500 000 IS OM DIE DRAAI

Net 9 000 om te gaan. Dan’s hy by 500 000.

Dis Lucas Rinken (links) se e-SAGI (elektroniese Suid-Afrikaanse Genealogiese Indeks) – ‘n projek van die Wes-Gauteng-tak van die Genealogiese Genootskap van Suid-Afrika.

Lucas is al jare lank besig met dié databasis. Menige genealoog het al sy soektog na voorouers met behulp hiervan beëindig.

Met inligting wat hy van oral in die wêreld kry, het Lucas veral in die afgelope klompie maande die databasis vinnig laat groei. In September 2008 het dit die data van 400 000 bevat. Binne agt maande het dit met 100 000 gegroei.

Hy het dit reggekry met ‘n aantal helpers wat hom getrou bygestaan het.

Een van sy groot uitdagings is om duplikate deur te werk. In die jongste paar weke was daar nie minder as 5 176 sodaniges wat hy moes bekyk.

“Ek was dikwels naby aan tou opgooi. Dis sieldodende werk om paar na paar deur te werk, te besluit wat behou moet word en waarvan vergeet kan word en dan weer die volgende paar te pak, paar na paar na paar.

“Hulp en ondersteunende e-posse het my die moed gegee om deur te druk ek uiteindelik vorentoe te kan kyk. Sover ek weet, is die lêer nou skoon van moontlike duplikate. Dit los my met 491,336 name en gee my die geleentheid om die aanslag op 500,000 in alle erns aan te pak.

e-SAGI is voorwaar 'n hulpmiddel wat vir die ernstige genealoog onontbeerlik is. Die databasis word met die genealogiese program LEGACY gelees. Die standaard-weergawe van dié program kan HIER afgelaai word. Dié program is ook by e-SAGI ingesluit.

• Inligting oor die aard en omvang van e-SAGI is te sien deur HIER TE KLIK.

Die huidige databasis (met die data van 400 000 persone) is op DVD teen R120 plus R15 posgeld beskikbaar. Daar word besef dat baie mense nie oor DVD-lesers beskik nie. Daarom is die databasis ook op twee CD's beskikbaar teen R140 plus R15 posgeld.

Hierdie pryse is vir versending in Suid-Afrika. Versending na die buiteland sal groter posgeld meebring. Pryse moet met Dennis Pretorius bevestig moet word. Bestellings kan ook by Dennis geplaas word. Sy epos-adres is krugersdorp@pixie.co.za. KLIK HIER en stuur nóú 'n epos aan Dennis.

Die beskikbaarheid van die jongste databasis (met 500 000 persone se data) sal aangekondig word sodra dit gereed is.

Beendere uit grafte dalk vir moetie gesteel

Nelspruit. – Grafskenders het ’n tweede keer in ses weke op die Kaapsche Hoop-begraafplaas, suid van Nelspruit, toegeslaan.

In die jongste voorval is drie grafte oopgegrawe en die beendere is volgens die polisie vermoedelik verwyder.

Die grafskenders het die grafstene erg beskadig.

Dit kom nadat grafskenders ses grafte net voor die Paasnaweek omgedolwe en weer gedeeltelik toegegooi het.

Niemand is nog in verband daarmee aangekeer nie.

Die Universiteit van Pretoria (UP), wat opgrawings gedoen het, het bevind dat al die beendere uit die ses grafte waarmee gepeuter is, verwyder is.

Die Ngodwana-polisie ondersoek klagte van grafskending.

Die UP gaan môre weer opgrawings in die begraafplaas doen om te bevestig dat beendere in die jongste voorval ook verwyder is, het konst. Ngwako Kgofelo, woordvoerder van die Ngodwana-polisie, die naweek gesê.

Hy het gesê die polisie vermoed die beendere word gesteel vir moetie.

Die beendere word onder meer fyngemaal en misdadigers strooi byvoorbeeld voor ’n rooftog die fyngemaalde beendere oor hul lywe omdat hulle glo dit gaan hulle beskerm teen arrestasie of ander probleme.

Volgens Kgofelo is die polisie al raadop met die probleme by die Kaapsche Hoop-begraafplaas.

“Ons dink daaraan om die naburige Nelspruit-munisipaliteit te nader en te vra om dit te oorweeg om ’n draad om die begraafplaas op te rig,” het Kgofelo gesê.

“Die gemeenskap van Kaapsche Hoop kan ook dalk help met die beveiliging.” -- BEELD, 17 Mei 2009.

MONTHLY MEETING: 16 MAY 2009

Date: Saturday, 16 May 2009;

Time: 14:00 to 16:00;

Place: Dutch Reformed Church (NG Kerk), Ontdekkerskruin, Phillips Avenue, Discovery, Roodepoort (Map below);

Subject: The Van Wyks of Tarkastad;

Presenter: Ferdie van Wyk, member of the Northern Transvaal Branch of the GSSA;

Kort CV: Ferdie is gebore in 1942 in Les Marais, Pretoria. Hy is die enigste seun van Tom en Dawie van Wyk (Sy moeder was gedoop Izak Dawid Catharina van der Walt).

Hy matrikuleer in 1960 aan Hoërseunskool Helpmekaar waar hy hoofseun was. In 1962 het hy by die Staande Mag aangesluit. Hy het aan die Militêre Akademie, of te wel die Fakulteit Krygskunde van die Universiteit Stellenbosch gestudeer. Aan Unisa het hy 'n Honneursgraad in Strategiese Studies behaal. Dit het gelei tot ‘n oorplasing na Militêre Inligting. Sy laaste pos in die SA Leër was met die rang van Brigadier verbonde aan die staf van Lt. Genl. Georg Meiring die Hoof van Die Leer.

Op 22 Desember 1992 verneem hy op TV dat hy, twee generaals en nog drie brigadiers deur oud-president FW de Klerk afgedank is.

Daarna het hy hom in die rekenaarbedryf begewe.

Ferdie is getroud met Ina du Plessis. Hulle het drie kinders.

Entrance Fee: R5,00 for refreshments.

CLICK ON THE MAP TO ENLARGE
(SOURCE: Mail and Guardian Online)

10 STEPS TO WRITING YOUR FAMILY HISTORY

Eventually most of us want our research recorded in book form -- a big task. How is it done?

"Yes, the research is the fun part. Writing a family history book just seems too daunting to be fun. But when the relatives start nagging, try these 10 easy steps for making your family history book a reality."

Kimberley Powell tells more on ABOUT.COM: GENEALOGY.

Her proposed ten steps include:

1) Choose a Format for Your Family History

2) Define the Scope of Your Family History

3) Set Deadlines You Can Live With

4) Choose a Plot & Themes

5) Do Your Background Research

6) Organize Your Research

7) Choose a Starting Point

8) Don't be Afraid to Use Records and Documents

9) Make it Personal

10) Include an Index and Source Citations.

Kimberley also has the following tip to tackle your book:

“Tackling a full-blown family history is a huge project, one which many people find too overwhelming to even begin. Just finding the time to sit down and put your own stories on paper can be a near impossible feat. Just ask my grandmother who must be tired of hearing from me about those family stories she's been promising me for years.

“The trick to any large project is to break it down into manageable chunks. In the case of recording your family history, why not begin with a letter? Sit down once per month with a few pieces of paper or your computer and begin writing - to your children, grandchildren, or anyone who might be interested. Begin by selecting a topic for that month's letter - a particular ancestor, a certain time period, a special event... Then just let the words come. Make the letter an informal one, but be sure to record as much of your memories as possible, including names, dates, facts and feelings. Write just as if you were telling your children or grandchildren a bedtime story, because in a way you are. That monthly letter will soon be something that your descendants eagerly anticipate. Plus, before you know it, you will have finally written that family history - one letter at a time.”

