How are you inviting every generation affected by shutdowns, to join us in the FamilySearch Communit
@New Ward Temple and FH Consultants @New Stake Temple and FH Consultants too...
I'm curious how you are reaching out and inviting others, like you were before COVID-19. If you're looking for tips, tell our group what you have tried so far. Maybe there is something new we could all learn!
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As Stake Temple and Family History Consultants, my husband and I sent an email to all Ward Temple and Family History Consultants in the stake suggesting to them that they view the list of all members in their ward who have not viewed Record Hints or Discovery Experiences on their tree. To find the list, log in to FamilySearch with your personal account. Then:
- Select "Help" near the top right of the screen.
- From the drop-down menu, select Helper Resources.
- On the Helper Resources page, find "Easy Invitations".
- Select "Easy Invitations" to see the list for your ward. Pick those who may like a call, and with whom you could walk through looking at the Record Hints and Discovery Experiences over the phone. You can also send an invitation to them in an email by clicking on the "Copy" line and getting a link to a member's FamilySearch messages page.
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Good morning @Amber Marstella Rothamer. In addition to @Auntie Heathie comment, I post interesting Family History bits every week on our ward’s Facebook page and accompany each interesting bit with a photo of our temple. Some examples of interesting bits are links to sources, in-home family history activities, a comment about a BYU video I watched on family history and provide the archived link (I wish they would get their links up in a day instead of waiting until Monday), links to free streaming of RootsTech, the recent 25-hour genealogy marathon, and such. I find that if I want to inspire, I have to be the example. Thus, this is a gentle reminder that I am still here and active in my Calling, if they need help and that this is a good time for family history because with prayer, we already have what we need.
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Awesome! Keep it up!
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Thank you!
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I work with many individuals who usually come to my home or to the family hx center when I work my shift and we untangle and repair and research difficult issues where I need to be present. A PICTURE IS WORTH A THOUSAND WORDS!!! I am switching to using Team Viewer (there is a free version) which I used when I was a world wide support missionary, especially when we were in the Dominican Republic on a couple's mission. Talking on the phone, at the same time, I can do as much as sitting next to them. I always have my computer(s) open to use as a resource and I don't have to physically be near them. I am 73, my husband 81 (in 2 weeks) and I can't help as I usually do. I help with connectivity, use of computers, using familysearch and partners and my background in family hx/ knowledge. This is new, the increasing isolation, but I believe this will work. I already have team viewer on my computer, and can send a link to others. I teach how to use it. Have not started this, yet as of early last week was still able to have someone in my home. No longer. Hope this helps others. There may be other programs out there, also, but this is the one I am most familiar. My son comes in and repairs, updates my computer, teaches ME this way. Wonderful for old people to have techy kids!!!!!!
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@Arlene B. C. Stigum So awesome! I love reading about how engaged you are online with your ward family. I think it is great there are so many wards now that have Facebook pages or groups to connect with. It seems like you are a prominent contributor to that page. I believe your example will shine bright to those who are prepared to act upon the call to gather Israel with you. I love reading about how you have chosen to magnify your calling. I hope others will try social networking to see if it works for them as well. How did your marathon go? That sounds exciting!
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The adaptations you have been making are inspiring! I love reading about how you are trying new things, and utilizing the gifts of others to help you get to a place where you are able to easily help others. Even training THEM on how to use new technologies is a wonderful way to help everyone gear up for family history work. You are amazing! I know those you are serving are grateful for your willingness to learn and try new things. We are all in this together. Please know that our Community here is always ready and willing to assist you and those you are serving any way we can. 💚
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Thank you @Amber Marstella Rothamer. There was not our marathon, rather the 24-hour genealogy marathon sponsored by MyHeritage. I found it on one of the threads in Community.FamilySearch.
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In Ohio, we, like many other communities are under a "Stay at Home" order that limits our mobility in the community and keeps many people from their regular jobs. We thought that using Indexing as a tool to pull together on a project would help bring unity and give meaningful activity to our added time at home. We adopted three projects and sent an e-mail to all Stake members inviting them to help in completing these Indexing projects (both Index and Review) during the time of the "Stay at Home" order. To further engender interest, we established 2 Sub-groups i.e Youth & Adults, asking each member to register in the appropriate group in a competition to see who could complete the most records. Just last night we sent the e-mail messages and we have already had 20 people join in the effort. Hopefully, this will be the start of a trend to increase Indexing within our Stake that will continue long after the corona virus problem is resolved.
