February 8, 2009 meeting

Bill Shelton, a well known genealogist will come and show us how to take pictures with our digital cameras and clean them up in Adobe Photoshop so you can have nice clean pictures for your PAF records, or which ever system you are using. The meeting is at 6:30 at the Stake Center in Camarillo (on the 2nd Sunday,) February 8. This will be a great learning experience for all. Bring a friend.

Help for Consultants

The Lord Will Guide You
The Lord is directing this work and will lead you as you serve in this
important calling.
Seek for the Spirit to guide you. Pray for inspiration to know which
individuals and families in your ward to help and how best to help them.
“Remember that this work is not yours and mine alone.
It is the Lord’s work, and when we are on the Lord’s
errand, we are entitled to the Lord’s help. Remember
that whom the Lord calls, the Lord qualifies” (Thomas S.
Monson, in Conference Report, Apr. 1996, 62; or Ensign,
May 1996, 44)

Sunday Meeting for January 11, 2009

Happy New Year!! There will be a meeting Jan. 11th at 6:30 p.m. at the Camarillo Stake Building. This is for all interested in research and helping others with their research. We have a great year planned. See you there.

Family History Library Classes On-line

The Church’s Family History Library has been providing classes to patrons for many years. In the past, a patron would have to travel to the Library to take advantage of these classes, but no longer. The Library will begin testing different methods of exporting these classes to patrons who reside outside of the Salt Lake City area. The first method to be tested is a set of five lessons in a classroom setting in a video format. These lessons are now available online and cover the basics of getting started with family history research in England. The five lessons are called:

Lesson 1: Research Overview
Lesson 2: Census Records
Lesson 3: Civil Registration
Lesson 4: Church Records
Lesson 5: Find Your Ancestors

Simply click here to view the Family History Research Series Online.

We invite you to visit familysearch.org, view these lessons, and then give us your feedback by using the feedback link found on the online classes’ page.

Genealogy Meeting Nov 9

Our last meeting for this year will be November 9, Sunday, at 6:00 p.m. at the Stake Center. We will be discussing the Family History Library Catalog and how to find and order films.

Family History Class at the LA Reginal FHC

Dear Family History Consultant or Priesthood Leader If you feel that you could benefit from a review of the basics of Family History Research, consider taking our Three-Day Intensive Course at the Los Angeles Regional Family History Center.

If you know the basics but wish to improve your Family History Research skills consider taking The Advanced Three-Day Intensive Course.

Three-Day Intensive Course - Course Description

The three-day intensive course offered by the Los Angeles Family History Training Center starts with the basics and progresses to the advanced concepts of Family History/Genealogy Research. The classes will run Wednesday thru Friday. This training is designed especially for Family History Consultants and volunteers who work at family history centers. Three preliminary classes will be offered on the preceding Tuesday for those who wish to improve their computer skills.
Members of the Church may stay at the Patron Apartments on Temple Hill for very reasonable rates.
Courses offered: January 14, 15, 16, 2009 March 11, 12, 13, 2009

For more detailed class information and registration click on this link: http://www.larfhc.org/threedaycourse.html

Advanced Three-Day Intensive Course - Course Description

The Advanced three-day intensive course offered by the Los Angeles Family History Training Center at the Los Angeles Regional Family History Center (LARFHC) covers more advanced concepts of Family History/Genealogy Research. The classes will run Wednesday thru Friday. This training is designed especially for Family History Consultants and volunteers who work at family history centers who are more experienced in Family History.
Members of the Church may stay at the Patron Apartments on Temple Hill for very reasonable rates.Courses offered: February 11, 12, 13, 2009

For more detailed class information and registration click on this link: http://www.larfhc.org/advthreedaycourse.html

If you have any questions please call me.
Sincerely,

Richard D. McBride, Director
Los Angeles Regional Family History Center

Record Search Update -- Family Search

Over 30 million names or record images were added to FamilySearch’s RecordSearch pilot. Significant data was published from 3 U.S. Census indexing projects (1850, 1860, and 1870). Digital image collections were added for Massachusetts, Argentina, Brazil, Czech Republic, Louisiana, Russia, Spain, and Vermont (see the table below).

