2020--What's in Your New Year?
It is the
time of year when we think about setting goals for the New Year. How many timeshave we resolved to lose
weight, go to the gym regularly, call Mom every week, or any number of other
things. I always have a goal of reading
50 books a year. Some years I do better
than others. This year looks like it
will be about 31 or 32. Not too bad, but
I could do better.
I listed 19
things that I wanted to accomplish in 2019, and I must admit that I did not do
very well. As I reflect on this
performance, or lack of same, I have resolved to take a different approach in
2020. After setting my overall goals for
2020, I am going to break them into monthly goals and do a monthly review, so
that I do not get so hopelessly behind that I just give up.
I’m
particularly thinking about my genealogy goals for 2020. Many of you know that I want to become a
Certified Genealogist. Before the end
of 2020, I will “go on the clock”. What
that means is that I will have one year from the day I submit my application to
submit my completed portfolio. I will
complete the ProGen Study Group in June. As that study progresses, I will
identify areas where I need to do more independent study before preparing my
portfolio.
I have
already realized that I need more knowledge of Pacific Northwest
repositories. Therefore, each month I will be visiting at
least one that I have not previously visited. Some of those are the Fiske Library, the new Nordic Heritage Museum,
Heritage Quest Library and the Washington State History Museum in Tacoma.
My
genealogical writing skills need improvement. I will complete a Chapter of Tom Jones’ Mastering the Art of
Genealogical Documentation and the associated exercise each month. To study
professional genealogy writing, I will study one national genealogy journal
every month.
Elizabeth
Shown Mills says that every genealogist should read Val Greenwood’s The
Researchers Guide to American Genealogy from cover to cover, and then read
it again. By the first of 2020 I will
probably be on Chapter 17. I will study
one chapter every week.
My DNA
knowledge is weak. I will focus on the
DNA track of classes and lectures at the NGS Conference in Salt Lake City in
May 2020.
Of course, the SKCGS DNA Seminar June 6, is right
at the top of my list!
There are
several week-long institutes for genealogical education held each year. I plan to attend the Genealogical Research
Institute of Pittsburgh again this year. By February, I will have to decide between a writing class or a DNA
class.
Service to
the Genealogical Community: I have about
17 months left to serve as SKCGS President. In addition to attendance at General Meetings and Special Interest
Groups, I plan to reinstate the Annual All-Day Planning Retreat in July or
August. I will prepare and present a
General Meeting Program in 2020. I will
complete at least one blog post for SKCGS each month.
My personal
genealogy has suffered the past year. By
the end of 2020, all the facts in my tree will be sourced. I will begin with the family that I plan to
use for the Kinship Determination Project in my BCG Portfolio. I do not know how many sources are missing,
so it is difficult to set a monthly goal for this project. I will know more when I get into it.
I am going
to implement a more structured method of backing up my family history files on
a monthly basis.
Crista
Cowan, The Barefoot Genealogist, gets credit for the next idea. Genealogy Routines. Number One: I will write a Research Plan for every individual I research. It is my goal to identify the parents of my 2nd
great grandmother, Almira Tyler who was born in Maine in 1814, and married
Richard Howell in Meigs County Ohio, on 11 Oct 1836. I will not work on this project without my
Research Plan in front of me, and I will document every source I consult. Second: When I prepare my weekly Work Plan each Saturday, specific times will be
scheduled for ProGen study and personal genealogy.
There you
have it. I have committed publicly to my
Genealogy Goals for 2020. Who will join
me?
The Board of
Directors will meet Tuesday, January 7, at 7:00 pm at the Valley Regional Fire
Department, 1101 D St. NE, Auburn. We
will be planning educational activities from January through June 2020. All members are invited and encouraged to
attend, although only Board members may vote.
Do you think
social media is just for cat videos and not-so-close friends posting pictures
of their children? Maybe not. Join us at our January General Meeting on the
18th to learn from Marilyn Schunke how to use social media to
advance your genealogy goals. Gather at 9:30 am in the second floor
Assembly Hall at Wesley Lea Hill, 32049 109th Pl SE, Auburn.
Special
Interest Groups: FamilyTree Maker,
Saturday, January 4, 10:15 – 11:45 am at the Auburn Library. Contact Winona Laird vice-president@skcgs.org
for more information.
DNA Group, Monday, January 13. 1:00 – 3:00 pm
at WAPI, 28815 Pacific Hwy. S. Suite 7A, Federal Way. Come prepared to share the DNA project you
have completed since the November meeting.
Technology
User Group, Monday,
January 20, 1:00 – 3:00 pm at WAPI. Where have we been and where are we
going? Roundtable review of topics--past
and future. Bring your ideas and/or
problems to help plan a successful 2020.
Research
Group, Friday,
January 24, 1:00 – 3:00 pm, Kent Family History Center, 12817 SE 256th
St., Kent. RSVP to Winona Laird vice-president@skcgs.org. There are a limited number of computer terminals available, so it is first
come, first served.
I am looking
forward to seeing all of you in January.
It seems like it has been a long time!
Barbara
Mattoon
SKCGS
President
Tags: Goals, Val Greenwood, Tom Jones, Marilyn Schunke, Social Media,
DNA, TUG, Research Group
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