LET'S TAKE NOTE

The recent tragic news from Germany and Italy points out just how fragile our world is. Documents, works of art, architecture, and more from throughout the centuries can be wiped out within seconds by earthquakes, fires, building collapses, wars, and other calamities. The loss to scholars, historians, genealogists, and others is incalculable. Luckily, we now have the technology and the ability to preserve multiple copies of all these priceless objects for future generations.

I would suggest that we digitize everything and make multiple copies of each copy, to be stored in widely dispersed locations.

The above are the introductory paragraphs of a report published on EASTMAN'S ONLINE GENEALOGY NEWSLETTER. It is worth reading.

• Voorgaande is veral van belang in die lig van die digitalisering van sterftekennisse in Suid-Afrika ... en natuurlik alle ander genealogiese werk, insluitend jou eie waaraan jy soveel tyd en energie bestee het.

• Dit laat 'n mens ook terugdink aan wat van jou genealogiese werk word ná jou afsterwe. KLIK HIER en KLIK HIER
  

GENEALOGY IN PRISON

UTAH STATE PRISON — In a cramped room here in the Wasatch medium-security unit, inmates sit hunched over computers, trying to decipher the aged writings of people long dead.

Some scroll through reels of microfilm, searching for a name that can help unlock the secrets of the past.

They are among hundreds of inmates doing genealogical work in family-history centers run by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints inside the prison.

"The genealogical program here is a haven to get away from the environment within the prison itself," inmate Dan Maroney said. "It's a place for fellowship."

Read the full story on DESERT NEWS.

HOBBY-X

The Branch participated in Hobby-X, an exhibition of hobbies, held at the Northgate Dome, Johannesburg from 5 to 8 March 2009.

Above: Lucas Rinken in the "studyroom" exhibit at Hobby-X.

The stand drew much attention. As many as 130 people signed the visitors’ book. Seven new members were enrolled and seven copies of e-SAGI (electronic South African Genealogical Index) were sold. Chairman Lucas Rinken had his computer set up so that the visitors could search e-SAGI for information about family history. Lukas was even able to add 100 new people to the database.

Many of the visitors came from areas outside of Johannesburg and we were able to refer some people to the branch in Pretoria.

Lucas manned the stall each day but was ably assisted by other members of the branch, namely Gerard Marloth, Barbara Bouwer, Ruth and Alister Jobson, John and Iris Stephens, Louise Dick, Margaret Humphreys, Kriek Fourie and Penny Evans.

Bob Saunders designed the stall and was the main person setting it up.

Hobby-X is a wonderful opportunity to expose the public to geneology and to encourage people to join a group in order to get assistence and encouragement in this very rewarding hobby. It remains to be seen if those who joined will attend the monthly meetings and whether others who took information leaflets will follow up and make contact.

GEDIGTE OP SAGEN

Martina Louw skryf op SAGENEALOGIE:

Vir dié van julle wat 'n bietjie digkuns geniet, het ek 'n nuwe leêr op die '”files”-area van ons gespreksgroep opgelaai. Dis getiteld "Genealogie Gedigte". Daar is hele paar gedigte waarvan een in Afrikaans. Hopelik het van julle ouens 'n klompie meer, veral Afrikaanse genealogie gedigte, om by te las.

Een van die gedigte is:

If You Could Meet Your Ancestors …

By James Roche

If you could see your ancestors
all standing in a row
Would you be proud of them or not
or don't you really know?

Some strange discoveries are made
in climbing family trees
And some of them, you know,
do not particularly please.

If you could see your ancestors
all standing in a row
There might be some of them perhaps
you would not care to know.

But here's another question which
requires a different view;
If you could meet your ancestors
would they be proud of you?

GEDCOM IS LIKE FANAGALO

Suppose three individuals had just met and could not understand each other. The first individual could only understand English, the second French, and the third German. In order for our three friends to understand each other, they have three options.

• The first option is for two of the individuals to learn the language of the third.

• The second option is for each individual to learn the languages of both of the other two individuals.

• The third option is for all three to learn and communicate using a new secondary language developed specifically to allow translation of any word or phrase to and from any of the three languages. In this situation, the three could meet an additional friend who only speaks Italian. The Italian would only need to learn the new language to communicate with the other three as well.

An example of this took place in
the gold mines of South Africa.

Over the past twenty to thirty years, a language called Fanagalo was developed at the mines to allow all of the workers from many language backgrounds to communicate. The workers represented English, Afrikaans, various other European languages, and many Black tribal languages (Zulu, Xhosa, etc.). As a new worker came to the mines to work, he or she only had to learn Fanagalo to speak with the many people. It was much better than learning several different languages.

GEDCOM is like the third communication option.

HOW POPULAR IS GENEALOGY?

BY DICK EASTMAN in his Eastman's Genealogy Newsletter,
19 February 2009.

WARNING: This article contains personal opinions.

A newsletter reader this week sent an e-mail asking a simple question:

I have heard about surveys showing genealogy to be the 2nd most popular hobby in America. Now I need a citation on this statistic and can't find one on the Internet. Can you help?

In short, the answer is "No." In fact, I question the "fact." I don't believe that genealogy is as popular as often claimed. Let's look at the facts.

I have heard two slightly different claims:

1. Genealogy is the most popular (or second or third or fourth most popular) topic on the World Wide Web.
2. Genealogy is the most popular (or second or third or fourth most popular) hobby/personal interest in the United States.

I have no doubt that genealogy is very popular. For proof, I can point out that more than 40,000 people read this newsletter every week. FamilySearch.org and Ancestry.com are some of the more popular sites on the Web with hundreds of thousands of users. Local genealogy libraries and Family History Centers serve thousands of patrons every day. The study of one's family tree obviously is a popular activity among Americans, but is it really the second most popular interest? Or tenth most popular? Or fiftieth?

The only reputable survey that I know of was published in American Demographics magazine in 1995. The survey reported that some 113 million adults in the US, or four out of ten of us, were at least somewhat interested in family history. This survey appears to prove that genealogy is one of America's most popular hobbies.

I do believe this article's accuracy, but I suggest you closely examine the question asked: "at least somewhat interested." If you approached 100 strangers on the street and asked each of them if they were "at least somewhat interested" in their family tree, how many would answer in the affirmative?

Now, what happens if you ask 100 strangers if they are VERY interested in their family tree or if they have ever done anything at all to discover more about their ancestry? I don't know the answer to that, but I suspect it would be much less than four out of ten.

While many people may claim to be "somewhat interested," I dare say that most of them have never been to a genealogy library or to a courthouse. Most have never cranked a single roll of microfilm in their lives. How many people in your neighborhood do that? Some may have looked at one or two free online genealogy databases to find people of the same last name, but does that count as being interested in genealogy? I don't think they are very interested if they have never gone beyond the simplest of searches.

The American Demographics magazine survey was conducted in 1995, when the World Wide Web was in its infancy. In that year, probably 90% of all Americans had never seen the Web. In fact, some had yet to hear of it. What a difference we have seen the the past fourteen years! Today we do know that genealogy is a very popular topic on the web. I suspect there are more genealogists today than in 1995.

In short, while the 1995 survey in American Demographics magazine may be interesting, I believe it is no longer valid. The genealogy world has changed greatly since 1995. I would not trust a survey that is fourteen years old to provide meaningful answers about anything that is popular on today's World Wide Web.

The other surveys that I am aware of were conducted by Maritz Research. These surveys asked similar vague questions:

1. Are you at least “somewhat interested” in tracing your family history?
2. Are you at least “somewhat involved” with genealogy?

Sixty percent of the respondents said they were at least “somewhat interested,” and 45% claimed to be at least “somewhat involved” with genealogy. That sounds promising. However, again, let's examine the questions.

What is the definition of "at least somewhat?" Does "at least somewhat interested" mean, "I remember grandmother talking about that?" Or does it mean, "I have a database on my computer or a notebook on the shelf containing the results of my own search?"

