12 September 2011

RAOGK -- an important and often overlooked resource for on-the-ground genealogical help!


A recent article in the Chattanooga Free Press (31 July 2011) “Chattanooga man part of volunteer network that helps people trace their roots” reminds us of how wonderful the about 4000 volunteers for the group called Random Acts of Genealogical Kindness (or RAOGK for short) are.

“When Bill Caldwell looks for buried treasure, he's not seeking gold, jewels or coins. He is on the hunt for things like World War I draft registration records and cemetery listings.

The Chattanooga resident is one of about 4,000 volunteers for a group called Random Acts of Genealogical Kindness who do free genealogical research.

"I can watch daytime TV or grass growing, whichever is less boring," said Caldwell, a retired government employee, "or I can do some worthwhile research, analysis and documentation that will help someone else and be fun for me, too."

The Florida native said he has done genealogical research for 40 years or more. He has volunteered his time to help other people for the last 10 or 12 years and has worked through Random Acts of Genealogical Kindness for the last several years…”

Read the full article.

Learn more about RAOGK.

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4 comments:

  1. We have just learned vis EOGN the following:

    "RAOGK has been around with our volunteers helping other genealogists get copies of documents required to prove your lineage back to Adam and Eve (giggle). Pictures of your ancestors' tombstones were also high on the lists of requests. I hope everyone got as much service as we were able to give.

    Our heart is saddened that we will be offline for quite awhile. Between computer problems (harddrive turning to toast) and the health of the administrator very questionable ... RAOGK, after 11 years, will cease to exist for awhile

    Bridgett Schneider
    RAOGK Administrator"

    ReplyDelete
  2. We are sad to announce the death of Bridgett Schneider, the primary person behind RAOGK ... please see Dick Eastman's blurb, http://blog.eogn.com/eastmans_online_genealogy/2011/11/bridgett-schneider-of-random-acts-of-genealogical-kindness-raogk-rip.html

    ReplyDelete
  3. Hello donna.
    Do you still find time to do searches in Tenn. ?
    Please contact me if you do.
    [email protected]
    Thank you

    Steve Sisk

    ReplyDelete
  4. There is a workaround for RAOGK being down ... visit the RAOGK wiki ...
    raogk.wikia.com

    Same ease of use and much more ...

    It has about 375 volunteers who've returned ... each volunteer who returns gets it one person stronger towards the strength of the 4,000 volunteers from the original site.
    Roughly 80 people/mo have activated links on the wiki

    Doc posted on a FB site on April 27 that he was bringing the site back up.

    If you were a volunteer and still want to volunteer, visit the wiki.
    When Doc's site comes back up, you can decide whether to abandon the wiki or have your services listed in both places.

    Several volunteers have indicated they think their services should be listed in multiple places.

    Explore the wiki ... and enjoy

    ReplyDelete