News from “Ask Granny”©
20 January 2014
Judith F. Russell and Gregory L. Crane
ask.granny.us@gmail.com

I hope that this newsletter finds everyone in good health and in planning mode for some 2014 “Ask Granny”© seminars.  January has presented us with some Weather Challenges here in Georgia and I think it is the same for our Granny chapters all over the world -- North and South hemispheres!

Whatever your weather now, Greg and I are wishing you a wonderful New Year.

Please feel free to forward this email with my contact information to anyone who might be interested in getting the free materials to set up programs for their senior citizen clubs, church or synagogue groups, family reunions, and genealogical societies.

I will be publishing this newsletter also at our newly-established “newsfromaskgranny” blog:

http://newsfromaskgranny.blogspot.com/

Here’s what’s been happening since our last Newsletter

• “Granny” was surprised and just about overwhelmed by the incredible response to a small item submitted to the Genealogical Librarians Listserv in May 2013.  We emailed 125 sets of our .pdf files to librarians around the country. As you will see below, we have already gotten some very good responses and reports from them.

We encourage all of the librarians who received the files to keep a set available for your patrons,   too.  You probably very frequently deal with patrons who are preparing for family events and the files could be very useful to them.  Also, please distribute our contact info to those who might be interested:   ask.granny.us@gmail.com

• Judy presented the basic “Ask Granny”© program to two workshop sessions for attendees of the State of Georgia Retirees Association in Athens, GA in August.  The session was entitled “Preserving your Past and Protecting your Future.”  An attorney spoke about protecting financial assets and I spoke about protecting memories.  It was a fun idea and we’ve gotten some great feedback and interest in presenting sessions thoughout the state.

• Judy and Greg are currently working with the National Council of the New Zealand Genealogical Society to possibly set up and “Ask Granny” program to be made available to all 92 local chapters.

Reports from “Granny” seminars around the world.

We love hearing your reports and seeing the photos.  If you give us permission along with the reports and photos, we would very much like to share with our newsletter readers.  So, please, when you send your reports, and when you do, include your permission to share and to share the photos.

MAP:

Ask Granny was a great hit with the Soul Survivors in Spartanburg, SC. Congratulations on the honors associated with the program!

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SR:

Hope, British Columbia, Canada

On Friday, February 3rd I did my first "Ask Granny" session with sixteen in attendance and there are six on the waiting list.

It went very well and what was so wonderful, and surprising, were the questions that were asked as the morning progressed. Not only did those in attendance learn how to complete the chart but we all learned lots of new things as questions were answered. Thought you might enjoy this one.... What do I put for the "cemetery" for my mother?.... My mother was cremated and her ashes are in my closet. She wanted her ashes sprinkled in the same spot as we had sprinkled my father but I've kept the ashes too long and now this spot is a subdivision. What do I do with her ashes? Glad there were lots of us with suggestions and I wasn't put on the spot to deliver the only answer!

I would like to thank you both for the work you put into designing the program and for your kindness in sharing the program.

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BM:

Hudson County Genealogical & Historical Society

Secaucus, New Jersey, Public Library.

News story from Hoboken:

http://www.nj.com/hobokennow/index.ssf/2012/02/ask_granny_aids_in_starting_st.html

VM:

Willow Valley (Pennsylvania) Retirement Community Genealogy Club.

I just completed a three session Ask Granny Seminar using your material at Willow Valley Retirement Community.It was huge success.

We had 16 students (more than you recommend but it worked out okay). As training chair for our Genealogy Club, I presented the seminar and was assisted by 4-5 club members who helped individual students. I developed three Power Point presentations to use in the seminar. The first two sessions covered the Ancestral Chart and the Family Group Record. The third session was "Where Do We Go From Here?" and introduced research plans and computers.

Most of the students have decided to continue their family search and we are assigning experienced genealogists to mentor them.

Thanks for your development of Ask Granny. It served as a jump start to our training program.

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MC :

Archives Technician / Hinton Municipal Library

Town of Hinton | Gateway to the Rockies

I just wanted to let you know that I conducted my seminar on Friday, here in Hinton, Alberta, Canada. Although, I only had three attend, they were very enthusiastic and have requested to get together again to do some more work! A neighbor of one of the ladies tells me she has two friends she wants to bring next time.

