Follow Friday -- Genealogy Sites Pressured Into Removing SSDI

There has been a lot written about the removal of the Social Security Death Index (SSDI) from Rootsweb.com.  The index can be viewed behind the pay wall of Ancestry.com (the parent owner of Rootsweb.com) but the deaths in the last 10 years have the Social Security number removed.

Kimberly Powell of About.com has written a further update on the issue.  View it here to see her summary of the status of the SSDI.

It is a real shame to remove an index that was created to prevent fraud because of some incidences of fraud in tax returns.  Hopefully those in power will finally see that.

Lisa Gorrell
Copyright © 2011 by Contra Costa County Genealogical Society.

Follow Friday -- The Top 5 Reasons I Listen to Webinars

Marian Pierre-Louis is a genealogist researching primarily in the New England area.  She also enjoys researching the history of houses.  She has presented in her blog, Marian's Roots and Rambles, on Wednesday, Dec. 7, 2011, 5 great reasons to watch/listen to genealogy-related Webinars.

What is a Webinar?  It is basically a seminar presented over the Internet.  They are becoming very popular as a new medium to present genealogy topics.  You can view them live and participate, or view them as a download to watch when you want to.  You hear the speaker's voice, see their slide show, and often receive handouts.

I have watched/listened to some great Webinars produced by Legacy Family Tree including lecturers Marian Pierre-Louis, Thomas MacEntee, Maureen Taylor, Lisa Alzo, and Daniel Lynch, and by Michael John Neill.  Many are free and some have a nominal price.  It's a great way to hear the lecture from a well-known genealogist who seldom comes out West.  It's a great way to hear a lecture in your own time-frame.  You don't have to get dressed up to go to a seminar.  You can watch at your own leisure in your PJs if you want.

So give a Webinar a try!  I'm sure you're like them.

by Lisa Gorrell
Copyright © 2011 by Contra Costa County Genealogical Society.