Friday, 7 January 2011

New Year Resolutions - 7

What goes around comes around, so this final Resolution of the first week of 2011 is to Help and Be Helped.

No matter where you live, there are always opportunities to give or receive genealogy advice, or to help out in all manner of ways. The plan is to share your own knowledge and experience with others while also benefitting yourself.

Here are some ideas:
  • Join a forum specialising in Irish genealogy (www.rootschat.com and www.boards.ie are both very good). Here you can post and find answers to your own specific questions and share your own knowledge by answering those of other forum members.

  • Join a group. Yes, this has come up before in this year's resolutions, but it's worth repeating. Becoming an active member of a family history group (local or national), a local history society, or an Irish club means you'll not just be learning from others, you'll also enjoy the craic.

  • Join a transcribing project. Getting involved in indexing projects means you're helping the entire genealogical community. It doesn't really matter if you're transcribing Irish records or not. Everyone benefits. www.familysearch.org is always looking for transcribers (a project to index the Tithe Applotment Books has just got underway if you want to get stuck in immediately), but your local family history group or heritage centre may also be looking for volunteers.