It’s been a really fun two weeks working on the various challenges. Now it’s time for me to tally up my medal count. I didn’t always have a chance to blog about every single thing that I participated in, but I have summarized the tasks throughout the two weeks. Without further ado…
1. Go Back and Cite Your Sources
Completed:
50 Citations
Hope to earn Silver. Medal Earned: Platinum
2. Back Up Your Data
Completed:
Task C–Back up your data to a flash drive. I backed up all my genealogy databases, documents, and photographs to my flash drive.
Hope to earn Plantinum. Medal Earned: Gold
3. Organize Your Research
Completed:
Task A: Organize at least 2o hard files and file them into binders-I filed 77 sheets of paper in my family binders)
Task B: Organize at least 20 digital files into folder, etc.-I created several family folders on my computer and sorted 50 documents into the appropriate family’s folder)
Task E: Create at least 20 data entries-I input all of the names from the 1937 city directory pages that I had copies of)
Hoped to earn Diamond. Medal earned: Gold
4. Expand Your Knowledge
Completed:
Task A: Use Google Maps to map out an ancestral location. I mapped out the house my Grandmother lived in as a child.
Task B: Create a timeline related to one line of research. I used TimeToast and created a timeline for my Great Grandmother, Maria (de Braga) Pacheco Smith.
Task C: Create a memorial page at footnote.com. I created pages for Thomas Jones and Margaret Kelly and linked them to their children.
Task E: Create a surname visualization. I wasted far too much time and created a surname Wordle.
Hoped to earn: Diamond. Medal Earned: Diamond
5. Write, Write, Write
Completed:
Task B: Participate in a genealogy carnival. I wrote an entry about my Tante Marie for the upcoming Smile for the Camera carnival.
Task C: Prepare several posts in draft mode and pre-publish them. I have 12 posts ready and waiting.
Task D: Write a brief biographical sketch about an ancestor. I wrote about my Great Great Grandfather, Jacintho Pacheco.
Task E: Create a page on your blog about your surnames, etc. I created two pages. One for my Azorean Roots and one for my Jones Jackson line.
Task F: Participate in a 52 Weeks to Better Genealogy challenge. I participated in the Google Maps challenge. I also fooled around with a couple of the new feature in Google Maps Labs.
Hoped to earn: Diamond Medal earned: Platinum
6. Reach Out and Perform Genealogical Acts of Kindness
Task A: Comment on a new to you genealogy blog. I commented on the My Big Fat Cajun Irish Scottish English German French Southern Family.
Task B: Post one or more gravestone photos at Find A Grave. I created a new cemetery, Kilauea Catholic Cemetery, and added two tombstone photos.
Task D: Assist another researcher with a request or lookup. I researched the West surname of Wisconsin and Minnesota for friend from a reading forum. I was able to take her family from 1930 to the mid 1880s.
Task E: Participate in an indexing project. I added four new ship indexes to my yourislandroutes.com website.
Task G: Use the Follow feature on Blogger based genealogy blogs. I am now following 3 blogs.
Task E: Create at least 20 data entries into your database
Hoped to earn: Gold Medal earned: Plantinum
I am very happy with the results. In some categories, I earned a lesser medal than I was reaching for. In others, I earned a higher medal than I had hoped for. I worked on every single category of the challenge, so I think it all comes out very even.
Thanks to those who created the Winter Genea Blogger Games. I needed the kick in the butt to get myself motivated again. I certainly turned out more work in the last two weeks than I’ve done all year.
Now to wait for 2012. I hope I accomplish more of my goals before then 😉