The other thing that bothers me about the Maritz Research is the fact that it was commissioned and paid for by Broderbund, the former producers of Family Tree Maker software. One has to wonder how accurate a survey is when the company paying the researchers has a very biased interest in the results.

The reports of the Maritz Research surveys always reported glowing results and then casually mentioned that Family Tree Maker was the best-selling genealogy program in the world. The same reports usually did not mention that the company that produced Family Tree Maker commissioned and paid for the entire survey.

I wonder what the percentages would be in response to this question:

Have you personally done any research on your ancestry in the past year?

To be sure, genealogy is very popular on the World Wide Web. A search for the word "genealogy" on Google returns more than 97 million occurrences of the word. Time Magazine even named genealogy as one of the four most popular topics on the Internet in its 19 April 1999 cover article. (Sex, finance, and sports were the other three.)

My question is this: Does this high number of web sites reflect the true popularity of genealogy, or is it merely a reflection of the fact that today's genealogy programs can create thousands of web pages from one person's database? I suspect the answer is a blend of both.

The fact that 97 million web pages contain the word "genealogy" does not equate to 97 million people posting their own ancestry. In fact, it might be only tens of thousands of people using their genealogy programs to create thousands of web pages each.

If genealogy is truly one of the four most popular personal interests of Americans, we should be able to prove that by other means, right? We should be able to measure the dollars being spent, the popularity of local and national conferences, the number of magazines that serve this personal interest, and more. These are all tried and true measurements used by tens of thousands of marketing firms and others.

Let's start with magazines. If genealogy were truly as popular as our nation's interest in sports, at least one genealogy magazine would have a circulation similar to that of Sports Illustrated. Sadly, I do not know of such a genealogy publication. I could make the same argument about Newsweek, Oprah Magazine, Boating Magazine, Field & Stream, This Old House, Travel & Leisure Magazine, Better Homes & Gardens, Popular Mechanics, various movie fan magazines, and many more. There is no genealogy magazine in a list of the 100 most popular magazines of today. The magazine stand at your local drug store or grocery store probably contains no genealogy magazines at all. Larger bookstores typically do have genealogy magazines available, but not nearly as many as for other topics, such as sports, automobiles, needlework, camping, or pets. If I stop at the local magazine rack, I get the impression that more people are interested in poodles than in their ancestry.

How about national conventions?

The national Star Wars convention draws 40,000 to 50,000 attendees per year. The National Rifle Association's conventions attract 60,000+ attendees. The national convention of ham radio operators draws 25,000 to 30,000 attendees every year to Dayton, Ohio. A local health and fitness expo in Phoenix draws 70,000 attendees, and I suspect most of them live within 100 miles of the conference location. Local golfing, hunting, or fishing conferences near me regularly draw 10,000 people and, again, I suspect that most attendees live within 100 miles of the convention center.

Then there are hundreds of local and regional antique fairs, hot rod shows, boating shows, sportsmen's shows, and more. Many of these attract tens of thousands of people; some attract hundreds of thousands.

So, how big are the national genealogical conferences? In recent years, the two largest conferences attracted only 800 to 1,600 attendees each. Is this an indication that genealogy is one of the five most popular personal interests among Americans?

Side note: Other countries with smaller populations seem to attract more people to genealogy conferences. The annual Who Do You Think You Are? show in London typically attracts 12,000 to 15,000 attendees. However, not all of the attendees are genealogists; some are history buffs, others are military re-enactors, etc. The Biennale de Généalogie held in Paris in December 2006 attracted more than 16,000 attendees. The smaller Congrés de la Fédération Française de Généalogie is hosted annually in different cities in France and always attracts several thousand French men and women.

Finally, let's examine the businesses that serve this personal interest. I do not have sales figures available, but obviously the golfing industry serves a multi-billion dollar marketplace. So do firms that sell to hunting, fishing, gardening, health & fitness, pets, firearms, stamp collecting enthusiasts, and other companies that serve personal interests.

What is the total dollar amount spent on genealogy per year? While I am sure it is a significant sum, it must be a pittance when compared to the other personal interests just mentioned. Let's compare the money spent against that of other personal interests: golf, hunting, fishing, etc.

In summation, I will suggest that genealogy is indeed a very popular activity among Americans. Hundreds of thousands, perhaps a million, people are actively looking for their family heritage. However, that number pales in comparison to some other personal interests that I have mentioned.

Do you believe there are more genealogists than that? Is genealogy one of the top five personal interests in America? I have one challenge for you: find some believable statistics to prove it!

Source: Eastman's Online Genealogy Newsletter.

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING, 2009

Please take note that the Annual General Meeting of our branch will be held at 14:00 on Saturday, 21 March, 2009 at o the Church of the NGK, Congregation: Ontdekkerskruin, Phillips Avenue, Discovery, Roodepoort.

Agenda

1. Welcome

2. Apologies

3. Minutes of the previous AGM

4. Matters arising

5. Reports

5.1 Chairman's Report

5.2 Membership Secretaries' Report

5.3 Treasurer's Report

5.4 Report on the National AGM held at Bloemfontein on 7 th March, 2009

6. Election of new Management Committee

7. Closure

8. Refreshments

Please note that Derek Rubidge has other commitments this year and is consequently not available for re-election. The situation of our Vice-Chairman, Bob Saunders is still unclear. He is planning a stint overseas in the not too distant future. While he is still here, we should make the most use of his excellent services. We trust that he will again accept nomination as Vice-Chairman. All other committee members are available and eligible for re-election.

Gerard Marloth has agreed to join the committee as Membership Secretary as has Penny Evans who was invited to be spokesperson for new/beginner members. They were consequently co-opted in December and have already made their presence felt.

This does NOT mean that no other nominations for existing positions can be submitted. Any member may be nominated for any position. Please let us have such nominations as soon as possible. We have no specific nomination form. Nominations must just show clearly who is nominated for which position and give the names of the persons nominating and seconding the nomination and the assurance that the nominee is available and willing to be elected.

The minutes of the previous AGM are attached as are the financial statements for the year 2008 will be available at the meeting.

We look forward to seeing you at the AGM. Your voice and vote is IMPORTANT!

Friendly greetings,

L.G. Rinken

Chairman, West-Gauteng Branch, GSSA.

NS. Ons vertrou dat ons Afrikaanse lede sal verstaan dat hierdie skrywe slegs in Engels uitgestuur word.
___________________________________________________

NOTULE VAN DIE ALGEMENE JAARVERGADERING VAN DIE TAK, GEHOU OM 14.00 OP 15 Maart 2008, in die Ned. Geref. Kerk Ontdekkerskruin, Philipslaan, Discovery, Roodepoort.

TEENWOORDIG:

Lucas Rinken (Voorsitter); Barbara Bouwer; Celia Bayliss; Milford Juniper; Louw du Plessis; Kriek Fourie; Margaret Humphries; Bob Saunders; Richard Ford; Dennis en Minnie Pretorius; Derek Rubidge; Graham Southey; Danie Jacobs; Ds. Hennie le Roux; Frans en Donna Viljoen; John en Iris Stephens

VERSKONINGS: Louise Dick; Valda Napier; André Heydenrych

1. OPENING EN VERWELKOMING:

Die voorsitter heet almal hartlik welkom.

2. AFKONDIGINGS:

2.1 Verjaardae: Hy wens die volgende lede hartlik geluk met hul verjaardae wat voorlê: 17 Maart: Milford Juniper; 2 April Bob Saunders; 11 April Barbara Bouwer; 12 April Don McArthur (vorige spreker)

2.2 Komiteevergadering: Sal nie volgende Saterdag gehou kan word nie, maar die nuwe komitee sal die volgende datum aankondig.

