DDOS, sync'ing FTM and other genealogy subjects

Diagram of Stachledraht attack (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

The DDOS at Ancestry is behind us....almost.  I was still having sync problems and the solution was to delete one and upload or download the remaining file to create a new replacement, a strategy that didn't exactly hold my interest.  It's my "master" file which, today, has 40,004 individuals, countless photos and even more documents, notes and everything else you can thing of.

For those who are wondering, I un-linked my tree this morning, re-uploaded FTM to Ancestry and I now have a new "sync-able" data base, with a name that ends in "(1)". 

So from here, I'm going to re-invite all my previous guests and see who stays and who goes.  It's like this blog.  I tried to make a shift from one service to the other and lost 3/4 of the content. I guess that means it's time for a fresh start in a lot of areas.

The only other thought that's on my mind tonight is my schedule.  It has slowly crept up on me.  For the first time, I had a minor panic attack thinking that as I was sitting here in my office I was supposed to be somewhere teaching something to someone!

Well, don't worry!  It's next week, not this week.  The rest of July has a few "engagements" but then August, September and October will be the busiest I've ever been. The Yellow House Center of Community Learning, Hitchcock Free Academy, Wistariahurst, 4 public libraries and a few other locations!  On top of that, in response to "popular demand", I'm putting together an advanced genealogy program which I think will be 5 or 6 sessions in all.  Should be interesting!

The big announcement for me is coming up in the spring.  I'll get the details and post about that later.

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Genealogy and Family Research - Agawam Public Library

Today I'm taking Old Bones Genealogy and Family Research of New England to day 1 of "Genealogy and Family Research", a course I'm conducting at the Agawam Public Library (APL) in Agawam, MA.

[Under the category of useless information, you need to know that Agawam has the first ZIP code in continental US, 01001. OK, back to genealogy.]

The Adult Programming Coordinator at APL contacted the Western Massachusetts Genealogical Society (WMGS) to find someone who could put together a genealogy program for the library. I'm a member and the Treasurer of WMGS so this one was an easy referral! They were pretty much wide open as to the content and requested 6 sessions, one per week. No problem. I have many presentations prepared for a variety of venues from single "lectures" to 3, 4, 5 and now 6 week programs. Some have been relatively small groups while others have consisted of up to 60 participants. Large groups are actually less fun than the smaller, more intimate groups. We all have fun and learn alot anyway.

The Agawam program will be quickly followed up with a 4 week program at the Wilbraham Public Library and 2 5-week programs at the Yellow House Community Center for Learning in Palmer, MA. I've been asked back to the Hitchcock Free Academy in Brimfield, MA in the fall. Ironically, one of my ancestors founded the Hitchcock Free Academy in 1849. He was a wealthy businessman who was interested in the education of the children in his home town who otherwise might not get a chance to go to school for very long. I have to tell you, though...It's no longer free!

Finally, I'll be using the program to run a fund raiser for the First Church in Ludlow which is in, well, Ludlow, MA. This will be the 4th fundraiser I've done for them. Again, I have an ancestor associated with this organization. My 4th cousin 6 times removed was the first minister there. According to the history of the congregation, they began conducting services in the homes of the membership back in 1774.

There's more, but I'll have to wait and post later...Class starts at 10 AM!

Visit www.oldbones.co

Also, I've taken to using dave@oldbones.info as so many people thought I had left of the "m" on the email address. It all has to do with what the domain cost me way back when: oldbones.com was $4500 while oldbones.co was free...

Busy Schedule

This summer, I've lined up a fairly busy schedule. I've been asked back to 5 locations to conduct more classes on "Introduction to Genealogy". Yellow House Center for Community Learning, Hitchcock Free Academy, Wilbraham and Chicopee Public Libraries and now the Agawam Public Library. I'll also have a 4th series of sessions at the First Church in Ludlow.

On a whim, I sent an e-mail to the local TV station. They run a daily program called "Mass Appeal". They have a multitude of guests on all sorts of subject from home improvement, gardening, car repair, books...a broad spectrum of interests. I figure that genealogy is just as interesting! I told them that genealogy has "Mass Appeal" which happens to be the name of their show... We'll see!