September 10, 2014

Wake County Genealogical Society - Next Meeting Sept 23 - JOIN US!

The Wake County Genealogical Society is excited to announce our first meeting of the season on Tuesday, September 23 at 7pm, at the Olivia Raney Local History Library, 4016 Carya Drive, Raleigh, NC 27610.
 
 
September’s meeting will be all about YOU! You are invited to share your summer genealogical adventures, your ideas for future WCGS presentations, and perhaps you can even share your time and talents to volunteer for a committee, a board position, or just a one-time task.
 
Meetings are free and open to the public, and are for all levels of family historians and genealogists. Bring a friend! It's a wonderful opportunity to step away from the computer and socialize with others who enjoy the same hobby.
 
Go ahead and also put October’s meeting on your calendar NOW! At 7pm on October 14
(note change of date) we will co-host a joint meeting with the Durham-Orange Genealogical Society at the Page Walker Arts & History Center in Cary, NC. The topic will be “Calling in the Big Guns--When to Hire a Professional Genealogist,  How They Can Help and What to Expect."
 
Questions? Email wakecogen@gmail.com

September 5, 2014

Daughters of the American Revolution: What's the big deal??

I've long been interested in joining the Daughters of the American Revolution. That is, until I stopped long enough to ask myself "why?". I don't have a good answer.

I met a very nice lady recently and I said to her "convince me why I should join the DAR". She explained that it's an excellent way to share my research and to ensure it is available for others down the road.

Now, that's a great thought, but I already do that in many ways. Via this blog, my posts to various forums, my public family tree on Ancestry.com. I'm a sharing kind of gal.

My sense is that, like many fraternal organizations of old, the DAR is aging and weakening. I hope that doesn't prompt a slew of DAR ladies to storm my little neighborhood!  But if I'm going to devote my time and money, I'd like to belong to an organization that has an impact.

I'm aware that the DAR does have some community outreach and that various chapters are more active than others.

Another issue is the cost. One of my local chapters charges $150 just to apply. I'd want to be sure I got my money's worth out of that and as a good consumer, I'm just not seeing the value.

Someone change my mind. Please.


September 4, 2014

Facebook Settings for Genealogists

Ok - so this article I'll reference isn't specific to genealogists. BUT, as a genealogist, I use FaceBook more and more in my research and to sharpen my skills. Like everyone who uses FaceBook, I want to be sure I am careful about my privacy.

FaceBook makes it all ridiculously complicated, probably on purpose because they make money selling your data.

Don't know about you, but I'd seriously prefer that my data not be sold. Not that I'm a secretive sort of person, after all, all you have to do is Google my name and you'll see that I'm all over the internet (but in a good way!). It's just a matter of principle.

So since I'm not the brightest light in the house, I'm really grateful when articles come along that break it down for me in a way I can digest.

5 FaceBook Settings to Change NOW


Don't get me wrong - I love FaceBook. I know people who abhor it, but I really enjoy keeping up with friends and I'm particularly enjoying plugging into the local genealogy community via FaceBook. However, there's nothing wrong with a little caution.

Right?