The entire collection can be searched for free online at http://pilot.familysearch.org or through the Search Records feature at FamilySearch.org.


Collection
Number of Records
Comments

1850 United States Census (Population) - index & images
1,830,275
Added Georgia, Mississippi, and Virginia

1850 US Census (Slave)
1,157,705
See description online for state list.

1850 US Census (Mortality)
39,325
See description online for state list.

1860 US Census
20,112,346
All states. Partials for Alabama and Pennsylvania.

1870 US Census
6,866,230
Added IN, MI, OH, and WI

1865 MA Census
15,434
City of Boston

1855 Argentina, Buenos Aires Census,
7,630
See description online.

Brazil, Rio de Janeiro Civil Registration
1,657,420
Covers years 1889 to 2006.

Czech, Republic (Opava) Church Books
18,800
Covers years 1650 to 1900.

Louisiana War of 1812 Pensions Lists
149
Covers years 1812 to 1815.

Russia, St Petersburg Lutheran Church
128,317
Covers years 1833 to 1935.

Spain, Ciudad Real Catholic Diocese
689,338
Records from 1530 to 1930.

Vermont Enrolled Militia Records
598
Covers years 1861 to 1867.

Training and Resources Tab Now Available to All

The Training and Resources tab in the Help Center in the new FamilySearch is now available to everyone who uses the new FamilySearch. Anyone who selects the Help Center option will see the tab and have access to helpful resources, including the new FamilySearch E-Learning courses.
Although all members will benefit from being able to go through the new FamilySearch E-Learning courses, the lessons will especially help members who use the new FamilySearch in languages other than English or Spanish.
Currently, the Overviews in the new FamilySearch are available only in English and Spanish. The new FamilySearch E-Learning courses are available in English, Spanish, Portuguese, French, German, Chinese, Japanese, and Korean. Although the E-Learning courses are not exactly the same as the Overviews, their content is very similar.
Family history consultants should encourage the members in their wards or branches, especially those who use the new FamilySearch in Spanish, Portuguese, French, German, Chinese, Japanese, or Korean, to go through the new FamilySearch E-Learning courses so they can become more familiar with how to use the new FamilySearch.
To access the new FamilySearch E-Learning courses, members do the following:
· Log in to the new FamilySearch at www.new.familysearch.org.
· Select Help Center.
· Select Training and Resources.
· Select E-Learning Courses
The E-Learning Courses link gives all members access to a portion of the courses available to family history consultants and others with family history responsibilities. Consultants will continue to have access to the complete set of courses and resources when they select the same link.

Indexing Update - Family Search

FamilySearch has a growing number of society indexing partners. FamilySearch Indexing is working with genealogical or historical societies to complete projects of mutual interest. Volunteer indexers may have noted that partner projects are not readily listed in the available batches to index online unless the volunteer has been granted permission to participate by a partner. FamilySearch indexers can request to participate in a partner project by sending an e-mail directly to the project’s contact or administrator. The society contact information is found next to the project listing (Go to FamilySearchIndexing.org <http://www.familysearchindexing.org> , Projects, Current Projects, scroll down to partner projects, or just click here <http://www.familysearchindexing.org/en/projects/current_projects.jsf?pname=projectsTab> ). If permission is granted by the partner, an indexer will receive an e-mail with a new user name and temporary password to use when accessing that society’s project(s). Volunteers should use their regular login and password to continue indexing FamilySearch’s open (non partner) projects as usual. Current society partners and projects are listed below: · Algemeen Rijksarchief en Rijksarchief in de Provincien (National Archives of Brussels)· Arkansas Genealogical Society· Genealogical Association of Nova Scotia· Immigrant Ancestors Project· Indiana Genealogical Society· Ohio Genealogical Society· The New England Historic Genealogical Society
Current Partner Projects, Record Language, and Percent Completion StatusArkansas Marriages [The first of these projects] English 5%Arkansas Marriages IV English 2%Belgique – Registres Des Décès (Français) French 14%België - Overlijdens Registers - In het Nederlands Dutch, Flemish 5%Bremer Schifflisten German NewFlanders Death Registration French, Dutch, Flemish 33%Indiana Marriages, 1790 – Apr 1905 English 60%Indiana Marriages, 1882 – Apr 1905 English 64%Indiana Marriage Returns, 1882 – Apr 1905 English 48%Indiana Marriages, Apr 1905 – Dec 1957 English 40%Nova Scotia Antigonish Church Records, 1823 – 1905 English 35%Ohio Tax Records – 2 of 4 English 59%Vermont Militia Records (Coming Soon) English NewIndexes can be searched for free at http://pilot.familysearch.org. Visit regularly to see what is new!
This e-mail is sent to registered family history consultants and priesthood leaders by FamilySearch Support. Contact us in the following ways:
Telephone: Find the toll-free number for your area at https://contact.familysearch.org
E-mail: support@familysearch.org
On the Web: Search for answers at http://productsupport.familysearch.org
To change your contact information, reregister at: http://priesthood.familysearch.org or https://consultant.familysearch.org
To remove your registration, send your request to: support@familysearch.org. Please include your name, ward name, and stake name.
Invite others to register at: http://priesthood.familysearch.org or https://consultant.familysearch.org

