Updates to viewing documents in Ancestry.com

After May 31. 2013 the old viewing method to view census reports, ship manifest, court records will no longer be available. If you have ever tried to navigate through these records on line you will find these changes a very welcome change. Easier zooming capabilities will be available as well as up down left right movement of the document. This should significantly reduce research by hours of records manipulation time. Bravo to ancestry.com for making a useful improvement to the document viewing capability for researchers.

Family Reunion Disposable Camera Alert------- Plan Do Check Act

Number 1 ---- I wish I would have hired a professional photographer. When calling guests we were going to ask if anyone was willing to be the family reunion volunteer photographer. Several young people said they would have been; had they been just asked. If no one volunteered it was my intention to hire a "wedding" type photographer. Well midway through the reunion we realized we had few photos being taken. So a guest ran to the store purchased 8 portable cameras, labeled each one as Himan Reunion 2012, distributed them to the tables, encouraged people to take candid shots at the reunion and reminded to leave the cameras at the tables as a thank you for the event planners. This I have been told is common practice and known to the guests whom have attended enough weddings, affairs to realize the cameras are to be used and left on the tables. Out of the 8 cameas distributed only three cameras were left. These cameras had just a few photos taken on each unit. Nevertheless I completed the rolls and submitted them to Walmart for processing. I guess people do not understand labeled cameras are meant to stay at the tables. In defense of our guests ---- it was one family (NOT HIMANs) that scooped up at least three of the cameras for their own use. We never met most of them and do not expect to ever see these people again.

To make matters worse, I finished up the rolls and took them to Walmart for processing. Then to CVS for processing and this is where the story gets screwy,

At CVS the clerk said there was a law passed in California banning the use of the chemicals use to process flm. (bleach?) and someone came and took all their chemicals to process film out of the store. At Walmart they said the health department declared it as an unsafe hazardous material and process for OSHA standards. Walgreens knew of no law or OSHA ruling but offered to assist me in sending the film out for processing. It would take about 10 days to finish the transaction. So I hurried home to investgate on line what was going on. The internet findings although addressing the issue fails to explain the reasoning for this halt in practice. Therefore I am thinking this is just another dinosaur practice being phased out by modern digitized cameras and new technology.

ERGO IF YOU ARE PLANNING A WEDDING, REUNION, or HOLIDAY PARTY and wish to preserve the event in photos. Do not use disposable cameras unlss:

1. You have secured a place to process the film first. 2. You get contact information for anyone using them and explain the photos are to be shared. That you will be glad to share but you have gone to a lot of expense and trouble to plan this event and sharing the photos of the event would be a more fair act to everyone attending. Please excuse the ISO terminalogy but I speak Production Engineering and it is just how my brain processes data. In a series blogs I will outline my actions to facilitate a family reunion in a most improbable family. I will explan the actions and checklists to PLAN the reeunion. I will share the actual event. The DO I will blog about the evaluation of expectations and realities. Which by the way; the realities far exceeded any expectations! The CHECK The follow up actions and summary. The ACT Sayig this I just wanted to skip quickly to this important lesson learn because who knows when I will complete my PDCA analysis.

I would like to pose a question to the Genealogical Community. Multiple Ancestry Trees

Have you ever thought your tree is way too large to maintain!! I thought my core tree was too large to handle. Each month when I went to verify and validate my data. I would find many duplicates and problems. These duplicates and problems usually appeared in distant non-direct relatives. An example of a distant non related individual would be the parents of my nephew’s wife’s sister’s husband. I decided I should start new trees especially for non-direct relative. My core tree is the

HAYLEY TREE

For spouses I have added their immediate parents but excluded siblings and grandparents. Some of my spouses were getting so many "leaves" and interesting photos and stories I decided to make separate Ancestry.com trees for these outgrowths. I racked my brain of what could be the possible problem with this decision to separate my trees. I decided to limit my core tree to directs, spouses and spouse parents.

Using the name of the spouse of a cousin I then began trees with the spouses’ name.

The Mary Smith Himan Tree. Etc. I was going to share with the spouses the little I did find on their families but my Himan tree truly only has about 600 known Himan's. I even separated my husband's parents. Elizabeth Rodrigues and her parents show up on my Himan tree. But then Elizabeth Rodrigues Himan has her own tree.

I also have a tree named research tree.

My research tree is random data that I find that I want to follow up on before I actually add to any of my trees.

Today I found the problem with multiple ancestry trees.

I received an ancestry.com inbox email of a person that says he is interested in following up with an ancestor found on my tree. He included in his email the name, dates and locations of the individual that he was interested in collaborating with data. I have gone into my forest, climbed up every tree and searched for this name to 'no results found'.

