Before heading to the grocery store, I need to make a list, so I don't forget to pick up something we need, or worse, buy things we don't! I hate waste and overcrowding the 'fridge. It is even more important to plan both my schedule and my genealogy.  I learned how helpful this was some years ago, when we studied Research Like A Pro : A Genealogist’s Guide by  Diana Elder, AG with Nicole Dyer .  Thinking about my questions and goals before diving in, and carefully reviewing everything I know (or think I do) is critical to progress and eventual success. The GPS, Genealogical Proof Standard , was created to help us in our work, because building on a solid foundation helps us have confidence in our findings and enjoy the journey. I find planning more parts of my life helps me have more time for research too. I use Google calendar, but whatever tools you like will work, as long as you use them as a part of your daily routine.  So what's my latest plan? I just started on...

2025 Calendar Courtesy OpenClipart Whatcha Gonna Do This Year?  Some make New Year's resolutions; I usually try to set some goals, and look back and measure progress made during the year. Our former president and director of our Education team Barbara Mattoon has set an even higher bar, publicly announcing her goals in our SKCGS blog   2020--What's in Your New Year?  and   2024 Genealogy Resolutions . Lofty goals, and worthy of her dedication, skill and determination.  Inspiring. Back in 2021, I wrote "As I begin this new year, I was determined to not make any resolutions, yet I can't stop myself.  "The book Mastering Genealogical Proof by Thomas W. Jones was a Christmas gift, and I immediately dived into reading it. I even started blogging about it on my personal blog, https://genweblog.blogspot.com/2020/12/end-of-2020-time-for-something-new.html . That's great, but unless I put the principles to work in my own research, what good does the reading and le...

  It's the third Saturday of the month, about 9:45 am, and you are at your computer, ready to join the South King County Genealogical Society meeting. You are looking forward to hearing that great speaker who is presenting that hot topic!  You registered several days ago and you are ready to be informed.  You did register, didn't you?  If you forgot, do it right now! But, you can't find the link to get into the meeting! Time is ticking by and you are about to panic.  You send a text/phone call/email to Valorie/MaryLynn/Tina/any other tech person you can think of to get the link. They aren't answering because they are already hosting the meeting or otherwise tied up.  What to do? The best advice we can give is to avoid that problem in the first place.  When you register for the meeting a few days in advance, you immediately get a confirming email that contains the link to the meeting.  It will be sent to the email address that you used when you reg...