----- Original Message ----- From: Family Tree Finders <soda-send@gt.sodamail.com> To: <ladyd@dnaco.net> Sent: Monday, January 03, 2000 8:53 AM Subject: Family Tree Finders Monday January 3, 2000 > > > FAMILY TREE FINDERS > Monday - 3 January 2000 > > Genealogical Goals > > OK - well, if you are reading this, then I can assume that your > computer did indeed survive Y2K (as did your local power > company). In fact, I wish only the best for all of you this > coming year and hope that none of you have experienced any > problems related to Y2K. > > Now is usually the time that we make our New Year's > resolutions. We all do it, and within a week we seem to have > forgotten them. Sometimes it's because we make resolutions > that become unattainable goals. Other times, we really have > good intentions, say to start that diet, only to find that we > already have enough stress in our life and just can't add any > more. > > Genealogical goals often turn out the same way. We start out > strong, but somewhere along the way get overwhelmed or > frustrated. Usually it is because we have made an unrealistic > goal. We are striving for the moon when in fact we should be > happy to settle for the local library. > > This is especially true of newer genealogists. They do not as > yet realize what the undertaking may entail. Sometimes, > because they have heard of other's success they think they will > have the same success. Unfortunately, nasty little things like > courthouse burnings, lost records, or the inability to travel to > repositories crop up and get in our way. And then some > researchers give up. > > So this year, make your goals small. Be happy with the little > steps. There will still be times when you have major finds, > and rejoice in those. But on those more difficult lines, don't > be too demanding. > > For instance, I am working on STANDERFERs. As this is my > maiden name, I have been working on them for as long as I > have been doing research. My problem is that my 3rd great > grandfather, Benjamin STANDERFER doesn't like to be > found. He likes to avoid census takers. He was born too early > for birth certificates, and if it weren't for his less than stellar > choices in life, I may never have found a single record on him. > As it is, I have located a court case (he stole some money), a > divorce case (his second wife), and what I hope will turn out > to be his Civil War pension papers. I am still waiting for those > to arrive, even though patience is definitely not in the > character of this genealogist. However, I am jubilant with > each new find, as those finds have been hard one over the > years. And when I can't stand it any more, I put that line aside > and concentrate on another one. > > The goal isn't to find his birth record, or to find out who his > parents are. My goals where Benjamin is concerned are much > smaller than that, to find proof of his existence in any given > year. I am always thankful when I find a new record that > appears to be his. And get great satisfaction when I compare > that record to what I currently know and it appears to fit into > the puzzle. > > So as the new year begins, may your goals be attainable, so > that you continue to enjoy this hobby. Hobbies should be fun > and by making your goals small and attainable perhaps you > won't get overwhelmed and frustrated with your research this > year. > > > > Rhonda R. McClure > rhondam@sodamail.com > > If you know someone who is interested in genealogy, > please forward this entire message to them! > _________________________________________________ > To subscribe to Family Tree Finders, send a blank e-mail message to: > join-family-tree-finders@gt.sodamail.com > > At the site you can change your address, cancel or join: > http://207.153.204.247/cgi-bin/gt/login.html > > To cancel your free subscription don't hit reply,send a blank email from > your subscription address: ladyd@dnaco.net > > To: > leave-family-tree-finders@gt.sodamail.com > ________________________________________________ > Copyright 1999 by SodaMail. All rights reserved. > http://www.sodamail.com > > > > >