Midwest Computer Genealogy newsletter for January
2002
Volume 9 Number 1
The Midwest Computer Genealogy group meets the 3rd Saturday of each
month in the Community room at Bannister Mall. The meetings
start at 9 AM. Enter the mall the south main mall entrance on
the east side of the building. The community room entrance is to
the left once inside the mall entrance doors.
Scheduled monthly MCG Programs are listed below:
January 19, 2002 Jim Stout is giving a program on using your genealogy
software to prepare a book for publishing.
February 16, 2002 Marilyn Finke will help us understand the use of the
1930 census, which due out in March 2002. All who may be listed
please raise your hand.
March 16, 2002 Jack Revare will describe his experiences writing and
publishing a family history book.
April 20, 2002 Tom Leathers, publisher of the Squire will tell us
about having your genealogy book professionally published.
To volunteer or make suggestions for programs please contact Judy
Revare at Judy@revare.com or Jack Revare at Jack@revare.com. Judy is
the group program chairperson.
The Family Origins users group meets monthly but by the time I get
notice of the monthly meeting and get the newsletter out the meeting
has come and gone so to keep up on the FOG meeting please visit the
web sites listed as follows.
To go directly to the FOG page use this URL: http://chezjacq.com/MCG.htm#FOG
Check the web site for the February 2, 2002 meeting. I wasn't able to
schedule it at the Blue Valley Library. Or you can contact
Rowena at snowtop@juno.com for more information.
President's Comments for the month.
Several days ago my wife was cleaning out some drawers in an old desk
and came across an old book. Well maybe book is not the right term to
use here; you see it really was just a part of an old book. Big one
too! The piece of book that she handed to me started with page 555 and
was labeled at the top "Miscellaneous Department" and ended
with page 646 and was labeled at the top "Bee-Keeping
Department". I know about how many pages of this book were
missing from the front of the book to page 555 where the part that I
had started, but I am not sure how many more pages were missing after
the last page that I had 646. I know it was a very old book,
because the spelling of many of the words was not as we spell those
words today.
It had a whole bunch of "Dr. Chase's Recipes". It told you
all you ever wanted to know about Liquid Bluing, different kinds of
soap and how to make them such as: Soft Soaps, Hard Soaps with Lard,
Hard Soaps with Tallow, German Erasive or Yellow Soap, Transparent
Soap, Chemical Soft Soap, Windsor, or Toilet Soap, and Variegated
Toilet Soap. Almost every subject you can think of was covered in this
piece of a book. It included Fence PostsHow to prevent rotting, Meat
preservation (Pork, Beef and Mutton), Canning Fruits, Berries, and
Vegetables. It told you how to make cement, how to prevent weeds from
growing up in the sidewalks, how to exterminate rats and flies, the
art of catching fish, how to make straw hats, how to make plaster and
stucco, how to make paint with various colors. There was a section on
Grammar and Rhyme, Business Law, Disinfecting and Fumigation, How to
remove grease from cloths, floors and Books, Hints on spelling,
Weights and Measures, Rules for administering Medicines, Explanation
of Medical abbreviations, Explanation of Technical Terms Found in
Medical Works. There was a section on "Etiquette and Personal
Manners", "Amusements for the Young", and of
course it ended with the section on Bee-Keeping.
Now in the time it took me to read this almost 100 page portion of
probably a 700 page book I was privileged to learn more about every
thing than I had learned after earning a degree in Chemistry, working
as a research chemist in a paint factory, and obtaining a Medical
Degree. Just think, if I had found this complete book 65 years ago, I
would not have had to waste all that time going to school.
The portion of the book that I read was absolutely fascinating, and
now we are going to have to see if we can find the rest of the book,
which may not be easy. When we bought this house in March 1961, we got
it with all of the things in the house from the previous owner. Some
of that stuff we have never had time to investigate. In addition to
that my wife and I used to go to lots of sales and bought lots of
things. My father-in-law would have classified some of it as "Yunk".
Any way what ever we get never gets thrown away so that sort of
classifies us a "Pack Rats".
