Sunday, May 29, 2016

REGISTER: DearMYRTLE's Hangouts this week



DearREADERS,
Keep the genea-conversation going! Register for these four upcoming DearMYRTLE Hangouts, using your favorite social media account: Facebook, Google, LinkedIn, Twitter. Then check your confirmation and reminder emails for your personal link to VIEW and COMMENT. For first time users: FAQ. System requirements for: Computers, Android devices, iPhone / iPad. You may also register to VIEW and COMMENT on archived hangouts. For future DearMYRTLE hangouts, be sure check Myrt's Calender here. This is DearMYRTLE's favorite time zone converter:
http://www.timeanddate.com/worldclock/converter.html

Mondays with Myrt - 30 May 2016
at Noon Eastern (US New York)
Powerful family history breakthroughs happen during our video hangouts. Let's talk about what's trending in the world of #genealogy.


1pm Mountain, 3pm Eastern, 8pm Scotland time
with Claire V. Brisson-Banks and Billy Wallace.


Syllabus:
Elizabeth Shown Mills, “QuickLesson 10: Original Records, Image Copies, and Derivatives,” Evidence Explained: Historical Analysis, Citation & Source Usage (https://www.evidenceexplained.com/content/quicklesson-10-original-records-image-copies-and-derivatives : accessed 30 Sept 2015).

HOMEWORK: Due by Noon on Monday before this session. Study the following QuickLesson, then post a blog by or public Google Doc with specific example(s) about how this concept applies in your personal genealogical research. Include your name and the QuickLesson citation (shown below) at the top of your homework. Then share your homework link in the "unified chat" for this specific study group session. This way Ol' Myrt and other participants can review your homework in the two days before this session.

Consider copyright issues as detailed in this short-subject video with The Legal Genealogist, Judy G. Russell, CG. found here: https://youtu.be/uFpET_NWFeU



WACKY Wednesday - 1 June 2016
Wednesday, 1 June 2016
9pm Eastern US (New York)Wonder which of DearMYRTLE's *very* distant cousins will host this hangout?
Our topic?  An hour focusing on as single genealogy item, TBA.
Hangouts: Pay what you want. So it's simple. If you value the work Ol' Myrt, +Cousin Russ and our beloved panelists do week in and week out on your behalf, please:


Check the DearMYRTLE Hangouts Calendar for upcoming study groups and hangouts. There you'll find links to the GeneaConference (in-person) and the GeneaWebinars Calendar with over over 200 hours of online genealogy classes, webinars, live streams and tweetchats from other hosts and presenters over the next 12 months.


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Thursday, May 26, 2016

ARCHIVED: FamilySearch Pilot Indexing Tool

 
DearREADERS,
Check out the FamilySearch Pilot Indexing Tool - a Chrome Browser Extension. That means the "software" to index online images is installed on your browser, not your computer's hard drive. This is not the same as the usual FamilySearch Indexing software that must be installed on your computer's hard drive.

The FamilySearch Pilot Indexing Tool will work on Chromebooks and such, where programs cannot be installed on the device's hard drive and you must work totally in the cloud. That being said, this Chrome extension works fine on Ol' Myrt's desktop computer as demonstrated in this edition of WACKY Wednesday. Cool beans, huh?

Special thanks to my *very distant cousin* Pinky for hosting this hangout.  :)

While watching this demonstration hangout, Betty Lu writes "I have been using land records in New York and there is an index at the beginning of each volume. I was thinking of indexing the ones I have to look through any way."

