My primary purpose in attending that conference was to hear from James Tanner, the Chairman of the Board for The Family History Guide.\u00a0 He and his wife Ann, also a Family History Guide Board Member, were there and he gave a wonderful introduction to many who were learning about The Family History Guide for the first time.\u00a0 I absolutely love to see people’s first reactions to this ‘good news’ website.\u00a0 The first reaction is astonishment and excitement as the presentation unfolds. The last comment is usually, “Why didn’t I know about this before?”\u00a0 If you love the Family History Guide as we do, please share it with others.<\/p>\n
One thing James said is that if he had had The Family History Guide years ago it would have taken 15 years off the time it took him to learn the information he needed to be effective as a genealogist and family historian.\u00a0 That was impressive for sure!<\/p>\n
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The second thing we came to Utah for was to attend our weekly management meeting that I usually attend via conference calling. It was a sheer delight to be here with this wonderful and talented group of people.\u00a0 This one hour alone was worth the 12 hour drive to get here.<\/p>\n
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Today I have been in The Family History Library in Salt Lake City all day attending another Family History Fair for the Salt Lake Stake.\u00a0 Today I met one of the best teachers around and talk with her at length. Kathryn Grant, from the BYU Family History Library Webinar series gave a presentation on Zoning For Indexing that was very powerful.<\/p>\n
Then the best thing of all, was watching Bob Taylor, CEO of The Family History Guide<\/a> talk about the introduction to The Family History Guide and the Training with The Family History Guide.\u00a0 There is something so exhilarating about watching the creator of something so good, talk passionately about his work.\u00a0 His enthusiasm and his humility are both contagious and inspiring. He is such a great leader in that way, he just goes forward each day, along with Bob Ives, as they work hard to accomplish this seemingly impossible task of bringing this amazing tool to the whole world.\u00a0 They are so determined and focused I have no doubt this is going to continue\u00a0 happening to grow in a very big way.<\/p>\n There is nothing better out there to accomplish what The Family History Guide is doing!\u00a0 It is helping all of us to be more involved in this great work.\u00a0 It is helping us to do our research more effectively, more efficiently, and with more enjoyment.<\/p>\n To the trainers and consultants he said one of the most profound things about helping others.\u00a0 \u00a0“Focus on teaching independent learning.\u00a0 You do not need to be the Library; you need to be the librarian.”<\/p>\n You don’t have to know everything you just need to point the way to finding the answers people seek.\u00a0 With the Family History Guide you can eventually set people free from thinking that you are their personal genealogist.\u00a0 What they used to learn at someone’s elbow over and over again, can now be taught with training in using The Family History Guide.\u00a0 When they learn to be more independent they can really soar to greater successes.\u00a0 We are always willing to help, but we should not do everything for them.\u00a0 Once they have built a firm foundation for how to do this work, they will begin to have their own success.\u00a0They will be so much happier.\u00a0 So will you, because then you can go on to the next person who needs to be guided.\u00a0 Check out The Family History Guide<\/a> and see for yourself!<\/p>\n \n