Wednesday, December 30, 2009

Top Ten Genealogy Moments in 2009

Lisa Alzo, who writes The Accidental Genealogist blog, posted her Top 10 Genealogical Moments of 2009 and invited other genea-bloggers to write about theirs too.

Here are my challenges met, highlights and accomplishments (assuming I don't have a tremendous research breakthrough in the next two days!):

10. Mark Putman's solution to the parents of Sarah Martin - it led to many more colonial New Jersey and New England ancestors for me to research!

9. Becoming the "Genealogy 2.0" columnist for the quarterly FGS FORUM Magazine - this is an intellectual challenge for me, and a breakthrough into the traditional "genealogy community."

8. Attending the Federation of Genealogical Societies 2009 Conference in Little Rock (Day 1a, Day 1b, Day 2a, Day 2b, Day 3, Day 4); I enjoyed the presentations, exhibits, meeting people, and our Midwestern vacation (with a special shoutout to Patti Hobbs for her hospitality and sharing a day with us).

7. Speaking seven times for five San Diego County genealogical societies on genealogy subjects, and at two public libraries on "Genealogy - Be An Ancestry Detective."

6. Realizing that Devier J. Smith was born Devier Lamphear and was adopted by Ranslow and Mary Smith, and then re-orienting my research activity to finding his parentage.

5. Teaching the "Beginning Computer Genealogy" adult education course for OASIS in San Diego. I taught three series of four two-hour classes each to ten students in each class.

4. Completing the ProGen Study Group 18-month course, including doing the homework that helped me refine my research methods and analysis.

3. Researching at the Family History Library in Salt Lake City in January (Day 3, Day 5). I had only two days to research, but obtained quite a bit of information for several brick wall problems.

2. Attending the Southern California Genealogical Society Genealogy Jamboree in Burbank, California in June (Day 1, Day 2, Blogger Summit, Day 3, Pictures). In addition to the presentations and the exhibits, I really enjoyed meeting so many genealogy bloggers, exhibitors and presenters.

And the #1 top genealogy moment for me in 2009 was:

Attending the "Bloggers day" at Ancestry.com in Provo, Utah in January (Day 1, Day 2a, Day 2b, Day 2c, Day 3, Day 4), including the tours, the dinners, and the meetings with Ancestry.com staff and executives, and having fun with the SLIG planners. I really appreciated the invitation (not being one of the "elite" in genealogy circles) and the opportunity to become acquainted with the company and the staff.

In a list like this, the day-to-day genealogy activities - like feeding the database, working for local societies, writing blog posts, get lost in the Top Ten aspects. There is some sort of genealogy highlight or accomplishment almost every day for me - whether it is creating good blog fodder, finding another ancestral record, helping a colleague in their research, or just reading a genealogy magazine or blog that adds to my genealogy education - genealogy is really a lot of FUN for me!

4 comments:

Joan Miller said...

Randy,
We truly appreciate all that you do for the genealogy world. Thank you and all the best in 2010!

Cheers,
Joan Miller
Luxegen Genealogy and Family History

Susi's Quarter said...

Randy, what a year,, wait til the read about your coming one. Blessings distant cousin.... Happy New Year.

Lisa Alzo said...

Great post Randy. Excellent top ten. I so enjoy all of your blog posts and I was happy I had a chance to meet you at SCGS Jamboree 2009. All the best to you in 2010!

Mel said...

Randy, thanks for sharing your list and Lisa's. I've compiled mine. It's been a pretty good year!

http://www.researchjournal.yourislandroutes.com/2010/01/my-top-10-genealogy-moments-of-2009/