As a director of a local FH Center, I would really appreciate a forum to share ideas that are being

joannrobinson2

As a director of a local FH Center, I would really appreciate a forum to share ideas that are being used to inspire people to become involved in family history. I have a few things we are trying and I'd love to hear what other people are doing,

sggrabill1.5320580514623408E12

We offer classes 2x a month on different topics that help with researching and useful tools and resources. This is published in the stake calendar. We have members and non members coming to these. Additionally, I created posters and inserts for their bulletins to provide to each of my wards to use to help stimulate interest. I also had a training class for the ward history leaders to help them with their callings and share ideas with one another. I would like to know what you are doing, please share so we all grow!

Merlynn D. Densley

I really like the idea of creating a special forum for sharing ideas on how to increase usage of small Family History Centers.

 

ONE SUGGESTION: In years past FamilySearch sponsored a Church-wide indexing event that started on a Friday and went through Sunday. It had a specific goal of names to be indexed for the whole Church, which was always in the millions and always exceeded. We opened up our FHC for many hours during those events and had great support from the members in our stake, particularly those with no indexing experience.

This past weekend we held a similar indexing event in our FHC and adjoining YW room for members of our stake that included sessions on Friday from 2:00-4:00 pm and 6:30-8:30 pm and on Saturday from 9:00-11:00 am. The 10 computers in our FHC were available for use but participants were also encouraged to bring their own laptops. We had lots of experienced helpers for all sessions and donuts, bagels, chocolate milk and bottled water for refreshments.

We had about 50 participants in this event and everyone was successful in indexing at least one batch of names and went away excited about doing more!

S Mehr

Assign each ward a night and have the consultants from that ward bring a friend or family member to learn a specific skill like indexing or attaching photos.

Plan small group activities, like just the 11 year olds from a certain ward come with the consultants from their ward, to make sure their logins are working and their trees are connected. Teach them Ordinances Ready.

Merlynn D. Densley

Thanks so much for sharing this suggestion! I'm excited to try this in our FHC.

LarryB

We hold an annual Indexing Breakfast Social for our stake from 9am to noon. People are invited to come and learn one on one with a consultant and do a batch with the consultant and then by themselves. We have a continental style breakfast available so they can come and go at their leisure. It's been very successful in having people learning how to index and seeing our remodeled FHC.

DavisJaniceMiller

Show our recent training as a 5th Sunday lesson​

joannrobinson2

We will be having one on March 31, 2020

joannrobinson2

Thank you for so many good ideas. i love having everyone share.

joannrobinson2

Another idea that we borrowed from another FHC is having a Mother's Family History day once a month where we watch mothers' preschoolers while they use the FHC and the consultants to work on their family research.

earllord

As the High Councilor over TFH, I have been doing a "follow along" presentation on the use of mobile devices for doing Family History. Unfortunately, there aren't a lot of 5th Sundays so a few Wards are having me present during the 2nd hour on a RS/EQ Sunday.

 

Also, for the Ward Conferences, we are using the 2nd hour to teach about the value of stories and have prearranged, and volunteer, members tell a story which we record. The story tellers are then emailed a copy of their recorded stories. This has been extremely well received and fits well with what Steve Rockwell talked about at RootsTech.

LegacyUser

Look at talks on youtube by Dave Isay - Listening is an act of love and his company Story Corps. It talks about interviewing relatives and how powerful it is. Then see how it can be adapted especially to youth.

earllord

I agree. What Isay has done and learned from Story Corps is incredible. His work prompted a Counselor in the Stake Presidency to have Ward members, during Ward Conference, tell a family story which he recorded and later sent to the tellers.

Amber Marstella Rothamer

I'm following this post for ideas to hopefully list soon under resources for this Community group. Thanks for asking the question!

Amber Marstella Rothamer

@joannrobinson2 joannrobinson2​ a new group was recently created for Family History Centers here in the FamilySearch Community @Family History Center Consultants​ you should consider requesting to join the group!