Okay my solution will be to email back to this researcher

and explain I have several trees and if he could please include the name of the tree he found this person. I will also explain I will be very pleased to forward any data I have regarding this person. I assume this is a relative of one of my cousin's spouses. I would like to pose a question to the Genealogical Community. Should I have a core trees with absolutely everyone on it? I like the fact that I have my core 6k+ Hayley tree just about memorized. Would a better idea be to maintain an overall tree and the individual trees?

To try to duplicate data exactly into two different data bases is always very risky.

One thing I have learnt in documentation control is never ever try to duplicate data in two different locations. I validate and verify my trees regularly. By separating my trees I have been able to spot errors, duplicates, possible problems very quickly. A very clean database is very important to me. The reason a clean database is important to me is because I GED com and adjust data to apply in several stand-alone software programs. I would like input on how other genealogist solve this issue.

September 11, 2001

It was 6 am on a beautiful morning in San Jose California. I was in the master bathroom getting ready to go to work. My husband was lying comfortably in our huge (made for a queen bed). In our very comfortable bed we had a television placed under the canopy and Tony was watching the morning news. In a matter factually voice Tony said "Come here, Ruth" On the television it was unbelievable the scenes before our eyes. As many would say later, it was like a Hollywood production. The weather was perfect, The camera work well orchestrated. Having worked in a military environment for many years I was anxious to get to work as soon as possible. I was trained during the Gulf Wars, the 1989 earthquake and various other experiences about some of the safety, security that needed to be done during a diaster/terror threat situation. I had recently left the military envirnment to work for a commercial company. The company was recently purchased by a Israel based parent company to be a subsidiary for a one-stop shop to wafer /chip manufacturing. Ours was a dicing wheel manufacturing plant located in Santa Clara, California. What was so unique about this place of employment was the diversity of the employees. There were few American born employees at this plant. Management was exclusively from Isreal and mostly had been in the United States less than a year. Most of Engineering was Asian, but all of Asia, Chinese, Japanese, Thailand, Korean, India, Hong Kong, the Philippines. Manufacturing was primarily Hispanic from Mexico, Peru, Ecuador and Nicaragua. Quality Control and shipping was often handled (but not exclusively) by Asian women with very small hands and a very delicate touch. Supporting staff Human Resources, Purchasing, Shipping, were a mixture of all nationalities From my cubical I heard telephone conversations in every language around the world, we were there 24 hours a day to communicate with the world. There were very few days that all offices around the world were open on the same days. It was a great place to work in so many ways. So being the Quality Engineer System Manager, I rushed into work and reported straight to my boss. My head was full ideas of what needed to be done. Okay we should shut down all computers; We need to back up all data as of today. We should identify all equipment possibly dangerous to employees in case of a bomb attack. Examples of this was melting pots filled with liquid in excess of 500 degrees etc. Just then the other Jewish managers came in and said , “Ruth, do nothing. Do not panic. In Israel, we live in terror every day. What America is experiencing today is what Israel experiences every day. They are terrorists." And it was true every day in the news at that time suicide bombs were blowing up buses full of people, senselessly walking into markets and blowing up innocent people. I asked my boss. "What do they want?" and my boss answered they want people to be afraid, they did not want us to give them anything except our peace of mind. AS time proved this is exactly what they wanted. No money, no freed prisoners, no cause satisfied, they just wanted to terrorize us. It took several days before the media started to encourage the public to do as my bosses had already instructed me. Go on with life as normal. Do not let them win. Do not let them take away your life. There were many days when no planes were heard in the sky. There were many days the television stayed on in the break room. On the day that the planes were once again able to fly, I with a group of diverse co-workers went out to the parking lot and lit a candle and watched as the first plane of several days fly over the plant. In conclusion, I know I am blessed in life. But it is most fortunate that on that day I was helped and mentored by a group of Jewish bosses that knew exactly what was going on and helped me through that day and the days that followed. The bosses let me plan and execute a huge Thanksgiving dinner that year. I was able to explain to the people the meaning of Thanksgiving as a Thanks for being in America.

So --What is a Pecha Kucha??

Pecha Kucha is a type of presentation.

The first time I read about it---- it reminded me of the first time I saw a Japanese cartoon. Fast, disjointed, flashy and confusing. I was not surprised when I heard small children were leaving the theatres of the first POKEMAN feature films experiencing epileptic attacks.

