Let’s get back to reading message boards and queries: on rootsweb, USGenWeb, and those on our societies' web pages. (I am assuming that we are members of more than one society.) Let's make an effort to answer at least ONE each week, even if it is not directly related to our family and our research. Obviously the surname will be one of ours; perhaps just not our direct ancestors.
What will happen? We’d have more activity on what used to be very active sites but are now floundering. Just not enough postings or responses. We might find new cousins. We may have someone answer our queries. Who knows what will happen?
I know that I could probably spend 30 minutes each week looking something up for someone else. No, I’m not the expert, but my search techniques may be different than those of the person who posted the query. So, perhaps I could find an answer that has stumped them. Or I could make a quick phone call to a repository nearby. Perhaps I could look through a catalog of a local library.
So, what’s my tip? Use those message boards, both by posting queries and answering them.
So, what’s my tip? Use those message boards, both by posting queries and answering them.
A good point. I often only look at message boards to post my own query. I would be a more useful user if I tried to answer some, too. Thanks for the reminder!
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