Manasota PAF News Jan 2004

WE HAVE OUR OWN MAILING LIST: FL-MANASOTAPAFUG-L submitted by instructor, Pat Richley Myrt@DearMYRTLE.com OK, good news: our mailing list is ready to roll. Briefly (very), people can subscribe to our list in mail mode by sending a message to FL-MANASOTAPAFUG-L-request@rootsweb.com that contains the word "subscribe" without quotes and nothing else. If they prefer digest mode, they should send the command instead to FL-MANASOTAPAFUG-D-request@rootsweb.com.

To unsubscribe, they should send the command "unsubscribe" to FL-MANASOTAPAFUG-L-request@rootsweb.com (if in mail mode) or FL-MANASOTAPAFUG-D-request@rootsweb.com (if in digest mode.) To switch from one mode to the other, they should unsubscribe from one and then subscribe to the other. There is no "no mail" mode -- if they want messages to stop, they should simply unsubscribe. To post to both FL-MANASOTAPAFUG-L and FL-MANASOTAPAFUG-D, messages should be sent to FL-MANASOTAPAFUG-L@rootsweb.com. Messages sent there will appear both places.

MATCH/MERGE MPAFUG & MGS? submitted by Pat Richley, Myrt@DearMYRTLE.com At the regularly-scheduled meeting of the Board of Directors of the MGS Manasota Genealogical Society on January 28, 2004, a proposal by a MGS member to the board was entertained -- about possibly moving the Manasota PAF Users Group meetings to Wednesday afternoons from 1:15pm-2:30 or 3pm during the time period when the MGS normally holds an afternoon workshop. Subsequent email communication took place between the President of MGS (Pat Richley) and the President of MPAFUG (Ed Gaulin) wherein Ed suggested the complete "match/merge" of the two entities, into the MGS. This involved consolidating the dues and doing away completely with the MPAFUG, except to place a MPAFUG member on the MGS Board of Directors. NO DECISIONS HAVE BEEN MADE, but the PAF group should be polled as to their opinions on the subject. They are the ones that must vote, if there are to be any significant changes to the corporation.

Personally, I had initially thought a joint venture, with each corporation remaining independent would be feasible, since it would free up one Saturday a month, and make set up for the instructor so much easier, since all the equipment would be in place from the morning meeting. However, I do not want to totally disband the MPAFUG, because our society has gained some recognition in the world of PAF, etc., meaning that some societies in Scotland, Australia, and elsewhere use our newsletter as their meeting syllabus as well. I also like to keep the video library belonging to the group that purchased it. More importantly, there are at least 7 people I can think of who belong to MPAFUG that could not attend the Wednesday meeting because they work during the week. For them, this Saturday meeting is the only genealogy society meeting they can attend in Manatee County. Cost of bank accounts are free, and cost of annual corporate fees to State of Florida are minimal, so I see no benefit to completely merging the two corporations.

MGS is facing 2 problems which a partial merge would solve: 1. What to do in the afternoon sessions. 2. Who to have as a newsletter editor. I currently create the Manasota PAF Newsletter. However, I use the columns I write in the newsletter as content on my DearMYRTLE web site, to make up for the columns I would be writing if I weren't doing the PAF newsletter. I do not want to post these on the Manasota Genealogical Society website, because they will not be found when people search DearMYRTLE.com.

Rather than let the rumors fly, as MGS President, and as MPAFUG instructor, I'd like to broach this subject at Saturday's MPAFUG meeting, to discover the initial reaction of the members. You can propose a motion, if you'd like to pass or fail any portion or all of the suggestions. However, it is important to note that while many of our members are also members of MGS, this is not a decision for the MGS board to make. The decision is ours at PAF. What say ye, gang? Can we live without Audrey's rum balls next Christmas?

All joking aside, a major reason for the popularity of the MPAFUG is the camaraderie we enjoy because of the time we spend socializing during the refreshment break. The most wonderful consequence of this tradition is that it makes it a LOT easier to pipe up with a question or two during our instruction time, when one feels comfortable with the other people in the room. There is also a tremendous amount of sharing (a la show-and-tell) that just naturally occurs at our meetings. Is this because the room is smaller, more intimate? Is MGS saying they wish to have more of this friendliness in their meetings? I don't know. Your thoughts are most important to the final decision.

EXPORTING A GEDCOM FILE submitted by instructor Pat Richley, Myrt@DearMYRTLE.com Here's a brief run-down, with screen shots of how PAF Personal Ancestral File, FTM Family Tree Maker, RootsMagic, Legacy and TMG The Master Genealogist export genealogy data in GEDCOM file format.

PAF	Click FILE, then select EXPORT. Then you will see the following screen: IF you select PARTIAL group of individuals from your database, the SELECT button on the right is activated, so you have the following screen: Once you choose, click OK, then EXPORT... you are asked to name the file, which will end in .ged.
LEGACY	Click FILE, then select EXPORT, then select GEDCOM. Then you will see the following screen, where although you chose GEDCOM, you must click the down arrow button at point "a" below and choose GEDCOM from the drop down list. You can change from "ALL RECORDS IN THE ENTIRE FAMILY FILE" by clicking the "RECORD SELECTION..." button in the lower left portion of the dialog box. You will then see: You must click SELECTED RECORDS CONTAINED IN GROUP's "View/Set Focus Group" button, and gradually build a focus group in the box below. Once you click OK, then you'll be back at the screen above, and can click CLOSE, then back 1 more screen so you can click SELECT FILE NAME AND START EXPORT button.
RootsMagic	Click FILE, select EXPORT GEDCOM, and you get to this screen: When you click the radio button to choose "Selected People" the SELECT button is activated, for you to click and see the following:
TMG	UNLESS you plan to export all names in your database, you must have the PROJECT EXPLORER filter turned on to include someone (such as all those who are no longer living.) You will have to click WINDOW, then PROJECT EXPLORER, and work to build the filter by clicking the little funnel icon. THEN Click FILE, then EXPORT, and follow the EXPORT WIZARD screens: Be sure to replace the EXPORT FILE NAME with something you prefer such as NAYLOR and then change the folder to perhaps your DESKTOP, so it will be easier to locate the file to attach to email for a friend.

This is PART ONE - See also PART TWO
The Manasota PAF Users Group is a non-profit educational organization in the State of Florida. Copyright 1994-2004. All Rights Reserved. dearmyrtle@aol.com Webmaster. Personal Ancestral File is the registered trademark of the Corporation of the President, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. The Master Genealogist and FamilyTree SuperTools are the registered trademarks of Wholly Genes, Inc. Family Tree Maker is the registered trademark of Mattel. RootsMagic is the registered Trademark of Formal Soft. The ideas expressed in this the Manasota PAFNews are merely the opinions of the contributors. The writers, editors, publishers, and the Users Group are in no way responsible or liable for any damages resulting from articles, opinions, statements, advertising, representations or warranties expressed or implied in this publication nor do we endorse or recommend any products or services mentioned or illustrated herein.
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