3. NOTULE VAN DIE VORIGE ALGEMENE JAARVERGADERING:

Op voorstel van Danie Jacobs, gesekondeer deur Richard Ford, word die notule as gelese beskou en GOEDGEKEUR.

4. VOORSITTERSVERSLAG: Die voorsitter lê sy verslag aan die vergadering voor. Dit word GOEDGEKEUR.

5. VERSLAG OOR DIE LEDE EN SEKRETARIËLE SAKE: GOEDGEKEUR.

6. FINANSIËLE VERSLAG: Aangesien die verslag nie vandag beskikbaar is nie, sal dit aan lede gesirkuleer word.

7. VERSLAG OOR DIE ALGEMENE JAARVERGADERING VAN DIE GGSA: Die verslag oor die AJV van die GGSA te Potchefstroom op 1 Maart 2008, word deur die sekretaris aan die vergadering voorgehou. Dit word GOEDGEKEUR.

8. VERKIESING VAN TAKBESTUURSKOMITEE: Die voorsitterstoel word deur Dennis Pretorius ingeneem. Nominasies word gevra vir 'n

VOORSITTER. Lucas Rinken word deur Richard Ford voorgestel, gesekondeer deur Danie Jacobs. Lucas word gelukgewens en neem weer die voorsitterstoel in.

ONDERVOORSITTER: Bob Saunders word deur Richard Ford voorgestel en deur Kriek Fourie gesekondeer. Hy word ook eenparig verkies. Hy word gelukgewens.

TESOURIER: Kriek Fourie word deur Lucas Rinken voorgestel, gesekondeer deur Danie Jacobs. Hy word eenparig verkies. Hy word gelukgewens.

SEKRETARIS (Notulerend): John Stephens word deur Danie Jacobs voorgestel, gesekondeer deur Bob Saunders. Hy word herkies en gelukgewens.

SEKRETARIS (Sosiaal en fumksies): Margaret Humphries word deur Lucas Rinken voorgestel, gesekondeer deur Barbara Bouwer en word eenparig verkies en gelukgewens.

BIBLIOTEKARIS: Aangesien Louise Dick gevra het om nie weer verkies te word nie, word Graham Southey versoek om die werk te doen. Hy willig in. Dit word GOEDGEKEUR. Hy word gelukgewens.

ADDISIONELE LID: Derek Rubidge willig in om die pos te vul. GOEDGEKEUR. Hy word gelukgewens.

9. VERSLAG OOR HOBBY-X: Die voorsitter noem dat dit nie vanjaar so voorspoedig gegaan het nie. Daar is 17 nuwe lede gewerf, waarvan ongeveer 13 vir ons tak is. Hy bedank almal wat daar gehelp het en in die besonder vir Bob Saunders en Richard Ford met hulle insette vir die stalletjie.

10. UITSTALLING VAN CELIA BAYLISS SE WERK: Een van ons lede, Celia Bayliss, vertrek op 1 Mei 2008 na die Kaap. Die voorsitter het haar versoek om haar skitterende genealogiese werk te kom uitstal en ons daaroor toe te spreek. Sy doen dit kortliks. Daarna verdaag ons om haar hoogstaande uitstalling te beskou en daaroor vrae aan haar te stel. Haar werk word deur almal absoluut bewonder.

11. VERVERSINGS: Die vergadering verdaag om verversings te geniet. Die dames word hartlik bedank vir die heerlike verversings.

NOTULE AS GELEES BESKOU EN GOEDGEKEUR OP...................................... 2009.

VOORSITTER SEKRETARIS

NEWSLETTER, FEBRUARY 2009

By Bob Saunders, vice-chairman

Greetings fellow genealogists

This newsletter is a first in a slightly different format, which we hope you will find more informative than previously, and to which we hope you will respond by being more interactive with the branch and committee.

The upcoming meeting:

The February meeting is one which the committee would really wish to see EACH and EVERY member of the society present -- even more so than the AGM (if needs be), as we are faced with a serious dilemma, in as much as we are not attracting our members regularly to our meetings, and we can only imagine that the talks we have planned and presented to date have not:

a) inspired you to want to attend, or
b) the subject matter does not interest you or
c) the topics presented are not addressing your needs (as members old and young, experienced or novice or somewhere in between these parameters).

So the question that has to be asked is this:

a) What do YOU want from your society?
b) How can YOUR committee best serve your interests and needs from your branch.
c) What can WE do to inspire you to participate more regularly or
d) What can WE change to suit the needs of those among you who have not ever attended a meeting or
e) WHAT aspects, if you did attend one, left you disillusioned about what you experienced?

To make the workshop a success, it is essential that each participant provides an input on as many of these aspects as possible. So please put on your thinking caps and help us to steer the programme in a direction that you believe will be beneficial to you specifically and the branch as a whole.

Should you not be in a position to attend the meeting, please do not simply ignore the letter. Your opinion still counts and we are relying on you to give us feedback by means of a return e-mail if you know you will be unable to attend so that these ideas can also be presented to the committee and others. Where there is a common theme, the answer is simple, and we will attempt to address these immediately. Where there are less common or unique requests/suggestions, we may have to debate the merits and take a vote on the relevance to the branch as a whole. Please do not remain silent on any issue of contention, or any suggestion. Every contribution will be considered.

Next month's meeting:

The March meeting is our Annual General Meeting and will take place on 21 March 2009. Please note that we need to have your nominations for the committee if you believe you have a likely and willing candidate. We will welcome all nominations to which the nominee has consented, as we would like to see some new faces on the committee. If you wish to volunteer services, we will find a nomination for you. Many hands make light work and we could use some fresh ideas too.

Please note that all paid up members are eligible to vote and we would really appreciate a great turnout for this event. AGM's are notoriously shunned by the majority of people for the wrong reasons. We will make ours as light as possible despite the need to make the various reports and execute the necessary formalities. Please show your support by attending and making your voice heard by casting your vote on the motions, and the election of the committee.

Those of you who have not as yet renewed your membership, January was when your subs fell due, so please bring your membership up to date by paying your subs and completing the renewal form as soon as possible - preferrably at the February meeting. We will have the necessary forms at hand and a willing treasurer (or substitute) to receive the funds. Remember this can also be done electronically if this suits you better.

Future Meetings:

Your committee is in the process of planning for the year, but a lot depends on the suggestions which will arise from Saturdays workshop, in determining the direction we follow for the year. We still have the Ben Leach talk in hand, which we are sure Ben will gladly deliver in due course once he has fully recovered. Sterkte Ben, ons sien uit na jou toespraak in die nabye toekoms.

Interessanthede:

Ek will graag die Noord-Transvaaltak komplimenteer deur om n idee uit hulle nuusbrief te "steel" en by ons eie nuusbrief in te sluit. Hulle het n spesiale deel wat hulle "hoenderveloomblik" noem, waar lede se stories oor 'n hoendeveloomblik beskryf is. Ons het almal 'n storie of tien oor ons eie navorsing en natuurlik daai een deurbraak oomblik of ongelooflike gelukkige vonds of wat ookal om met ons medelede te deel, om 'n waarskuwing te gee, 'n bietjie moed in te praat of selfs 'n bietjie raad te bied. Ons vra julle om ook hieroor te dink en bydraes te bied vir publikasie. Laat weet asseblief van julle stories wat ons dan onder "interessanthede" sal plaas. Die stories kan net uit 'n paar paragrafies bestaan of 'n langer. Onthou, dit gaan oor ervarings te deel.

Library:

We have a small library which is being constantly augmented with books via donation and of course purchase. We are anxiously awaiting to receive a substantial donation from a collection, but more about that in the next newsletter. Graham Southey is our librarian. Between him and Lucas Rinken, our chairman,, they are busy catalogueing our current collection. Please make use of this underutilised resource. There are many magazines for light reading, a fair number of historical type books for more intense reading, and then there are the very serious tomes such as the SAG's for study and research purposes. All of these are at your disposal. Should you find any books in your own collection that you no longer need or want, and these are of some merit and historical significance, please also consider donating these to our library. You will duly be acknowledged for your contribution.

