2012 Genealogy Goals

It's that time again. A while back, I read a blog post about using the requirements of a group or organization you want to join as a basis for setting goals. It's been bouncing around in head ever since I read it. So if some of this year's genealogy goals sound familiar, keep in mind that I'm interested in taking the ProGen Study Group, and getting accredited and/or certified through ICAPGEN and the BCG.

Research

• Research in at least one archive. This will most likely be the Georgia Archives because I have a long list of other things I would like to check there. Since it's close to the National Archives Southeast Division, I may end up stopping there while I'm in the area. Next on the list is probably the South Carolina Archives. A lot of my Georgia surnames were in South Carolina before they came to Georgia.
• Visit a Family History Center. I'm embarrassed to say that I have not yet visited one. Both of the ones closest to me require around a 45 minute drive one way. They also both have weird hours that are hard to work around my schedule. However, there is one in the town where my mom lives that is open twice a week with more reasonable hours so I'm hoping to squeeze in a visit while I'm in town to see her. You can now request microfilms over the internet so I'll need to put together a list of items to request in advance of my visit.
• Continue with transcription project for my West Virginia surnames. This project is nearing completion.
• Start new transcription project for my Georgia surnames using records available from Georgia's Virtual Vault. I actually jumped ahead of myself and this has been started in a small way as I have begun compiling Sweat marriages in south Georgia for the family wiki I set up.
• Set up wiki for another of my surnames. I'm still debating which one to pick, but it will probably be one of my paternal lines.
• Research one location per month and develop research plan.

Organization

• Work on consistently using my digital filing system for documents and photographs. I actually started this last year, but got away from it. I recently set up a new system using my an external drive and I want to stick with it this time.
• Look into ways to take my genealogy files with me. Since I will be doing more genealogy travel this year, I would like to find an app that will allow me to have my files with me no matter where I am. I know there are several available so I'll be exploring my options to find the one that works best for me.
  

Writing

• Write a minimum of eight blogs posts per month for each of my blogs.
• Begin working on book about doing genealogy on a budget. This is something I've been considering doing for a while. There is an astonishing amount of genealogical information available online for free if you just know where to look. This is what led me to start my Free Genealogy Resources blog.
• Start planning family history book. This is also something I've been thinking about for a while. There are a couple surnames that already have books, but they are out of date and I know at least one of them isn't documented.
• Query at least one genealogy-related publication (print or online). 
• Review one genealogy-related book per month.
• Launch third genealogy blog to document research on husband's lines.

Education

• Attend at least one genealogy conference. I've attended the last two Georgia Family History Expos. I would love to attend one of the bigger conference like NGS.
• Take a genealogy class/webinar every month. This is double last year's goal, but I really want to focus on ramping up my education this year.
• Read one genealogy-related book per month. This goes along with one of my writing goals. As I complete each book, I will be reviewing it. Since I've bought 16 books on various aspects of genealogy in the last six weeks, I already have the books on hand.
• Continue with US Records Study Group.

Volunteer

• Continue indexing for FamilySearch and Restore the Ancestors.
• Continue working with Unclaimed Persons.
• Continue taking volunteer photographs for FindAGrave.
• Sign up as a lookup volunteer with USGenWeb.

Other

• Look into setting up a family association. I have a couple surnames in mind for this project. As far as I know, none of them currently have a family association set up, even though there are a decent number of people researching that particular surname and family. I'd like to set up a central location where we can share our research (properly documented of course), photographs and family heirlooms with each other and the rest of the family.