We had a great discussion today about what member's are doing in their genealogy journey as well as an overview of the "Big Four Genealogy Companies."

As we talked about Christmas projects, Brenda Larsen shared her project on making notecards.  She took pictures of her "old family pictures", then using Microsoft word, she "insert" image, selected "image format" and then "artistic effects".  What a wonderful gift to her family.

We then covered the latest overview of the "Big Four Genealogy Companies", Click here to see video recording of presentation.  It is important to pick the company that can best answer your current genealogy questions, for example FindMyPast has the best resources on England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales.  You an always join, then dropper your membership after you have done your research.  One highlight was reviewing how MyHeritage can now "enhance" and "colorize your photos.  You do not have to colorize to get the enhancement to your old photos.

Lynn has offered to do "one or two" photos for each DIRT member if you will send him your photo (the higher the resolution, the better outcome).  

Fun video about Family Gathering: Would you bet your Family Christmas Dinner: Click Here 

 Our meeting today went well, we focused upon "Cleaning Up Your Digital Data" with two areas of particular interest - using Shortcuts on the Desktop and managing the bookmarks. There are many other areas of computer data that we discussed as well. 

If you are interested in the replay, Click Here

 Wonderful meeting today: Focus on "Using Audio to Share" as the main focus

    We did take some time to discuss our current achievements and frustrations with our genealogical research before diving into the main topic.  Just sort of catching up on squirrel stories.

Next we focused on the main topic of "Using Audio to Share", to get the recording: Click Here

Questions to ask in an interview:

• Tell me about your Life: Click here
• Great Questions: Click Here

Some resources referenced during the discussion were:

• Audacity: https://www.audacityteam.org/
• Adobe Spark: https://spark.adobe.com/

For yesterday's FHC Evening recorded session on: Genealogy Wall Charts: Click Here

• To access his website for Genealogy Wall Charts: Click Here

  Our meeting went well today.  Here are some materials for your use:

Today's meeting: Improving Your Genealogy Research Skills Recording: Click Here

Link to other resources discussed

• The Family History Guide: Click Here
• YouTube Channel: Click Here : Search Ancestry
• RootsWeb: Click Here : select Wiki

Social History Sites:

• Google Books: Click Here
• Internet Archives : Click Here
• History Net : Click Here
• Floridamemory : Click Here
• Digital Collection : Click Here
• Chronicling America : Click Here
• New York Public Library : Click Here

DAR Sheets

• DAR Source Citation: Click Here
• DAR Source Abbreviations: Click Here
• DAR Source State Abbreviations: Click Here

 Hi to all the Genealogist out there!

• Today's session was focused on Creating Family Short Stories using the video recording ability in the FREE Virtual App called Zoom.  Many of you have been using zoom for your social and business virtual meetings (or Teams, Skype, etc.)  
• After reviewing how to prepare your short story, we carefully went through the Zoom application and steps for the PC or Apple computer to do many of the functions.  Lastly, we all merged onto a smartphone call, ended the virtual meeting and worked on our own computers to set up zoom for ourselves.  Some successes and some frustrations with getting this new app installed on our machines.
• Overall positive feedback, even with the challenges of the technology.
• To watch the session, click here

We also took a few minutes to look at the FamilySearch.org "Activities" called "Where Am I From" and "Compare a Face".

  Hi everyone!  It is always great to get together and share.  Today's meeting was another sharing and learning from each other.

1. Sharing session
2. Discussion about the Family History Center Oct 17 virtual workshop
3. Presentation on Creating and Sharing Short Stories for Family History using Zoom, Click Here for recording
4. Checklist guide for putting together short story using Zoom: Click here
5. Discussion about Land Grants for Genealogy: Click here for recording of session used n Oct 17

The Family History Center on Sam Rittenberg road is open again, their hours are

• 10 - 7: Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday
• 10-2:   Friday
• 10-2: 2nd and 4th Saturday of the month

They are also looking for additional volunteers to help with researchers

Our next meeting is on Wednesday October 28 and will focus on "Using Zoom to do Short Stories"

 Light attendance - such a beautiful day outside

We discussed what people had done with the Irish Information from our last meeting.

Everyone had some wonderful results from their personal research.  For video recording of the session: Click Here

We covered several areas that may warrant further investigation:

• Sign-up for October 17th, Family History Center Workshop: Click Here for document
• Click here to pay the $10 fee
• Updated Genealogy Website list (copy to desktop, then open): Click Here
• 5 Productivity tips for Windows 10 Users: Click Here
• New Newspaper Navigator (Library of Congress) Click here
• Centennia Historical Atlas of Europe: Click Here

The DIRT Meeting on October 14 is cancelled and I hope you will consider joining the Event on Oct 17th.