Don't forget that we are still looking for those parts of your research that are complete to be added to our collection either in an omnibus that will be compiled from time to time depending on volume or your very own publication whether it be hard copy or in electronic format. You never know who may benefit from that material in the future - and you will have had a hand in it.

Laastens:

Dit is die nuwe voorgestelde formaat van ons maandelikse nuusbrief,. Ek vra asseblief vir kommentaar en kritiek asook bydraes vir die toekomstige uitgawes, waarin ons byvoorbeeld verjaarsdae sal kan aankondig, nuwe lede verwelkom, huldeblyke publiseer en meer. U voorstelle en nuusbrokkies sal ook verwelkom word. Soos nuwe idees hulle verskyning maak, sal ons die brief uitbou.

Greetings from your committee with the reminder of this months meeting on Saturday the 21st February a 2pm (14h00) at the NG Church Ontdekkerskruin, Phillips Avenue, Discovery, Roodepoort.

Remember your R5 contribution for refreshments, for which we thank Margaret Humphries heartily for co-ordinating and arranging every month. Much is discussed and shared over those cups of tea and plates of eats. So be sure to get your share of the action.

MONTHLY MEETING: 17 JANUARY 2009

Date: Saturday, 17 January 2009;

Time: 14:00 to 16:00;

Place: Dutch Reformed Church (NG Kerk), Ontdekkerskruin, Phillips Avenue, Discovery, Roodepoort (Map below);

Subject: A Workshop on Legacy, a genealogy computer programme;

Presenter: Lucas Rinken, chairman of the Branch.

Background of Lucas' Legacy expertise:

• Compiler of e-SAGI, die biggest genealogy database in South Africa (close to 400 000 names);
• One of the official translators of Legacy into Afrikaans).
  

Request: Attendees are requested to identify questions beforehand;

Entrance Fee: R5,00 for refreshments.

CLICK ON THE MAP TO ENLARGE
(SOURCE: Mail and Guardian Online)

DIS LONEND OM TE ADVERTEER

’n Broer en suster, albei in hul 60’s, is Kersfees met mekaar herenig nadat hulle sowat 40 jaar gelede kontak verloor het.

Boonop het hulle uitgevind hulle woon al jare lank in dieselfde woonbuurt, het die Daily Mail gister berig.

Mnr. Ken Whitty (64) het gesê hy het sy suster, Yvonne, soms by haar potplante in haar voortuin gesien, maar het nooit vermoed dit is sy suster nie.

“Ons het so baie verander dat ons mekaar net nie sou herken nie.”

Die broer en suster het saam in Salford grootgeword. Hul ouers is in hul vroeë tienerjare dood.

’n Familievriend het hulle grootgemaak, maar hulle het uitmekaar gedryf nadat hulle albei uit die huis is.

In 1970 het Whitty na die huis gegaan waar sy suster vroeër gewoon het, maar dit was gesloop.

Oor die jare het Whitty probeer vasstel wat van sy suster geword het, maar kon nie eens vasstel of sy nog leef nie.

“Ek het gedink ek sal haar uiteindelik vind, maar tyd het verbygegaan en dit het nooit gebeur nie,” het hy gesê.

“Ek het gedink: Dis Kersfees; ek is volgende jaar 65 en ek moet iets doen.”
Hy het ’n boodskap in ’n plaaslike koerant geplaas waarin hy hulp vra om haar op te spoor.

Kort daarna het hy ’n foonoproep van ’n skoolvriend gekry.

’n Paar minute later het die telefoon weer gelui.

“Hallo, dit is Yvonne,” het sy suster gesê.

“Ek kon dit nie glo nie. Ek het haar gevra waar sy bly en sy het gesê in Reddish.

“Ek het gevra waar omtrent en sy het gesê in Noord-Reddish. Ek het gesê: ‘Ek ook.’”

Hy het onmiddellik na haar huis gegaan om haar te sien.

Bron: BEELD, 4 Januarie 2008

FAMILY MEDICAL TREES CAN LEAD TO HEALTHY FUTURE

By Linda Shrieves, Orlando Sentinel

When Elaine Powell's husband started having heart problems, she remembered his father died of a heart attack. That left her wondering if her husband had inherited a heart condition.

As a genealogist, Powell knew where to find the answers. Using death certificates and obituaries, she built a medical family tree for her husband. It turned out his family didn't have a long trail of heart disease.

But that search inaugurated another quest: Powell began researching her family's medical tree and discovered that her paternal grandfather died of colon cancer in his 40s. "I told my doctor, and she told me that it was very important because they'll screen me early," says Powell, 61, of Orlando.

Genealogy has long been used to trace family histories, but now some are using it to learn whether they're at risk for certain diseases.

"In some ways, family history is the cheapest, most widely available and most proven type of genetic test we have," said Dr. Alan Guttmacher, acting director of the National Human Genome Research Institute.

By considering family history, doctors can look for inherited diseases and practice preventive medicine. The notion is so popular that the U.S. Surgeon General's Office has set up a Web site — familyhistory.hhs.gov — that helps people create a medical family tree.

"Sometimes people think genealogy is not very important, that it's just a hobby," says Drew Smith, a Florida genealogist who lectures about medical family trees. "And yet, we always read about people who have illnesses and diseases that run in families. The truth is, for some people, this is a matter of life and death."

Start by asking all your living relatives how their parents and grandparents died.

After that, it's time to start searching for records. The best records, says Powell, are death certificates, which usually list cause of death. You'd need as much of the following information as you can find: the relative's full name, state where he or she died, and city or county.

Your family's medical history does not need to be traced that far back. For doctors and geneticists, it's most important to include three generations: yours; your parents; and your grandparents.

Source: sunsentinal.com

ENJOY YOUR FAMILY

Good idea from Kimberley Powell, About.com Genealogy Guide [genealogy.guide@about.com]

Please remember this holiday to spend and enjoy time with your family.

Ask questions about their history.

Pull out old photo albums.

Take new photos.

Sing songs together.

Write down treasured family recipes.

Set up a video camera and record your conversations around the holiday table.

Please remember that family is what family history is all about.

Happy holidays to you and your families!

FESTIVE MESSAGE FROM THE CHAIRMAN

Dear friends,

Another year has sped close to it's end.

A year with mixed fortunes - some good progess but a shrinking membership. Very disturbing and will receive detailed attention in forthcoming committee meetings.

Wonderful progress in our library with a fantastic contribution by Celia Bayliss before she moved to Cape Town. And a promise of a further vast donation from the estate of Peter Smits who, regretably, passed away last year. And a greatly improved location - much more space and additional storage cabinets. Assistance from Graham Southey and Derek Rubidge to place stickers in the donated items and/or to capture items electronically so that this can eventually be made available to members.

Interesting subjests well handled by speakers at out monthly meetings but a regretably small attendance by members!

Finances are in good shape thanks mainly to good sales of our e-SAGI database. The assistance of Dennis Pretorius in this regard, must be emphasised. Despite hicups, the database has grown subtantially and, although the expected number of people contained will fail to meet the 2008 target of 450,000, the target of 500,000 before the GGSA AGM in Bloemfontein in March 2009, is achievable.

I thank each and every member of the committee for their loyalty and assistance as well as each branch member who contributed no matter how small the contribution. In particular, I thank Gerhard Marloth and Penny Evans for their willingness to join the team in 2009!

For 2009, my wish to all is a year of unexcelled growth, health and prosperety. May all your 'blank walls' have cracks enabling you to find your 'lost' ancestors, and may the year ahead, for the branch, show continued growth in not only membership but also activities and interesting projects to which our members can respond and help to build our branch to greater hights.

