December 23rd is National Roots Day, which encourages us to “look into our heritage, families, family history, and ancestry” as we gather with families and friends during this holiday season. Check out this month’s SL Genealogy Group Newsletter for a few resources to help you do this!
Please note that Tech Tuesday and the NGSQ Study Group will not meet in December, but will be back again in January. And you won’t want to miss the Second Life Chapter APG’s Holiday Party, which is always a blast! Details below in the Events section.
INSPIRATION:
December is the month when we look back at what we have accomplished in the past year, and look forward to what we would like to accomplish in the coming year. Did you reach your genealogy goals this year? Why or why not? Perhaps you need to work on a research plan for next year, or think about some specific educational opportunities? Attend a conference? Join a genealogical society or lineage society? There is so much to contemplate as we tie up our genealogical loose ends at the end of the year.
May your ancestor wishes come true in 2016! 😀
DECEMBER RECOMMENDATIONS:
WEBSITE OF THE MONTH:
StoryCorps StoryCorps is America’s oral history project. Since 2003, StoryCorps has collected more than 60,000 interviews with over 100,000 participants from all backgrounds — the largest single collection of human voices ever gathered.
What better time to collect these stories than the holidays, when we are gathered with our families to talk, reflect, and celebrate? The StoryCorps website provides the tools you need to prepare for and record your oral history interview. Afterwards, your recording can be archived at the American Folklife Center at the Library of Congress so that future generations can hear the stories – and the voices – of today. StoryCorps even has “an app for that!”
Here is a little Intro video for you by StoryCorps founder Dave Isay:
Be sure to check out the StoryCorps website before heading out to your holiday gatherings!
BLOG RECOMMENDATION:
Amy Johnson Crow
Genealogist Amy Johnson Crow is the inspiration behind 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks and 31 Days to Better Genealogy. She has also started a vlog (video log) called Genealogy Weekly, and you can often find her “popping up” on Periscope. Wherever you find her, Amy is offering fabulous genealogy tips and advice, so you will definitely want to add her to your Feedly, Flipboard, Bloglovin’, or whatever reader you use!
Sunday, December 6 6:00 pm – Family History Chat
Join other family historians and genealogists of all skill levels for a casual discussion on the front porch of the Family History Centre in Adam ondi Ahman. Host varies, style is both Q&A and presentation. http://bit.ly/SLFamilyHistoryCentre
Monday, December 7 6:00 pm – Meet & Greet for New SL Users
Meet at the Fire Pit at Just Genealogy for this very informal meeting focusing on how to navigate and enjoy Second Life. http://bit.ly/SL_JGfirepit
Thursday, December 10 6:00 pm – Second Life Chapter APG Holiday Party
Let’s celebrate our 2015 accomplishments with a party! Santa usually makes an appearance, so be sure to tell him which ancestors you would like to find under your tree. Wear your holiday finest (formal) attire. Our favorite DJ, Jaffee Gaffer, will be on-hand once again, spinning holiday tunes while we dance the night away (or at least until 8:00 p.m. SLT). Hosted by DeeDee and Sherlock at their Winter Wonderland. All are welcome.
Sunday, December 13 6:00 pm – Family History Chat
Join other family historians and genealogists of all skill levels for a casual discussion on the front porch of the Family History Centre in Adam ondi Ahman. Host varies, style is both Q&A and presentation. http://bit.ly/SLFamilyHistoryCentre
Tuesday, December 15 6:00 pm – Methodology Tuesday
Exploring old and new research methodologies with your fellow genealogists. The December discussion topic is the Genealogical Proof Standard (GPS). The meeting will be hosted by Genie Weezles at the Fire Pit in Just Genealogy. http://bit.ly/SL_JGfirepit
Sunday, December 20 6:00 pm – Family History Chat
Join other family historians and genealogists of all skill levels for a casual discussion on the front porch of the Family History Centre in Adam ondi Ahman. Host varies, style is both Q&A and presentation. http://bit.ly/SLFamilyHistoryCentre
Sunday, December 27 6:00 pm – Family History Chat
Join other family historians and genealogists of all skill levels for a casual discussion on the front porch of the Family History Centre in Adam ondi Ahman. Host varies, style is both Q&A and presentation. http://bit.ly/SLFamilyHistoryCentre
NOTE: All times listed are SLT or “Second Life Time,” which is the same as Pacific Standard Time. Need a time zone converter?
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For more information about Genealogy events in Second Life, please feel free to contact: (in-world): Genie Weezles, Clarise Beaumont, Ellington Sweeney.
I somehow managed to volunteer myself to moderate the October “Methodology Tuesday” discussion! So for this month, I have selected a reading by Thomas W. Jones, Ph.D., CG, CGL, titled, “The Genealogical Proof Standard: How Simple Can It Be?” (OnBoard 16, September 2010).
This is a short, fun, easy, read, which discusses how some genealogists believe that “applying the GPS requires gargantuan investments in research, reasoning, and writing,” or that it only applies to problems with no obvious solution. Not so, according to Mr. Jones: the GPS applies to ANY genealogical problem, large or small! 😀
Be sure to join us at the Just Genealogy Fire Pit on Tuesday, October 20th, at 6:00 p.m. SLT, to share your thoughts on this article. Genealogists of all levels are welcome. Contact Ellington Sweeney, by email or in-world, if you have questions.