Showing posts with label 2008 Genea-Blogger Group Games. Show all posts
Showing posts with label 2008 Genea-Blogger Group Games. Show all posts

Friday, August 29, 2008

Reach Out & Perform Genealogical Acts of Kindness! - Personal Challenge



Harry Watson WEBB, died 1882 at 1 year and 11 months old. Grave marker, Anglican Cemetery, Chilliwack (Chilliwack Cemeteries, Little Mountain/Mount Shannon). Parents: Lucy Ada HOPKINS and Horatio WEBB

When wrapping up my own participation in the Summer 2008 Genea-Blogger Group Games, I said I thought that the sections I didn't participate in would be great as personal challenges later.


I've decided to choose one for September - Reach Out & Perform Genealogical Acts of Kindness!


The assigned tasks were:


A. Comment on a new (to you) genea-blog.


B. Join another genea-blogger’s blog network on Facebook Blog Networks.


C. Invite other genealogists to join Facebook.


D. Assist another researcher with a research request or lookup. See AnceStories "Random Acts of Kindness Week" posts for ideas for this item.


E. Participate in an indexing project.


F. Join a genealogical, historical, heritage or lineage society.


Since I'll be away several times in September, and it's going to be a very busy month, (with LOTS of genealogy!) I'll report on my progress when I'm finished or at the end of the month, whichever comes first.

Monday, August 25, 2008

2008 Genea-Blogger Group Games - Final Results



Wow! It's so amazing being up here on the award platform with everyone!

Congratulations to all who participated in the Summer 2008 Genea-Blogger Group Games! And a very special thank you to Miriam Midkiff Robbins, Kathryn Doyle, footnoteMaven and Thomas MacEntee for all their efforts to keep us organized and encouraged.

The Closing Ceremonies are over now and the Games results have just been posted by Thomas MacEntee at his Destination: Austin Family blog.

Among the events, Reach Out & Perform Genealogical Acts of Kindness! resulted in the highest number of medals (29) and the most Platinum medals (15).

The event with the least number of medals was Back Up Your Data with 18.

These events sound like future personal challenges to me. But all my photos scanned - for that I will need a month of Sundays! (Yes, that's a family expression - haven't heard that outside the family...in donkey's years).

My own results:

M. Diane Rogers
Canada Genealogy, or, "Jane's Your Aunt"
Write, Write, Write!: Platinum

And now there's a future challenge - will the Canadian bloggers step up to organize the 2010 Genea-Blogger Games during the Winter Olympics - to be held in beautiful Vancouver (well, close to Vancouver anyway) ? I'm in...who else?

LINKS

Closing Ceremonies, 2008 Genea-Blogger Games, Destination: Austin Family: http://destinationaustinfamily.blogspot.com/2008/08/genea-blogger-games-closing-ceremonies.html

Genea-Bloggers on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=30305424880

Friday, August 22, 2008

2008 Genea-Blogger Group Games - Finals - Write, Write, Write!

Well, I made it down the course!

A. DONE - I wrote a post about my blog, and made a few decisions.

B. -DONE - I entered a post in the 54th Edition of the Carnival of Genealogy (August 15) "Why Do You Say That, Grandma D, or, the Family Language". I also participated in 'Wordless Wednesday' for the first time.

C. DONE - i wrote some drafts, and even e-mailed them and someday I may be able to pre-post. Otherwise I'll just e-mail them on ahead.

D. DONE - I posted my brief bio of my great uncle. Now I can see how much more I'd like to know about him.

E. -DONE- I'll be hosting the 'Cabinet of Curiosities' Carnival in November.

Is that really a Platinum Medal waiting for me?

Congratulations everyone on your successes!

Blog, Blog, Blog - 2008 Genea-Blogger Group Games





My task today is to write a post about my blog - why I started doing this, how it's gone so far, what I'd like to do in the future.

I started this almost as a lark. I’d been reading so many genealogy blogs, and talking to people about what was being written, that I thought I might as well try it myself. It turned out blogging was mostly free and that it didn’t take too much time to learn the ‘how tos’, so that was that.

When I started, I thought I’d use my blog to share information about genealogical events and activities that I’m involved with myself, and as a place to post information useful to the students in my genealogy sessions or to friends in the discussion groups I’m in. These purposes are still important to me.