From FamilySearch

Friendly, Accurate, and Timely Help

FamilySearch Support is focused on providing helpful service to people who contact Support. The following purpose statement guides FamilySearch Support missionaries in their efforts to provide exceptional service and accomplish the sacred work in which we are engaged:
“Strive to follow the Spirit to provide friendly, accurate, and timely assistance that empowers members to identify their ancestors, link them into families, and ensure that temple ordinances are performed for them.”
This same objective of providing friendly, accurate, and timely assistance describes the kind of service family history consultants can provide to the people they help. How can consultants do this?
Friendly. “Let thy bowels also be full of charity towards all men” (D&C 121:45).
· Be kind and patient with the people you help.
· Listen attentively to them.
· Show that you truly care about them and want to help them.
Accurate. “I will teach you the good and the right way” (1 Samuel 12:23).
· Follow the Spirit.
· Follow the helping process of Ask, Find, and Teach.
“Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you” (Matthew 7:7).
- Ask clarifying questions to fully understand what the person is seeking to learn or do. Ask to see what the person is seeing to fully understand his or her need.
- Find the answer in the Help Center in the new FamilySearch. Find the answer from knowledgeable individuals, such as another consultant in your ward or stake, or FamilySearch Support.
- Teach the person the answer and how to accomplish the tasks he or she wants to accomplish. Teach the person how to find answers in the future.
Timely. “Find grace to help in time of need” (Hebrews 4:16).
· Be available to help.
· Respond as quickly as possible when a person contacts you.
· Obtain help in answering a question, if needed.
By applying these principles, consultants can provide wonderful service to those they help.

To view or print this e-mail in PDF format, please go to: https://help.familysearch.org/kb/Local_Support/en/Consultants/memos/consultantmemos.htm

This e-mail is sent to registered family history consultants and priesthood leaders by FamilySearch Support. Contact us in the following ways: Telephone: Find the toll-free number for your area at https://contact.familysearch.org/ E-mail: support@familysearch.org On the Web: Search for answers at http://productsupport.familysearch.org/ To change your contact information, reregister at: http://priesthood.familysearch.org/ or https://consultant.familysearch.org/ To remove your registration, send your request to: support@familysearch.org. Please include your name, ward name, and stake name. Invite others to register at: http://priesthood.familysearch.org/ or https://consultant.familysearch.org/

