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Archiver > APG > 1999-12 > 0944556772


From: <>
Subject: Re: [APG] Conference vs. membership
Date: Tue, 7 Dec 1999 03:52:52 EST


In a message dated 12/06/99 6:54:37 PM Mountain Standard Time,
writes:

<< While the numbers of genealogists conducting research has risen, the
numbers
attending national conferences and regional conferences seem to either stay
the same, or, drop. . . . Personally, I feel the new people joining the
genealogical community are terribly misinformed. They listen to the hype from
all types of media that tell them all they have to do is get online.
Everything they need is on the Internet. >>

Several emails back in this thread, Mike mentioned that more of the younger
generation are becoming interested in genealogy than in the past. He
followed with the observation that this "younger generation" may have trouble
attending conferences because of the time commitments of young families. I
know that in my geographic area, it is true that a good percentage of young
genealogists (20-35) have the responsibility of very small children. During
the day, appropriate babysitters are nearly impossible to find and some
parents do not even have a shirt-tail cousin to ask for child care
assistance. So, in many cases, genealogists with young families do have a
difficult time attending conferences.

I understand that the comment regarding attendance at conferences was
originally an "aside," but the above reinforcement of Mike's original
suppositions might be informative to those who plan conferences. Child care
solutions would be a *dandy* addition to these get togethers.

It is apparent that most of this recent discussion thread really focuses upon
genealogists who depend heavily upon the Internet and upon CD compilations as
source material for their research. It may be the case that those who rely
so heavily on these mediums do not have ready access to archives or to other
records sources. It might also be, as has been discussed, that this group of
researchers is simply not aware that some CDs only have incomplete samplings
and that a significant portion of data on the Internet is unsubstantiated and
incorrect.

Keeping in mind the specific cross section of researchers noted above, it
seems logical to focus genealogy education efforts toward this group. Online
educational classes offering pay-per-class (with or without college credit)
enrollment, with corresponding certificates of completion, will be the most
attractive to those who do most of their research and interaction online.

In defense of genealogists' attempts to educate: there are plenty of
educational books available and geared to genealogists of all ability and
experience. It is not much effort, if the desire is present, to read books
in order to become more knowledgeable in regard to proper source citations,
methodology and records sources. One can only lead a horse to water ...

Research experience in the trenches is a very good teacher. Even if it
should take a graduation from the school of hard-knocks, one would guess that
a rookie genealogist will eventually look for more accurate resources, ask an
experienced genealogist for help, or at the very least become more skeptical
to the information on CDs and the Internet.

There will *always* be newcomers who are tickled at first just to collect
names, places and dates for their databases and who remain happy in such
pursuits for a time. It stands to reason, though, that the hollowness of
this type of behavior and the lack of any real meaning and involvement in the
associated family names would eventually cause this type of researcher to
become disinterested or change their behavior.

But, if one day, a "name collector" should make the decision to begin
documenting their database and thus make steps toward becoming a genealogist,
then we can all rejoice. But, it will have to be *their* decision. It might
be the fateful day that the "names collector" finds out that the 9th
generation grandfather for whom he/she spent several months tracing out
14,000 descendants from a lead on the Internet -- wasn't their 9th great
after all.

FWIW: The most effective teaching that do for my children is offered by
example. The instant I begin preach to my little ones, no matter how good
and loving the intentions, the little hands go over the ears and they watch
my mouth move. But, I do find that throughout the day they are watching
adults and peers and making mental notes about what behaviors are rewarded
and/or rewarding. Along these lines, I notice that there are still only but
a percentage of experienced genealogists who actually post any portion of
their original work up to the Internet in the form that most attracts most
Internet genealogists -- you guessed it -- 'GEDCOM files with a bunch of
names in them.' Maybe a few more of these (even if just smaller sets) might
help: http://www.progenealogists.com/barnhouse/desc01.htm. The URL is one
of my GEDCOM files with hyperlinks to original research notes I compiled (not
all the work on this particular site is mine, but the hyperlink above is to
my GEDCOM).

Maybe another person with the fortitude of Cyndi might begin a list of well
documented GEDCOMS ... (original records research documentation being the
qualifier). It probably won't be a very big site - at first. But, maybe the
examples will spur folks to be the first to "have the most original document
abstracts!"

Continuing to drip ...

Natalie Cottrill
<A HREF="http://www.progenealogists.com">http://www.progenealogists.com</A&g

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