About the title – usually I’m using Canadian genealogy examples, and there aren’t many Canadian blogs, thus ‘CanadaGenealogy’, but my big interest in life is women’s history and I do like to give a womanly twist to clichés – so ‘Jane’s Your Aunt’. One of the earliest posts I wrote in 2005 was about my title: http://canadagenealogy.blogspot.com/2005/02/janes-your-aunt-whats-with-this-title.html

This year, I made a new resolution or two about blogging. I did update my template as planned, since then I’ve started using more photographs, even added a widget.

Participating in the Summer 2008 Genea-Blogger Group Games has given me an incentive to check out Blogger's new features. I've added 'subscribe to' links and I’ve learned how to e-mail a post, this may come in handy in the near future. I thought I remembered a mention of pre-posting in Blogger Beta. That doesn’t seem to be available yet, but I did have someone give me an idea for a solution, if needed.

In my New Year’s Resolutions, I said I wanted to:

“Blog more! I’ve just started with the Carnival of Genealogy and I’ve had fun, so I do want to continue. And, as a bonus, my family is reading my blog, if only to see if their own photographs might appear.”

This is all still true - and I don’t see why a blog (or any other personal writing project) can’t serve more than one purpose.

People seemed to like my book recommendations so I’ll be making that a weekly feature, as with ‘Wordless....’, Wednesday! I think, as that’s my ‘anti-procrastination day’ so not much dallying on-line that day.

I’ll definitely be keeping up with the Carnivals and I'll try to keep up with the Genea-Bloggers (lots of energy in that group!) – it’s fun to do the posts and fun to read everyone else’s. Now, how to encourage more comments? Lots of people tell me they read, but never leave a mark...

Fortune Cookie courtesy of Image Chef: http://www.imagechef.com/ic/make.jsp?tid=Fortune+Cookie

Wednesday, August 20, 2008

2008 Genea-Blogger Group Games - Progress

Well, today I wrote a piece about 'stores of yesteryear' - this is my first participation in a meme.

Tomorrow I will be posting one of the draft posts I wrote the other day as I expect it to be a busy day.

Monday, August 18, 2008

2008 Genea-Blogger Group Games - Progress



Postcard, Newdale, Manitoba


Well today just one thing done towards these game goals - I wrote a future post for my blog as well as the one I posted today.

Goodness, how can it be almost Tuesday already?


Thanks to Miriam, our Head Coach, I am now in the 2008 Genea-Blogger Group Games lineup.




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Sunday, August 17, 2008

2008 Genea-Blogger Group Games - Weekly Recap

I'm following the 2008 Genea-Blogger Group Games in the "Write, Write,
Write!" category. I did sign up, but somehow I didn't make it into the final
group of contestants. I missed one of the 'trials' as I was only looking at
the original rules. Still I decided to run alongside.

So far:

A. I've thought about why and how I use this blog and how I might use it in
the future - I've checked out Blogger's new features, I've added 'subscribe
to' links to the blog and I've learned how to e-mail a post.

B. -DONE - I entered a post in the 54th Edition of the Carnival of Genealogy (August 15) "Why Do You Say That, Grandma D, or, the Family Language". I also participated in 'Wordless Wednesday' for the first time.

C. I've just sent my blog an e-mail draft post- we will see if this works! [Hey! It does!]

D. I've been writing up about my Na, but can see this will be a longer job
that I thought. I have another sketch I will do this week instead.

E. -DONE- I'll be hosting the 'Cabinet of Curiosities' Carnival in November.

This Carnival is a chance to show off those quirky family treasures - ones locked in a
trunk or hidden under the dresser, those don't get displayed on the living
room side table, treasures you've researched and researched, or those you
have no idea about. As Tim Abbott, this carnival's creator says, this is
"show and tell for grown ups".

Links:

Cabinet of Curiosities #8, Walking The Berkshires:
http://greensleeves.typepad.com/berkshires/2008/06/cabinet-of-curi.html

2008 Genea-Blogger Group Games:
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=33129285258

Saturday, August 16, 2008

2008 Genea-Blogger Group Games - Progress

Today I went through a few more pictures and negatives and I took some photographs relating to a future 'Cabinet of Curiosties' - really though it seems too hot to do much!
Also I did have a look at Blogger's new features and read up about 'mobile' posts.

Tomorrow is another day.

Friday, August 15, 2008

2008 Genea-Blogger Group Games - Progress

Today:

1. I posted my entry for the Carnival of Genealogy.

2. Encouraged by my friends in the Downtown Vancouver Genealogy Discussion group, I scanned a few negatives - I've never tried this before - and I posted the scan from one of them in today's post - a picture of our family c.1958. My Na is in that photo - but her eyes are closed!

