Winter 2017 Issue of FORUM Is Available

Learn how to craft and track brief yet productive communications that promote collaboration with your DNA matches from Blaine T. Bettinger, PhD, JD, in "Communicating with Your DNA Matches."

How does your society handle that neverending list of demands and projects? How do you track personal research projects? Cheri Daniels, MSLS, examines steps for finding a project management solution that works for your organization or for your individual needs in "Affordable Project Management Software, Your Organizational Game Changer."

In "Is Your Society Reaping the Benefits of a Writing Group?" Lynn Palermo explains the benefits of a writing group and how to start one.

And that's not all. 

Table of Contents

3 ...... Editor's Message

6 ...... President's Message: The Joy of Memories by Rorey Cathcart

8 ...... Communicating with Your DNA Matches by Blaine T. Bettinger, PhD, JD

12 ...... Affordable Project Management Software: Your Organizational Game Changer by Cheri Daniels, MSLS

18 ...... DNA & the Modern Genealogist by Sara Allen, MLIS

21 ...... Is Your Society Reaping the Benefits of a Writing Group? by Lynn Palermo

26 ...... Ethics & Standards: Keeping Up with the Times by Judy G. Russell, JD, CG, CGL

28 ...... Next Generation: Cut Educational Costs with Scholarships & Grants by Shannon Combs-Bennett

30 ...... Beyond Boxes & Binders: Interviewing Grandma: Collecting the Stories – Part 2 by Linda Coffin

34 ...... Records Preservation & Access: Missouri-Born Adoptee News, Digital Collections & More by Linda McCleary, MLS

37 ...... Reviews

45 ...... Before You Go . . .

How to access FORUM:

The FGS website will be switched to a new platform very soon. To ensure that FGS member society leadership and FORUM individual subscribers have access to this latest issue during this transition, we emailed a direct link to the Winter 2017 issue of the magazine.

Current FGS Member Society Leadership:
The email with the direct link to the magazine was sent to the main contact and the delegate for each member society. If your society is an FGS member and you did not receive the link, please email forum@fgs.org.

Current FGS FORUM subscribers (individuals): The email with the direct link to the magazine was sent to the email address on file for each subscriber. If you are a FORUM subscriber and you did not receive the link, please email forum@fgs.org.

Who can subscribe to FORUM? Anyone. You don't have to be a member of a genealogical society in order to subscribe.

Genealogical Society Leaders: If your society is not a member of the Federation of Genealogical Societies, become one today and let your society's leadership begin accessing FORUM and its 25+ year archives which is just one of the many benefits of FGS membership. 

Last Webinar of 2017: Creative Programming for Small Societies

The Federation of Genealogical Societies will be closing out 2017 with a don’t-miss webinar, “Creative Programming Options for Small Societies,” presented by FGS President Rorey Cathcart.

Small and rural societies face unique programming challenges they must overcome to give their members maximum benefit for their dues. Learn about programming options to consider when you’ve exhausted your local speaker pool.

Rorey Cathcart is a lecturer and professional genealogist at The Who Hunter LLC based in Charleston. Research specialties include South Carolina, Southern States and Irish Heritage. She has a special interest in advocating for Social Genealogy, using technology to improve the research process and Social Media in Genealogy. Rorey was a "Genealogy Roadshow on PBS" research team member for seasons 2 and 3. Currently serving as a President for the Federation of Genealogical Societies.

This webinar will be held on December 21, 2017, at 7:00 p.m. Central Time, and will be recorded for viewing on the FGS website shortly after its conclusion. Please register in advance.

NEXT TIME: The FGS Webinar Series will be back in January 2018 with “An Unlikely Society Ally - the Board of Tourism,” to be presented by David E. Rencher.

About the Webinar Series

Each month, the FGS Webinar Series will feature a new and interesting topic, ranging from recruitment and volunteer management to technology, publications, and working with your local tourism board.

Webinars are held on the 3rd Thursday of the month at 7:00 p.m. Central Time. Advance registration is required. Regular updates will be shared via the FGS Voice blog, FGS Voice Newsletter, and social media.

Speakers interested in presenting topics should contact Jen Baldwin, Education Chair, at education@fgs.org.

Are you looking for a rewarding and beneficial way to volunteer? The Education Committee at FGS could use your expertise. Please contact Jen Baldwin at education@fgs.org.