More from the Ohana Newsletter

Spotlight on: FamilySearch Wiki

If you never heard of the term Wiki, today is your lucky day. It is the Hawaiian word for "fast" but in today's world, Wikis are collaborative websites created for sharing information often on a specific topic. Wikipedia is a well-known online encyclopedia.
The "FamilySearch Wiki" is a large, on–line library where you can find thousands of articles and how–to instructions about doing family history." [ https://wiki.familysearch.org/en/Main_Page ]. If you are familiar with the Research Guidance section of www.familysearch.org, FamilySearch Wiki will be its replacement. What you will see today is only the beginning of what is envisioned for this site.
If you have a question about how to start doing family history, go to FamilySearch Wiki, from the index on the right, click "Find articles by topic" and choose "Beginners". From this page you may choose for a myriad of articles, including help with documentation, organization, genealogical proof standards (the minimum requirements for your work to be credible), burning a CD, and Rookie Mistakes. Perhaps we should all review this article!
Rather that trying teach you how to use this site, I will direct you to the site's training video. Go to: https://wiki.familysearch.org/en/Main_Page. From the index on the right, click on "Learn how to get started on this site" and select Quick Start – Overview 1. Let the training video load before clicking on the start arrow. This will take a few minutes but it will allow the video to run smoothly. Watch and learn then use the Wiki to learn even more.

More from Ohana

Quick Tip – Slow Down and Proceed with Caution

We received an email with the following caution, "Please be careful of Match Merging names [in PAF or PAF Insight and in combining names in FamilySearch family tree]. It can be a good tool or a very dangerous one. I have at least 10 John Jones in my file. Some families have 2 or 3 sons with the same name (John Jones) but they are different sons; the first two died as infants." She went on to say that someone she knew "match merged names without checking to see if they were the same person or if they had different parents, different birth dates, different death dates or different spouses." This action incorrectly combined over 2000 names. The email ended with this reminder, "There are millions of Mary Smiths - James Jeffery’s - Thomas Williams and Robert Roberts but they are different people… It takes very careful comparing." (Emphasis added)

I concur. Marilyn isn’t alone in her concerns over merging and combining records. Whether you are merging names in your own file or combining names in FamilySearch family tree for all the world to see, proceed with caution. I offer the following advice:

• NEVER, EVER combine records without THOROUGHLY comparing ALL the data to insure they are actually the same person.
  
• No matter how good your intentions, if you are unfamiliar with the family line, leave it alone and let someone who has done the research do the combining.
  
• If you feel rushed, STOP - that’s when mistakes are made.
  
• Remember:
  DISCRETION is the better part of valor.
  
• It is better to be SAFE than SORRY.
  
• When in doubt – DON’T.
  
• Error on the side of CAUTION. It is better to wait than to proceed when you are unsure. You can always study the family information and come back at another time to combine the records with greater accuracy and confidence.
  
• If you find that you or someone else made a mistake while combining names, you can use the Separate feature of FamilyInsight to easily correct the problem. I will write about that feature next month.

Some Insight from OhanaSoftware.com

Synchronizing My Heart and My Mind
I don’t know if you have this problem, but sometimes I wish it was as easy to synchronize my heart and mind as it is to synchronize records. I learned about FamilySearch family tree in January of 2004 and since that time I have developed a great love for and understanding of this new system and I strive to help others catch that same vision.
When I teach classes I often stress that having more than one opinion in FamilySearch can be good and that you do not necessarily want to get rid of all alternative names, dates and places as these can help others find the records of their ancestors. After all, if one person found evidence that grandpa Arnold was named Arron, others will undoubtedly find the same record. Therefore, having the records combined in FamilySearch will help them find their ancestor in the system and learn the correct name.
So, why is it that I sometimes find myself getting a bit hot under the collar when I see one of my ancestor’s with a "misspelled" name? Why do I get frustrated when I see the birthplace listed as one town and I "know" they were born someplace else? Am I annoyed because I really want accurate records or am I actually suffering from the malady of pride and intolerance? Am I reacting poorly because I traded total control of "my records" for sharing and cooperation and sometimes finding out I was wrong?
I do not, in any way, suggest that we settle for incorrect or even mediocre records but I find that sometimes I simply must put my pride in check and strive for greater love and respect for others. After all, they are most likely my relatives and what good is turning my heart to my fathers if I hold a grudge against my cousins? Besides, I look at some of my early temple and Ancestral File submissions and think, "how dumb"until I remember that the submission was made when I was learning. I bet I’m not the only one that is embarrassed by some of their earlier work so I’m thrilled that FamilySearch family tree allows us "repent" by providing a way to amend the previously "untouchable" temple records and update other submissions.
It is humbling to find that my head and heart aren’t always in sync but I am working on it as I work to synchronize my records. I wonder which will be done first?
~ Cina Johnson ~

new.FamilySearch helps

It is important to follow a certain order when working in nFS, some are just helpful to not waste time, other things are important to do in the right order because it is very hard to re-do some things...