Well "Pack Rats" I guess we are, and can't deny it. A few
weeks ago I read in ABBY or ANN LANDERS that a male "Pack
Rat" was incurable. That is not a problem in this house because
we have Dominate Male Pack Rat who married a Dominate Female Pack Rat,
so who cares about a cure. Besides that, it is not our fault because
this is a genetic disease, we both got it from both of our parents and
all three of our children have been tainted. It is nice to know that
you have contributed some thing to humanity.
In a way I guess one could say that is sort of what being a
genealogist really is, a "Pack Rat" of family history, and
all the "Yunk" that goes with it.
See you Saturday 1-19-2002
Wayne
Secretary's report for the December 2001 meeting.
The MCG meeting convened on Sat. Dec. 15, 2001 at 9:00 AM in the
Community Room at Bannister Mall. President Wayne Boydston
preside. Other officers present were V. Pres. Ralph Stirlen,
Treasurer Lewis Hahn, Co-Secretary Mary Robinson, Program Co-chair
Judy Revare and Editor Don Bjuland. Visitors Included Ms. Pat
Mayer of Lee's Summit a former member of the group, Ray Culver of
Overland Park introduced himself as a prior inactive member of MCG.
During a brief business session, Judy Revare announced the upcoming
MCG program schedules, which are listed above under MCG programs.
The MCG editor asked that material for our newsletter be submitted on
a timely basis, preferably in the form of an email transmission, if
possible. Also Don reported that all current members of record
except seven now receive the MCG newsletter by a monthly e-mail.
The US mail is used to mail out the newsletter to those without e-mail
technology.
Judy Revare served as Facilitator of a fan "around the room"
period of Questions and Answers.
Q. Cannot find ancestors in U.S. Census, where to do further research?
A. Research special State Census data and Land Records for a
particular area and time period.
Q. What is a good software package to use for indexing self-published
genealogy using a desktop computer.
A. A quality Indexing software called "Sky-Index" is
available but is very costly. Try using the indexing feature of
word processor software such as M/S word or Word Perfect, provided
same software was used for the creation of the data to be indexed.
Q. Are inexpensive Digital Cameras costing $150 or less worth the cash
investment?
A. Not necessarily! A desirable camera to produce an acceptable
printed image should contain at least 3 Mega pixels to provide the
best photographic resolution for a printed image. An Olympus
Model C700 was recommended as well as some of the comparable models
made by Eastman Kodak Inc. These digital cameras usually retail
at a cost starting at $300.
Q. What brand Genealogy software is recommended and why?
A. There followed considerable discussion of the advantages and
disadvantages of the more commonly used genealogy software including
Family Origins, Family Tree Maker, The Master Genealogists, P.A.F, and
others. Judy Revare reported that the TMG software users group
meet as part of the Roots Users group, on the 3rd Thursday at 10:30 AM
at the Old Mission United Methodist Church, located in Fairway, KS
near the intersection of Johnson Drive and Mission Road. It was
also reported that the genealogy software PAF for Windows is now
available free of charge on electronic download via the internet, from
the Family History Center in Salt Lake City, UT. It was also
reported that this software, which requires a minimum of 4.5 Meg of
Hard drive is available on CD for PC's and can be purchased from the
FHC in Salt Lake for $5.00.
Q. Can electronically created and stored genealogy data be transferred
form one computer to another without the use of GEDCOM software?
A. Yes, there are several genealogy software programs that now permit
this transfer to be made with the use of GEDCOM. Would work for
similar genealogy software and if the file would fit on a disk or such
and such TMG would import other genealogy software file format.
Q. Are there "cyber laws" governing the use of proprietary
(originally created) genealogical data?
A. Yes, "cyber law is rapidly becoming a new area of concern,
especially since the popularity of the Internet. There was a
series of articles that were previously published in the Forum
Journal, which is published by the Federation of Genealogical
Societies (FGS)
Q. Regarding the use and cost of various services provided by area
telecable service providers?
A. It was reported that Road Runner a telecable service is currently
available at a monthly fee, including the use of a FAX modem.
Q. How can users of email and the Internet avoid infection their
computers with a Virus?
A. Keep updated Virus Detector software active on your computer's hard
drive. Or use a second hard drive or computer, exclusively for email
and Internet access.