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How do I get the free team viewer? Sounds fabulous. Thanks so much and I look forward to your reply. Sister Jane MALONE, Clarksburg, WV Stake.
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In our Ward we are inviting members to one-on-one virtually Family History sessions. We will be expanding it to the Stake this coming week and will likely include family sessions and classes held weekly through Zoom & Google Hangouts. There are other venues such as Webex, Office 365 Teams, etc. Here is a google list of the 9 Best Free Virtual Meeting Software and The 10 Best Free Web Video Conferencing and Screenshare Apps of 2020.
https://www.eztalks.com/video-meeting/best-free-virtual-meeting-software.html
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@Jane Malone @BrPr BrPr As an alternative to Team Viewer, you might also want to consider the Planner (formerly called "Consultant Planner") available under "Help" and then "Helper Resources" (last item in the "Help" menu) on FamilySearch. It is less difficult (especially for the person you're helping). Once they give you authorization to use it on their behalf, there's nothing more they have to do - no downloading of applications, entry of pin numbers for full connection, etc. Yet you can view their FamilySearch data and navigate around in it just as they would be able to. But it also has the advantage of giving NO access to the other person's computer. Some people are very cautious about allowing full access to their computers by other people both for privacy as well as security reasons. With the Planner, you are only looking at their FamilySearch account through your connection to FamilySearch in Salt Lake - not through their own personal computer or device.
You can still guide them around by talking with them via phone, Skype, Facetime, or whatever you choose to use. It's simple - just get their permission and their FamilySearch "Helper Number" from them, and you'll be able to view their Tree, Memories pages, individual person pages, etc., just as they can - much easier than TeamViewer (for them at least), without any intrusion into their computer itself. Here's a link on how to use the Planner:
--Chris
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Thank you so much. Yes, I do use the planner. It is fine.
Sis. M.
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This is really neat! In looking through this, I noticed one person named in the list who moved to another Ward in the Stake some time ago. Checking Member Tools, he, indeed, is shown to be in his new Ward. Does FS not automatically shift persons' information from one Ward to another to follow them or do they need to do that themselves? Could this have anything to do with those persons that have different usernames for the Church and Family Search?
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Great initiative! Just don't forget what used to be called the "Consultant Planner" (now apparently just "Planner") on FamilySearch, if you're doing one-on-one. There's no learning curve at all for the people you're serving, and no direct connection between one person's computer and another person's computer - the T&FH consultant is simply using the other person's own FamilySearch data to assist them by phone and internet. Just one more idea that's already built in to FamilySearch. Here's the link to an article on how to use it:
--Chris
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Good morning @TanyaNeider TanyaNeider and @Amber Marstella Rothamer Virtual meeting software only allows for a talking head, right? If the person being helped turns their virtual meeting device to their screen using FamilySearch in order to show you where they need help, isn’t that slowing their internet by streaming two different items at the same time?
I ask for screenshots or ID numbers and their question. I search it out without distraction and then respond. No need for virtual meeting.
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I do use the Helper Resources Planner tool. I usually begin with it, check out members Trees and with permission add to them. For those who really want to learn to navigate FamilySearch, are visual learners, and desire a one-on-one session, the platforms mentioned above are great tools. I serve as the training leader on the Community & Social Media Team Mission. We use Office 365 Teams since our missionaries serve from home all around the USA and Canada.
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Usually with the platforms mentioned in my post above, one person shares their screen at a time which helps prevent slowing down the internet. Serving as the training lead on the Community & Social Media Team Mission and living in a more remote place with not the best internet service, we occasionally have problems with streaming difficulties; it is not the norm. Anyway, I hope the comments above and yours help others.
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Didn't think you can use different usernames for the Church and for FamilySearch, since it is all based off of your (formerly) LDS accounts. Do you know of folks who have two different logins?
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I sent an email to patrons I am currently helping. In it, I reminded them that I can connect to their computer remotely. Some are afraid of technology, but I have been using Skype quite successfully to help my daughter with her research. She lives about 40 mins from me. For fun, I suggested patrons go to "All About Me" in familysearch.org/discovery to see what the world was like when they were born and repeat with one or more of their ancestors. I also provided a couple links from www.thefhgude.com with short videos that could help in their research.