***Most important: ALWAYS search for duplicates before requesting to do the temple work.***


Order of Corrections
1. Resolve Duplicate Parents
2. Resolve Duplicate Spouses
3. Resolve Duplicate Individuals
4. Resolve Duplicate Children
5. Edit Combined Records

• Always refer to your own records and sources.
  
• Use Disputes sparingly. Correspond with others and offer the correct information on the Summary tab.
  
• Double check the old IGI at familysearch.org before submitting the Temple work.
  
• Don’t print-as-you-go. Before you go to the temple print all the ordinances you have saved that you want onto one page.

new.FamilySearch Lessons

http://nfslessons.spaces.live.com/

This is the link to some of the lessons from tonight's class. There are more as I encounter more situations I need to write comments then upload them.. This takes time but I am working on them.

If there is anything in particular you would like me to make a slide show of leave a comment or contact me at nfs_lessons@live.com.

American Civil War Websites

http://cwdb.alexanderstreet.com for Research
http://cwkd.alexanderstreet.com for Letters and Diaries
http://cpho.alexanderstreet.com for Images and Photo

Organization Tools to Use With new.FamilySearch

Keeping track of our progress in gathering families in the nFS is easier with a "progress tracking chart." The chart we have developed in our Brigham City Family History Center has kindly been posted inPDF format by Ohana Software at www.ohanasoftware. com . The completeURL ishttp://www.ohanasof tware.com/ ?sec=ldswc& page=FamilySearc hfamilytree(or) follow this sequence to arrive there: LDS Consultants >>FamilySearch family tree Help and Training >> Help and Training forFamilySearch family tree (aka new FamilySearch) >> Click here to viewor download these resource >> Progress Tracking Sheets for Working with FamilySearch family tree.

Working one pedigree chart page at a time:

• 1. Search couples on the chart against the nFS database, adding them to nFS pedigree as they are found. If no matches are found, add them to database manually. Do not add living individuals. (If couple already appears on the nFS pedigree chart, skip step 1, proceed to step
• 2.)Use printed family group sheets or toggle between opened nFS and computerized genealogy to direct the following actions. Remember to record your actions as directed on progress charts.2. Review one family at a time.
• 3. In nFS, click on husband in pedigree; then click on "Possible Duplicates" in detail screen. Review and combine duplicates.
• 4. Review "Details," editing as needed. Collect email addresses of available contributors for future coordination of research.
• 5. Review "Summary" and choose information you wish to view on individual summary.
• 6. Repeat steps 2 through 5 for wife. [Note: Work only on related wife through this exercise. Work on multiple wives and their children later, after you have gathered your direct line.]
• 7. Review ordinances for husband and wife. Make note of needed ordinances or reserve those you wish to process.
• 8. Repeat steps 1 through 5 each child in family. (PDF charts include child's spouse.)
• 9. Make note of needed ordinances or reserve those you wish to process.
• 10. Continue process for each family on pedigree chart. (Remember to record your progress as you go on your progress chart.)[Note: contact contributors to share information/ correlate research, or record for future contact.]
• 11. As needed, prepare temple ordinance request from your reserve list following Church suggestions for number of persons processed.

Meeting on Sunday, Oct 12th

Just a reminder - our next Family History Center Consultants (and friends) meeting is this Sunday, October 12th, at 6pm at the Camarillo Stake Center. We are hoping to have it in the same room but we will leave a note of where it will be.
The subject will be the new.familysearch.org. Bring your own questions and suggestions and solutions - we will try to get to them all.

29 Million More Records Added to Record Search Pilot

Over 29 million names or record images were added this week to FamilySearch’s Record Search pilot. Significant data was published from 2 indexing projects (1860 and 1870 U.S. Censuses), 3 digital image collections (Vermont Probate Files, Quebec Parish Registers, and Cheshire Church Records), and 3 enhanced vital record index collections (Mexico and Germany Baptisms).

The entire collection can be searched for free directly online at http://pilot.familysearch.org or through the Search Records feature at FamilySearch.org.