HOW IS THIS TOOL USEFUL?
Individuals may index the FamilySearch's unindexed "browse only" digital images.
  • One or two images in a record group that mention your ancestors. 
  • An entire record set, if highly motivated. :)
Family associations may index a family history book that's been digitized and posted on the internet.
  • Justine asks "If you and someone else start to index the same group of images- how do you have a consistent way of indexing from person to person?" Ol' Myrt here recommends creating a collaboration unit, using an outside tool like a Facebook Group. You'd then offer assignments of five specific pages at a time, having participants reporting back for the next assignment. At this point, the FamilySearch Pilot tool itself doesn't promote communication among individuals who may choose to work through the same record set. There is an indication within the FamilySearch Pilot tool that the record has already been indexed but this is your only clue.
Genealogy societies could use this if, for example, the society has placed scanned images of their tombstone inscription book on their website. Indexing the pages where eventually that index becomes part of the "record search" at FamilySearch.org will increase traffic to the society's website in addition to making the content available to a larger audience. (Just make sure to include maps, but I digress.)

The indexing we do using the FamilySearch Pilot Indexing Tool will eventually provide access to records previously researched only by sloooowly clicking through online images, sloooowly, page by page. Did I say sloooowly? Ugh!

OTHER CONSIDERATIONS
  • With "regular" FamilySearch Indexing, a list of projects to index is provided. With FamilySearch Pilot Indexing Tool, indexers locate a document image on the web using the Chrome and click the tool's icon to activate the indexing interface.
  • At the moment, the indexed entries are not included in the FamilySearch "record search." Our friends at FamilySearch plan to integrate the indexed entries we create with this tool within a year. 
  • Dan Edwards asks "Is there a way for us to see what sites have had index work performed already?" There is a way to avoid duplication using this "on the fly" ad hoc FamilySearch Pilot indexing tool. When you open the tool and are looking at a digital image on the web, the tool takes a second or two to recognize if the image has been indexed.

    Cousin Russ, in New Jersey, proved this point *live* during this hangout. He was given the link to a specific image indexed during an earlier portion of the hangout by my *very distant cousin Pinky* in Utah.

    Using his Chrome browser, Cousin Russ then clicked the FamilySearch Pilot icon in the upper right portion of his web browser. Red text came up indicating the image had already been indexed.
    IMAGE: Zoomed-in view of the FamilySearch Pilot
    indexing tool Chrome extension.
  • You do not have to be part of a group to do indexing. (Use the DearMYRTLE group if you wish.)
  • Kathleen Moore said "I should have known about this last month I went page by page through Kentucky records!" I agree that this makes sense, when eventually the record set is integrated into the FamilySearch "record" search. 
  • There is no apparent double data entry or arbitrator supervision. Ol' Myrt's thinking here: Aren't slightly flawed indexes of many records useful, considering how many record sets aren't indexed at all? 
  • The index fields can be customized to fit the indexer's requirements.
HERE'S WHERE TO OBTAIN the FamilySearch Pilot Tool: https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/familysearch-pilot/pbdmnpoeiemcojndmefkegfinjebjgo


Using the sample page from the Chrome Web Store, I've added a green border around the sample web page of a digital image, and I've added a red border around the FamilySearch Pilot tool itself.



 
Sure you *could* watch the video of this FamilySearch Pilot Indexing Tool session here or on YouTube, but you'll want to log in at:
http://hangouts.dearmyrtle.com/ww-familysearch-pilot.html
so you can read all the comments and links posted before, during and after the live hangout.





FOR MORE INFO
FamilyTreeWebinars.com features the FamilySearch Pilot team including Scott Cummings and Devon Ashby in this free video "FamilySearch Pilot"
http://familytreewebinars.com/download.php?webinar_id=441

Hangouts: Pay what you want. So it's simple. If you value the work Ol' Myrt, +Cousin Russ and our beloved panelists do week in and week out on your behalf, please:


Check the DearMYRTLE Hangouts Calendar for upcoming study groups and hangouts. There you'll find links to the GeneaConference (in-person) and the GeneaWebinars Calendar with over over 200 hours of online genealogy classes, webinars, live streams and tweetchats from other hosts and presenters over the next 12 months.