Q. What software is used to back up data files that have been created?
A. Some members use a separate hard drive as a back up, while others
use external Zip drives or read/write CD's. Judy Revare reported that
she and Jack successfully use writable CDs to save or backup genealogy
data. It was recommended that computer genealogists not only
back up data files on a regular basis, but also that the register
files of the operating system be periodically backed up. It was
noted that IOMEGA drives are not compatible with many software
packages produced by Microsoft Corp. It was recommended that
Ghost software be used as a part of the Norton Utilities software
package. It was reported that this Norton Utilities package @$99
can now be purchase with a substantial rebate if purchased from
software retailers.
Q. Where in this metro area can genealogical resources be accessed
that focus primarily on colonial Virginia, Maryland, and Pennsylvania?
A. It was reported that the special collection of the former Study
Group led by the late Ann Balhuizen is now located the Beth Haven
Church in North Kansas City, MO. Persons wanting to access this
specialized collection of genealogical materials should contact the
Church Office, Marjorie Neuman, or Beverly Whitaker. Both Neuman and
Whitaker are residents of North KC and are long time members of the
former study group. Other resources on Colonial America are
available at many of th4e numerous genealogical collections available
for public access in this metro area and the Central Plains Region of
the National Archives.
Reported by Ivan Waite, MCG Co-secretary.
Bill Hawkins has requested the following in the newsletter again this
month.
Requested format for submitting SURNAMES. Required information
Your last name______________ First name____________ E-mail
address_____________ Phone #___________
Surname #1______________
State/Co./Date_____________ (event you are looking for or known fact)
Optional information Birth_____ Marriage______ Living_____
Other________
May submit unlimited number of Surnames.
Will only give out your last name, email, Phone # Surnames
submitted will be included in the MCG not-for-profit Genealogy Date
Bank
Prefer you submit by e-mail. To bihawk@earthlink.net
Snail mail
Bill Hawkins
5436 Flint
Shawnee, Kansas 66203
URL's for some maps site that I got from an email list and I have
looked a bit at the first site and it will open to the state of
Minnesota with links to other states. Looked at the first one
and didn't look to hot as it only had the big towns on it and would
not find the little village of Perley. Also they liked to throw
out a lot of advertising for things you won. http://www.sitesatlas.com/Maps/Maps/122.htm
More state maps at http://www.sitesatlas.com/Maps/Maps/usstates.htm.
Here is a genealogy search site that I have looked at but not sure
what I am doing with it. It is fast to come up with things would
anyone like to try it out and give a report on it worth. http://www.geneaseek.org
.
Here is a site that seems to have a lot of information on it on many
subjects I tried to download a file to use on Excel as a chart but
didn't get it to work as I didn't use win-zip on it yet. http://www.hvcn.org/info/gswc/tools.htm.
The subject of spam brought these two pieces of advise to my computer.
1. Don't respond, just delete.
Norway, and its people, are worked hard to transcribe and make
available on-line, for those who are researching their families,
Census, Immigration, Tax charts, Maps, Baptism, Ships protocol
records. I can remember only a short time ago, that these
records were not available to anyone, except those who went directly
to the Oslo library, or could order some thru the LDS library.
Have to put in a joke for your humor that I got off a email
list.
..
Two brooms were hanging in the closet, after a while they got to know
each other so well so they decided to get married. One broom was, of
course, the bride broom...and the other the groom broom.
The bride broom looked very beautiful in her white dress. The
groom broom was handsome and suave in his tuxedo. The wedding
was lovely.
Afterward, at the wedding dinner, the bride broom leaned over and said
to the groom broom, "I think I am going to have a little whisk
broom!!!"
"IMPOSSIBLE!" said the groom broom, "because. (Are you
ready for this!!?)
(Brace yourself; this is going to hurt....(Really bad...)
"... we haven't even swept together!!!"
Here is a short poem sent to me quite a few months ago from J. Suman
that I have just got around to using. Been slow getting to use
this email format.
My Forgetter
My forgetter's getting better
But my rememberer is broke
to you that may seem funny
but, to me, that is no joke
For when I'm "here" I'm wondering
If I really should be "there"
And, when I try to think it through,
I haven't got a prayer!
Oft times I walk into a room,
Say "what am I here for?"
I wrack my brain, but all in vain
A zero, is my score.
