Motivation Monday on a Friday! Of course!

My genea-friends were very kind in reading my blog post yesterday, where I discussed my 2012 genealogy goals.  I had some very nice comments and an invitation!

Stephanie over at Corn and Cotton invited me to join her Motivation Monday group. Genea-bloggers will be outlining their monthly goals the first Monday of each month and then Fridays will be the update day. It will be the choice of each individual to update weekly or monthly. The purpose of the group is to encourage each other as we pursue our goals and cheer accomplishments.

What a wonderful idea! Stephanie I accept wholeheartedly! Not only do I need to reach out to the genealogy community, I need a system that helps me check my progress regularly and will help keep me on track and enthused! I’m in!

So dear reader will you please stay with me as I list my January genealogy goals?

With organization being close to the top of my list, I plan to take one of my surname binders each month and clean it out, update it and well, organize! This month I am choosing my family surname – Van Meter. I chose that family because it fits with my second goal.

Next on my list is to research my first cousin 4x removed, James R Van Meter. James served in the Civil War and was barely 21 yrs old when he died. His parents had both passed away when he enlisted and without a wife and children, his story ends there. I want to change that. It will be hard to document a mere 21 yrs between 1843 and 1864 but I want to do the best I can to preserve James’ short time here.

Blogging – I want to be consistent and improve. (Who doesn’t LOL!!) I do have a plan though. This month I’m reading Amy Coffin’s, The Big Genealogy Blog Book. I bought it here, downloaded it on my Kindle, and will finish it this month.

My final goal for this month is to drag the scanner upstairs and hook it up to my laptop. I will start scanning my black and white family snap shots. I’ll be in a spare bedroom with a TV and plan to scan every Monday night while watching American Pickers. How’s that for a plan?

I am excited to be a part of this motivation group. I’ve read the blogs/goals of the other participants and hope we can learn from each other and really be an encouragement to each other.

Goals – it’s time to divide and conquer!

Thanks again Stephanie for the invitation!