How Are You Doing? On Those 2011 Goals/Resolutions?

We're now through the first month of the New Year (hard to believe, isn't it?). So, I thought this was a good time to check my progress on the genealogy/writing goals I listed in my "Eleven for '11" post.

Here are the goals I set followed by a report on what I've done so far.

1. Follow up on researching my Alzo ancestors using information I obtained from my trip to Slovakia this summer.

Doing quite well with this goal. I've been finding quite a few records in various databases, old newspapers and more. I'll be writing more about specific discoveries in future blog posts

2. Publish revised editions (and electronic versions) of my books, Three Slovak Women and Baba's Kitchen.

Making steady progress on this goal. Hope to have both available in the next month.

3. Try to find out more about my grandmother's brother who stayed in Slovakia.

Located burial information and a death certificate so far.

4. Publish a new book.

Working on this.

5. Explore genealogy in Second Life.

Have signed up for my account. Need to learn the ropes before I can really participate in meetings, etc.

6. Book additional speaking engagements--including some remote/virtual lectures.

Signed on for four major conferences and three other engagements thus far.

7. Blog more frequently and try to use Twitter more for genealogical purposes.

Not doing so well on this. Been too busy with some of the other items on this list. But hope to do better.

8. Continue to expand my freelance writing career.

Working on this. Have several assignments.

9. Write for at least 15 minutes per day (about ancestors or topics not associated with assignments or deadline projects).

Happy to say that I have been faithfully doing this task.

10. Finish organizing my father's scrapbook of his basketball days.

DONE!

11. Purge, purge, purge the clutter! Organize all the other!

Making slow, but steady progress!

I hope to keep my momentum going so that I can reach all of my goals. I'll post periodic updates.

So...how are you doing on your goals?

Not Too Late to Save 20%

My new course on Discovering Czech & Slovak Roots for Family Tree University starts tomorrow January 31, 2011. But it's not too late to register, and you can save 20% off of your registration plus get a free calendar!. Click here to reserve your spot and use the code NEWYEAR11.

New Genealogy Course Offerings

I'm pleased to announce two new genealogy courses I'm teaching.

Research: East European Ancestors - Part I: This short intensive course is being offered through The National Institute for Genealogical Studies. It will run for 6 weeks starting February 7th.

Course Description: A vast number of immigrants from came to America from various areas in Central and Eastern Europe in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. This course will show you how to begin researching your Central and Eastern European roots using both traditional and online sources. Learn how to identify your ancestral village (whether in Austria, Hungary, Czech Republic, Poland, Slovakia, the Ukraine, or other areas), locate and interpret vital records, contact possible relatives, trace your ancestors through census and immigration records, organize your research, and much more!

For more information and to register, click here.

Discovering Your Czech and Slovak Roots: Strategies for Searching Over Here and Over There: Family Tree University. This 4-week course begins January 31st.

Course Description: Researchers with Czech or Slovak roots often battle certain brick walls—do surname issues, border changes and language troubles sound all too familiar to you? Lisa A. Alzo, a specialist in Eastern European genealogy, will show you tools and tricks for tracking down those hard-to-find ancestors from the Austro-Hungarian Empire and Czechoslovakia. Registration is now open. Click here.

If you want to learn more about your East European ancestry, I hope you'll join me for one of these courses.

My "Family History Three": Focusing My Research

I can't believe the first week of January is almost gone! How are you doing on your family history research resolutions? I've been thinking about mine a lot this week, and I decided I really need to have a focus for my 2011 genealogy quests.

There are always "too many ancestors and too little time." And, while I'm always open to whatever discoveries I make during the research process, this year I will focus my attention specifically on three ancestors.

1. Janos Alzyso (my great-grandfather).

He intrigues me because of various family stories I heard during my trip to Slovakia this summer. In particular, I learned about his coming to America more than once (he was one of the so-called "birds of passage" who would spend some time here to earn enough money to then go back to the old country with the hopes of being able to purchase land. I hope to track him through immigration/emigration, census records, and whatever other documents I can locate.

3. Borbola Manovsky - my great-grandmother.

I know very little about her so hope to find out whatever I can. She died the same year (just a few months apart) as her son (my grandfather), and I thought this was an interesting coincidence.

3. Istvan (Stefan) Sztraka (Straka) - my grandmother's brother.

He stayed in Slovakia and served in the army. I saw his gravestone during my visit, but want to learn more about his life.

I will call these my "Family History Three". I'll blog about the search process and results as I find them. And, by doing so, I hope to possibly connect with new cousins and/or hear from any fellow researchers who have any information about these individuals.

Copyright 2010, Lisa A. Alzo

All Rights Reserved

Happy 117th Birthday Grandpap!

Today is my Grandpap Alzo's birthday--his 117th! I never met my grandfather, but he holds a very special place in my heart, especially after my visit to his birthplace--Kucin, Slovakia--in June 2010.

Below is my grandfather's baptismal record. He was the oldest of five children.

Happy Birthday, Pap!

Copyright 2010, Lisa A. Alzo

All Rights Reserved