We had interesting conversations....which you had told me happens!

They all thanked me immensely...I had fun and so did they, so I guess wecan call it a success, right? Thank you again for giving me permission to use your materials.

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BB:

Chenoweth Family Association

Winchester, Virginia,

July 26-29, 2012

Hi Judith,

Just wanted to report on the Ask Granny presentation I gave last week (July 26, 2012) at our bi-annual reunion in Winchester, Virginia, and give you a picture of some of the attendees at work filling out their information. There were about 70 attendees present when this was done. Several told me that they had done their pedigree charts, but some hadn't and decided that they really should and that it was a good idea.

My husband and I made transparencies of about a half dozen sheets and put them on an overhead projector. My husband and I transferred some of the sheets to a flash drive and then had them printed at a local Kinkos. We then collated and stuffed the papers in folders and donated the entire project along with a sharpened pencil for everyone. I was given a little over an hour. We have a few folders left over, and I hope to use them at our SIG genealogy group meeting later this month. I took the NGS publication with your original article and told them what you two were trying to accomplish.

One of the women told me afterwards that she thought she had heard you before. People came from all over the US. Many ages were represented. One lady in the front row (4th from left) is 92 years old.

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MHL:

Hurst Reunion, on Sunday 3 July 2012, in Pekin, Indiana.

Hi. Just to let you know about the Ask Granny class I gave at our Hurst Reunion, on Sunday 3 July 2012, in Pekin, Indiana.

I was able to obtain the red folders at a Staples for 25 cents each (on sale) and print up 12 sets of student files, for a total of about $25 American. I gave out my 13th set to a granddaughter after the reunion, so I actually had 13 sets, all of which were used.

The presentation was well received, and all of us had a good time. I didn't think about pictures at the time, so I don't have any of the students or me. We posted a family tree on one wall, and I have a photo, in front of it, of a grand nephew and me talking about his origins. He was impressed to find out that we are descendants of the Ball family, through our great-great grandmother Lucretia Hackley. George Washington's mother was Mary Ball. We have common ancestors, William Ball and wife Hannah Atherold. I didn't get his mother's permission to send it out, sorry.

Thank you for the help with files to use.

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JD:

Griswold Senior Center, Worthington, OH on November 2, 2012 & November 16, 2012

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PML:

L-AGS officers and members presented an Ask Granny ©© workshop to 18 residents at Heritage Estates Livermore, CA

Many thanks to L-AGS members Phyllis Rothrock, Marilyn Cutting, Anne Les, Mary Dillon, Cathleen Cordova, Helen, Gallagher and Maureen Johnston, Activities Director at Heritage Estates, all of whom individually assisted the participants.

The materials were developed by Judith F. Russell and Gregory L. Crane, Bogart, Georgia.

Some of the participating residents came with charts and other information previously provided to them by other family members.

The participating residents were particularly thankful that they were able to retain their completed charts.

A few of the residents who still drive their cars expressed interest in pursuing their genealogy at the Pleasanton Library.

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JH:

Hon. Secretary.

Wagga Wagga & District Family History Society

N.S.W., Australia

At last we have begun our "Ask Granny" workshops. 2 were held in February, 1 with a local Over 50's Lifestyle Village, and 1 with the local School for Seniors. Both were well attended (20+ people at each) and everyone seemed to enjoy themselves.

We are conducting a follow-up next month at the first venue, have another enquiry to follow up, and are hoping for more interest

in the future.

Thank you for your original ideas and support.

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RFpresident

San Ramon Valley Genealogical Society

Moraga Royale in  Moraga, Contra Costa County, CA on May 23rd.

As can be seen from the photographs some of the residents were very interested.

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Lebanon, IN

JLH:

Librarian Specialist

Lebanon Public Library

Hello Judy,

I just wanted you to know I will present the "Ask Granny" workshop to our local [Lebanon, IN] genealogical society in October for National Family History Month. My goal is for members to take the program to their churches, senior centers, etc. I plan to conduct a workshop for seniors here, in my library and I hope to do some outreach programs as well.

It is a wonderful program and I can't thank-you enough for sharing it with us!

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