October 8th - Are you a supportive genealogist?

Photo by Youssef Naddam on Unsplash

Are you a supportive and sharing genealogist? Do you belong to a local or regional genealogy or historical society? Do you volunteer to help out with meetings, events and/or administrative aspects? Do you share your knowledge with other members and/or the general public?

The online genealogy community is great but something I recently learned is just how few of the world's genealogists and family historians are online. And if these genealogists are online, they are spending their time researching records - not actively engaged in social media! Sometimes we need to understand that our online world is a very small (but incredibly useful and fun) part of the genealogy landscape and we need to open our eyes and our minds to the bigger picture!

Today - why not check out what in person meetings or events are scheduled in October at your local library, genealogical society, historical society, family history centers, or schools and universities. Perhaps there is a "real life" Legacy Group that meets in your area - why not check it out? Perhaps there is a lecture, presentation or workshop that will help you increase your genealogy skills or introduce you to new record sets. Is there a NARA facility in your city that you should explore?

Could you volunteer at a school, scout group, hospital, or retirement home to explain how to make a family tree or help them record their memories? Legacy offers a free version of their software - that is enough to help some people get started - why not share your knowledge with someone up close and personal. Take off the blinders that might have you focusing on the online communities (our LVUG community included) and step away from the computer!