This morning I noticed that Blogger had a 'new look'. I will have to add checking out the newer Blogger features to my to-do list. I'd like to try posting by e-mail. Who knows when I might get a genealogy 'scoop'.

2008 Genea-Blogger Group Games - Progress

Well - the only progress I made today was to finish my post for the 54th Edition of the Carnival of Genealogy. That I'll post tomorrow.

Wednesday, August 13, 2008

2008 Genea-Blogger Group Games - Progress

Well, I'm not sure this counts as really writing, but earlier I put up my first 'Wordless Wednesday' post. Before my first Scanfest I didn't even know that Wordless Wednesday was a 'real' activity!

Now any day can be wordless, so I will look forward to doing this once a week.

(Since I'm still running on holiday time - 3 hours ahead - by me it's already tomorrow, so I think I am ok posting this progress report.)

Interested in participating in a Wordless Wednesday...or Monday, or Tuesday...:
http://www.wordlesswednesday.com

Tuesday, August 12, 2008

2008 Genea-Blogger Group Games - Progress





Looks as if an automobile adventure came to a sticky end here. My Na identified those in the first photograph as herself and my mum (who looks to be thinking -I told you so!). Then Margaret Carmichael (daughter of Esther Ann Currins and Alexander Carmichael, my Na's uncle and aunt), then Harold Reekie. I believe my grandfather, James Walter Scott, took the photos. c.1922, Newdale area, Manitoba, Canada

Today was a catch-up' day after being away, but I did scan and crop more photos of my Na in Newdale - as part of writing a biographical sketch of her life.

Monday, August 11, 2008

2008 Genea-Blogger Group Games - Progress

Well, today has mostly been spent travelling. Seeing Canada from the air always reminds me how vast this country is, how varied the landscapes and how beautiful. (Was that really Newdale I saw way below in Manitoba, all surrounded with chrominum yellow fields?)

This was a good trip - I did come home with my research book stuffed with copies and notes - and, now, like Dorothy, I say, 'It's great to be home'.

I did two things today towards my goals however -

1. I outlined what I want to write about in the biographical sketch of my Na

2. I was in touch with Tim Abbott, of the Cabinet of Curiosities host about hosting an edition in November. Thanks, Tim!

Links:

Links to all the 'Cabinet of Curiosities' editions, host Tim Abbott of Walking the Berkshires: http://greensleeves.typepad.com/berkshires/2007/11/new-blog-carniv.html


Walking the Berkshires, Tim Abbott: http://greensleeves.typepad.com/berkshires

Sunday, August 10, 2008

2008 Genea-Blogger Group Games - Progress




Well, I have been very busy lately researching all the hours I could at Library and Archives Canada in Ottawa. Here is a photo of the entrance to show I'm actually here. The 'real' research hours are short, weekdays only. When you're from out of town and your time is limited, that really matters. Perhaps I can get some west coast M.P.s interested in doing their genealogy. They might have some influence.

On Sunday, one can read reference materials till 2 pm, use the Canadian Genealogy Centre, the computers or read microfilm, etc. (No printing or scanning though.) I did have a look in the Centre again and checked out what there was for Manitoba. As for B.C., not too much on the physical shelves (not even an atlas. Good grief!), but I did have another look at some Manitoba newspaper indexes - found one interesting entry - and tonight I've started to write a sketch about my 'Na' - Amy Estella IRWIN. More on this another day.

Saturday, August 09, 2008

2008 Genea-Blogger Group Games - Write, Write, Write

I'm participating in the 2008 Genea-Blogger Group Games beginning August 8th through August 25th (one day longer than the Olympic Games, due to Scanfest occurring on the 24th) in the "Write, Write, Write!" category.


What have I got myself into - here are some of the feats I'll be attempting...

A. Writing a post about my blog - why I started doing this, how it's gone so far, what I'd like to do in the future...

B. Participating in one of the many genealogy or family history related blog carnivals. Are you interested yourself? See the AnceStories post "August Is..." (see below) which lists these carnivals and their submission URLs and deadlines.

C. Preparing some posts in draft mode and pre-publishing them - this was a new year's resolution, I think!

D. Writing a brief biographical sketch on one of your ancestors, probably my 'Na'.

E. Signing up to host a future carnival myself. This one is a daunting event, for sure, lots of super hosts already.

Links:

2008 Genea-Blogger Group Games:
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=33129285258

Genealogy/family history blog carnivals, AnceStories post "August Is..." : http://ancestories1.blogspot.com/2008/08/august-is.html