Continuing legacies ...

It was unintentional that I am delinquent in maintaining this blog.  I do, however, have a really good reason, or maybe several.

I am volunteering for two new historical societies and, with my own research and data entry, time is gets away from me.  This is the reason, but not a good one.  So I am back and hoping to generate some buzz.

When I began researching my family trees, I wondered, who will continue what I spent so much time in compiling and maintaining?  This same topic was raised by someone from my online genealogy groups.  Who will continue your legacy and research?

My professional background is in communications and public relations.  I have experience writing for and maintaining web sites and offered my social media services to the members of a small historical society.  I walked away rather dismayed. First, I think that I was the youngest member there.  Second, they all but said that they don't want or even need to grow their organization, and that their web site was suitable for their needs. It wasn't even up and running as of that meeting.  So what happens to small local societies after the members die off, especially if they don't have a strategy to recruit and incorporate younger members with fresh ideas and strategies?  Am I missing something? 

In closing, what do you intend to do with your research and who will inherit your treasured collections?

Challenging times then and now ...

... face all of us.  When I find another piece of family information to add to my files, I feel like I am becoming reacquainted with them.  I really wish they were alive so I could meet them in person.  So, I will have to make due with what I have available to me.

After spending time at the library this morning, I met a man whose genealogy research was leading him to dead ends similar to what I am experiencing.  After talking with him, I learned how to navigate the cemetery personnel and will soon try my luck.

Another slight detour, too, kept me from writing in my blog.  I share a laptop with my husband.  Reserving time to use his laptop was a challenge.  His laptop is just too slow for me and several keys stick.  I suppose that he was tired of me sighing, hinting, and being frustrated, so a new laptop was ordered.  I can't wait!

In the meantime, I still have records to dig through at the Maryland Historic Society and to organize what I have been finding so when my laptop arrives, I can sit back and enter my data and resume my Internet research.

Do you care to share your frustrations, roadblocks, and how you overcame them?  If not, I wish you all the best in you searching. 

Life is good ...