2017 - What Did I Accomplish?

While thinking about my goals for 2018, I started thinking about what I've accomplished during 2017. Since I didn't record statistics from my tree, I can't 'brag' about the number of ancestors added. However, I have learned a lot during 2017.

In January, I learned all about Bullet Journaling thanks to a Wacky Wednesday hangout sponsored by DearMyrtle. Even though I had tried various planners during my career, I failed to consistently use a planner. I wasn't even good at checking Google calendar, let alone getting everything into an online calendar. However, I did create and use a bullet journal for 2017 and have started one for 2018!

During the spring of 2017, I applied to become a beta tester for RootsMagic's tree share feature. Around the middle of May, I was accepted as a beta tester and spent the next month working with uploading segments of my tree to Ancestry and playing with the various features to help RootsMagic find and fix errors. When the software update was released, I uploaded my tree from RootsMagic to Ancestry. During the summer, most of my 'genealogy work' involved working thru the TreeShare issues and figuring out my workflow. Unfortunately, this involved uploading my RM data several times (and creating multiple Ancestry trees). By late August, I had a TreeShare working between my RootsMagic data and Ancestry. Unfortunately, it took me another couple of months to discover that my tree, Heartland Genealogy, wasn't being indexed and then to figure out why Ancestry wasn't indexing my tree.

In late May, I also participated in a Visual Phasing course by Blaine Bettinger. Although I'm no expert at visual phasing, it is a tool that will hopefully help me incorporate DNA results as a genealogy source.

Another tool that I've added to my 'genealogy toolbox' during 2017 was the app, iScanner (Android version). For the past couple of years, I've played around with several scanning apps but am now exclusively using iScanner. This app allows me to draw the 'box' around the photo or page. Since I can 'add' images to a scan, I can create a 'set' of images for a source. The app allows me to export those images as individual jpegs or as a single pdf file. By scanning a title page as the first image, I can easily identify the content and create a source citation for the scans. The iScanner app has proven very useful while researching at libraries and archives. I did have to purchase the full app to take advantage of all of these features -- but it was worth it.

In 2016, I learned how to link a person in RootsMagic to the FamilySearch Family Tree. I've slowly been learning to use all of the resources available on FamilySearch and am very thankful for their efforts to digitize the microfilm. As I research from home, I keep a 'to-do' list for resources only available at Family History Libraries or affiliate libraries. I am thankful that the Topeka Shawnee County Public Library and the Midwest Genealogy Center are nearby affiliate libraries.

During 2017, I also started attending several study groups sponsored by various regional genealogical societies:

• RootsMagic User Group - Johnson County Genealogical Society 
• Genealogy Round Table - Riley County Genealogical Society
• DNA Study Group - Topeka Genalogical Society
• Brick Wall Study Group - Topeka Genealogical Society

Besides traveling to attend the study groups, I also am thankful for a variety of ways I can connect with other researchers from home.

• Mondays with Myrt
• Wacky Wednesdays
• Legacy Family Tree Webinars
• Facebook groups
• Blogs, podcasts, newsletters

As I sit in my nice warm office while it is still below zero outside, I'm very thankful for all of my genealogy 'friends' who have helped me develop new skills on this journey!