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ARCHIVED: British and Irish Military Records Study Group

 

DearREADERS,
Sandra Williamson caught the recorded version of Tuesday's hangout and reports:



"Great session enjoyed it very much even if I was a day late to the party. It made me think I have military relatives that I hadn'€™t really considered before but who related to the British military. They include a member of the East Indian Army who eventually came to Australia. And another who served on a convict ship as part of the guard who would also have been part of military. And then there was the ancestor who went to sea leaving behind his wife, and became a merchant seaman, never to be seen again although two generations on we think we have settled in the US. Lots to learn. Really looking forward to next week. Thanks everyone."
Sure you *could* watch the video of this British and Irish Military Records Study Group session here or on YouTube, but you'll want to log in at:
http://hangouts.dearmyrtle.com/british---irish-military.html 
so you can read all the comments and links posted before, during and after the live hangouts.





Hangouts: Pay what you want. So it's simple. If you value the work Ol' Myrt, +Cousin Russ and our beloved panelists do week in and week out on your behalf, please:


Check the DearMYRTLE Hangouts Calendar for upcoming study groups and hangouts. There you'll find links to the GeneaConference (in-person) and the GeneaWebinars Calendar with over over 200 hours of online genealogy classes, webinars, live streams and tweetchats from other hosts and presenters over the next 12 months.


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Tuesday, May 24, 2016

Test: Treasures from Old Newspapers (Using Adobe Spark)


DearREADERS,
Inspired by a post by Amy Johnson Crow, Ol' Myrt here decided to forgo training videos and directions and was delighted to discover the fun of using this new website Adobe Spark for making short subject videos - basically a series of pics with voice-overs. This is just one of many "cloud based" programs offered by Adobe. And this move away from installing software on one's computer is a trend Cousin Russ and I have noticed in the past year. (Think Google Docs, Chromebooks, etc.)

Ol' Myrt here created her 2 minute 32 second masterpiece in about 5 minutes! Fun and easy. I've embedded the video below. You may prefer to visit the Adobe Spark website version: https://spark.adobe.com/video/Syhca_MX



 From a producer's point of view:
  • I did not chose the music, though you probably can change it.
  • One can drag and drop to rearrange the order of the "slides."
  • I should speak louder in my voice-over recordings.
  • Make the voice-overs short and sweet. (Think "sound bites" here.)
  • I used my headset microphone to record when pressing the online "record" button. Be sure to stop talking and hold that button down a few more seconds, so your voice doesn't get chopped off. You can re-record your sound clip for each slide until you are happy with the results.
  • It was a cinch to upload graphic files from my computer. 
  • I created the cover graphic using a licensed copy the background image from http://stock.adobe.com where I maintain an account. I used PowerPoint to superimpose the text, and then used SnagIt to crop the image on the PowerPoint slide and saved it as a .png graphic file.
  • I understand there are Adobe Spark iOS apps for my iPhone and iPad, but I haven't tried them yet.
  • The on-screen prompts for what to place in the next slide were interesting, but most I deleted.
  • In my opinion, the original embed code height of 540 and width of 960 is too large for the typical blog layout with side bar navigation, so I changed the code to 405 height by 720 width. (Kinda techie, I know. But you wouldn't have to change a thing if your blog or website navigation is across the top.)
  • I could share the video via Twitter, Facebook and email, or merely copy the link and post to a text message, in addition to the embedding on a web page as I've done for this blog post.








From a viewer's point of view: 
  • It's easy to "sit through" a short, spunky tidbit of info. These aren't the long, drawn-out study group sessions I normally record using Google hangouts.
  • The viewer may click the icon in the lower right to move the video to full screen.
  • If you'd like to send a SPARK out to your PEEPS, just log in to a free account at http://spark.adobe.com
HAVE FUN!