But this style of presentation has grown in the public speaking world. In recent years I saw USA produced cartoons are taking on this fast pace, kind of like the Wildee Coyote cartoons played at fast speed. Many 30 second commercials also use this effect. As a grandmother I was concerned about my grand children's attention spans. But truly this New York style of fast learning is now the norm.

Pecha Kucha (Japanese: ペチャクチャ, IPA: [petɕa ku͍̥tɕa],[1] chit-chat) is a presentation methodology in which 20 slides are shown for 20 seconds each

,

These two rules are strict in this presentation style.

The presentation is so popular there are world wide events usually seen in a multiple-speaker event called a Pecha Kucha Night (PKN).

It was interesting to me that chitchat was a Japanese word. When I think of the word chit chat, I think idle chatter. Not words spoken with focus or meaning.

Pecha Kucha Night was devised in February 2003[2] by Astrid Klein and Mark Dytham of Tokyo's Klein-Dytham Architecture (KDa), as a way to attract people to Super Deluxe, their experimental event space in Roppongi.[3] Pecha Kucha Night events consist of around a dozen presentations, each presenter having 20 slides, each shown for 20 seconds on a timer. Thus,

each presenter has just 6 minutes and 40 seconds to explain their ideas before the next takes the stage. Conceived as a venue through which young designers could meet, show their work, exchange ideas, and network, the format keeps presentations concise and fast-paced.

20 slides (that is a lot of slides), 20 seconds each (that is not a lot of time) ---- a 400 second presentation. A 6 minute 40 second presentation. I tried it on some genealogy material I was to present.

Even though I probably will not adopt this style for all my presentations--- the excercise did help me develope my presentation style.

Lesson Learned:

I think equal time to each slide in important. I have been in the audience when a slide will be presented for a good two minutes and then the next two slides will go very quickly. As an audience member: my slide reading to meet the slower slide and lost all of the faster slides. Evenly timed slides helps the audience (match speed with the speaker). Using approximate time parameters I think would be helpful.

20 second limit----- a good number but with some flexibility maybe a 30 second limit. It helps develope your slides evenly. If you are only going to speak 10 seconds on a slide then maybe add a bit more to the slide.

A 10 second slide example maybe a photo of a land deed. To even out the time spent on that slide on that same slide I could show a photo of the court house where the land deed was found, and a photo of the land.

Instead of one 40-50 second slide
A page from a census page and a line item within the page. Break the page up.

Show two slides:
A slide showing the census page---with the census heading : state, date, district,

A second slide zooming in the line items of interest of Name, family, occupation etc.

Powerpoint Master Jean Hibbens does this with manipulating her powerpoint presentations with incredible skill. Some of us less skillful may use two slides until we learn the magic of powerpoint manipulation.

To master the presentation skills of
Pecha Kucha (Japanese: ペチャクチャ, IPA: [petɕa ku͍̥tɕa],[1] chit-chat) is a presentation methodology in which 20 slides are shown for 20 seconds each, takes a lot of practice, good coaching and great feed back.

To learn more about Pecha Kucha, visit

http://www.pecha-kucha.org/.


Although I am unsure I could master the 20 x 20 methodology ---- I do think I will adopt and learn many lessons from this activity. I could lay out my slides. Probably less than 20. and try to capture an even distribtion of time for each slide.

An email I received from Randy Seaver----- Just in case those following my genealogy blog did not think I was a true genealogy geek!!! Yes there is a Christmas poem out.

This blog is dedicated to my family and friends to let them glimpse at this wild journey I am on. I Liken this blog to postcards from the genealogy trails ------

so along my journey searching our ancestry, I meet other journey takers and share bits and pieces -----

so my today's email inbox:

I received the following from a friend who suggested I sent it on to anybody who I thought would enjoy it.
So Please do the same.


And then I want to wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.


Randy Seaver

Chula Vista Genealogical Society

Genealogist's Christmas Eve

'Twas the night before Christmas
When all through the house
Not a creature was stirring,
Not even my spouse.

The dining room table with clutter was spread
With pedigree charts and with letters which said...
"Too bad about the data for which you wrote;
Sank in a storm on an ill-fated boat."

Stacks of old copies of wills and such
Were proof that my work had become too much.
Our children were nestled all snug in their beds,
While visions of sugarplums danced in their heads.

And I at my table was ready to drop
From work on my album with photos to crop.
Christmas was here, and such was my lot
That presents and goodies and toys I'd forgot.

Had I not been busy with grandparents' wills,
I'd not have forgotten to shop for such thrills,
While others bought gifts to bring Christmas cheers,
I'd spent time researching those birth dates and years.