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And as mentioned earlier (above), if some are afraid of having anyone else remotely connect to their computer, they can rest easy if you use the "Planner" tool built into FamilySearch. With it, you still can navigate completely around in the other person's FamilySearch account, but ONLY because you've been authorized by them to log directly into their FamilySearch account through Salt Lake, not the hesitant person's own computer system at home. (See above discussion if you missed it.)
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Their fear is more around getting lost than exposing private information. eg. How do I connect with Skype? What buttons/links do I need to press? How do find the person in FamilySearch? Which links do I left-click vs. right-click? Why isn't my computer working the way it should? For those with limited technical skills, the computer world can seem insurmountable.
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This is great advice. I have used Google Chat in a similar manner, but it requires the other person to have a Gmail account. Can you please share a link to the free download of TeamViewer? Thanks!
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TewmViewer link Free for Personal Use
https://www.teamviewer.com/en-us/credentials/free-for-personal-use/
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@Andrew Moore It's been several years since I last used Skype, and back then it was solely for seeing kids and grandkids while we talked. If there were capabilities of seeing actual computer screen images, I wasn't aware of it, so I can't help you there. Personally, though with a pretty decent background in computers, I'm getting to where I like "simpler better." What I've used with several people is the Planner tool in FamilySearch. They simply give me the permission to connect to their FamilySearch account, and I log into FamilySearch and then their account as well, while also having an open telephone connection so we can talk about what's there. There's nothing to download (except the email they might get saying that you want to connect to their account, which can also be done with just their 5-digit "Helper Number" found in their FamilySearch Settings (by clicking on their name at the top right of their FamilySearch screen). The Helper Number is at the bottom of the Settings screen and is the last 5 digits of their member number if they are a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. If not, they will still have a helper number in the same spot as Church members.
Once you're into their FamilySearch page, just navigate it like you would your own FamilySearch account. You are only looking at their account, not what's on their screen at home on their computer, so that's where the telephone comes in very handy. You help them find what you're looking at, and THEY have to navigate to it, thus increasing their learning greatly in a short amount of time. (Personally, my own rule is that I never actually make any data changes myself on someone else's account - I guide them through that process and have them do it themselves. That avoids many potential problems later on, including you being blamed for problems in their data if you happen to run into someone that wants to blame somebody else for their problems.)
I've had very nice experiences (as have the people I've helped - both Church members and non-members). And that way there's also no new software to learn for those that are "computer-challenged," with special mouse-clicks etc. You just ask them to describe what they see on the screen, compare it to your screen to make sure you're both seeing the same thing, and you instruct them from there with both of you looking at the same screens on their account in FamilySearch. Hope that helps. Sorry I can't help with Skype anymore.
-- Chris
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Yes, Skype has come a long way over the years and is now an enterprise tool. I recently retired from a large insurance company with 35,000 employees world wide, and they make extensive use for Skype for most of their meetings and teleconferencing. It doesn't require software on the patron's computer. I send them a link, and it launches a browser session.
I agree simpler is better, but I also know a picture says 1000 words. With Skype I can see where the patron is getting lost, or I can show them how to do something by sharing my screen. I use the Planner extensively in almost anything I do for patrons. In fact, when talking with patrons, it is always my starting point. And even if I use skype, I try to talk them through the process while I watch so they can get hands on experience rather than just showing them.
I respect your comments. I think there is a place for both.
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@All Temple & Family History Consultants There are many ways to get help with family history. One way is to reach out to our neighbors during this time and send them a link to General Conference. I am finding people that once had definite opinions are now beginning to wonder. Something most of us have right now, is time.
Here is one link to share, inviting those seeking inspirational messages this weekend.
https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/?lang=eng
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I love this! I think family history might very well be a topic of the conference this weekend! I look forward to it!
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That's awesome! How was your response from the youth group? Did they only get an invitation via email, or did you contact them through other means? Curious... I'm always wanting to know the best ways we've been able to reach the youth about family history work. I know a lot of them spend a considerable amount of time on social media and other social networks. I'm wondering if anyone has tapped into that realm with them and had success yet.
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Amazing resources! Thank you for sharing @Arlene B. C. Stigum! 💚
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