Should you have complaints/thoughts for improvement, please contact me - I welcome all and any correspondence.

Ek vertrou ons Afrikaanse vriende sal verstaan dat hierdie boodskap in Engels uitgestuur word om komunikasie te vergemaklik.

Best wishes and friendly greetings,

Lucas Rinken, chairman

"MENTORS" FOR MEMBERS CONSIDERED

Report from Lucas Rinken (left), chairman of the Gauteng Branch of the GSSA:

The branch committee today (Saturday, 29 November 2008) at length discussed the decline of the branch membership from 83 to 64 last year. It was more disturbing when Richard Ford (right), National Executive Member and editor of Familia, gave a report back of the NEC meeting in Cape Town on 22 November 2008 indicating that the national membership had risen.

Questions now asked are:

• How can we attract more members?
• How can we ensure that annual membership is renewed?
• Are we providing our members with value for money in terms of monthly meetings/support?
  

I was particularly pleased when, in a discussion after our meeting, Danie Jacobs suggested that we should introduce a system of mentors for each member. So often members come to our meeting and do not hear what they hoped to hear. However, being new members, they don't ask questions and we never see them again. Others join up at events like Hobby-X and that's the last we see or hear of them.

If each new member could be assigned to a "mentor" in order to:

• retain contact,
• encourage them to attend meetings and
• try to assist in genealogical matters,

it could be greatly beneficial to members and the branch.

Details would have to be worked out and members need to be carefully allocated to the right mentor. A structured system where experienced members take a maximum of five members under their wings is forseen. Such allocation will be based on common interests or whatever criteria will be considered.

Methods of assistance need to be worked out.

I look forward to comments and suggestions from members at your earliest convenience. E-mail me at lgrinken@iburst.co.za.

• I am happy to announce that Gerard Marloth has agreed to join our committee next year as membership secretary.
  

• Furthermore, Penny Evens (left) has agreed to join the committee to be a spokesman for beginners and to keep the committee focused on what members need.

BABY NAMES EXPLORER

• Thomas took a serious dip in the 1960's, but recovered 30 years later.

• David reached his peak in the 1960's. Nowadays he is not popular anymore.

• Benjamin is rapidly losing steam.

• Until the 1970's nobody knew of Chloe. Now she is the most popular.

• Charlotte follows right behind.

These are some interesting facts about the history of names in New South Wales, Australia. In the latest newsletter of the electronic newsletter for family historians from the Society of Australian Genealogists most interesting information is given about "100 years of baby names".

The editors writes: "Not strictly a genealogy website but nevertheless one that may be of interest to researchers. Produced by the NSW Registry of Births, Deaths & Marriages and The Powerhouse Museum, the Baby Names Explorer site is an interactive site allowing you to browse through more than a century of the top 1200 baby names in NSW.

“Enter all or part of a name in the name field and the graph adjusts to show the pattern of name usage over time. For example, entering the name 'Barbara' shows that the name reached its peak in the 1940s and was the 7th most popular girls name at that time. This site is a fun way to see whether your family naming patterns were typical of the time.”

Above: The rise and fall of the name "Robert" in NSW. (Please note: you cannot enter a name above. Click on "Baby Names Explorer" above. It takes a while to load.)

Keep in mind that these statistics related to only one territory -- New South Wales -- in Australia.

• Interesting subject for someone to do research in South Africa. How many babies are still baptised these days as "Jacomina" or "Johanna" or "Jacobus"? When did "Mireille", "Zander" and "Edzard" occur for the first time?

ELEKTRONIESE TELEFOONGIDS BRING VREUGDE

Die genealoog (of persoonsopspoorder) moenie Telkom se elekroniese telefoongids gering skat nie. Dis ‘n waardevolle hulpmiddel.

Gister het ‘n merkwaardige verhaal bekend geword toe Sandra (fiktiewe naam), ‘n vooraanstaande sakevrou in die Oos-Kaap, vertel het hoe dié gids haar gehelp het om haar aangenome dogter se biologiese ouers, na ‘n soektog van baie jare, op te spoor.

Agtien jaar gelede het sy en haar man die baba, Marlene (fiktiewe naam), aangeneem. ‘n Klompie jare het Sandra Marlene belowe dat sy haar regtige ouers opgespoor sal hê teen die tyd as sy haar 18de verjaardag vier.

Die soektog was jare lank aan die gang. Sandra het onlangs nog ‘n beroepsopspoorder groot geld betaal om te help. Sy het nog nie weer van hom gehoor nie.

Intussen het Marlene se 18de verjaardag nader gekruip.

Sandra het weer deur al haar dokumentasie gegaan om opnuut leidrade te probeer vind. Daar was ‘n adres – in ‘n ander provinsie -- op een of ander dokument. Toe sy op ‘n keer daar was, was daar niemand en die bure het vertel die mense wat daar woon se van* kom nie ooreen met die van waarna sy soek nie.

Heelwat later en ná nog baie navrae het Sandra Marlene se biologiese ma se nooiensvan nagespeur. Dit was al. G’n name, voorletters of adres nie.

Verlede week – enkele dae ná Marlene se 18de verjaardag -- was Sandra bra bedruk. Daai belofte aan Marlene …

Toe onthou sy dat iemand haar van die elektroniese telefoongids vertel het. Met wanhoop was sy voor haar rekenaar op die internet. Sy het Marlene se ma se nooiensvan op die elektroniese telefoongids ingetik. Daar was ‘n raps meer as 100 van hulle in die land.

Noukeurig het Sandra hulle een vir een deurgekyk -- nie dat sy gedink het sy sou iets van waarde vind nie. Dit was nog ‘n dag, nog ‘n metode, nog ‘n probeerslag. Ná enkele minute kon sy nie glo wat sy voor gesien het nie. Langs een van diegene op die lys voor haar, was die einste adres waar sy tevore gaan soek het.

Sy het sonder aarseling gebel. Dit was Marlene se een ouma (haar biologiese ma se ma). Daar was baie trane en baie vreugde.

En Marlene weet nou waar sy vandaan kom. Boonop is die groot ontmoeting dié naweek.

Die eenvoud van die saak is dat Sandra vroeër die verkeerde van* by die regte adres gesoek het. Met nog een brokkie inligting wat bygekom het, het die elektroniese telefoongids die geheim ontrafel. Bygesê: Sandra was geduldig en vasberade. Sy het nooit moed opgegee nie. Haar woord teenoor Marlene het sy nagekom.

* Die verkeerde van was toe al die tyd die pa s’n van wie die ma intussen geskei is.

• Die elektroniese gids kan gevind word by http://www.phonebookonline.co.za/.

MAANDVERGADERING: 29 NOVEMBER 2008

Datum: Saterdag, 29 November 2008

Tyd: 14:00 tot 16:00

Plek: NG Kerk, Ontdekkerskruin, Phillipslaan, Ontdekkers, Roodepoort
(padkaart onder)

Die aard van die byeenkoms sal 'n uitstalling wees met die klem op die boeke en pamflette in ons biblioteek. Dit sal lede die geleentheid bied om te sien wat ons het sodat hulle dit beter kan benut.

Toegang: R5,00 vir verversings.

ALMAL IS WELKOM.

KLIK OP DIE KAART OM DIT VERGROOT
(BRON: Mail and Guardian Online)

How to Create Your Own Genealogy Blog

Have you ever considered creating your own blog? A genealogy blog?

You may be thinking, "So, WHY do I need a genealogy blog?"

The short answer is:

• So that other genealogy researchers can find your blog (set up around a SURNAME you are interested in).

• The visitor to your blog finds something interesting on it that helps them.

• They may contact you and SHARE information with you that can help further YOUR genealogy research.
  

Where does one start? How is it done?

