Two New Virtual Initiatives Launched for UGA

The Utah Genealogical Association is pleased to announce the launch of two virtual education initiatives for genealogists of all kinds--the UGA Genealogy Training and Tutorial Library (UGaTT) and the UGA Virtual Chapter. An introductory overview of both virtual projects can be found at http://bit.ly/ckL4db. This video overview is a summary recording of Barry Ewell's presentation from the UGA membership meeting on October 19th. This recording covers the designs and plans for each project as well as the dates and stages of roll-out. The introductory video is a great way to understand the sweep of the plans and get excited about the progress that is coming as we take UGA into its 40th anniversary year.

First, we are pleased to present the first tutorials of the UGA Genealogy Training and Tutorial Library (UGaTT). The topics covered so far are:

• Series: Top U.S. Research Records

1. Series Overview and Objectives for the Top Four U. S. Research Records-Episode 1
2. Introduction to the Top United States Records that Genealogists Use for Research-Episode 2

• Series: Organization for Genealogists

1. Series Overview and Objectives for Organization for Genealogists-Episode 1
2. What Does Being Organized Mean to the Genealogist?-Episode 2

• Series : Fives-step Genealogy Research Process

1. Series Overview and Objectives for the Five-step Genealogy Research Process-Episode 1
2. Five Easy Steps to Getting Started: Genealogy is a Repeatable Process-Episode 2
3. Step 1: Identify What You Know About Your Family-Episode 3
4. Step 2: Decide What You Want to Learn About Your Family-Episode 4
5. Step 3: Select Records to Search-Episode 5
6. Step 4: Obtain and Search the Record-Episode 6
7. Step 5: Evaluate and Use the Information-Episode 7

These first tutorials are the first three pieces of the "Bronze Level" of the program. As the program continues to roll-out there will be over 100 topics covered with a self-evaluation program in place to to test your comprehension and track your improvement. The UGaTT is arranged in three levels, Bronze, Silver, and Gold. The first level allows the beginning genealogist to improve their skills and prepare for the more advanced Silver and Gold levels. Participants earn pins and certificates for program completion. Parts of the Bronze level will always be free to the general public, with the more advanced Bronze, Silver and Gold Levels available to UGA members as they are completed. Please fill out the 5 question survey at http://bit.ly/a7y2La to give us your feedback on this initial release.

Second, the first beta version of our Virtual Chapter has been released for your review at http://bit.ly/bhoiIa. The meeting is one hour long and includes an introduction and a presentation by Barry Ewell. The presentation is on "How to Effectively Conduct Genealogy Research on the Internet." We are collecting your comments and feedback in a short 6 question survey at http://bit.ly/aKH9aR. Please participate in the survey so that we can refine the program. A second beta will be released on November 23rd with Janet Hovorka presenting "Archiving Your Genealogy Work Using the Library of Alexandria Rule" These two beta videos will be released to the general public and regular live sessions of the virtual chapter will commence in January with access to all UGA members.