Has parenting changed? - Parenting Rules to write about

This column was in The Arizona Republic, today, Wednesday, November 2, 2011.  http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/arizonaliving/articles/2011/11/01/20111101abby1102-teens-mom-sooo-strict.html   I normally don't read Dear Abby, but I couldn't resist when I looked at the title "Teen's mom sooo strict."  I know lots of parenting practices have changed.  Perhaps we need to include parenting rules when we write about our families.

Tuesday's Tip - Message Boards

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.

AzGAB - Curt Witcher in Arizona

Curt Witcher is the speaker for the Arizona Genealogy Advisory Board  (AzGAB) fall meeting on Saturday, November 12, 2011.  This is the link for the information and registration form.   http://www.azgab.org/pdf/2011Workshop.pdf  Hope to see you there. 

Treasure Chest Thursday - Cuddle Rocker

This piece of furniture was always called a “cuddle rocker” by my Grandma and Grandpa.  It was where my sister and her boyfriend and later my brother and his girlfriend sat when they visited Grandma and Grandpa. It’s just the right size for two people to sit on if they like to sit close to each other.  And it rocks.   I don’t know where Grandma found this, although it was not new when it came to her house.  It was upholstered in a red fabric. 

Grandma didn't get it early enough for me to sit in it while dating my husband, Walt.  But we did sit in it for many years later, after we were married and moved close enough to visit.  When Grandma needed to move, I was the only one who had the space for this piece of furniture.  I did have it reupholstered, but the fond memories of her house, where it sat, and of Grandma and Grandpa remain.  What a treasure!!!!

Mystery Monday - POE, Zollicoffer (Zollie Coffer...)

I’m hoping that someone can help me solve this mystery.  Z C, as he’s sometimes listed in documents, was born about 1855 in Mississippi and died 23 Apr 1923 in Chickasha, Grady County, Oklahoma.

In the 1860 census he is in Bethlehem, Marshall County, Mississippi, with his parents.  In 1860 he’s in Waterford, Marshall County, Mississippi, also with his parents.  I have been unable to find him in any census records until 1920, when he is in Oklahoma, with his second wife, Mary.

The mystery:  Where is he between 1870 and 1920?  I have information from others that include his first wife Lola Mont Swinney (1861-1952), his three children Harman Lamar Poe (1878-abt 1964), Minnie Dove Poe (1879-1959), and Thurman Allen Poe (1888-1979).  Of course I’m still looking for documentation of his marriage to Lola and the births of the children.

Arizona Genealogy - NAGS

Yesterday (Saturday, October 22)  I attended a one day workshop in Prescott, Arizona.  This was organized by the Northern Arizona Genealogy Society (NAGS).  What a lovely day.  There were two sessions before lunch and two after lunch.  During each time period we could choose from 7 sessions.  What a great variety in a one way workshop. 

And I can't forget to mention the lunch.  Since two friends and I drove from Phoenix, the weather was cooler.  So, the homemade beef stew, homemade bread and homemade cookies were greatly appreciated.  I'd like to thank all of those great volunteers who provided a day of educational opportunities for all of us, whether we are beginning, intermediate or advanced researchers.  Thank you.

Arizona Genealogy

I've given two presentations recently on conferences I attended in 2011.  While I talk about what I've learned, what presentations are available, what great speakers I heard, etc. I'm trying to encourage the chapter members who attend to continue to go to chapter meetings.  After all, that's where we learn about new ideas, new web sites, and perhaps something that would help us break down our brick walls. 

So, for all of you who are only on the internet; who feel that you don't need genealogy societies, I'm trying to reach you.  Think about a genealogy meeting as a single session of a conference.  No, you don't have choices like you do at conferences, but you may find one piece of information that you didn't know and it helps you solve one of your long-time problems.  AND, if you think you can never learn anything at these meetings, please volunteer to present programs.  A basic powerpoint presentation is, just that, basic.  But even those can pass along great information to those who can benefit from them.