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NEW PENSION IMAGES HAVE ARRIVED

PRESERVE THE PENSIONS ANNOUNCES NEW IMAGES AVAILABLE AT FOLD3.COM

Austin, Texas  – The Federation of Genealogical Societies (FGS) is pleased to announce new pension images available at our hosting partner, Fold3. As we detailed in August of this year, conservation had resumed and digitization would shortly follow on War of 1812 Pension files covering surnames M(Moore)-Q. This new release of images is the first installment on the promise made by FGS, National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) and Ancestry to complete the project we started and to which you all have so generously contributed. Additional images will follow as the Ancestry digitization team continues to refine their process and achieve full capacity in accord with NARA protocols.

The War of 1812 pensions are among the most frequently requested set of materials within NARA’s holdings, yet had never been microfilmed or digitized. Through a fundraising effort unprecedented in the genealogical community, more than 4,000 individuals, 115 genealogical and lineage societies, and industry leaders such as FamilySearch helped FGS secure the funds, matched by Ancestry, to preserve and share this invaluable genealogical resource. The images already captured, as well as those soon to be, are hosted at Fold3 and available for free at https://go.fold3.com/1812pensions/

 “The Federation remains grateful to our partners and our supporters for their commitment to this important project. We are as excited as our community to reach this milestone.” – Rorey Cathcart, FGS President

"Accelerating public access to our holdings is key to successfully meeting NARA's mission and we are extremely pleased to see this project contribute to that overarching goal." Pamela Wright, Chief Innovation Officer, NARA

 “We are excited to have images flowing to the Fold3 site again and look forward to completing the collection as quickly as NARA’s process will allow.” Brian Hansen, GM Fold3

The Federation is committed to seeing the entire collection conserved, digitized and freely online at the earliest possible date. We will continue work with our partners to complete the current project plan in a timely manner and to secure a project plan for the remaining portion of the War of 1812 Pension files.

November 2017 FGS Webinar: Building Bridges Between Societies

The November 2017 FGS Society Management webinar will feature Kim Ashford, who will present “Building Bridges Between Societies.” Learn how the German-American Genealogical Partnership was created, the lessons learned, and how working with other societies can strengthen and excite your membership.

Kim Ashford enjoys membership in multiple genealogical societies. She is one of the founders of the International German Genealogy Partnership (IGGP) which is bringing together societies from around the world that have an interest in German genealogy. She currently serves on the board of the Germanic Genealogy Society in Minnesota as Past President.

The webinar will be held on November 16, 2017, at 7:00 p.m. Central Time, and will be recorded for viewing on the FGS website shortly after its conclusion. Please register in advance.

NEXT TIME: The topic for the December webinar is “Creative Programming Options for Small Societies,” to be presented by FGS President Rorey Cathcart. 

About the Webinar Series

Each month, the FGS Society Management Webinar Series will feature a new and interesting topic, ranging from recruitment and volunteer management to technology, publications, and working with your local tourism board.

Webinars are held on the 3rd Thursday of the month at 7:00 p.m. Central Time. Advance registration is required. Regular updates will be shared via the FGS Voice blog, FGS Voice Newsletter, and social media.

Speakers interested in presenting topics should contact Jen Baldwin, Education Chair, at education@fgs.org.

Are you looking for a rewarding and beneficial way to volunteer? The Education Committee at FGS could use your expertise. Please contact Jen Baldwin at education@fgs.org

Does your society need a Social Media Manager?

The October 2017 FGS webinar will feature FGS Education Chair Jen Baldwin, who will present "The Social Media Manager Role in Today’s Society."

What - exactly - is a social media manager and does your society need one? Learn some tricks of this growing professional area and how to convert that to assist your non-profit genealogy society.

Jen writes, lectures, and consults on a variety of genealogy topics. She is the Data Acquisition Manager, North America for Findmypast; and serves as a volunteer for the Federation of Genealogical Societies (FGS) as a Board Member and the Education Committee Chair. She served for several years as the Social Media Chair for the War of 1812 Preserve the Pensions fundraising campaign, led by FGS. Jen is also an active volunteer for the Larimer County Genealogical Society (CO), and has been the host of #genchat, a popular genealogy crowd-sourcing community chat on Twitter, for nearly four years. 

The webinar will be held on October 19, 2017, at 7:00 p.m. Central Time, and will be recorded for viewing on the FGS website shortly after its conclusion. Please register in advance.

NEXT TIME: The topic for the November 16, 2017 webinar is “Building Bridges Between Societies” presented by Kim Ashford.

