Winter is just around the corner, and thoughts often turn to those projects that require more time and attention than is available in the summer. Perhaps one of these projects is beginning research on your family tree. The Yorkton Branch of the Saskatchewan Genealogy Society will be holding their next meeting on Tuesday, November 13 at 7:00 p.m. in the History Room at the Yorkton Public Library. Fred Bodnaryk will be the special guest speaker. The Genealogy Society welcomes new members anytime. Whether you are just beginning to trace your family tree, or have done extensive research, the Genealogy Society and provide you with the help, resources, advice and enthusiasm that you need to move forward with your project. For more information, call Glenn at 782-7969 or Dave at 783-1093.
The computer has made genealogy research swifter and easier in so many ways, but even with all the information available, it does not come to light until family members take the action to begin. An old saying goes: "When is the best time to plant a tree?" And the answer is "Ten years ago." So it is with genealogy research. The longer you wait, the greater the chance that you will lose your most valuable resources: senior family members. The best advice is: do it now!
Consider this story from Jim Enos that is one of many found on the website "Great Genealogy Stories", previously published by Julia M. Case and Mayra Vanderpool Gormley, GC.
The story is called "Do It Now".
"For years I have been too busy making a living to get too serious about much genealogy research. When I retired I was really going to get to it, which I have. I have known for a long time that my grandmother ENOS's maiden name was Eva Glade WILSON and her father's name was Horatio Hon WILSON. But no one could find the family including me. My dad, age 83, suggested I call his surviving younger sister who was in a nursing home in Illinois, but cautioned that I must call in the morning because she was on oxygen and they would get her out of bed only then. Well, it is a long way, time zone wise, between Hawaii and Illinois so I put it off for nearly two years, lost the phone number, got it again, etc. We all know the story.
Finally, one day I just said "to heck with it," picked up the phone and called one afternoon (her time). The nurse who answered said, "Of course, we'll put you right through to her" and in the next moment I was talking to an aunt I hadn't spoken with in 40 years. She remembered me as if it was yesterday and talked with animation of her life and mine. When we got around to the WILSON family, she proceeded to give me the names of all of the 12 children of Horatio Hon WILSON, her grandfather, all of Macoupin County, Illinois, many of their spouses or married names, where they lived and where they were from (Covington, Kentucky), and the correct name of her grandmother, Belva Ann MASTON. We talked until I felt she was exhausted but neither wanted to hang up. It was truly an enjoyable happy time. Looking forward to our next chat I called a few weeks later and was told she had passed away shortly after her birthday. I was numb.
Had I waited much longer I would have missed the opportunity to bring some cheer to a long-forgotten relative - and she would have missed the opportunity to pass on to me some of her family I may have never found. Do it now."
Good advice! Every family has a story: discover yours with the Yorkton Branch of the Saskatchewan Genealogy Society.