Happy family tree climbing!
Myrt     :)
DearMYRTLE,
Your friend in genealogy
http://blog.DearMYRTLE.com
http://hangouts.DearMYRTLE.com
Twitter: @DearMYRTLE
Second Life: Clarise Beaumont
http://bit.ly/DearMYRTLEonGoogle
http://www.facebook.com/groups/DearMYRTLE
https://www.facebook.com/groups/organizedgenealogist
Hangouts: Pay what you want. So it's simple. If you value the work Ol' Myrt, +Cousin Russ and our beloved panelists do week in and week out on your behalf, please:


Check the DearMYRTLE Hangouts Calendar for upcoming study groups and hangouts. There you'll find links to the GeneaConference (in-person) and the GeneaWebinars Calendar with over over 200 hours of online genealogy classes, webinars, live streams and tweetchats from other hosts and presenters over the next 12 months.


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New York Genealogical and Biographical Society: Strategic Planning Survey

Note from DearMYRTLE: The following was just received from our friends at the New York Genealogical and Biographical Society.

The New York Genealogical and Biographical Society (NYG&B) wants to hear from you! Take a few moments tell the NYG&B about your research interests, provide feedback on existing resources, and share your suggestions. With just 5 minutes, you can help the NYG&B improve its services to the community of researchers trying to find their New York family. You can access the survey online http://survey.constantcontact.com/survey/a07echhcb13imhttvtw/start.
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NGS: Two unique on-site research trips

DearREADERS,
Need guided research at Fr. Wayne, Indiana or Washington, DC research facilities? The National Genealogical Society has a few spaces left. Here's more info:



Happy family tree climbing!
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Monday, May 23, 2016

VIDEO: Mondays With Myrt - 23 May 2016 now available

DearREADERS,
Mary Lou Gravatt said "While waiting for the hang out to start I did a search in MyHeritage.com books. The first 3 were about my husband's 3rd great grandfather one show him on a list from Castle Garden dated Oct. 30, 1850." BRAVO! Ol' Myrt here just loves it when people tell us about their genealogy breakthroughs.

Cheri Hudson Passey said "Been thinking about starting a Carolina/Southern Bloggers get together! Anyone interested, let me know!"

We discussed MyHeritage.com's new DNA matches coming soon, and The Legal Genealogist's reminder about terms of use agreements.

Danine Cozzens said "Good to know about PrintFriendly.com since Evernote is discontinuing support for Clearly, which I use a lot to avoid web page clutter."

Randy Seaver shows step-by-step how he browses Ancestry.com's US Probate collection. And Kathleen Moore reports this info helped with her Maryland wills research at Ancestry.

Bill West reports "I had a West family cousin contact me through my blog last week. Her 2x great grandmother was my 2x great grandfather's sister."

IMAGINE: Collage by author, incorporating the International
Decade for People of African Descent logo from the United Nations.
DearMYRTLE and Cousin Russ recognize the United Nations' International Decade for People of African Descent 2015-2024. We reach out to _all_ regardless of race, color, creed or national origin with support for researching family and documenting cultural inheritance. http://www.un.org/en/events/africandescentdecade

Seems we were busy today talking about national cemeteries in the US for former military servicemen and women. Ancestry has the US Headstone applications for Military Veterans 1925-1963. Unlike the UK, in the US, anyone who has faithfully served may be buried in a national cemetery. Attendees cited examples where spouses and children were also buried with the service person.

On the subject of cemeteries, our man in Ireland, Tony Proctor, writes "I had a breakthrough yesterday. For long time, I had failed to find where certain ancestors were buried. None of the online sites had any information on them. The parish register transcriptions from the relevant family history society had others, but not them. I then started using http://www.deceasedonline.co.uk/ and there they were, in a cemetery that was privately run during 19th Century. No idea why it wasn't in those transcriptions. Now have details of others in same plot, and scans of relevant burial register pages. Now trying to find out the typical cost in this cemetery and it may help establish how wealthy the family was."

Sheri Finley shows us the bottom of the dresser drawer she spoke of last week. You'll find it in her blog post titled "A Most Unusual Genealogical Record."


