I did this last with our church ladies group for their Winter Gala. Last year I offered three "gift certificates", each for two hours of research time. All three that were won, contacted me and we met at the local library in the genealogy section as it worked into our schedules. I asked them to bring what information they had / knew. A couple were very "green" and one had a fair amount, but didn't know where else to go. After I found out what they had / knew, I took them to the computers and showed them how they could find more information using the usual - Family Search and Ancestry. Most of the families were out of the local area, which is why I showed them Family Search and Ancestry. If the families had been local, I would have used the local resources instead of Family Search and Ancestry. Depending on what we were looking for, we could find a lot or very little. I showed them census records, a couple of WWI draft records and any other number of records where they could find information. I enjoyed the experience and I think they learned a little bit more about their families. I'm considering doing it again this year as a request for donations was out in our church bulletin this morning. Cheryl Cheryl Brown Abernathy The Past Lane www.thepastlane.com Fredericksburg, OH Member APG & Great Lakes APG, Ohio Genealogical Society, National Genealogical Society Join us in Cincinnati 25-27 April 2013 for the Ohio Genealogical Society Conference, “Expanding Your Ancestry through Technology”, at the Millennium Hotel. >Pat wrote > >Must be something in the desert air, but I have a similar "issue." And, >maybe this isn't a good idea. > >Last week, at a function that included a "silent auction," I noticed >that some people were offering up "services" for bid. > >It occurred to me (as an inveterate genealogist recruiter) that I could >offer up some "genealogy related" service, that does not involve travel. >As I thought, issues such as Connie mentioned came to me. > >How would the auction item read? In time elements? What is "an hour's >worth of basic research" (or two hours, whatever) -- spending the time >scouring the usual suspect websites (Ancestry.com, GenealogyBank, etc.) >for "low hanging fruit", or, spending significant time interviewing the >winner, and then doing the research? How about "product" -- It's hard >to specify a specific, say "three generations" report, without knowing >the back story of the bidder. > >Even though, as the donor, I'm not receiving anything (other than the >experience, invaluable) for this, the winner, having expended "much" >money on the donation, expects "much" in return. Maybe more than "much." > >I know I can specify the services -- "using available internet resources >and the basic information provided by the winner, I will provide a >report, including cited sources, of information on the family . . . " -- >and there I stop. What parameters are appropriate here? Without putting >in two pages of "where-as"s. > >I want to do something here, to support the charity, but I really don't >want hard feelings if someone, say my friend Mary Anne, who immigrated >from Germany about forty years ago, wins the auction, and I have no >particular expertise in, or access to, German records. I don't want >someone to request a connection to Charlemagne, or "prove" a family >myth. > >Has anyone ever done this? If so, how? > >Pat Dunford >Tucson > > > > > >-----Original Message----- >From: transitional-genealogists-forum-bounces@rootsweb.com >[mailto:transitional-genealogists-forum-bounces@rootsweb.com] On Behalf >Of Connie Sheets >Sent: Sunday, October 21, 2012 9:34 AM >To: transitional-genealogists-forum@rootsweb.com >Subject: [TGF] Research Planning for Clients and the Internet > >As I take on more projects for others, I'm discovering that there is >much to be found on the Internet specific to their family that they have >not found. I'm also discovering that most do not have a specific >research goal. >My prior profession prepared me well for discussing what they know and >pinpointing what they want to find out, but I find I'm struggling a bit >with how best to approach the research. Most of my potential clients >live locally and are searching in areas far removed from where we live, >which may be the opposite situation from many of you.. . . . > >Connie Sheets >Phoenix > > > > > > > >The Transitional Genealogists List was created to provide a supportive >environment for genealogists to learn best practices as they transition >to professional level work. Please respect the kind intentions of this >list. >------------------------------- >To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to TRANSITIONAL- >GENEALOGISTS-FORUM-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' >without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message

I routinely donate gift certificates for raffles and silent auctions (well, maybe not as often as that makes it sound -- I've given three so far). They're for a specific dollar amount, and the winner has the option to use it for my tax services or my genealogy services. Logically enough, the ones who get it at the genealogy seminar are interested in the genealogy aspect. The first one hasn't come by to use it, yet, and the second one just won it two days ago. She'll be having me help find a marriage record, but at this point I don't know anything more. This is a good way to support the cause and build your client base at the same time, without annoying people by trying to push your business in an inappropriate venue. Dave Liesse Skingco Services, LLC