Genealogy Goals for 2012

It's the first day of a new year, the perfect time for setting goals!  But first, a quick review.  I only set 3 goals for 2011….did I complete them?

Goal #1  Finish scanning the pile of papers sitting on the floor by my bed.  I'm 3/4 of the way done, I just have to take it into the home stretch!  Mission Accomplished! 

Goal #2  Leave a comment on, at least, 5 blog posts each day.  I appreciate each and every comment I receive on this blog and want to be sure I am returning the favor.  I'm inspired by genealogy blog postings everyday....I just need to say so.  I’m embarrassed to say that I didn’t accomplish this goal.  I read many blogs a day but reading them on my smartphone makes commenting a challenge.  I’m moving this goal to 2012.

Goal #3  Begin organizing my genealogy files for the new file cabinet.  I was tempted to say complete this process but I know once I begin digging into some of those files I will get sidetracked.  A little genealogy ADD will probably set in.  It's a little disorder which I suffer from, from time to time!  Mission Accomplished!  I can’t wait to show you how organized my cabinet is!

In 2012 I plan on:

·                  -    Attending my first National Genealogy Conference (NGS in May)

·                  -   Complete my DAR application and join my local DAR chapter

·                  -   Schedule my blog postings ahead of time

·                  -   Record more family stories

·                   -   Write my own obit

·                   -  Comment on those blogs I read!

I’m off to my Google Reader now to see what you have planned for 2012.  I’m sure what I find will inspire me! (and I'll be sure to leave a comment)!

A Genealogy Meme

Back in 2009 Becky Wiseman of Kinexxions created this Genealogy Meme and now, two years later, it is making it's way around the blogging community again.  Since I didn't participate the first time I can't compare how I'm doing but I can use it to develop a plan for the upcoming year!

So here we go.......

The list should be annotated in the following manner:

Things you have already done or found: bold face type

Things you would like to do or find: italicize (color optional)

Things you haven’t done or found and don’t care to: plain type

1. Belong to a genealogical society.
2. Researched records onsite at a court house.
3. Transcribed records.
4. Uploaded tombstone pictures to Find-A-Grave.
5. Documented ancestors for four generations (self, parents, grandparents, great-grandparents).
6. Joined Facebook.
7. Helped to clean up a run-down cemetery.
8. Joined the Genea-Bloggers Group on Facebook.
9. Attended a genealogy conference.
10. Lectured at a genealogy conference.
11. Spoke on a genealogy topic at a local genealogy society.
12. Been the editor of a genealogy society newsletter.
13. Contributed to a genealogy society publication.
14. Served on the board or as an officer of a genealogy society.
15. Got lost on the way to a cemetery.
16. Talked to dead ancestors.
17. Researched outside the state in which I live.
18. Knocked on the door of an ancestral home and visited with the current occupants.
19. Cold called a distant relative.
20. Posted messages on a surname message board.
21. Uploaded a gedcom file to the internet.
22. Googled my name.
23. Performed a random act of genealogical kindness.
24. Researched a non-related family, just for the fun of it.
25. Have been paid to do genealogical research.
26. Earn a living (majority of income) from genealogical research.
27. Wrote a letter (or email) to a previously unknown relative.
28. Contributed to one of the genealogy carnivals.
29. Responded to messages on a message board or forum.
30. Was injured while on a genealogy excursion.
31. Participated in a genealogy meme.
32. Created family history gift items (calendars, cookbooks, etc.).
33. Performed a record lookup for someone else.
34. Went on a genealogy seminar cruise.
35. Am convinced that a relative must have arrived here from outer space.
36. Found a disturbing family secret.
37. Told others about a disturbing family secret.
38. Combined genealogy with crafts (family picture quilt, scrapbooking).
39. Think genealogy is a passion not a hobby.
40. Assisted finding next of kin for a deceased person (Unclaimed Persons).
41. Taught someone else how to find their roots.
42. Lost valuable genealogy data due to a computer crash or hard drive failure.
43. Been overwhelmed by available genealogy technology.
44. Know a cousin of the 4th degree or higher.
45. Disproved a family myth through research.
46. Got a family member to let you copy photos.
47. Used a digital camera to “copy” photos or records.
48. Translated a record from a foreign language.
49. Found an immigrant ancestor’s passenger arrival record.
50. Looked at census records on microfilm, not on the computer.
51. Used microfiche.
52. Visited the Family History Library in Salt Lake City.
53. Visited more than one LDS Family History Center.
54. Visited a church or place of worship of one of your ancestors.
55. Taught a class in genealogy.
56. Traced ancestors back to the 18th Century.
57. Traced ancestors back to the 17th Century.
58. Traced ancestors back to the 16th Century.
59. Can name all of your great-great-grandparents.
60. Found an ancestor’s Social Security application.
61. Know how to determine a soundex code without the help of a computer.
62. Used Steve Morse’s One-Step searches.
63. Own a copy of Evidence Explained by Elizabeth Shown Mills.
64. Helped someone find an ancestor using records you had never used for your own research.
65. Visited the main National Archives building in Washington, DC.
66. Visited the Library of Congress.
67. Have an ancestor who came over on the Mayflower.
68. Have an ancestor who fought in the Civil War.
69. Taken a photograph of an ancestor’s tombstone.
70. Became a member of the Association of Graveyard Rabbits.
71. Can read a church record in Latin.
72. Have an ancestor who changed their name.
73. Joined a Rootsweb mailing list.
74. Created a family website.
75. Have more than one "genealogy" blog.
76. Was overwhelmed by the amount of family information received from someone.
77. Have broken through at least one brick wall.
78. Visited the DAR Library in Washington D.C.
79. Borrowed a microfilm from the Family History Library through a local Family History Center.
80. Have done indexing for Family Search Indexing or another genealogy project.
81. Visited the Allen County Public Library Genealogy Center in Fort Wayne, Indiana.
82. Had an amazing serendipitous find of the "Psychic Roots" variety.
83. Have an ancestor who was a Patriot in the American Revolutionary War.
84. Have an ancestor who was a Loyalist in the American Revolutionary War.
85. Have both Patriot & Loyalist ancestors.
86. Have used Border Crossing records to locate an ancestor.
87. Use maps in my genealogy research.
88. Have a convict ancestor who was transported from the UK.
89. Found a bigamist amongst the ancestors.
90. Visited the National Archives in Kew.
91. Visited St. Catherine's House in London to find family records.
92. Found a cousin in Australia (or other foreign country).
93. Consistently cite my sources.
94. Visited a foreign country (i.e. one I don't live in) in search of ancestors.
95. Can locate any document in my research files within a few minutes.
96. Have an ancestor who was married four times (or more).
97. Made a rubbing of an ancestors gravestone. (I would NEVER do this, it might damage the stone!)
98. Organized a family reunion.
99. Published a family history book (on one of my families).
100. Learned of the death of a fairly close relative through research.
101. Have done the genealogy happy dance.
102. Sustained an injury doing the genealogy happy dance.
103. Offended a family member with my research.
104. Reunited someone with precious family photos or artifacts

And one of my own to add to the list:

105.  Join the DAR

In summary, I have completed 53 items!  Not bad.  And I have identified 7 goals I would like to obtain in 2012:

1.  Research records onsite at a court house.

2.  Contribute to one of the genealogy carnivals.

3.  Use a digital camera to “copy” photos or records.

4.  Become a member of the Association of Graveyard Rabbits.

5.  Consistently cite my sources.

6.  Can locate any document in my research files within a few minutes.

7.  Join the DAR

8.  Attend NGS 2012 in Cincinnati, Ohio!

Sounds like a great plan for 2012.  I can't wait to get started!