check it out!"
• @baysideresearch: "Unsubscribe from the email lists and newsletters you don't read."
• @KinfoLit: "Bittner recommends Laurel Thatcher Ulrich's A Midwife's Tail: The Life of Martha Ballard, Based on Her Diary, 1785-1812."
• @baysideresearch: "Schedule time every 6 mos or so to organize your bookmarks." [Love this.]
• @toniasroots: "Every so often, go through your website "Favorites" and delete broken links."
• @Kimmyvon: "Elyse D. Tames the digital monster at #SCGS12 she's teaching what all these new fangeled things are."
• @baysideresearch: "@genealogistelys is demoing OneNote."
• @toniasroots: "Create a list of books/resources you want to access in your favorite note-taking software."

Random picture. Wild "high mountain" flowers in my back yard.
Copyright Jen Baldwin, Breckenridge, CO 2012.

• @KinfoLit: "Reading history is essential for 'understanding the way life was lived for the common man.' -- Warren Bittner at #scgs12"
• @FamilyStories: "Elyse has knocked it outta the park. Excellent. @GenealogyElys" [Love the support for this presentor from the audience.]
• @Kimmyvon: "Elyse Doerflinger recommends 'Remember the Milk' for your to do list."
• @toniasroots: Lists the following... 
• "Curt Witcher asks: Are you a genealogy researcher or an ancestor collector?"
• "Familiarty with how the military operates will ensure finding & effectively using the widest collection of resources. #Witcher"
• "Look for more than basic BMD info. What were they doing, where? Creates context. #Witcher"
• "Use secondary information (published records). They'll lead you to the primary. #Witcher"
• "Go to any college library or online to look for printed govermnet docs on Service Records. Wealth of information. #Witcher"
• "State archives are good sources of military records. #Witcher"
• "Pension records are golden for genealogists. Proof of service, eligibility & testimony from FANs. #Witcher"
• Confederate pension files are usually found in state archives, rather than NARA, but have some of the best information. #Witcher"
• Documenting the American South. Website with amazing military history information. #Witcher"
• Here's the link. docsouth.unc.edu"
• "Civil War Soldiers & Sailors database lets you download a spreadsheet of search results. Awesome. #Witcher"
• @baysideresearch: "@lisaalso: post -1892 passenger lists much more rich in info. Darn! All my ancestors arrived before that..."
• @baysideresearch: "Who was traveling w/your ancestor? Circumstances? Look for the clues. @lisaalzo."
• @baysideresearch: "Check all versions of ships' lists. Copies were made. Differences?  @lisaalso."
• @baysideresearch: "@lisaalzo: read the instructions for any new-to-you database!"
• @walkingyourtree: "Stunned by CWSS free website w/tons of great Civil War resources #CurtWitcher"
• @susankitchens: "EBay for heirlooms. Use to make shadowbox. Things are in other people's attics. Sve teh search in eBay. - @LisaCooke"
• @KinfoLit: "@SLuxenberg says genealogists are better researchers than historians and journalists. Really?!"
• @KinfoLit: "'We don't live in the times we're researching.' A challenge to overcome, says @SLuxenberg at #scgs12"
• @susankitchens: "SteveLux - we don't live in teh time we're researching. We got to think like the time period we're researching."
• @sooznebr: "Put emotions aside and think about what the document tells you #scgs12 Steve Luxenberg"
• @storybookgen: "My 2 cents: LOOK at the census record - don't just accept the indexed archives. They're incomplete and sometimes wrong."
• @storybookgen: "Memory is falliable, even when photos tells a different story."
• @storybookgen: "Steve Luxenberg welcomes emails asking for advice. Find him at steveluxenberg.com"
• @FamilyStories: From Megan Smolenyak's presentation... 
• "Why Reverse Genealogy? Find kin, heirlooms, etc. @megansmolenyak"
• "Hello?!? Had no idea @megansmolenyak does the heirloom rescue thing. Another reason to LOVE her!"
• "2 approaches to Reverse Genealogy: broadcast & seeking."
• "@megansmolenyak prefers the location-based message boards vs. surname to catch neighbors & family."
• "Zig zagging backwards and forwards thru time gets you to the finish line quicker."
• I love Heritage Quest, personally." [As do I!]
• @rjsearver: tweeting from the Blogger Panel
• "At Blogger Panel, Melissa says blog community is a network of knowledge and very helpful to beginners."
• "Denise says geneablogging has resulted in many cousins contacting her. Cousin bait works!"
• "Melissa says geneablogging is a great marketing tool for the GenealogyCenter at Fort Wayne Library."
• "Thomas talked quite a bit about affiliate programs on geneablogs. Made up to $200 in one month."
• "Ancestry Insider says to write geneablogs for yourself. Ought to use images in every post."
• "Thomas says Wikimedia Commons has copyright free images available for use on blogs."

Random photo #2. This the fox that has marked our yard as his territory.
Copyright Jen Baldwin, Breckenridge, CO 2012.

• @baysideresearch: "Add city directories to @megansmolenyak's list of best reverse #genealogy resources. Helped me unlock the Friends Album's past."
• @FamilyStories: "On genealogybank.com historical & contemporary collections sometimes overlap. Check both. @megansmolenyak"
• @FamilyStories: "Library of Congress website getting more useful. Info availability depends on each state. Keep checking back."
• @KinfoLit: "Explanatory notes at beginning of a compiled #genealogy often contains lots of useful info, so read them! -- @DJoshuaTaylor"
• @KinfoLit: "'Genealogy is a lifelong pursuit, not a five-minute hobby.' -- @DJoshuaTaylor"
• @FamilyStories: "Compiled genealogies are excellent secondary sources to gather clues for further research. @DJoshuaTaylor"
• @FamilyStories: "Sometimes, folks, we may never find anything that proves or disproves compiled genealogies. [hard to accept, no?] @DJoshuaTaylor"
• @toniasroots: "Always pull a hardcopy of compiled genealogies when you visit other libraries. Sometimes ppl WRITE in corrections."
• @FamilyStories: "Basically, u know all that stuff we get told 2 NOT EVEN look at cuz it's NOT 'pure'? Use it w/logic. They're clues. @DJoshuaTaylor"
• @FamilyStories: "Read the FOOTNOTES in published histories. Lots of clues."
• @FamilyStories: "Read peer reviews of comp. genealogies cuz genealogists love to point out corrections to other genealogists. *snort* @DJoshuaTaylor"
• @toniasroots: "Type author's name in Google Books. You may find revisions & corrections of compiled genealogies. @DJoshuaTaylor"
• @amycrow: "What?! A genealogist compiling info and not publishing it?! Say it isn't so! <g> @DJoshuaTaylor."
• @toniasroots: "Contact family associations. They may have a file of corrections to the compiled genealogy."
• @toniasroots: "Family-Association.com -> basic site that lists family associations."
• @KinfoLit: "The author of a compiled #genealogy may have donated research materials to an archive. -- @DJoshuaTaylor."
• @FamilyStories: "'Compiled genealogies - don't know if it's accurate but don't know if it's inaccurate."
• @Kimmyvon: "#SCGS12 I love the idea of giving back or paying it forward... maybe we could pool our money and get on this Grand band wagon."
• @Kimmyvon: "Seton Shields Genealogy Grants Program... pass the word."

More to come tomorrow! Have a great 24 hours!