About the Webinar Series

Each month, the FGS Webinar Series will feature a new and interesting topic, ranging from recruitment and volunteer management to technology, publications, and working with your local tourism board.

Webinars are held on the 3rd Thursday of the month at 7:00 p.m. Central Time. Advance registration is required. Regular updates will be shared via the FGS Voice blog, FGS Voice Newsletter, and social media.

Speakers interested in presenting topics should contact Jen Baldwin, Education Chair, at education@fgs.org.

Are you looking for a rewarding and beneficial way to volunteer? The Education Committee at FGS could use your expertise. Please contact Jen Baldwin at education@fgs.org

Fall 2017 Issue of FORUM is Out

In "Blueprint for Success: Building a Genealogy Education Plan" Julie Cahill Tarr outlines steps for expanding your knowledge to further your genealogy research.

Does your society have editable digital copies of your journals, quarterlies, newsletters, and other publications? Denise Barrett Olson explains how to create those files in "Future-Proof Your Society Publications."

Don't miss "Fort Wayne, Indiana: Your Destination for FGS 2018" by Allison DePrey Singleton & Visit Fort Wayne Staff. 

What do archivists and librarians do with items that don't belong to any particular record collection? Melissa Barker tells us how to "Discover Genealogical Treasures Among Scrap Paper & Orphan Documents." 

And that's not all. 

Table of Contents

3 ...... Editor's Message

6 ...... President's Message: A Moment of Reflection by Rorey Cathcart

8 ...... Blueprint for Success: Building a Genealogy Education Plan by Julie Cahill Tarr

13 ...... FGS 2017 In Pictures 

17 ...... Discover Genealogical Treasures Among Scrap Paper & Orphan Documents by Melissa Barker

22 ...... Fort Wayne, Indiana: Your Destination for FGS 2018 by Allison DePrey Singleton & Visit Fort Wayne Staff

28 ...... Future-Proof Your Society Publications by Denise Barrett Olson

30 ...... FGS 2017 Awards

32 ...... Ethics & Standards: For Every Soul a Story, a Family, a Name by Judy G. Russell, JD, CG, CGL

35 ...... Next Generation: Millennials—Ready & Willing by Shannon Combs-Bennett

37 ...... Beyond Boxes & Binders: Interviewing Grandma: Collecting the Stories – Part 1 by Linda Coffin

40 ...... Records Preservation & Access: US Budget Concerns, Fire Insurance Maps & More by Linda McCleary, MLS

43 ...... Reviews

50 ...... Before You Go . . .

How to access FORUM:

Current FGS Member Society Leadership: Sign-in now to start reading immediately or download it to read on your desktop or mobile device. (After signing in, click on FGS FORUM – Latest Issue in the sidebar.) Don't forget to renew your membership in order for your society's leadership to continue to access FORUM and its archives.

Current FGS FORUM subscribers (individuals): sign-in now to start reading immediately or download it to read on your desktop or mobile device. (After signing in, click on Volume 29 No. 3 to read.)

Who can subscribe to FORUM? Anyone. You don't have to be a member of a genealogical society in order to subscribe.

Not already a subscriber? You can subscribe today to FGS FORUM.

Genealogical Society Leaders: If your society is not a member of the Federation of Genealogical Societies, become one today and let your society's leadership begin accessing FORUM and its 25+ year archives which is just one of the many benefits of FGS membership. 

What can your society learn from the corporate world?

The September 2017 FGS webinar will feature Laurie Hermance-Moore, who will present "Borrowing Corporate Strategy Techniques for Your Society."

The webinar will address a variety of paths for a society to utilize the techniques of the corporate world. 

Many societies are at a crossroads: new competition from online genealogy sites and webinars, dwindling membership, and challenges in figuring out how to evolve activities. It’s time to stop and make a plan!

So why not borrow from the business world?

Marketing strategist and genealogist Laurie Hermance-Moore will show you techniques that are used by large companies to refine how they “go to market.” Learn how to align your society leadership to your vision for the future, your current mission, how you are positioning yourself against the competition, and identifying and prioritizing your target audiences.

Laurie has more than 15 years of experience in marketing, marketing research, strategic planning, and brand development. She provides coaching to professional genealogists and genealogy societies in marketing strategy, so they can craft their unique story, target their offerings to the right clients, and build their confidence in marketing.

The webinar will be held on September 21, 2017, at 7:00 p.m. Central Time, and will be recorded for viewing on the FGS website shortly after its conclusion. Please register in advance.

