ThinkGenealogy Mission Statement - Draft #1

Thursday, 29 May 2008 | by Mark Tucker

Our first peer-reviewed assignment for the ProGen Study Group was to write a draft of our mission statement. Since I am not currently looking to hire myself out for research, I thought that I would create a mission statement for the ThinkGenealogy site:

To provide a community gathering place where those who use genealogy software (beginner to expert, professional, or credentialed) and those who create it (designer, developer, or entrepreneur) share ideas, focus on user experience design and innovate.

I consider this my first draft and expect to tweak it (or completely revamp it) over the coming months.

One of my peers asked some follow-up questions about this community idea and I responded as follows:

Since, currently ThinkGenealogy is a blog it is more one-way with me sharing my ideas and occasionally readers making comments. I would like the site to become more like a forum or community site where people register and share their own ideas. Others could rate (0-5 stars) how well they liked an idea or take the idea and expand upon it. We would be able to see the best ideas rise to the top and give credit to those who share the most. We could make an effort to have all types of people in the genealogy software community represented. We could also track ideas that make it into software.

At least these are the ideas that are swimming around in my head. What is your feeling? Would you join such a community? Do you see it as a way to make a difference? Any ideas on what you think a community site such as this needs?

ThinkGenealogy will be 1 year old in July and is already having an impact in the genealogy community. I am optimistic that it can be so much more. To make ThinkGenealogy into a community site will take some time and effort. Before I take the needed steps, it would be helpful to know if there is enough interest. Like a protective parent, I am a little cautious about opening this up for comments. What if nobody is interested in a genealogy community of thinkers? Maybe it would be better not to ask. There is a part of me that just wants to do like in the movie, Field of Dreams: If you build it, they will come.

I am going to go ahead and ask the questions and see what kind of feedback I get.

Would you join and be active in the ThinkGenealogy community described in the mission statement?
What would the community need to do to be successful?

You can either comment to this post or send me an e-mail (mail at thinkgenealogy dot com). If you would be so kind as to include any of the following tags that apply to you (or others that you see as important), I can get a better idea of who is interested and who is not:

15 Comments »

Hi Mark,

I like the idea of a forum with ratings and such. I would join and actively participate in it.

My tags are

Genealogist
Family Historian
Intermediate
Transitional Genealogist
NGS Member
Member of local society
Blogger.

For a community like this to be successful, there will have to be a critical mass of contributors, not just readers, from all levels of research ability and interests. Your tag list is a good start. Ideally, you want many of each type. There would have to be a commitment similar to the TGF and ProGen study groups, but perhaps without the formal chat times and assignment deadlines.

There are millions of genealogists out there … the problem is leading them into a forum like you suggest and having them participate. Unfortunately, there are probably only several thousand who even read a genealogy blog on a regular basis, and even fewer who respond or comment to anything on a blog or forum.

I don’t mean to be pessimistic, but It may be difficult to keep going, unless you get a critical mass of contributors - I would guess hundreds if not a thousand or more.

Regards — Randy

Comment by Randy Seaver — 29 May 2008 @ 11:11 am
Mark,

I’ve been reading your blog with great interest, and I think that your idea is a good one. With all of the changes (or revolutions) going on in the technology and computing world, I think the field of genealogy is crying out for a forum devoted to envisioning the future of how computers and genealogy will intersect. I suppose I am looking at it somewhat broader than just software, but also the web and mobile computing as well… as I see software, the net and devices becoming more and more intertwined in terms of use and functionality. I would certainly be interested in following such a community, and contributing as was appropriate.

Here are my tags, as per your request:

Genealogist
Family Historian
Intermediate
Association of Professional Genealogists (APG) member
National Genealogical Society (NGS) member
Local genealogical society member
Blogger
Author

-Jennifer

Comment by Jennifer Regan — 29 May 2008 @ 2:43 pm
I think this is a great idea too, any sites that help us with questions and research is wonderful. I have found in the many years that I have been doing research the genealogy community is one of the most helpful lot of people ever and they love to help others in their research as well.

sounds great, keep up the good work and keep it coming. would love to join.

Beth

Comment by Beth — 29 May 2008 @ 5:12 pm
Mark, I think this is an excellent idea.

