tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7077574950918175884.post332465105364255313..comments2023-04-03T08:07:44.584-04:00Comments on Welcome to Genealogy By Ginger!: Lessons Learned at the NGS ConferenceGinger Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17453442334718861407noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7077574950918175884.post-13900646660945171732011-05-23T16:34:57.898-04:002011-05-23T16:34:57.898-04:00Wow, Michelle, that's great!Wow, Michelle, that's great!Ginger Smithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17453442334718861407noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7077574950918175884.post-67815556957112762702011-05-23T16:11:52.541-04:002011-05-23T16:11:52.541-04:00Ginger, I bought the label maker several years ago...Ginger, I bought the label maker several years ago and it's one of the best investments I ever made. I label folders, hanging files, boxes and even light switches with it.Michelle Goodrumhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03427355155193196767noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7077574950918175884.post-42660075856428564022011-05-19T23:40:00.986-04:002011-05-19T23:40:00.986-04:00Hi Liz, to be honest, I'm lucky if I can still...Hi Liz, to be honest, I'm lucky if I can still remember what I'm looking for by the time I get to the filing cabinet! That's my biggest problem, especially with digital - is that I can't remember where or how I would have filed something in the first place! oh well, I guess I just need to practice. And no, I was not 4, I was 15...just saying ;-)Ginger Smithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17453442334718861407noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7077574950918175884.post-81523481421155161322011-05-19T23:36:55.330-04:002011-05-19T23:36:55.330-04:00"I’ve been reusing my file folders for 20 yea..."I’ve been reusing my file folders for 20 years now..." WHAT?! You started filing when you were 4?!!!!! LOL! <br /><br />I can't be much help to you on this topic. I am quite organized (my only gift), but I file my family info in notebooks, like Greta. I tried file folders, but the notebooks work great for me. Like Kerry said, think about how YOU look for items... that will help you organize them. No system is going to work if you don't like to use it.Lizhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10022611712765114470noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7077574950918175884.post-15944615016565253282011-05-19T08:09:25.529-04:002011-05-19T08:09:25.529-04:00My folders are alphabetized by last name. Childre...My folders are alphabetized by last name. Children who never lived to adulthood are in their parents' file. Women who lived to adulthood but never married are in their own file. Women who married are in a file under the husband's name (the first husband, if there were multiple spouses). They aren't divided into branches (although I'm working on that since they're outgrowing their space).<br /><br />The key is really to put stuff in a place where you'll remember to look for it. My brain thinks to look for the children who died young with their parents, but the adult children on their own. That's why I file them that way. Whatever works for you is fine.Kerry Scotthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17590443839479686201noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7077574950918175884.post-83717415668587966172011-05-18T23:16:14.355-04:002011-05-18T23:16:14.355-04:00Ginger - I keep large family files in labeled bind...Ginger - I keep large family files in labeled binders, and when there is really a whole lot of stuff, there may be as many as six binders. For smaller families, subject files (genealogical society information, repository information, etc.), and untranscribed documents, I use the hanging folders.Greta Koehlhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05429623811794360612noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7077574950918175884.post-253221649451885202011-05-18T21:21:38.065-04:002011-05-18T21:21:38.065-04:00Hi Kerry, I am willing to try anything! One questi...Hi Kerry, I am willing to try anything! One question I grapple with is how to organize the files. Right now I have four drawers and each drawer is its own family unit. I have the folders alphabetized in each drawer. Others recommend to put all files together and alphabetize them all. What do you suggest?Ginger Smithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17453442334718861407noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7077574950918175884.post-26302805834352084262011-05-18T20:25:56.700-04:002011-05-18T20:25:56.700-04:00For the stuff where you DO use paper, there is no ...For the stuff where you DO use paper, there is no substitute for nice, neat files with good labels on them. Their very existence can make you more organized.<br /><br />When I was an HR consultant, one of the services I offered was an employee file audit. I'd go through the files, tell you where you had liabilities (stuff that was required to be filed separately, too much or not enough performance documentation, etc.) While I went through, I'd replace each actual file and create nice labels. The real value of the service was the audit, but what people raved about was the beautiful, neat files left behind. Every client said that they were better able to keep the files in order because of that. I always thought it was funny, because it was just an afterthought...but they found value in the afterthought.<br /><br />If you're going to have paper files, keeping them neat and attractive will go a long way toward helping you keep your system up.Kerry Scotthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17590443839479686201noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7077574950918175884.post-68378120749209045192011-05-18T12:40:03.814-04:002011-05-18T12:40:03.814-04:00I can totally relate to this! I have good intenti...I can totally relate to this! I have good intentions to be organized, but I have decision-making problems too.Jenniferhttp://www.climbingmyfamilytree.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7077574950918175884.post-51620273963604362162011-05-18T11:19:45.244-04:002011-05-18T11:19:45.244-04:00Hi Marian, I prefer the computer too, but I can...Hi Marian, I prefer the computer too, but I can't ever find or remember where I put anything on the computer. Thank god for Windows 7 and their search box!Ginger Smithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17453442334718861407noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7077574950918175884.post-44360779847117379702011-05-18T11:05:51.269-04:002011-05-18T11:05:51.269-04:00Your system sounds just like mine. I prefer to sto...Your system sounds just like mine. I prefer to store everything in the computer. I bought a label maker years ago and still have never used it. Maybe I should go dig it out....Marianhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04738104230962644360noreply@blogger.com