2010 Games - Success!

Well, it's hard to believe that we have come to the end of the Games already. Time flies when you are busy, and when you are having fun! Here it is the end of the games already. I did not do as much as last time as I got side-tracked when citing my sources. But I got so much finished in my own work that it is not a washout! I enjoyed every moment, and have a lot of work finished. I can say that these 2010 Games have been a great success, at least in my research.


1. “Go Back and Cite Your Sources!”:
Finished more that, 50 Citations – Platinum Medal


2. "Back Up Your Data!"
Finished Task A, B & C - Gold Medal


3. "Organize Your Research!"
Finished Task A, B, C, D & E - Platinum Medal

I'm afraid that is where I got side-tracked. I wanted to finish "Expand Your Knowledge" but never made it to that catagory. I am going to work on it as I have time. I needed to go through that one as it has things that I have not tried yet. The timeline and Google Maps were the two I hoped to get done. I read with great interest Miriam's "Using Timelines" post over at AnceStories. She even provided a copy of the template she used. Thanks Miriam! I want to walk through it for myself.

I feel like it has been a big success for me even though I did not complete all the catagories I wanted to. I have entered well over 100 citations. When I found that I was missing a census, I searched for it, got it cited properly, and now have very few holes in the continuity of census resources for a great deal of the Alexander file. I do have to say that RootsMagic4 makes it pleasant to enter source material. I can't take all the credit:o) (Thanks Bruce!) I also have so much of the Alexander materials, both digital and hard copy organized as well. The games were very successful for me and my research.

A big thanks to Thomas. As always, wonderfully done.

Off To A Good Start

Well I have gotten off to a good start. I have cited 83 sources and it seemed to just fly by! Kept my head down and got it done!
1. Go Back and Cite Your Sources DONE Platinum
I've also finished Task A and Task C of 2. Back Up Your Data! Task C was very important since I had not backed up my files for a while, since October 09 actually. I use RootsMagic4, but backup as a Gedcom file so that it could work with any program should something happen to me. I back up online and on a storage HD.

Still feeling good but it has only begun........LOL

On a side note, I am snowed in and suffering from insanity. The weatherman said today that there are 2 storms heading my way for next week. I shut him off and I refuse to talk to him again.

2010 Games

I have my flag and my banner. I am ready to compete.....

I am hoping I can get a lot done again this time. Though off to a slow start, I am ready.

In the competition categories I hope to perform well in at least 4:

1. Go Back and Cite Your Sources
2. Back Up Your Data
3. Organize Your Research
4. Expand Your Knowledge

If I have time left I will try number 5 this time:

5. Write, Write, Write!

This one I do all the time for my county. So I will just continue it everyday and not perform in the games for:

6. Reach Out and Perform Genealogical Acts of Kindness

Ready, set . . . . . . . . . We're off!

Happy 101 Award

I have recieved this award from 4 fellow bloggers. Felicia from Our Family As A Whole,
Taylorstales-Genealogy, Colleen at Orations of OMcHodoy, and Earline from AncestralNotes.

The award requires me to name 10 things that make me happy and then name 10 blogs that I want to send this award to.

What makes me happy:

1. My family. They have been around lately helping me, so recovery has been a happy time. My daughter, in particular, is my joy.

2. Living in the time period we now live in. Studying ancestor lives should make everyone happy that it is 2010. Our lives are so much nicer, easier and cleaner than our ancestors. So I am happy to be in the 21st Century!

3. My Family History work. I don't have to tell you why that makes me happy, right?

4. My volunteer work for the GenWeb. I am hoping that I can keep up during my recovery. I love my work and it brings a joy to life that surprises me all the time!

5. My reading and studying. I have other things I am interested in and do a lot of reading about them.

6. The new social nature of the genealogy community, and all the people I have met through the networks. We no longer stumble along in lonely solitude. How exciting it has been!

