Mari, 1) I would send someone who is looking for their ancestors for the first time to the nearest Family History Center and/or to any other library with a genealogy collection. I would suggest that they get online and type the word genealogy or even the misspelled word geneology into their browser window and start looking for free "how to" information. I would suggest that they get involved with their local historical or genealogical society and ask a lot of questions. I would also point them toward online discussion groups and surname query boards in order to connect with people who share their interest. 2) Genealogy is the essential core of any family's history. We must document accurate names and facts in order to tell the true story of our ancestors. When we compile an accurate list of facts on a timeline, a story begins to emerge. Pictures, family lore, and history of the times all add to the story. 3) Ancestry.com and other commercial sites have made a lot of information available. Any beginner should browse these sites for their free offerings and then decide for themselves if the paid portion is worth the cost to them. I know that free is good, and certainly would encourage new researchers to find and use as many free resources as possible including trial memberships in commercial sites. Thelma In a message dated 10/10/04 2:02:38 AM Central Daylight Time, [email protected] writes: I need HELP! A reporter from the Tennessean called me to see if she could interview me about genealogy Monday. Of course, I told her only if it wasn't during the Titans game. I've got to answer stuff like this: 1. Where would you send someone who was looking for their ancestors for the first time? 2. What is genealogy? 3. What about Ancestry.com? (?) RHETT...Where are you!!!!!! This will be in the Rutherford AM and I REALLY wish they'd called sooner! Teresa, Marie, Marty and Ed....HELP! (and anyone else!) Thanks yall, Mari

Thank you so much, Thelma. I will and I thank you :) Mari At 08:40 AM 10/10/2004, you wrote: >Mari, > >1) I would send someone who is looking for their ancestors for the first time >to the nearest Family History Center and/or to any other library with a >genealogy collection. I would suggest that they get online and type the word >genealogy or even the misspelled word geneology into their browser window >and start >looking for free "how to" information. I would suggest that they get >involved with their local historical or genealogical society and ask a lot of >questions. I would also point them toward online discussion groups and >surname query >boards in order to connect with people who share their interest. > >2) Genealogy is the essential core of any family's history. We must document >accurate names and facts in order to tell the true story of our ancestors. >When we compile an accurate list of facts on a timeline, a story begins to >emerge. Pictures, family lore, and history of the times all add to the story. > >3) Ancestry.com and other commercial sites have made a lot of information >available. Any beginner should browse these sites for their free >offerings and >then decide for themselves if the paid portion is worth the cost to them. I >know that free is good, and certainly would encourage new researchers to >find and >use as many free resources as possible including trial memberships in >commercial sites. > >Thelma > >In a message dated 10/10/04 2:02:38 AM Central Daylight Time, >[email protected] writes: >I need HELP! A reporter from the Tennessean called me to see if she could >interview me about genealogy Monday. Of course, I told her only if it wasn't >during the Titans game. I've got to answer stuff like this: >1. Where would you send someone who was looking for their ancestors for the >first time? >2. What is genealogy? >3. What about Ancestry.com? (?) RHETT...Where are you!!!!!! >This will be in the Rutherford AM and I REALLY wish they'd called sooner! >Teresa, Marie, Marty and Ed....HELP! (and anyone else!) >Thanks yall, >Mari > > >==== TNRUTHER Mailing List ==== >For cemetery records of Rutherford County, TN check out Teresa Elliott's >page at www.rutherfordcemeteries.home-page.org or Kim Denny's page at >http://www.kimshockey.com/cem/rutherford.html