Hatching a plan for 2011

The Footnote Maven's recent post "Hatching A Plan At The COG" has spurred me into action.

I know that it is time to evaluate my writing/research plan for 2010 but I have been dragging the chain as I fear that I may have failed on several fronts. As I said last year I am committed to evaluation so here goes.I will firstly produce a report card for 2010 and then formulate a plan for 2011.

2010
* Put the living before the dead - when family members visit make them the focus of my attention; I have tried to ignore the family history when the family appears - I had a big two week break when we headed to Hawaii with some of them.

* Take advantage of serendipity moments eg actively listen to the Aunts at family gatherings, take photos of family members/groups at gatherings; record notes of information shared on my smartphone, scraps of paper, serviettes - just get it down; Could do more here but have made notes and added them to TMG database with person passing on info as source.

* Use web 2.0 technologies to promote genealogy in Australia, eg GoogleWave, Twitter, GenealogyWise Australian Group; Set up Aussie group but Google Wave died. Tweeted Regularly, Tried to motivate people to use Genealogy Wise. A fair effort in this area.

* Be patient with fellow researchers who do not share my enthusiasm for technology; A challenge for me but I am learning that many genies haven't even heard of let alone use Social Media.

* Get organised; Managed to refile most papers according to a new sequence. Still an outright failure as I can barely get into my study.

* Label my Blogposts ; This is now part of regular practice and can be deleted from list.

* Post to Geniaus at least every second day; Changed to 3-4 times per week as things to blog about don't appear regularly. This is now part of regular practice and can be deleted from list.

* Go through ancestors records one by one and properly record sources for all information; Ongoing huge project. Making slow progress.

* Digitise all certificates, wills etc. in my posession; Ongoing huge project. Making slow progress.

* Scan and tag my family history photographs; Huge effort nearly completed.
 * Regularly update my website; This is now part of regular practice and can be deleted from list.

* Respond to emails from fellow genealogists in a timely manner; Need to improve in this department. Perhaps retirement in 2011 will help.

* Maintain membership of The Society of Australian Genealogists; Renewed for 2011.

* Attend Genealogy workshops/lectures. Excellent progress - have attended many lectures, have started giving talks and am booked to attend overseas conference in 2011.

Here's what I aim to do in 2011:

2011
 * Put the living before the dead - when family members visit make them the focus of my attention; 

* Take advantage of serendipity moments eg actively listen to the Aunts at family gatherings, take photos of family members/groups at gatherings; record notes of information shared on my smartphone, scraps of paper, serviettes - just get it down;

* Use web 2.0 technologies to promote genealogy in Australia, eg Blogger, Twitter, GenealogyWise Australian Group - Special emphasis on using other people's blogs for conversation.

* Be patient with fellow researchers who do not share my enthusiasm for technology;

* Get organised - Try harder

* Go through ancestors records one by one and properly record sources for all information - Ongoing.

* Digitise all certificates, wills etc. in my posession - Ongoing

* Scan and tag my family history photographs - Finish project

* Respond to emails from fellow genealogists in a timely manner;

* Become a more active member of The Society of Australian Genealogists;


* Attend and Present Genealogy workshops/lectures;

* Prepare for the 2012 National Year of Reading - Promote this event to genealogists, Read for genealogy and add to personal genealogy library.



This post was prepared for 101st EDITION OF THE Carnival Of Genealogy - “My genealogy research/writing plan for 2011”