Monday Milestones: Keying During the Holidays
As some of you wrap up your holidays, some of us are just beginning ours. And all of us are facing the end of 2009 and the New Year just around the corner. This time of year is frequently busy – mostly with good things – but I am still amazed (and grateful!) at the time that many of you find to keep keying and arbitrating as you contribute to this meaningful effort.
I didn’t think I’d have the time to keep up with you these last couple weeks of the year. After all, I have a houseful of out-of-town family that has begun to arrive for the holidays and more coming this week. Even so, I found myself sneaking in some arbitration on my laptop as I sat and watched a movie with them this weekend. I quickly realized just how much I can contribute in a couple hours of time here or there. I’ll likely do that again one or two nights this week and hope you’ll do the same.
So, to help keep us all motivated – and with apologies to Clement Clarke Moore – and no offense intended to any of you – I wrote a little something that I hope inspires you – or at least makes you chuckle!
Twas the end of the long year, when all through the world
In front of computers, contributors curled
The Ancestry World Archives Projects they keyed
In hopes that their ancestors’ names they would see
Or at least save those records for somebody else
‘fore the writing on pages is ruined or pales
They thought of the brick walls their help would help shatter
These records they’re saving they really do matter
In 94 countries, from the U.K. to Spain
In all U.S. States from Hawaii to Maine
In six different languages records they found
As they opened the Keying Tool without a sound
Arbitration and keying the tasks are at hand
Which project to work on sometimes is unplanned
Pick a Project for Me or more City Directories
Marriage Registers with no record of dowries
Census from Germany, small but important
Swedish Household Exams, you might wish you hadn’t
Postcards and Postcards and Postcards keep coming
British Postal Appointments, they’re really rolling
Naturalizations, Illinois is now done
Which one next will they work on? How ‘bout Washington?
One point two million records keyed this December
You might wonder if any of them ever slumber
“We’re saving the records of the world can’t you see
Ancestry World Archives Project and Me!
So, key away, key away, key away all
You want to help? Register, download and install.”
We’re so grateful for all that you do out of sight
Happy Keying to all and to all a good night!
Have a Blessed and Merry Christmas and may your New Year be filled with love, joy, hope and peace to all mankind around the world.