At times I put something away
Where it is safe, but, Gee!
The person it is safest from
Is, generally, me!
When shopping I may see someone,
Say "Hi" and have a chat,
Then, when the person walks away
I ask myself, "who the heck was that?"
Yes, my forgetter's getting better
While my rememberer is broke,
And it's driving me plumb crazy
And that isn't any joke.
CAN YOU RELATE???
I don't remember who I sent this to..........
The following is comments I got off of an email list that may interest
a lot of people. I have not edited the message at all.
Found also working for a telephone it does sound reasonable to believe
that it is close to the truth.
As a "heads-up" to the rest of you, as a former laid-off (surplused)
employee of eight years with AT&T and another 1-1/2 years with US
West, (now Qwest), I can assure you that the vast majority of
Americans don't qualify for DSL service due to distance limitations of
DSL. (Digital Subscriber Line) As a result, many people have installed
a 2nd phone line strictly for their Internet dial-up modems.
Myself included, I had installed a 2nd line five years ago for my
modem so that I could still receive calls on the home phone. Works
great with LOTS of limitations. Phone companies like everyone
else, will deliver services at the cheapest possible method, thereby
maximizing their profits. US West (now Qwest) did so with me, by
providing the 2nd line by way of a "UDC", a "universal
digital connection". In layman's terms, a "UDC"
is simply a line splitter, thereby spinning off another 2nd dial tone
without the expense of stringing another separate copper pair wire off
the service pole down to the house. The UDC, by splitting the line,
also splits the bandwidth as well. Soooo....boys and girls, the
maximum speed I can get is only 28,800 bps TOPS!!! To make matters
even worse, the UDC is completely incompatible with DSL service, which
requires a "clean copper pair", that is to say, no UDC's, no
load coils, no line amplifiers, no NUTHIN!!! Soooo....when some people
live way out in the tooleys (beyond 3 miles from their central office)
they're just outta luck for DSL. And to add insult to injury, for
those people who have a 2nd line for their modem by way of a UDC are
simply stuck with them. US West, now Qwest, in their infinite
wisdom, have made an edict, a mandate, that since they cannot charge
the customer to remove a UDC by tariff, they will not under any
circumstance, remove a UDC in favor of a "clean copper
pair". By simply canceling my 2nd line, US West will simply
turn it off, not bothering to physically come out and remove the UDC.
It still leaves the first line's bandwidth cut in half. They say it
simply costs too much to send out a technician to do it. Even
complaining to the Public Utility Commissioner does no good. They only
care that the customer has "dial-tone". How it's provided
doesn't matter at all. Soooo....for those of you out there who
have two lines, one provided by a UDC, well....your stuck! Don't even
dream of getting DSL. I know, I was the one who provided the service
& sold the DSL to customers until being laid-off in November.
A lot of people are being taken in the message Virus on your hard
drive and it goes on telling them how to search their hard drive and
take off the sulfnbk.exe which the message says is a virus but the
file is actually a part of the windows installation package.
Don't know how many times I have gotten this message up to now.
Most of those who pass it on I know and they have actually followed
the directions and deleted the file. Yes it is in the editor
files and it shows it was installed when the rest of the windows files
were put on. I have also had messages on several other viruses
going around but will not include them here, as they are lengthy. It
is funny how people seem to enjoy dreaming up things to hurt other
people. Too bad they don't use their creative abilities to do
useful work that would help others in these times of perils.
Contact members of the group are as follows:
President---------Wayne Boydston
816-230-3140 odessssadoc@juno.com
Vice President----Ralph Stirlen
---816-532-0229 rstirlen@swbell.net
Co-sec------------Ivan Waite
------816-318-0892 ilwait@earthlink.net
Co-sec------------Mary
Robison-----913-384-3339 MHRobinson@aol.com
Program chair-----Judy Revare------913-491-1768
judy@revare.com
Treasurer---------Lewis P. Hahn
---913-631-7998 lewhahn@giv.net
Group dues are $12 a year and the year runs from June 30th to July 1st
of the following year. New member dues are prorated at a dollar
a month for balance of club year remaining.
Will close this down for now and get it on the road to all you eager
readers.
Don Bjuland (editor) dbjuland@worldnet.att.net
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