Sure you *could* watch the video of Mondays with Myrt here or on YouTube, but you'll want to go to http://hangouts.dearmyrtle.com/23-may-2016-mwm.html
to log in so you can read all the comments posted before, during and after the live hangouts.



Hangouts: Pay what you want. So it's simple. If you value the work Ol' Myrt, +Cousin Russ and our beloved panelists do week in and week out on your behalf, please:


Check the DearMYRTLE Hangouts Calendar for upcoming study groups and hangouts. There you'll find links to the GeneaConference (in-person) and the GeneaWebinars Calendar with over over 200 hours of online genealogy classes, webinars, live streams and tweetchats from other hosts and presenters over the next 12 months.


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Friday, May 20, 2016

REGISTER for next week's DearMYRTLE study groups hangouts

DearREADERS,
We're adding a new British and Irish Military Records Study Group this coming week. Here's the official lineup. As usual, participants must register for each hangout, then click the link in the confirmation email to both VIEW and COMMENT before, during and after each hangout. There are no fees for these study groups, though you may elect to support the "PWYW" (Pay What You Want) business model DearMYRTLE and Cousin Russ employ.

For future DearMYRTLE hangouts, be sure check Myrt's Calender here.
This is DearMYRTLE's favorite time zone converter:
http://www.timeanddate.com/worldclock/converter.html

Mondays with Myrt - 23 May 2016
at Noon Eastern (US New York)
Powerful family history breakthroughs happen during our video hangouts. Let's talk about what's trending in the world of #genealogy.

1pm Mountain, 3pm Eastern, 8pm Scotland time
with Claire V. Brisson-Banks and Billy Wallace. Audrey Collins from TNA The National Archives (UK) will join us during the latter portion of each study group session, as soon as she returns from work.


ESM's Quick Lesson 9
Wednesday, 25 May 2016
Noon Eastern US (New York)A DearMYRTLE Genealogy Study Group
Discussing the Works of Elizabeth Shown Mills
Syllabus:
QuickLesson 9: Census Instructions? Who Needs Instructions?
Elizabeth Shown Mills, “QuickLesson 9: Census Instructions? Who Needs Instructions?” Evidence Explained: Historical Analysis, Citation & Source Usage (https://www.evidenceexplained.com/content/quicklesson-9-census-instructions-who-needs-instructions : accessed 30 Sept 2015).


HOMEWORK: Due by Noon on Monday before this session. Study the following QuickLesson, then post a blog by or public Google Doc with specific example(s) about how this concept applies in your personal genealogical research. Include your name and the QuickLesson citation (shown below) at the top of your homework. Then share your homework link in the "unified chat" for this specific study group session. This way Ol' Myrt and other participants can review your homework in the two days before this session.

Consider copyright issues as detailed in this short-subject video with The Legal Genealogist, Judy G. Russell, CG. found here: https://youtu.be/uFpET_NWFeU




WACKY Wednesday - Mac Family Tree
Wednesday, 25 May 2016
9pm Eastern US (New York)Wonder which of DearMYRTLE's *very* distant cousins will host this hangout?


Hangouts: Pay what you want. So it's simple. If you value the work Ol' Myrt, +Cousin Russ and our beloved panelists do week in and week out on your behalf, please:


Check the DearMYRTLE Hangouts Calendar for upcoming study groups and hangouts. There you'll find links to the GeneaConference (in-person) and the GeneaWebinars Calendar with over over 200 hours of online genealogy classes, webinars, live streams and tweetchats from other hosts and presenters over the next 12 months.


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Wednesday, May 04, 2016

Drew Smith - 2016 Filby Award for Genealogical Librarianship

NOTE from DearMYRTLE: The following was received from our friends at the National Genealogical Society.







