You are right, Shanna. When a new patron shows up to get started, they usually bring a few scraps of paper and a "folder of documents" with, like, two birth certificates at most. I get them right on to Family Tree and offer a successful experience submitting the names of grandparents, uncles, aunts and great-grandparents, with a clear warning to get permission under the 110-year rule (the system helps a lot with that, too). But Renee is also right that desktop programs are and will continue to be a lot more powerful -- so "genealogists" will definitely need them at some point. I think it is all about the "milk before meat" concept. -- Jorge > From: shannasjones@msn.com > To: lds-ward-consultant@rootsweb.com > Date: Wed, 15 May 2013 10:44:24 -0600 > Subject: Re: [LDS-WC] Do I Still Need a Desktop Genealogy Program or is Family Tree Enough? > > Please don't make every patron purchase a third party product just to begin > their family history and submit one name. The Family History department is > trying to create success experiences and I have had several patrons go to > family history centers only to become so overwhelmed and discouraged because > they have to buy RootsMagic and sync with PAF and then sync with RootsMagic > and Family Tree and all they really wanted to do was to look at their family > tree and see if their great grandpa had his work done. We do not need to > make every patron become a genealogist, we want to turn their hearts first. > > > Family History Center workers and consultants are not allowed to recommend > or insist that anyone use or buy a third-party product. They are to refer > them to familysearch.org/products and let them chose for themselves. > > Yes, I use third-party products, as many as I can and I love them, but I've > been at this for over 20 years. But it is so overwhelming for new people > (you know the 97.5% of adult members who don't do family history) that we > want them to have success using Family Tree first, then we will let them > decide if they need another product to make charts, add their grandchildren, > organize, do research etc. Please don't scare them away and overwhelm them, > help them have a positive experience. > > Ok, off the soap box...... > Shanna Jones > > -----Original Message----- > From: lds-ward-consultant-bounces@rootsweb.com > [mailto:lds-ward-consultant-bounces@rootsweb.com] On Behalf Of Kathy Shipley > Sent: Wednesday, May 15, 2013 10:11 AM > To: lds-ward-consultant@rootsweb.com > Subject: Re: [LDS-WC] Do I Still Need a Desktop Genealogy Program or is > Family Tree Enough? > > Thanks Renee for a great recap of the discussions at RootsTech 2013! > I have been emphasizing this to the patrons in my Family History Center for > a number of years. Sometimes they listen. They especially take note when > their family information gets changed and they don't know how to correct it. > > > I too would like to post this in my center and re-emphasize it to my staff, > if it's alright with you. > > Kathy Shipley > Director > Yuba City CA Stake FHCtr > > > > Please send the one word message SUBSCRIBE or UNSUBSCRIBE to LDS-WARD-CONSULTANT-L-REQUEST@ROOTSWEB.COM > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to LDS-WARD-CONSULTANT-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message