Eastman's Online Genealogy Newsletter

File Naming Tutorial

The State Library of North Carolina has created a four-part video tutorial that describes why file naming is important, how to change a file name, what not to do when changing a file name, and best practices for file naming. These brief videos simply and clearly describe how deliberate file naming, a common everyday practice, can lead to responsible file management and ongoing digital preservation.

brightsolid Sponsors RootsTech 2012, 2-4 February

The following announcement was written by brightsolid (and, yes, "brightsolid" is always written with all lower-case letters):

• It will be a main partner with a large presence at major family history and technology conference in Salt Lake City
• CEO Chris van der Kuyl will be announcing the launch of a new product into the US market

brightsolid, a leading online provider of historical and genealogical content, today announces that it will be sponsoring RootsTech, the major family history and technology conference, taking place in Salt Lake City, Utah from 2-4 February 2012.

How to Build a Long-Range Wi-Fi System - Part #1

I wrote an article that describes the lessons I learned when building a long-range wi-fi system to use in my motor home. However, it isn't a genealogy-related article, so I published it on my RV blog. I suspect the information will be of interest to RV (recreational vehicle) owners and to many non-RV owners alike.

If you have an interest in long-range wi-fi connections, you might want to read How to Build a Long-Range Wi-Fi System - Part #1 at http://rv.dickeastman.com/2012/01/how-to-build-a-long-range-wi-fi-system-part-1.html

FamilySearch Seeks Admins for Facebook Pages and Skype Group Chats

The following announcement was written by FamilySearch:

FamilySearch Genealogy Research Communities first appeared as Facebook pages and Skype group chats in May 2011. Each Facebook page or Skype group is dedicated to a state in the US or an entire country. These pages and groups are run by experienced genealogy volunteers for those areas. These virtual communities are the online equivalent of asking for help at your local Family History Center. We grew from 4 communities to 59 over the past several months. With a minimum need of 2-3 admins per community--and a greater need for larger communities--we are at less than 50 percent "staffed." Advisers are looking to recruit more volunteers.

Join our team of admins who lead research communities on Facebook and Skype:

23andMe Announces New Ancestry Ambassadors Group

If you have been following recent events concerning DNA firm 23andMe, you know the company recently received a "black eye" in the genealogy community. The company apparently has listened and has now formed a new genealogy advisory committee of well-known and respected DNA genealogists to help guide the company's policies.

The following announcement was written by 23andMe:

Today we’re announcing the creation of the 23andMe Ancestry Ambassadors group, composed of ancestry enthusiasts in the 23andMe Community. 23andMe customer CeCe Moore and Product Manager Mike Macpherson, PhD will lead the new group.

Building the best possible personal genetics service has always been 23andMe’s goal, and this group will help to ensure that we take full advantage of our Community’s knowledge and experience to achieve that goal.

The inaugural members of the new group are:

(+) Why You Want to Use a VPN

I am a fan of virtual private networks, or VPNs. By definition, according to Dictionary.com, a VPN is "a network that uses the internet to transfer information using secure methods." A longer and more detailed explanation can be found on Wikipedia at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vpn.

Why should you or I want to use a VPN? There are several reasons.

The Cost Justification for eBooks

A local news story interested me and applies directly to past articles and comments in this newsletter. A private school in Florida is switching from printed books to eBooks on iPads for several reasons. One major reason is to save money. At the beginning of the next school year, each student will be given an Apple iPad. Most all textbooks needed by the student will be downloaded and stored on the iPad.

When I have written about the use of eBooks in the past, a number of newsletter readers have questioned the economics. Comments have been posted that questioned the ability of poorer families to afford the expense. The recent news story seems to answer those questions.

Update: EOGN Dinner Following RootsTech2012 in Salt Lake City

Will you attend RootsTech 2012 in Salt Lake City on February 2 through 4? If so, would you like to attend dinner with a bunch of genealogists on Saturday evening, shortly after the close of RootsTech? Indeed, you can join at least 91 other genealogists for dinner!

I often sponsor "pick up" dinners with no set agenda after the close of major genealogy conferences. These typically have no presentations, no speeches, no commercials, and little other organization. Most of the time, it is a bunch of people with similar interests going out to dinner together. The highlight of the evening is the conversations to be held over the dinner table. However, a rumor from a good source states that door prizes also will be awarded at this dinner. These will include at least one valuable door prize.

(+) What Happens To Your Files When a Cloud Service Shuts Down?

The following is a Plus Edition article written by and copyright by Dick Eastman.

I love cloud computing and use it several times daily. I use a cloud-based email service. I make backups of all my files to a cloud-based service, and I’m even writing this article with a cloud-based word processor. I have written a number of times about cloud-based services, and you can read my past articles if you start at http://goo.gl/lCJ8Q.

There is one big question, however: what happens to your files when a cloud computing service disappears abruptly?

Apple's iBooks Author Disappoints Many

On January 17 I wrote "Apple to Announce Tools, Platform to 'Digitally Destroy' Textbook Publishing" at http://goo.gl/AezoI. The announcement is now official. Many people have looked at the announcement, and feedback has been lukewarm, at best.

CAFG Announces 1st Forensic Genealogy Institute October 25-27, 2012

The following announcement was written by the Council for the Advancement of Forensic Genealogy:

The Council for the Advancement of Forensic Genealogy (CAFG) announces the first Forensic Genealogy Institute. It will be held October 25 through October 27, 2012, in Dallas, Texas, at the Wyndham Dallas Love Field hotel.