The Filby Award for Genealogical Librarianship

ARLINGTON, VA, 3 MAY 2016— Drew Smith, MLS, is the 2016 recipient of the Filby Award for Genealogical Librarianship. Smith, an Assistant Librarian in the Academic Services department of the University of South Florida Tampa Library, received his award and its $1,000 prize, which is underwritten by ProQuest, at the opening session of the National Genealogical Society (NGS) 2016 Family History Conference in Ft. Lauderdale, FL. The Filby Award is named for the late P. William Filby, former director of the Maryland Historical Society and author of many core genealogical reference tools that genealogists have relied on for decades. Created in 1999 by NGS, the award has been sponsored by ProQuest and Mr. William Forsyth since 2006.

Smith joined the University of South Florida Tampa Library and Information Science (now the School of Information) as an instructor and held that post to 2007. During that time, he taught undergraduate-level courses in library/Internet research skills and website design, and graduate-level courses in genealogical librarianship and indexing/abstracting. He is the founder and administrator of the GENEALIB mailing list, a service for librarians serving genealogists.

He has written articles on genealogy for Genealogical Computing, Digital Computing, and NGS NewsMagazine (now NGS Magazine) and currently writes Rootsmithing with Technology column for FORUM, published quarterly by the Federation of Genealogical Societies (FGS). In 2009, Genealogical Publishing Company published his first genealogy book, Social Networking for Genealogists. His second book, co-authored with George G. Morgan, is Advanced Genealogy Research Techniques, published in 2013 by McGraw-Hill.

Smith regularly speaks at conferences and meetings of national, state, and local genealogy societies, especially on topics linking genealogy and technology. Together with George G. Morgan, he has been the co-host of The Genealogy Guys Podcast, the longest-running regularly produced genealogy podcast in the world, since 2005. Smith presented “Genealogy Programming at Your Library” at this year’s NGS Conference Librarians’ Day.

Smith served nine years as the president of the Florida Genealogical Society of Tampa, two years as secretary of the Association of Professional Genealogists, five years as a Director of FGS, and is current chair of the Family History Information Standards Organization. 

Founded in 1903, the National Genealogical Society is dedicated to genealogical education, exemplary standards of research, 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, and guidance in research. It also offers many opportunities to interact with other genealogists.
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#NGS2016gen Awards

NOTE from DearMYRTLE: The following was received from our friends at the National Genealogical Society. Find our more at www.NGSgenealogy.org


National Genealogical Society Presents Awards Honoring Excellence in Newsletter Editorship and Service to NGS

ARLINGTON, VA, 4 MAY 2016—The National Genealogical Society (NGS) honored excellence in the categories of newsletter editorship and service to the Society with the presentation of several awards at the Opening Session of the NGS 2016 Family History Conference in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, on 4 May 2016. The Opening Session keynote speaker, Connie Lester, PhD, spoke on the topic “Ordinary People, Extraordinary Lives” after which NGS President Jordan Jones presented the following awards.

Each year, the NGS Newsletter Competition recognizes the hard work, long hours, and creativity that editors devote to their newsletters. A panel of three judges reviews each newsletter on material interest, variety, organization, quality of writing and editing, readability, and attractiveness. This year’s categories and winners are:

Family Association Newsletter:
Winner: The Timen Stiddem Society Newsletter, the newsletter of the The Timen Stiddem Society, edited by Richard L. Steadham.

Honorable Mention: About Towne, the newsletter of the Towne Family Association, Inc., edited by Rae Russell Johnson.

County/Local Genealogical and/or Historical Society: for societies with less than 500 members:

Winner: GRIVA News & Notes, the newsletter of the Genealogical Research Institute of Virginia, edited by Sharon Barden Garber.

Honorable Mention: The Newsletter of the Irish Family History Forum, the newsletter of the Irish Family History Forum, edited by Patricia Mansfield Phelan.

Major Genealogical and/or Historical Society: for societies with more than 500 members:

Winner: The New York Researcher, the newsletter of the New York Genealogical and Biographical Society, edited by Susan R. Miller.

The President's Citation
The President's Citation is given in recognition of outstanding, continuing, or unusual contributions to the field of genealogy or the society. This year, the President’s Citation honors two individuals, Cyndi Ingle of Milton, WA, and Dick Eastman of Orlando, FL, who have given generously of their time and talents to benefit the genealogical community. 