Our Last Meeting & Our Next

We had a great meeting on Sunday with many in attendance. Thank you to all who came. Our meeting was conducted by our new Director, who has some great ideas for the family history centers in our stake - and was even able keep the meeting to under an hour!

One of the first things we discussed was our ordering a new Digital Imaging System. We won't be able to get it until next year but we are very excited. Instead of the traditional method of looking at the film then moving it to our film printer if we wanted a copy (at $.75 a copy) this new machine can take digital copies of the film that you can store on your flash drive (memory stick, thumbnail drive - whatever you want to call that thing) or you can even e-mail it to yourself.
In order to qualify for this machine we have to be open for 20 hours/week, have 20 patrons/week and order 20 films/month. The first 2 we have easily but we need to make sure we continue to order 20 films each month. Luckily this includes all our Stake locations combined. It was suggested we post a notice on this blog if it's getting close to the end of the month and we haven't met our goal so you can go down and order that film we know you've had your eye on but have procrastinated ordering...

We received a handout explaining the differences of some of the Churches Family History websites: FamilySearch, new.FamilySearch, FamilySearch Labs, FamilyTree, RecordSearch, FamilySearch Indexing, FamilySearch Wiki and FamilySearch Archives. For more details contact Janet for a copy - just know that there are a lot of exciting things happening and we get to be first in line to see them all...

Next was a sheet describing the Family History Consultant Checklist for when you are working with people in the community and in your wards. We were also given some samples of useful websites - which I would like to put links to on this site but you'll have to be somewhat patient with me while I try to get everything organized.

One of the most important topics discussed on Sunday was the start of classes at the FHC. We would like all of you to teach at least one class. Please contact Janet or myself to let us know what subjects you are comfortable teaching. (You can also leave a comment on this post) If you are well versed in a specific topic or area but don't feel comfortable teaching we can have you team up with someone who may not feel like they are knowledgeable on a specific topic but would like to teach - let us know if you fall into one of these groups too.
We want to have weekly classes open to the members and the community taught by the consultants and patrons. We also want to have training classes in our monthly meetings with the consultants to help train us to know everything everyone else knows... If there is a specific topic you would like taught, let us know.
I hope you are all still reading (it's a bit more lengthy than I planned) because we're getting to the good stuff... Our next meeting will be October 12th at 6:00 pm at the Stake Center. Janet has informed me I'm teaching about the new.FamilySearch :) I need your input as well because we've all had different experiences with this new program. Bring your questions - and your solutions!
We will also be planning our schedule for the next year too so this is your chance to give your input.

Lastly I want to clarify who is invited to these meetings. I use the term "consultants" because it's easiest. I refer to the volunteers in each of the family history centers in our stakes & those called as Ward Consultants. We'd also like to invite those experienced genealogist that want to learn more and/or want to share what they know with others. Let's not forget the novice that knows they should be doing genealogy but don't know where to start. Last, but not least, we want the ward & stake leaders who can influence others to do the work, High Priest Group Leaders are over family history in each ward so they are invited but it would be great to have young men/young women leaders, Elders' Quorum, Relief Society, Primary, Sunday School, Activity leaders - heck, nursery leaders are more than welcome to come! (If I forgot someone make sure you bring them along too...)

It seems like I've forgotten something but I can't think what it is - and I think this is plenty long as it is. We will try to remind you again by blog and e-mail about the October meeting. If you haven't received any e-mails yet, but would like to - or if you would like an e-mail to let you know whenever this blog has been updated - e-mail me at nfs_lessons@live.com (I'd prefer you didn't leave your e-mail in a comment here for security reasons...)

I've said "let us know" about 20 times now but we really do need your feedback to improve the quantity and quality of service we are able to give. Thank you for your support!

Meeting Tonight

This a reminder that the Family History department is having a meeting Sunday, Sep 28 at 6:00 p.m. at the Stake Center. I need your help !! I could not get all the names of the High Priest leaders over the FHC in each ward, Please contact your leader and bring him to the meeting Sunday evening.
Thanks for your help, see you there, lots of exciting news to share.

Janet Johnson - Family History Director