While I was thus musing about my sad plight,
A strange noise on the lawn gave me such a great fright.
Away to the window I flew in a flash,
Tore open the drapes and yanked up the sash.

When what with my wondering eyes should appear,
But an overstuffed sleigh and eight small reindeer.
Up to the house top the reindeer they flew,
With a sleigh full of toys and 'ole Santa Claus, too.

And then in a twinkle, I heard on the roof
The prancing and pawing of thirty-two hoofs.
As I drew in my head, and bumped it on the sash,
Down the cold chimney fell Santa--KER-RASH!

"Dear" Santa had come from the roof in a wreck,
And tracked soot on the carpet, (I could wring his short neck!)
Spotting my face, good 'ole Santa could see
I had no Christmas spirit you'd have to agree.

He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work
And filled all the stockings, (I felt like a jerk).
Here was Santa, who'd brought us such gladness and joy:
When I'd been too busy for even one toy.

He spied my research on the table all spread
"A genealogist!" He cried! (My face was all red!)
"Tonight I've met many like you," Santa grinned,
As he pulled from his sack a large book he had penned.

I gazed with amusement--the cover it read
Genealogy Lines for Which You Have Plead.
"I know what it's like as a genealogy bug."
He said as he gave me a great Santa hug.

"While the elves make the sleighful of toys I now carry,
I do some research in the North Pole Library!
A special treat I am thus able to bring,
To genealogy folk who can't find a thing."

"Now off you go to your bed for a rest,
I'll clean up the house from this genealogy mess."
As I climbed up the stairs full of gladness and glee,
I looked back at Santa who'd brought much to me.

While settling in bed, I heard Santa's clear whistle,
To his team, which then rose like the down of a thistle.
And I heard him exclaim as he flew out of sight,
"Family history is Fun! Merry Christmas! Goodnight!"

Enjoy, Aunt Ruth

"Libraries offerings have evolved with the digital age to meet the changing needs of their patrons"

Books, Libraries, genealogy research is changing drastically

The books housed in the Genealogy section of the Chula Vista Civic library will be moved to another section in the same building. This move is scheduled to happen before the new year.

Change is now. The Chula Vista Civic Library and Genealogical Society has the opportunity to reevaluate the needs of the community.
The CVGS board wants to keeps the membership informed of how and why the library is changing
The “new library” thinking is to provide open comfortable space for patrons to enjoy their studies, Their on-line studies.
A statement by American Library Association

We believe that free communication is essential to the preservation of a free society and a creative culture. ~

And free is what libraries want to provide for their communities. Over 70% of the public libraries in America provide free internet use in their facilities. To help the increasing population to on line studies many manufactures are gearing up to provide free services to public libraries.
Over 80% of those questioned provided reasons why on-line research was preferable to library research:
So the moral of the story is:
. If you have not started digitizing your genealogy –

note if you do not do it someone in the near future will need to do it.

Which supports the idea of turning your pedigree sheets in as soon as possible to be included on our website.


See below a statement released by SONY:
Sony's Perspective

At Sony, we believe there is a place for public/private partnerships. That's why we're so excited to be working closely with libraries and librarians across the country as part of our Reader Library Program. While there are several different views on the future of libraries, we believe that digital reading will be at the core of libraries, regardless of how they grow and evolve.
Sony's Reader Library Program is designed to help libraries overcome the challenges of adopting eBooks and educating their constituencies on how to borrow, read and make the most of digital reading content. eBooks, like traditional paper books, will play an important role in our civic and cultural life, but only if they are made broadly available and people understand how to access and use them. Sony's Reader Library Program includes four main components:
• A training program for library staff developed by Sony. This training includes in-person workshops, video training and additional materials available on the web, covering digital reading formats, an overview of sources for digital materials, and training on Sony's Reader digital reading devices.
• Sony's Reader digital reading devices for use by library staff.
• Educational materials to provide readers some background on digital reading devices.
• Bi-annual update sessions designed to keep libraries and their staff current with the latest developments in digital reading content, format and devices.

We believe it is extremely important to support public library systems as they expand their digital offerings and our initiative will provide these professionals with training and additional resources that will enable them to inform their patrons on how to benefit from their growing eBook collections. With this type of support, we believe they'll not only survive, but thrive in continuing to provide free access to knowledge in the digital age

end of Sony quote

Would it surprise you that there is belief that laptops will soon be obsolete?

The new technology will look more like kindles with library staff trained to assist patrons on the use of these handheld devices.
Besides the physical moving of the books there are many other changes planned for the genealogical research library team.