NEXT TIME: The topic for the October webinar will be “The Social Media Manager Role in Today's Society” presented by FGS Education Chair Jen Baldwin.

About the Webinar Series

Each month, the FGS Webinar Series will feature a new and interesting topic, ranging from recruitment and volunteer management to technology, publications, and working with your local tourism board.

Webinars are held on the 3rd Thursday of the month at 7:00 p.m. Central Time. Advance registration is required. Regular updates will be shared via the FGS Voice blog, FGS Voice Newsletter, and social media.

Speakers interested in presenting topics should contact Jen Baldwin, Education Chair, at education@fgs.org.

Are you looking for a rewarding and beneficial way to volunteer? The Education Committee at FGS could use your expertise. Please contact Jen Baldwin at education@fgs.org.

#FGS2017 Conference App Released

The mobile app for the FGS 2017 Genealogy Conference in Pittsburgh is now available!

With the app, you can keep your schedule, maps, list of speakers, and up-to-date information at your fingertips.  Plus, you can easily connect with fellow attendees.

Download the Guidebook App on your iOS or Android mobile device or you can even access it on your desktop or laptop!

Follow these detailed steps to download the app:

1.  Download Guidebook

• Search for "Guidebook" in the Apple, Google, or Amazon app stores, OR
• Navigate to guidebook.com/getit on your device's web browser, OR
• For desktop users or users with Windows Phones or non-Blackberry 10+ devices, navigate to guidebook.com/browse in your web browser (at this time, we only offer a native Guidebook app for iOS, Android, Blackberry 10+, and Amazon Kindle).

Follow the prompts on your screen, and the app will download.

2. Download the FGS 2017 Guide

Now that you have the Guidebook app, it's time to download the guide for FGS 2017! Open up the Guidebook app on your device to get started. Note: Internet access is required for this step.

• Use the Search box to type in "FGS 2017" (without the quotes) in the guide bar at the top.
• Tap the download button.

If you accidentally download the wrong guide, no worries! From the "My Guides" screen, tap the guide you wish to delete until you get a message that says "Unsync [name of guide]?" and press OK.

Note: After you delete the guide, it will appear at the end of the "Guides For You" lineup in case you accidentally deleted it or would like to access it again soon.

Desktop, Windows, non-Blackberry 10 users

On your phone's web browser (Chrome, Internet Explorer, etc.), type in guidebook.com/browse/

Click on the search bar below "Select a Category". Type in "FGS 2017" (without the quotes), and tap on "Search" or "Return" in the bottom right of your keyboard. View the results, and click on your event to download!

Note: If you are able to download a native app for your phone, a small "Get the Guidebook app" banner will appear at the top of your screen. Click this to download the native app.

3. Open and explore the FGS 2017 Conference Guide!

For more detailed instructions for downloading and navigating the FGS 2017 Guidebook App, visit: https://support.guidebook.com/hc/en-us/articles/202891364-Using-the-Guidebook-App-for-end-users-.

Online Registration Deadline

Online registration for FGS 2017 ends at midnight EDT on August 21, so don't delay!

August webinar to discuss the Nominating Committee

In the August, 2017 FGS webinar, we will invite David Rencher, CG, CGL, to present on "The Nominating Committee."

In order to maintain a healthy organization, we must all put great value in this piece of the society puzzle. David Rencher will provide an in-depth look at the role of this important committee in your genealogy society, and its impact on the organization’s longevity.

All of the issues and challenges facing your society may be solved with a successful nominating committee. This program will help you to learn to assess your own needs and find qualified candidates to grow your society – you need more than warm bodies!

The webinar will be conducted on August 17, 2017 at 7:00pm Central time. Please register in advance. The webinar will be recorded and will be available for viewing on the FGS website shortly after its conclusion. September's topic will be Borrowing Corporate Strategy Techniques for Your Society - this is a must-see presentation! 

Each month, the FGS Webinar Series will feature a new and interesting topic, ranging from recruitment and volunteer management to technology, publications, and working with your local tourism board. 

Registration will be necessary, and regular updates will be shared via the FGS Voice blog, FGS Voice Newsletter, and social media. Webinars will occur every 3^rd Thursday of the month.

Speakers interested in presenting topics should contact Jen Baldwin, Education Chair, at education@fgs.org.

Are you looking for a rewarding and beneficial way to volunteer? The Education Committee at FGS could use your expertise. Please contact Jen Baldwin at education@fgs.org

Update: Did you miss the live webinar?  You can watch the recording here.