Another anniversary for the Study Group

     I haven't written about my study group lately - we are still going strong after three years! I am so proud of us ALL. We have had only one lady discontinue over the years, and another who early on started a job and really never came to meetings, but I still send her the emails written before and after the meetings - she says she saves them all and is always interested in what we are doing. So, we are seven strong. We meet once a month. We set new goals each year and usually accomplish at least half of them - some being on-going or long term that hang around for all time.

     Everyone now has a database on their computer. Most have inputted at LEAST the four generations they need to produce a nice pedigree. We are ALL working on sourcing, but that gets easier with time. We have had lessons on several aspects of research; been to the three major libraries in our area; currently trying to coordinate a trip to the State Archives (in downtown Phoenix at the Capital); written stories about our ancestors; shared new finds; ordered documents and just plain enjoyed it all.

     I am encouraging them to start their own website and/or maybe even a blog. At our last meeting, one of the members gave us a talk about how she organizes her research when she starts a new search - such as for a in-law, or a new branch of the family. She sets up a notebook, accumulates as much data from - say, her son-in-law and his family -and starts with the usual suspects: Google, Ancestry and/or Familysearch. She sources as she goes along - Bless her Heart! The sourcing actually gives her a wonderful timeline as she moves backward collecting ancestors and documentation. She can then use the timeline to see what holes, etc. she has and what/where she still needs to research. It was a great learning lesson. We all approach things differently, but we all do some things the same way and we are always learning something new.

     Now to plan the next meeting....