1. Note from The Editor

2. News

3. Article

4. Tips & Hints

5. Cool & Free Stuff

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Our activities slowed down during the Summer after the initial busy Spring. Now that yet another Summer is winding down, it is perfect time to get a sharp pencil and a clean pad of paper and refocus on the family history research. We collected a lot of information, mainly from our immediate families and all that is available at http://webhome.idirect.com/~minazenar/. Make a visit to refresh your memory. It is the time now to look further and dig deeper. Get in touch with relatives you did not hear from in a long time. You both will be happy if for no other reason then for just reestablishing the contact. Read this month's article to get some ideas on how to proceed.

Privacy Policy statement was added

Testimonials are included

The following family tree files (.gno) now contain new information:

1. Ontario, Canada ZENARs 1

2. Ohio, USA ZENARs 1

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Charles Dickens' David Copperfield must have been a closet genealogist. He said, "To begin my life with the beginning of my life, I record that I was born . . ."

That's how you should begin also. Write down everything you already know about yourself, your parents, and your grandparents. Don't worry if, once you have it written down, you realize you do not know much. Get it down on paper or in computer database so that you have a starting place.

Document your own life information first by gathering records and other data about your birth, marriage, graduation, military service and so forth. Look around the house for photographs, documents, old letters, diaries, newspaper clippings, and family Bibles. Ask your parents and grandparents about such items also. Use this material as a guide to sources of information you may be able to find in your home or in the home of a relative. Talk to all your older-generation relatives (before they are gone and you are the older generation). Do not limit yourself to just what is listed here, put your creativity to work and find new sources. When you find them share your story with us.

Armed with what you do know, start asking questions. Genealogists can put reporters to shame. After all, we want to know everything. Talk to your parents and your grandparents. Write to them or call them. Write to and call your cousins, aunts, and uncles. Interview those people who lived near your family, and don't forget old family friends.

Learn to ask the right questions. If you ask Uncle Fred to "tell me everything you know," he may side-step you by responding that he can't remember anything. Ask specific questions that jogs the memory. Whenever possible, show old photographs of people and places.

While it is important to ask the basic questions about the whens and wheres of births, marriages, and deaths, you can sometimes get more information from relatives by asking about other aspects of their life. Here are some questions that will help you get more than just names, dates, and places:

- Who were you named for?

- Did your grandmother tell you any special stories?

- Who was your best friend and what did you like to do together?

- Where did you go to school?

- What was your favorite holiday? Why?

- Were you in the military?

- Have you done any traveling? Where did you go? Who with?

- What was your first home or apartment like?

Be sure to write down the answers. If your relative doesn't object, audio or video taping would be even better. However, this sometimes makes a person self-conscious and they may not be as forthcoming, but usually they will forget all about it within a few minutes. Prepare for an interview by making notes in advance about the questions you want to ask and by being somewhat familiar with the family you will be asking questions about.

Some of the subject we will cover in the coming issues of OUR ROOTS (your suggestions are welcome) include:

- Pedigree Charts

- Family Group Sheets

- Sources Checklists

- Research Log

- Interview Questions

- Genealogy Programs

Read on to find out how you can publish your story or have your questions answered.

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Use http://webhome.idirect.com/~minazenar/ to store your family tree and transform your family research from a local affair to a global undertaking. Your relatives anywhere in the world can contribute to the research effort. It is easy. Visit http://webhome.idirect.com/~minazenar/ to find out how.

Check http://webhome.idirect.com/~minazenar/ for the name assigned to your family tree, see if you can think of one that is more appropriate.

If you have pictures of people that are or will be recorded in one of the GenoPro files send it to us for free scanning and inclusion in your family tree on the web site. To find out how to send paper and electronic pictures go to http://webhome.idirect.com/~minazenar/. Snail-mailed photographs are returned after the processing. Read about another free picture scanning offer under "Cool and Free Stuff" (Section 5) .

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To find out how you can benefit from the booming global E-commerce visit http://webhome.idirect.com/~minazenar/. For example: you can get paid just to have a starting page for your browser or you can play million dollar lottery for free or you can get free space for your web site.

If you have a picture which you would like to be scanned, you can send it to Addr.com and they will scan it for you free of charge. You don't even need to be a customer of Addr.com to take advantage if this free service. Isn't that nice? Go to http://webhome.idirect.com/~minazenar/.

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