I forewarn you that it can take a long time to build the kind of community you envision so you will need patience above all else. On the other hand, I’ve seen some community projects become overnight successes so you must be equally prepared for that possibility. Either way, you can count on me to throw in 3 or 4 cents worth every now and again. I don’t create software but I use my fair share of it, and suggestions I have.

Comment by Lee Anders — 29 May 2008 @ 7:27 pm
Oops! Forgot to add my keywords:

Genealogist
Family Historian
Intermediate
Professional (paid)
Professional (non-paid)
Transitional Genealogist
National Genealogical Society (NGS) member
Entrepreneur
Podcaster (a future goal of mine)
Blogger

Comment by Lee Anders — 29 May 2008 @ 7:30 pm
This sounds like a good idea. Any help would be appreciated.
The tags from the others are a lot more experienced than myself. I have many brick walls that I can’t get through.
Will this be a members only site?
Rose

beginner/Intermediate

Comment by Rose — 30 May 2008 @ 4:13 am
I just learned of this blog today from your posting on Roots msg board. Have been looking for software or site that will allow collaboration of data with others. My Jackson site has become too big for me to handle by myself.

tag: intermediate

Comment by Janie — 30 May 2008 @ 8:52 am
Mark,

I am extremely technology challenged however, i have used just about every genealogy software program out there and I can tell you what I would like to have in a program. I don’t know if some of the ideas I have are feasible or not but a girl can only dream!. I would participate with my thoughts and ideas.

I like to think the same as you …..”If you build it…”

Sheri Fenley
tag:
Genealogist
Family Historian
Intermediate
Professional (paid)
Professional (non-paid)
Transitional Genealogist
National Genealogical Society (NGS) member
Local genealogical society member

Comment by Sheri Fenley — 30 May 2008 @ 1:30 pm
All those American titles aren’t real titles, just things you get for paying a membership fee, and a great way to alienate the international community. My feeling is simple: either show some real credentials from a recognized University or something or be mature enough to admit you have none, and genealogy is just a hobby.

Comment by Bert Langen — 31 May 2008 @ 10:45 am
Don’t mean to alienate the international community. Please add your own tags.

Bert, so are you interested in such a community or not?

Comment by Mark Tucker — 31 May 2008 @ 8:18 pm
Mark, Yours is a noble cause. And I will be happy to join you in your effort to create such a community. I make limited use of genealogy software and genealogy research services (Heritage Online free through my library and a new subscription to Ancestry.com) and this weekend have joined my first genealogical society. But I would like to see the HOGS Bloggers represented in your community of workers.
Terry Thornton
Hill Country of Monroe County, Mississippi (blog)

TAGS:
Family Historian
Beginner
Member of local society
Blogger
Newspaper columnist

Comment by Terry Thornton — 1 Jun 2008 @ 5:23 pm
Here are my tags

Member of the local History Club
Professional Certified Registered Genealogist (I paid myself a fee)
Fellow of the Flat Earth Society
Master of the Universe
Savior of the Human Race
Architect of the Future
CEO of Earth Inc

Bert Langen, HC, PCRG, FFES, MU, SHR, AF, CEO, Earth Inc (Senior)

Comment by Bert Langen — 3 Jun 2008 @ 1:18 am
I think this is a great idea and I hope that this will actually form and have impact on the future development of genealogically-relevant information technology.

Genealogist
Family Historian
Intermediate
Information Architect
Blogger
Librarian

Comment by Steven M Law — 3 Jun 2008 @ 9:41 am
Mark,

Like the idea and certainly interested in contributing to the community you have visioned.

Genealogist
Intermediate
User Experience Designer
Software Developer
Software Tester
Blogger

Comment by Jeffery Fernandez — 7 Jun 2008 @ 7:39 am
Genealogist
Professional (paid)
Association of Professional Genealogists (APG) member
National Genealogical Society (NGS) member
Local genealogical society member
Software Tester
Entrepreneur
Specialty in Land Records; computer-generated plats on modern topographical and aerial maps, both Federal township and Southern land system (metes and bounds)

Comment by Rondina P. Muncy — 18 Sep 2008 @ 10:37 am

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