There are various blogplatforms. This blog of the West Gauteng Branch of the GSSA is done on BLOGGER. It is owned by Google.

Click here and read how to go about.

WORDPRESS is also a popular platform for creating blogs.

IMPRESSIVE SAG

Thought SAG stands for South African Genealogies?

Yes, but not only that. Click here and have a look.

"For the second year running the SAG has been among the prizewinners in the annual Website of the Year Awards run by the Federation of Family History Societies in the UK.

"Last year (2007) we received a Highly Commended award in the Overseas Society section.

"We were delighted to recently learn that we've been awarded 2nd overall in the same category for 2008."

Dealing in Historical Documents

A scary report for South African genealogists to note:

What family historian wouldn't love to possess their great, great grandfather's original will or a centuries old family Bible? Such items are treasures for anyone with a love of history. But they are also a rich source of income for collectors, leading to our nation's history disappearing piece by piece into private hands.

• In the summer of 2006, a former National Archives intern named Jim McTague stole 164 historical documents from NARA's Philadelphia facility, selling almost half of them on eBay.

• Six years earlier, former National Archives employee, Shawn P. Aubitz, pilfered several hundred documents and photos over a period of months, including pardons signed by Presidents James Madison and Abraham Lincoln.

• During a six-year period from 1996-2002, a Virginia amateur historian named Howard Harner repeatedly tucked Civil War papers into his clothes and smuggled them out of a National Archives research room.

• In 2006, Western Washington University discovered that more than 600 pages of maps, lithographs, charts and illustrations had been torn from at least 102 vintage volumes.

• Edward Forbes Smiley III, a Massachusetts dealer, was sentenced to 42 months in prison for stealing 98 rare maps from university libraries in the United States and United Kingdom between 1998 and 2005.
  

These and other thefts of historical documents are discussed in the excellent article To Catch a Thief which appeared in the April issue of Smithsonian Magazine. In response to such thefts, the National Archives has a program in place to help recover lost and stolen documents.

Read more at: About.com: Genealogy.

10 Ways to Celebrate Family History Month

October is regarded by many, especially in America, as "Family History Month". Many genealogists have adopted the month as their own. Who the person is who came up with this idea nobody knows, neither why October was chosen. However, whether you're new to genealogy, or have devoted a lifetime to it, here are some ways to craft and commemorate your past.

1. Get Started Tracing Your Family Tree;
2. Create a Family Cookbook;
3. Record Family Stories;
4. Uncover Your Family Health History;
5. Take a Trip Back in Time;
6. Scrapbook Your Family Heritage;
7. Start a Family Website or Blog;
8. Preserve Your Family Pictures;
9. Get the Next Generation Involved;
10. Craft a Heritage Gift.

Click HERE for the detail.

GRATIS HANDLEIDING VIR GENEALOGIESE NAVORSING

Daniël Jacobs skryf op SAGEN:

Die 2004-weergawe van my Handleiding vir Genealogiese Navorsing is al geruime tyd beskikbaar. Klik HIER om dit af te laai. Die grootte van die volledige handleiding was altyd ongeveer 24 MB. Sommige mense het probleme ondervind met die aflaai daarvan. Daar is nou 'n PDF-weergawe van 14MB beskikbaar vir aflaai. Ek glo die PDF-weergawe sal minder probleme gee met die aflaai. (Dit beslaan 189 bladsye met 94 aanhangsels -- altesame 389 bladsye.)

Daniël skryf onder meer in die handleiding:

• Ek het ‘n BA Hons in Geskiedenis aan die US en die Nasionale Diploma in Argiefwetenskap aan die RSA Technikon verwerf. Ek doen reeds die afgelope 18 jaar genealogiese en historiese navorsing en was vir 3 jaar werksaam in die NGK-argief en vir 3 jaar in die Nasionale Argief in Kaapstad. Ek het ook in September 2004 ‘n boek oor die geskiedenis van die Vosloo-familie voltooi vir mnr. Ton Vosloo, die voorsitter van NASPERS. Sedert 1992 is die kursus reeds deur meer as 80 mense bygewoon.
  

• Die doel met die kursus is om vir die kursusganger te leer hoe om familienavorsing te doen. Alhoewel groot dele van die kursus van waarde sal wees vir navorsing oor enige Suid-Afrikaanse bevolkingsgroep, word in die bespreking van bewaarplekke, bronne en die gevallestudie veral gefokus op die bronne en navorsingsmetodiek wat vir navorsing oor blanke Afrikaner-families van belang is.
  

• Wat is die oorsprong van die kursus? Ek het dikwels in die Nasionale Argief, Kaapstad se leeskamer opgelet dat 'n persoon byvoorbeeld die oggend in die argief sou aankom, die hele dag daar vertoef en dan die volgende dag weer daar is. Met die aanknoop van 'n geselsie het ek dikwels vasgetel dat die persoon nog nooit in die argief was nie, ten spyte van 'n hele dag se navorsing, veel vordering gemaak het nie. As ons dan gesels oor waarna die persoon op soek was, kon ek dikwels, deur die gee van 'n paar leidrade, hom of haar help om wesentlik vordering te maak met sy of haar navorsing. Ek het toe mettertyd besef dat daar 'n behoefte is aan 'n praktiese kursus wat vir die navorser vertel wat hy moet doen vandat hy by die argief se deur instap totdat hy weer daar uitstap. Die materiaal is dus baie prakties.
  

• Die argiewe en ander navorsingsinstellings bevat 'n onuitputlike bron van inligting. Daar word beweer dat geen groep oor sulke omvattende bronne m.b.t. sy voorgeslagte beskik as die blanke Afrikaner nie. Dit waarskynlik onder meer omdat feitlik alle blanke Afrikaners vir ongeveer die eerste 250 jaar aan die NG Kerk behoort het en die dokumente nie soos baie van die Europese dokumente in oorloë verwoes is nie.
  

Op 'n ander trant skryf Daniël dat Karel Schoeman nog 'n indeks van sy VOC-registers beskikbaar gestel vir aflaai. Klik HIER.

MAANDVERGADERING: 18 OKTOBER 2008

Datum: Saterdag, 18 Oktober 2008

Tyd: 14:00 tot 16:00

Plek: NG Kerk, Ontdekkerskruin, Phillipslaan, Ontdekkers, Roodepoort
(padkaart onder)

Onderwerp: Die Ontwikkeling van 'n Elektroniese Genealogiese Dataabsasis van Burgerlike Sterftes Gedurende die Anglo-Boereoorlog: 1899 -- 1902

Aanbieder: Celesté Reynolds

Verkorte CV:

• 1998 – 2001: Erfeniskoördineer van die Federasie van Afrikaanse Kultuurvereniginge (FAK). Een van haar take was die organisering van die 100-jarige herdenking van die Anglo-Boereoorlog. Dit is waar haar studie rakende die burgerlike sterftes gedurende die dié oorlog beslag het. Na deeglike ondersoek is tot die slotsom gekom dat daar slegs afsonderlike lyste is van die sterftes van vroue, kinders en bejaardes wat in die oorlog oorlede is en nie 'n gekonsolideerde lys nie.
  

• 2007: Ná meer as vyf jaar se navorsing verwerf Celesté ‘n meestersgraad (met lof) aan die Noordwes-universiteit (NWU).

• 2008: Aangestel as Argivaris by die NWU. Haar take sluit onder meer in die saamstel van inventarisse, die ontsluiting en beskikbaarstelling van inligting sowel as die langtermynbewaring van historiese dokumente asook die Universiteit se fotoversameling

• Celesté dien op die bestuur van Erfenis Potchefstroom wat homself beywer vir die bewaring van ons kultuurerfenis. Sy is lid van Historia, SAMA, SAPCON en dien op die bestuur van die Noordwestak van die SA Genealogiese Genootskap. Sy is ook betrokke by die saamstel van die FAMNEA-publikasie.