This is an advanced course for professional genealogists, designed by working forensic genealogists. The intensive twenty-hour course is scheduled from 9:00 am on Thursday through 1:00 pm on Saturday. This schedule accommodates late arrival Wednesday. Departure can be scheduled early enough Saturday to be home with family Sunday and back to business on Monday. The class size will be limited to 25 enrollees to enhance the learning opportunity.

Steve Siegel, RIP

One of the genealogical greats, Steve Siegel, past president and founding member of the Jewish Genealogical Society, lost his valiant battle with cancer early this morning.
 
 Siegel was library director and archivist at the 92nd Street YM-YWHA in Manhattan for 31 years until his retirement last year. He initiated and organized the annual Family History Fair (1990-2005) during New York Archives Week. He is a past president of the Archivists Round Table of Metropolitan New York and served as president of the Jewish Historical Society of New York. He was a genealogist for more than 40 years, with a focus on Jewish genealogy, Jewish archival sources, and New York City local history. Steve was co-founder and co-editor of Toledot: The Journal of Jewish Genealogy (1977-1982) and compiled the Archival Resources volume of Jewish Immigrants of the Nazi Period in the USA (1978).

Genealogical Publishing Company Catalog Online

In my drive to get paper out of my life, I noticed that one of my favorite vendors makes their catalog available online. Genealogical Publishing Company, affectionately known as "GPC," offers the company's latest catalog at:

http://www.genealogical.com/upload_images/GPCCatalog.pdf
 
http://www.genealogical.com/content/products_catalog.html

Jamboree Registration Now Open

The following announcement was written by the Southern California Genealogical Society:

We are very pleased to announce that registration is now open for the 2012 Southern California Genealogy Jamboree, which will be held Thursday through Sunday, June 8 to 10, 2011, at the LA Marriott Burbank Airport Hotel in Burbank, California. The theme for the 2012 Jamboree is “Lights, Camera, ANCESTORS – Spotlight on Family History.”

“Our attendees can expect an outstanding experience in 2012, maybe even better than in the past,” promised Jamboree chair Leo Myers. “In addition to our usual sessions on methodology, records and repositories, online databases and software, we have scheduled several sessions that will help you share your family stories. Count on Jamboree to serve up a weekend of classic genealogical methods, search strategies and technology while tossing in the excitement of Hollywood.”

iConvert Scanner for the iPad

I haven't had a chance to use one of these yet, but the ad looks great. In fact, it looks like a useful tool for genealogists for some applications, but not for everything. The iConvert Scanner for iPad saves digital copies of scanned documents to an iPad's photo library. Being portable, it is useful for use in libraries, archives, or when visiting a cousin who has family documents in his or her possession.

Click on the image to the right to see a larger picture.

2013 FGS National Conference Request for Lecture Proposals

The following announcement was written by the Federation of Genealogical Societies:

January 19, 2012 – Austin, TX. The Federation of Genea-logical Societies (FGS) announces a Request for Lecture Proposals for the FGS 2013 Conference, Journey Through Generations, to be held August 21 – 24, 2013, in Fort Wayne, Indiana. The conference will be held in conjunction with the Allen County Genealogical Society of Indiana and the Allen County Public Library as local hosts. Outstanding nearby research facilities and attractions will enhance the conference experience. The deadline for submission of lecture proposals is Tuesday, May 15, 2012.

Numbered Record Books Now Available on Fold3

Fold3, a subsidiary of Ancestry.com, has issued the following announcement:

The title, "Numbered Record Books," doesn't reveal much about this significant new collection of Revolutionary War documents on Fold3. Yet, anyone familiar with these military records—oaths of allegiance, supply records, orderly books, letters, account ledgers—knows they contain revealing and rather extraordinary documents from the early days of our nation's military history.

Whether you have Revolutionary War ancestors, or simply an interest in military activities and history of this time period, you will be well rewarded when searching or browsing the Numbered Record Books.

Indiana Lawmakers Consider Fines for Public Access Violators

Genealogists and a few bureaucrats sometimes dispute what records should be available to descendants and to the public. As state representative Kevin Mahan said about bureaucrats who will not release records, “The people we're truly getting at here are just the bad apples. The people where the public access counselor has said this is public information and should be released, and then they basically cross their arms and say 'I don't care, I'm not giving it to them.'”

Mahan has sponsored a bill that would fine bureaucrats who deny access to public records as much as $500 for blatantly violating Indiana's public access laws.

Ancestry.co.uk and the National Army Museum Announce "Horse Tales"

The following announcement was written by Ancestry.co.uk and the National Army Museum:

Do you have a heroic horsey tale to tell? If so, now is your chance to take part in a new competition which could see your family story become part of a national exhibition!

Ancestry.co.uk and the National Army Museum have teamed up to offer an exclusive opportunity for you to share your family history and for one lucky winner to see theirs displayed in the Museum’s biggest exhibition, War Horse: Fact & Fiction.

Inspired by the remarkable tales of our visitors, we’re calling for extraordinary stories revealing your family’s own wartime experiences of working with horses and mules on farms or the front-line.

WikiTree Becomes Invitation-Only

I have written several times about WikiTree, the online genealogy wiki. You can see the past articles that explain the service if you start at http://goo.gl/OvRYq. Now owner Chris Whitten has announced a major change to the site:

WikiTree.com has closed new user registration. New members must now be invited by current WikiTree members.

WikiTree is committed to being 100% free. Rather than limiting what members can do or charging them for access, we’ve decided to slow down the addition of new members.