Since 1996, Cyndi Ingle has published and maintained Cyndi’s List, a free, categorized, and cross-referenced online listing of genealogical sites. Cyndi’s List quickly became an indispensable resource for genealogists worldwide.

In addition to running her website, Cyndi has also found time to volunteer. She served as a board member of the NGS for five years, and is involved in other genealogical societies, such as the Federation of Genealogical Societies (FGS), where she currently serves on the technology and awards committees. She has published three books, and is an internationally renowned speaker about genealogy and technology. Her generosity and dedication have greatly benefited the genealogical community. 

Also in 1996, Dick Eastman launched the Eastman Online Genealogy Newsletter. EOGN covers genealogy news, as well as issues of technology, privacy, digital rights, and access as they relate to genealogy. A trailblazer in the use of technology, Dick was an early promoter of the use of online forums to advance genealogical research. Today more than 75,000 people read his newsletter and benefit from his reviews and tutorials.

Dick’s dedication to clear writing and independent opinion has made his periodical a sought-after source of information, commentary, and discussion for twenty years. Dick is also an internationally renowned speaker on the broad array of topics he covers in his newsletter.

NGS also recognized several individuals for their dedicated efforts in support of the NGS 2016 Family History Conference in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

The Award of Honor
The Award of Honor was presented in recognition of dedication and sustained service in support of the conference. Recipient of the award was the Florida State Genealogical Society, Inc., Marlis Humphrey, president.

Certificates of Appreciation
Certificates of Appreciation were given to recognize the committee chairs who spent countless hours preparing for the conference. NGS is aware that there could be no conference if it were not for the volunteers’ efforts and commitment. So honored were Conference Chair, C. Ann Staley, CG; Conference Vice Co-Chairs, Amy Larner Giroux, PhD, CG, CGL and Margo Fariss Brewer; Local Host Committee Chair, David W. Dellinger, PhD; Librarians' Day Chair, Drew Smith, MLS; Registration Chair, John F. Laurent; Local Publicity Chair, Marlis Humphrey; Vendor Support Chair, Jean Foster Kelley, CG; Vendor Support Assistant Chair, Denise Manning; Volunteer Chair, Susan Luce; Volunteer Assistant Chair, Cheryl Shaughnessy; and Youth Camp Chair, Margo Fariss Brewer.

Founded in 1903, the National Genealogical Society is dedicated to genealogical education, exemplary standards of research, 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, and guidance in research. It also offers many opportunities to interact with other genealogists.
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A New Adventure in Genealogy Education: Genealogy Professor

NOTE from DearMYRTLE: The following was received from our friend Michael Leclerc. Contact him at www.genprof.net


May 4, 2016 – Boston, MA. Founder Michael J. Leclerc, CGSM is excited to announce the launch of a new opportunity for genealogy education. Genealogy Professor developed from a passion to provide high-quality independent education to those who want to find their ancestors. Major websites often focus on getting subscribers in the door without considering that most genealogists need a variety of resources to identify the members of their family tree. Our focus is high-quality education to give researchers the tools they need, no matter where those tools are to be found. This includes the incredible resources that are not yet available online that can make the difference between success and failure.

Self-Paced Courses are self-contained, so that you can take them anytime, anywhere you like. Video presentations allow you to see the professor and the slides at the same time, letting you to switch your attention back and forth between them. There are also reading assignments and other tasks to complete. Quizzes help reinforce your learning, and give you feedback to help you keep on track, letting you get right to work in your research.

Genealogy Masterclasses take online genealogy learning to a different level, with live online classes where the students interact with each other and the professor. Homework assignments may be more complex than Self-Paced courses. And some include one-on-one online sessions with the professor, allowing the students to discuss questions and subjects. These conversations are recorded, with a copy provided to the student to keep for future reference.

