These
are uncomplicated lookups, where the request has the information - such as correct
and accurate names, dates of birth, death and location person may have lived,
you need to complete the query without in-depth research and time involved.
Why are volunteers
needed?
- People live out of county, state or country.
- Maybe they can’t drive
- Age or illness prevents them from traveling
- They may be new to genealogy and reaching out for
help.
- Genealogy road blocks
These
are just a few of the reasons, please reach out to a volunteer.
What
does a volunteer do? Using the resources
that are available to the volunteer, they would look up the requested
information and send it to the requesting person. In genealogy this is called a
query.
Things
to consider to help you decide if you would like to volunteer to look up
information for others
- Time – how much time do you want to put into
volunteer lookup each week? Will you take a specific number of lookups per
week. What happens if you only want to do 5 hours of lookups per week and
a particular week you receive 5 lookups and the first one has already
taken you almost two hours to complete and you still have to write up the
results and send to the person requesting it.
- Location
– decide on the general location that you will be willing to travel to in
order to perform lookups. Would this be the county you live in,
neighboring counties? List exactly where and how far you would be willing
to do lookups.
- Resources - List the resources available to you and
the type of research you wish to do or not do. This will depend on
the types of resources available to
you.
- Types of resources you might consider:
i.
Register of Deeds Office – Birth & Death Certificates;
Marriage Certificates/Bonds; Land grants
ii.
Local Library – donated family books, cemetery books,
online paid subscription genealogy sites accessible via library, historical newspapers,
iii.
Local Cemeteries – dates of birth/death, spouse,
relatives (who they are buried near)
iv.
Online websites – Estate boxes, Wills, letters to
family.
- Specific – be very specific about the type of
information you are willing to research. Be very specific about the type
of information that you are not willing to research. In-depth, extensive
research requests may be made – be firm, polite and point the person back
to your guidelines.
- Communication – how will you receive a query for
lookups and how will you communicate the results? Typically, this is via
email.
- Pay – some “volunteers” charge for their time and
effort. This is perfectly ok, just don’t say that you are volunteering.
Advertise lookups for your set price, which can become complicated, because
this includes many things. You must consider what the following things are
worth – your time, gas/mileage, car maintenance, postage, etc.
- There may be a time that you would have to deny
the requested query – that is certainly okay to not accept the request.
Reasons that you may have to consider to deny a query – not enough information,
you have been bombarded with requests that particular week and need to
stop accepting; extended vacation with your family or just need a break;
receiving information/dates that doesn’t seem to fit the information or
leading you on longer than expected lookups.
After
these considerations, you decide that you would like to commit to 5 hours a
week volunteering to do lookups in your county for others. So how do you set up
the “volunteer” process.
1. Advertisement –
figure out how you will let others know you are available. Here are a few
ideas:
a.
County
USGenweb sites – contact the coordinator and ask them to consider posting your
contact information on the county USGenweb site.
b.
Social
Media
c.
Local Bulletin Boards at the library, restaurants or
community stores– post business cards or poster.
- You just received a query, now what do you do?
a.
Read the query carefully and consider the following
questions:
i.
Do you have the resources available to research the
query?
ii.
Do you have the time to thoroughly complete the
research?
iii.
Do you have the time to write up the results in a
legible, concise and understandable document?
iv.
Do you have the time to answer questions once the
person has time to read and process the information?
v.
Decide if you are going to do the research or refuse?
b.
Communication – how long will it take to complete the
research on the query? Communication is the key to successful doing queries,
especially if you plan to get paid.
i.
People are more understanding and will give you the
time to complete the research, if you let them know in advance how long it will
take. Give a reasonable, tad longer estimate. If you get finished early –
hoorah then your reviews will be favorable. But if you keep extending the time,
it is not as favorable and people won’t ask for your help.
ii.
Write and send a clarification of the query to make
sure that you understand what the person is asking for and to request any
additional information that you might need.
iii.
Maintain communication – ideas on how to keep them up
to date.
1.
Today I started research on ………….,
2.
I found …………..,
3.
I plan to ………………,
4.
I will be back in touch ……………..
5.
Please let me know if the information seems correct to
you. Attached are ………………..
Most of all, have
fun! When lookups become a chore or dread, then take a break or stop all together.
Enjoy what you are doing.
Happy hunting.
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