This is a very exciting and growing time for our society and genealogy research in general. While supporting our members with more tradition methods of research ---- the board is hoping to support new ideas that makes sense for each and every researcher.

With the widespread use of e-books, on-line help sites, and digitized records the library business is in a state of tremendous change.

Change -- the only constant in our lives.
The traditional use of the library to: “see a book”, visit a reference desk, check books out of the library is being replaced with e-books, on-line help sites, and digitized records.

Less and less magazines and newspapers will become available.

It is no longer your parents’ library; I remember just 20 years ago we heard how the catalogue files were going to start disappearing from our libraries. Expect and be informed of more changes in Books, Libraries, and Genealogy Research—you have become so familiar.



Authors, professionals in the publishing industry, book sellers, independent bookstore owners, CEOs of the big bookstore chains, libraries, genealogy researchers and readers have all been left with an abundance of questions as we go through this exciting transfer.

The Chula Vista Civic Library staff are already adapting to this “new library” thinking. The staff is keenly aware of the impact new technology is having on their community.

CEOs of the big bookstore chains:
As you have probably realized Borders, a large bookstore chain, has consistently been in the headlines since January 2010 because they cannot pay their publishers.

Professionals in the publishing industry are adapting to the fact the cost to publish a book is much too costly.

Libraries and bookstores are assessing what do with all the square footage if all go to e-readers ?

The marketing emphasis is on the e-book, no longer the physical book. It seems a major overhaul is overdue.

How do authors react to the e-book? Seth Godin, a well- known author, says his next book will only exist in e-format. Do all authors only want to read and publish books this way? We don’t think so. Authors also feel the financial pinch of the e-book. While many unknown writers may have a better chance to get published, established authors are seeing a fraction of the advances they typically received. One has to ask how does this influence the quality and respect for literature. Will authors rally to preserve printed books?

This leaves independent bookstores in particular with many more questions: Will publishers give bookstores the information and tools to help preserve the hard back read? Will publisher sales reps go to bat to preserve their stores and keep reading vital? Will marketing become more credible and more important to the independent book seller? Will the publishers recognize a need for real book selling, word of mouth in our stores and on our web presence?
Will all these changes make readership grow? As the demand of maximizing our reading time increases, will these changes add more value to our lives?

This time is very exciting for our industry.
.


Internet Caucus Advisory Committee Members and Supporters is an important public/private/profit/nonprofit organization keeping its eyes on the internet industry.
They have annual meetings of no less than 500 professionals of different walks of life. A statement regarding libraries and the internet suggested a major change is facing the public libraries of today

“Since the founding of our country, libraries have always been important to freedom. Today we are in the midst of a tremendous shift in the way Americans consume literature and other content, but one thing has not changed -- the library must continue to play a central role in providing open and free access to information and ideas.
Exactly what that role looks like is the subject of much debate and many differing perspectives. Some believe libraries will shift into learning and information centers while others insist they will maintain their role as a physical location for cataloging and loaning books -- in addition to housing sources of information technology.
While providing books was a standalone function for libraries throughout the last few centuries, their offerings have evolved with the digital age to meet the changing needs of their patrons. In fact, according to an article in the November 2009 issue of American Libraries, more than 71 percent of public libraries provide their community's only free public access to computers and the Internet. Not surprisingly then -- due to the economic hardship -- more people are using libraries. A study sponsored by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and published by the Institute of Museum and Library Services last year found that 69 percent of Americans 14 years of age or older visited a public library in 2009.
Regardless of its exact nature, technology will play an increasing role in shaping our future libraries. For centuries, the book publishing industry has worked closely with and supported libraries, and they have done so without influencing the freedom of the institution. It is now time for the technology industry to step up and play a similar role.
Here is how technologists can, and should, help support libraries:
• Offer training and support -- free of charge -- to libraries for items such as digital reading devices, tablets and other media devices. Helping technology companies as well as libraries, this will serve to educate the general public in the long run.
• Provide special access to materials - something publishers have been doing for years. While technologists can't always control pricing, we can offer special programs to help educate the public and broaden access.
• Open lines of communication, offering libraries insight into how technologists see the market evolving. This will help library administrators make informed decisions regarding the future of their institutions.

Free means Free
Digital reading has taken off over the past three years in ways that no one would have imagined a decade ago. Earlier this year, the Book Industry Study Group reported that eBook sales rose from 1.5% of all book sales in Q1 2009 to 5% in Q1 2010. This is a wonderful thing in many respects - digital reading makes it easier to publish and distribute materials than ever before. But, the race is also on to lock down the market on ebooks by locking consumers into a specific platform, and this is the equivalent of curbing access.