"There are a variety of genealogical educational opportunities out there," Leclerc says. "We offer a different approach, to help bridge the gap from simple webinars to the complex university courses and genealogy institutes."

We believe in giving back to the genealogical community. Individually, we have all spent countless hours volunteering for genealogical societies and organizations, as speakers, writers, editors, board members, consultants, and more. A percentage of the proceeds from our courses is earmarked for support of community projects for work of interest to genealogists. These projects may include records preservation and increased access to materials among others.

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Monday, May 02, 2016

Starting a Google Hangout in Google Chrome



 
DearREADERS,
Cousin Russ discovered a new way to initiate a Google Hangout where the recorded video will appear on your YouTube Channel. This video explains:

  • How to add the One-Click Google on Air Hangout Chrome Extension
  • When to use this form of an impromptu hangout.




Hangouts: Pay what you want. So it's simple. If you value the work Ol' Myrt, +Cousin Russ and our beloved panelists do week in and week out on your behalf, please:


Check the DearMYRTLE Hangouts Calendar for upcoming study groups and hangouts. There you'll find links to the GeneaConference (in-person) and the GeneaWebinars Calendar with over over 200 hours of online genealogy classes, webinars, live streams and tweetchats from other hosts and presenters over the next 12 months.


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Sunday, May 01, 2016

REMINDER: Myrt's away for #NGS2016gen

DearREADERS,
We're off! The week's journey will take us from Utah to Florida to attend the 2016 National Genealogical Society's 2016 Family History Conference 4th-7th May. We will be gathering at the Ft. Lauderdale Convention Center located at 1950 Eisenhower Blvd. Attendee Registration is now open. 

WHAT'S MYRT's PLAN?

Wednesday, 4 May 2016 - Opening Session (W101, 8am Opening Session)
Learn more about Florida settlers by attending this session. "Ordinary People, Extraordinary Lives" with Connie L. Lester, PhD at the 2016 NGS Family History Conference

Wednesday, 4 May 2016 
Ol' Myrt will set up in the Media Hub / Interview booth area. This is where I'll be spending 90% of my time. NGS is setting up the following interviews for Ol' Myrt:

  • Mary Tedesco and Josh Taylor - Season 3 of Genealogy Roadshow
  • Ann Staley and Amy Giroux - NGS Research in the States - Florida
  • Jan Alpert - Updates on Records Preservation and Access Committee
  • Kelvin Meyers - NGS Research in the States - Texas
  • Ruth Ann Murray, PhD - New Genealogy programs at Excelsior College
  • Ben Bennett, Findmypast - Updates from Findmypast
  • Dan Horowitz, MyHeritage - Updates from MyHeritage


Wednesday, 4 May 2016  - Dinner Cruise
Thanks to our friends at MyHeritage.com, Mr. Myrt and I will join other media folks for a dinner cruise on Wednesday, 4 May 2016. Casual gatherings make for easy conversation. I look forward to
learning more about the newest feature "Book Matching" introduced earlier this month.



Wednesday, 4th-7th May 2016 - DearMYRTLE AmbushCAM Interviews
I'd like to record short 2-minute interviews with conference attendees on one of the following topics:
  • Which ancestor story will you be sharing next week?
  • Describe a family heirloom. Who did it belong to and how are you related to that person?
  • Tell us about a recent research breakthrough. What type of original documents were you studying?
You should find these on DearMYRTLE's YouTube channel once I've had a chance to upload them.



RELATED POSTS

Hangouts: Pay what you want. So it's simple. If you value the work Ol' Myrt, +Cousin Russ and our beloved panelists do week in and week out on your behalf, please:


Check the DearMYRTLE Hangouts Calendar for upcoming study groups and hangouts. There you'll find links to the GeneaConference (in-person) and the GeneaWebinars Calendar with over over 200 hours of online genealogy classes, webinars, live streams and tweetchats from other hosts and presenters over the next 12 months.


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