Goals for 2025

I say goals and not resolutions. Resolutions sound like you have to fix something. I just want to get stuff done and making a list of goals might help do that. First, let’s look at last year’s goals and my grade for it.

2024 Goals

• Organize photos and files. I eliminated some family file folders by scanning and recycling the papers. I have reduced two large bins to one so far, but I stopped halfway through the year because the copy machine I used at the FamilySearch Center was out of order. I need to get back to that. B for effort.

• Write 4 research reports and articles. I have written articles for journals, but they are how-to articles, not research reports. I just don’t like writing research reports. C- for not trying hard.

• Write a book on the Hork family. I did create a book about my parents using text from blog posts and photos I have. It’s digital only and I gave a copy to each of my siblings. It’s not the whole Hork family, but it’s a start. A- because it does not have citations.

• Write blog posts. This I did well. I wrote most weeks three blog posts: 52 Ancestors, Genea-pourri, and Saturday Night Genealogy Fun. A few weeks out of the year I wrote additional posts. Two especially well received were “John Coor of Copiah County Made an Agreement with Joel Hoggatt,” and “Analysis of the new AI Summary at FamilySearch.” A+ for keeping this up.

• Create 1-2 new presentations using case studies. I did not create any case study presentations. I’m still working on that. F for not even working on it.

For 2025, I need to be realistic about what I can accomplish. I also should list things I want to do, versus what I should do. What I really enjoy doing is taking classes and I have two institute classes planned for the winter and spring at SLIG, and a German session with the Genealogy Headquarters team of Ursula and Ute. At the NGS Conference, I’m taking the BCG Ed Fund course. Nothing outside of that is scheduled yet. Nothing at GRIP or IGHR looked interesting. 

Before and after NGS conference, I hope to get some research done in Jeffersonville and Indianapolis in Indiana, and in Louisville and Frankfort, and at Shelby and Lewis counties. I have Lancaster, Davey, Polly, and Wollenweber/Voehringer families to find.

2025 Goals

• Organization. Continue organizing and reducing files. I have new archival boxes to store these items and I can donate the plastic bins.

• Writing. Create 2 books about my grandparents, Tom J Johnston & Pansy Lancaster, and William C Hork and Anna Sullivan. Do the same as I did the parent's book, using blog posts and photos. 

• Renewal. Decide on a subject for the KDP I can use for my renewal. I have played around with some starting points but have not decided yet.

• Presentations. Create 1-2 new presentations. One should have a case study within.

These goals are doable. I'll create a 3x5 card with these goals to post on my bulletin board, and this year I won't let them get covered up.

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