Many individuals don't consider what it really takes to become a member in a recognized society such as DAR and SAR. This email is for those members who have considered taking on this challenge. With most Hereditary Societies it is a requirement to supply a linage complete with irrefutable proof. And becomes a surprise to some individuals, when they find that the documents they have collected are not adequate to complete the requirements. One of the common mistakes made by individuals applying for a recognized society, Is that sometimes, individuals feel they have documented their case quit well. By relying on printed material, gravestone inscriptions, or records in a family bible. Not realizing there possibly may be better records to substantiate the line. In fact, some times individuals don't even bother sending for death certificates. They merely copy a record from a book, along with the name and call number (i.e., Southwest Louisiana records: church and civil records) and not photocopied the frontispiece. Nor did they collect probate records, which can prove invaluable when making links between generations. And sometimes they may have just used a soundex for information instead of going to the actual census. Even if you don't plan to join a hereditary society, it still is a good idea to start with yourself and examine each ancestor to the end of the line. Evaluate your documentation, making sure you haven't relied to much on secondary sources for your information. Check all the facts, dates and places and where you have made assumptions on the "preponderance of the evidence," did you write down the steps that you took to achieve your conclusion? Did you fully identify photocopies of your material that authenticates your line? In case you haven't, It's not to late to "make it right." Cindy Hofmeister hofsearch@aol.com