7. My collection of family heirlooms. Having the things that were so important, or were made by my ancestors around me brings great comfort and lovely memories. Seeing the quilt that my Grandma made causes my heart to swell with happiness and love. She was the wisest and most loving woman I have known.

8. My computer. It sets here waiting for me to go on an adventure from my home. It holds many of the answers I seek. It lets me visit places I could only wonder about before. I am very happy sitting here.

9. My furry little friend makes me happy.

10. Two arms, two legs and no pain.

My nominees:

Life is just a Bowl of Cherries

Relatively Curious About Genealogy

FamHist

Before My Time

FootnoteMaven

Tiger Tulip Designs (my daughters blog)

Kinexxions

Heritage Happens

Our Twigs

Ancestors Live Here

Volunteerism: Look to Your Local GenWeb

I don't want to "toot my horn". That is not the importance of giving a little time to a cause that you feel is worthwhile. My particular cause is the GenWebs. I adopted my county several years ago and have not regretted it. I love the work and have met so many wonderful people in the process of maintaining the site.

When I first started online research I discovered the GenWebs and knew immediately that I wanted to be a volunteer for that organization. I set out right away to learn html coding so that I would be able to adopt a county. Just so happens that my own county became available as I was learning and I quickly applied to adopt it. I was open about my lack of experience and that I was taking lessons still. I was sure that I would not be chosen because of my lacking knowledge and experience. Big surprise! I was chosen! I try to keep learning so that the site is coded up to date and is convenient for my users. I am grateful that the State Coordinator gave me a chance to work for the INGenWeb. It is very fullfilling.

I spend more time some months of the year on the site. Around the holidays it is quiet and very few submissions come in. In the busy times I will spend up to 3 or 4 hours a week on the site. There have been times I spent much more time working. Getting the site up and running took many hours of work a week, but now that I have it set, I only need to put the data on a page(template) and upload. The County Coordinator chooses how simple or complicated the site is. I also spend time transcribing data for the site. Some months I spend 8 to 10 hours doing that. Again, it is up to the CC how much time is spent there. I'm sure you have noticed that each county site is different. That is because each site reflects the personality of each Coordinator and the amount of time they have to put into the project. How much time spent on the project is up to the individual County Coordinator. I have taken my county from 50 pages to over 2500, and that is smallcompared to some counties. I have a lot of ideas and data I want to provide for my users, so much work is still to be done.

I recommend the GenWebs for anyone looking to volunteer time to providing data and information about genealogy research. I have found it to be a great challenge and a joy. Take a look at your county site. Please consider the GenWebs when looking to volunteer. If you don't feel you can handle a county, remember that the sites are waiting for submissions of data from their users too. You could volunteer data that you have collected over the years in your own research. Next time you go out to that little cemetery in your county, take a while and snap extra photos just to submitt. If you have a book for your county, become a "look-up". You can make your county site better even if you can not adopt it.

USGenWeb

Written for the 88th COG.

My Helper

My daughter, helper and secretary, Shani.
Thank you for being here!

About Sheri Of TwigTalk

Hello I'm Sheri's/Twigs Daughter Shani ,

Early Monday evening Mom fell Shattering her left arm Elbow &Ulna bone & Broke her left ankle I believe the Fibula bone .
She was hospitalized She had to have surgery to repair the damage done to the arm luckily they had all the pieces of the shattered arm to piece back together . her leg was a clean break which did not require any surgery just a casting .She came home on Wednesday afternoon and has been ordered bed resting They have put castes on both broken parts.
Due to these breaks she will be unble to post here for an unknown amount of time .
So this site will be on hold until she has recovered fully from this fall.


She Thanks everyone for the well wishes via blog comments as well as group & emails.
She hopes to get back here as quick as possible .
But until such time Twig Talk is on Hiatus .

Thank you for understanding and keep those well wishes coming .

I'll be checking blog post comments daily until the time she is able to return .


Sincerely
Sheri's Daughter and Secretary
Shani