An often overlooked, but vitally important part, of genealogical research is the ability to find and connect with living relatives. Sometime, living kin can be almost as difficult to find as some ancestors. Why hunt down living relatives at all? Here are just a few reasons:
- Find the keepers of family photos, heirlooms, bible, and other pertinent sources of information
- Collaborate on research
- Uncover living stories which may help lead to uncovering the past
- Plan and include others in family reunions
- Maximize genetic input into a family DNA project
- Simply, to connect with living family
Whatever the reason, and we will assume here it is for research and not financial gain, finding the living can take some investigative effort. To help guide the family historian along the path to the living, Megan Smolenyak presented Reverse Genealogy: Finding The Living, to an online audience on xxxx. The Legacy Family Tree sponsored webinar was preserved on CD, so viewers can watch the video presentation again and again on any computer, with or without and Internet Connection.
Web seminars, or “Webinars,” have quickly become one of the most popular ways for professionals and companies to share information with large groups of individuals from across the country, or even around the world, without the high cost of travel. Webinars are just like seminars. A large group of “attendees” can come and watch a presentation at a given time. Webinars are nice, since they are usually recorded and can be watched again at a later time. The only real downside to webinars is the video stream can be slow for some people. Depending in large part on the viewer’s own personal Internet connection speed, video may or may not play well. The age of a person’s computer may also contribute to slow playback. To counter these playback problems, some individuals and companies offer the option to buy their webinars on CD. CD’s offer the opportunity to play these webinars on almost any computer at anytime, without the worry of connection issues.
Through this seminar, learn to become “part genealogists and part investigator.” Smolenyak covers techniques for tracing 20th and 21st century friends and relatives. The presentation CD includes a link to a four-page handout. An active Internet connection is needed to download the handout.
About Megan Smolenyak:
“Megan Smolenyak Smolenyak (yes, that’s her real name) is a genealogical adventurer who loves solving mysteries, making unexpected discoveries and pushing the boundaries of conventional genealogy.
A popular writer, speaker and TV guest, Megan has appeared on Good Morning America, the Today Show, the Early Show, CNN, NPR and BBC. In addition to consulting on shows ranging from Who Do You Think You Are? to Top Chef, she is the author of six books, a Huffington Post contributor, a cold case researcher for the Army, NCIS and the FBI, and former Chief Family Historian and spokesperson for Ancestry.com.”
Viewer comments about this presentation:
- “Absolutely the most fascinating and source filled webinar. I loved it and as others have stated….I wish I could have listened to her all day. Excellent..I have never heard her speak before and consider that definitely my loss. Will certainly sign up for whatever she might be speaking about in the future.
- This is the best speaker I have ever heard! She is so professional, witty, and charming and really knows her stuff! I would have listened for hours. Thanks Megan – you are outstanding!
- Excellent!!! Lots of great info, well-presented! I’ve attended Megan’s lectures at confs — she never disappoints!
- I could’ve listened to her all day! She was absolutely wonderful. So much information and everything so simple that even a person like me that’s a beginner received so much help.
- I expected this to be great since I have read “Who Do You Think You Are” and it was much more than I expected. Thanks so much.
- I loved Megan’s technique of going backward to go forward. And her graph was very helpful — showing the zigzag btw past and present.
- Included a lot of things I had already known about, but many, many more that I hadn’t. And Megan’s tips were great! I can hardly wait to start my reverse genealogy again!!
- Love the amount of information, the organization, and the speed delivered. Best presentation I’ve seen!
- One of the best webinars yet! I’m already counting the days until Megan’s next one!
- What a privillege to hear her…my first time!!! Wow!!!!!
- Exceptional. You guys keep toping yourselves each seminar. Selfishly, your seminars are the best kept secret. ……but I keep telling new genealogists Legacy is the smart way to go!!!
- WOW… WHAT A TERRIFIC SEMINAR! I learned so much. Thank You very much for all this wonderful info/sites, etc. I intend to share this with relatives and friends. I’m getting more and more excited about Genealogy. You make it fun and adventuresome.”
Get your own copy of Reverse Genealogy: Finding The Living from Family Roots Publishing; Price: $12.69. Enjoy the presentation again and again on your own computer.