• Haar verhandeling is beskikbaar by die takbiblioteke van die NWU, insluitend die Vanderbiljpark- en Mafikengkampus. Die CD wat die databasis van name van oorlogslagoffers bevat, kan daar besigtig word.

• Die Akademie vir Wetenskap en Kuns het vanjaar geld beskikbaar gestel vir die publisering van haar MA-verhandeling. Dit word selde vir ’n Meestersgraad oorweeg.

Toegang: R5,00 vir verversings.

KLIK OP DIE KAART OM DIT VERGROOT
(BRON: Mail and Guardian Online)

TV Personality a Genealogist

What does a radio and TV personality do in his free time? Especially if he is young, South African, controversial, a disc jockey of note and one of the judges of the TV show, IDOLS?

He researches his family history.

Why does he do it?

"Because it's the stuff you can't change: the way you look, sound, your talents or lack thereof, your genetic predisposition to run or fight, how clever or stupid you are, all the good stuff. So shouldn't you want to know what that stuff is?"

Read the story of Gareth Cliff here.

Die Sjinese Afrikaan

Johann Prozesky van Astonbaai laat weet: My broer vertel my pas die storie van 'n Sjinees met die naam Sem Ting wat so met die draai van die 19e na die 20e eeu na SA gekom het. Hy meld toe by die owerhede aan en net voor hom, in die ry mense, was ene Khumalo. Dié se saak is afgehandel en toe die klerk vir die Sjinees om sy naam vra, sê hy "Sem Ting". Hy is toe as Khumalo geregistreer.

Indien jy 'n Sjinese Khumalo sou raakloop, weet jy hoekom!

I Have The Results of My Genetic Genealogy Test, Now What?

Are you interested in genetic genealogy? DNA?

Blaine Bettinger is a leading genealogy DNA expert.

He is author of a blog titled: The Genetic Genealogist. Click here to visit the blog.

The site is also subtitled, Adding DNA to the Genealogist’s Toolbox.

Blaine wrote an e-book,
"I Have The Results of My Genetic Genealogy Test, Now What?"

The e-book is available free of charge at his website. Click here to download the e-book.

NUWE WEERGAWES VAN TWEE DATABASISSE

300 000 GRAFTE SE DATA

Die Begraafplaasprojek (Cemetery Recording Project) van die GGSA het ‘n wonderlike mylpaal behaal: teen die einde van September 2008 sal dié databasis gegewens oor nie minder nie as 300 000 grafte in Suid-Afrika bevat.

Dié aankondiging is Saterdag, 20 September 2008, deur Peter Moss (links) wat aan die stuur van die projek is, by ‘n vergadering van die Nasionale Uitvoerende Komitee (NUK) van die GGSA bekendgemaak.

Die Wes-Gautengtak was die gasheer van dié vergadering.

Volgens Peter sal die sewende weergawe van die projek by die GGSA se volgende Algemene Jaarvergadering in 2009 vrygestel word.

Die omvang daarvan is nou van so ‘n aard dat dit waarskynlik nie meer meer op ‘n CD sal pas nie. Gevolglik sal dit op ‘n DVD vrygestel word.

Die huidige sesde uitgawe bevat na raming 250 000 grafte se besonderhede (teenoor die 300 000 van aanstaande jaar se nuwe weergawe). Dit kan bestel word by André Heydenrych, nasionale tesourier van die GGSA. Sy epos-adres is: aheydenr@mweb.co.za. KLIK HIER as u nóú 'n epos aan André wil stuur.

Vir die oningeligtes: die Begraafplaasprojek behels die optekening van grafte van veral plase en kleiner dorpies in Suid-Afrika.

Bywerkings word deurentyd gedoen.

400 000 PERSONE SE DATA

‘n Tweede groot prestasie is die aankondiging van Lucas Rinken (links) dat elektroniese Suid-Afrikaanse Genealogiese Indeks (e-SAGI) se volgende weergawe 400 000 name sal bevat. Lucas is die man wat reeds jare lank aan dié databasis werk. Dit bevat data van feitlik al wat ‘n familie in Suid-Afrika is. Lucas is ook voorsitter van die Wes-Gautengtak.

Dié databasis is eweneens nou te groot vir ‘n CD. Dit sal op DVD teen R120 plus R10 posgeld beskikbaar wees.

Hierdie pryse is vir versending in Suid-Afrika. Versending na die buiteland sal groter posgeld meebring. Pryse moet met Dennis Pretorius bevestig moet word. Bestellings kan ook by Dennis geplaas word. Sy epos-adres is krugersdorp@pixie.co.za. KLIK HIER en stuur nóú 'n epos aan Dennis.

Die doel van die indeks is om aan navorsers 'n betroubare databasis te voorsien wat deurgaans opgedateer word. Data word van 'n menigte bronne ingesamel en by bestaande data gevoeg. Lucas maak nie daarop aanspraak dat die data volledig en korrek is nie. Dit is nietemin 'n uitstekende bron vir diegene wat op soek is na vertrekpunte om familie te vind.

Die databasis bevat sowat 144 000 families en sluit altesame 25 500 vanne in. Sommige vanne is egter gedupliseer as gevolg van verskillende spellings. As voorbeeld noem Lucas dat daar De Wet en de Wet is. Vir die rekenaar is dit twee verskillende spellings. Een van sy take is juis om al die data te standaardiseer.

Een van die groot voordele van eSAGI is dat die data op 'n moderne rekenaarprogram (Legacy) geplaas is. Dit bring mee dat familieverbintenisse tussen mense met verskillende vanne geïdentifiseer word. Anders gestel: met die koppelings wat Lucas tussen families (met die rekenaar) maak, "ontdek" die rekenaar nog meer koppelings wat 'n mens andersins moontlik nooit van sou geweet het nie.

Vergelyk dit met boeke wat stamregisters weergee. Boeke bevat hoofsaaklik die name en data van mense met 'n spesifieke familienaam (van) asook die persone met wie hulle getroud was. Soms word die ouers van laasgenoemde (m.a.w die skoonouers), genoem. Daar hou dit op.

Met eSAGI word al die ooreenstemmende name van baie verskillende stamregisters gekoppel.

• 'n Persoon se stamregister word dus aan die stamregisters van sy skoonouers gekoppel.
• Vir dieselfde persoon se kinders beteken dit dat hul stamregister aan hul oupas en oumas aan hul ma se kant gekoppel word.
  

Sodoende kan 'n mens 'n baie meer uitgebreide familie ontdek -- en sodoende daardie voorouer of ander familie vind waarna al so lank gesoek word.

Lucas bestee daagliks baie ure aan dié projek. Die opbrengs uit verkope gaan aan die Wes-Gautentgtak van die GGSA.

• Hierdie twee databasisse is van groot waarde. Menige genealoog het met inligting wat hierdeur bekom is, hul voorsate en waardevolle inligting gevind.

MONTHLY MEETING: 20 SEPTEMBER 2008

Date: Saturday, 20 SEPTEMBER 2008;

Time: 14:00 to 16:00;

Place: Dutch Reformed Church (NG Kerk), Ontdekkerskruin, Phillips Avenue, Discovery, Roodepoort (Map below);

Subject: The History and Research at Braamfontein Cemetery;

Presenter: Alan Buff, Regional Manager, Parks and Cemeteries, Greater Johannesburg Metropolitan Council.

Short CV:

Alan has the training portfolio at the Johannesburg Parks Department. He trained in the United Kingdom, specialising in Cemeteries. He has been responsible for the design of a number of our newer cemeteries and is an advocate of changing the concept of burial grounds as places for the dead to places for the living.

Entrance Fee: R5,00 for refreshments.

CLICK ON THE MAP TO ENLARGE
(SOURCE: Mail and Guardian Online)