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Random Acts of Genealogical Kindness is back!

Random Acts of Genealogical Kindness is back!

Posted: 25 May 2012 8:56PM GMT
Classification: Query
I've just seen that after a long closure, the website is back. Http://raogk.wikia.com/wiki/Random_Acts_of_Genealogical_Kind... . It has all the volunteers on but the email addresses have been lost so currently very few are linked up. If you ever volunteered, or have had contact with somebody else who did, get in touch with them so they can relink your email address up again.

So it is very much a work in progress - I noticed there are no links to the England page yet and even when you find it through search, the first page doesn't load but it's back, take a look!

Jack

Re: Random Acts of Genealogical Kindness is back!

Posted: 28 Jun 2014 5:55PM GMT
Classification: Query
Wonderful! I've been searching for; or waiting for someone, somewhere to mention this site. Now I know, after all this time, why people weren't talking about it... anyway.
I did a Random Act through Ancestry only one time but what a wonderful experience I had doing it and afterwards I felt so Good. I don't want to get too mushy here...
At the time I was living in Santa Maria, CA and someone, back east somewhere I think, 'thought' they had relative(s) in the Santa Barbara Cemetery but didn't have the wherewithall to make the trip. Through Ancestry I heard about 'her' dilemma and thought,
"I only live 75 miles from there! I could do this for her". I drove to Santa Barbara, a trip I very seldom ordinarily took but it was straight up Highway 101 and a beautiful drive.
I went over and told my sister about it and she said, "Yeah, sounds like an excuse to run-away-from-home for a day!" We went together, walked the cemetery and finally found the Mr and Mrs, side by side, up above the ocean - VERY scenic places to be resting!!!!! I took numerous pictures of the grounds, head-stones and the VIEW 'they' had for eternity.

I had gotten 'her' address and mailed her all the pictures. Oh, and while I was taking pictures my sister hunkered down and did a rubbing of both headstones which I also sent 'her'. What a Wonderful Experience - I've never forgotten it and ----fast forward to now, today --- I want to do it again and again, if possible.

I was wondering if, now that its back, there could be placed an "Obvious Place" on our Ancestry Tree or Family Tree Maker Trees (both confusing but I think they are the same website that I don't understand the 2 names...but...) where people could post their wishes and others in that area could respond (Like I did in the above story) ? That would be wonderful for 'us that are too old to travel' or for whatever reason and them that live in the same towns as libraries, churches, archives, state capitols, cemeteries etc. Ancestry search isn't Just about computers, forms and numbers!

So my email address, the state I lived in and all other information that 'was' right when I was attached to the Kindness site before has all changed. I now live in Arizona, the northern part, and again, my sister and I went on a road trip (cause its fun) and for something to do found little, tiny AZ towns, populations like 300 or so - we went to their cemeteries and just looked around at the headstones. Many WWI and WWII soldiers, priests, children, families, ranchers etc. We KNOW these grave markers are LOST to their families - who would have a clue that the stones are still there?? (alot arent of course by time and vandals...but) .
I want to have a place where I can offer again to do these searches, pictures and rubbings for researchers. Of course, record keeping was not a thing that these old mining towns did so there are no church archives to search or old city-hall-basements to find information in. But, what I Can do, I'd Love to Do!
Thanks for listening to this windy letter
Sincerely
Betty K Stimson
928-681-7859

Re: Random Acts of Genealogical Kindness is back!

Posted: 1 Jul 2014 4:03PM GMT
Classification: Query
Betty,
I do not know how the new or revived Random Acts website will evolve but a lot of what you enjoy doing can be done through Findagrave.com. People post their requests for headstone photos & you can fulfill those requests. You can also document entire cemeteries if you like. You do not need to have a request to post a photo or create a memorial. The site was recently acquired by Ancestry.com but they are committed to keeping it free. You need to create a free account to post photos but you can search without an account. People are usually very appreciative & send thank you emails. I have documented several entire cemeteries and people are delighted when they discover a relative. Often they had no idea where the person was buried other than the state. And I have developed several friendships based on our shared interest in documenting these cemeteries.
Barb

Random Acts of Genealogical Kindness is back!

Posted: 2 Jul 2014 8:42PM GMT
Classification: Query
Hi Barb
Well, I am a member of Ancestry but I won't go to that much work of creating pages etc. First, I'm not into computers that much. I fight them continually and I'm just not that savey even to put pictures in. But I would, like I mentioned and did before, get addresses after making a one-on-one connection and mailing whatever I can do ... well, anyway.
I liked doing this before because I do like researching and working with my own tree. Done it for 40 years along with prior members of my family - we go back now quite a ways. But after I work a certain amount of time I liked to go into Kindness and see what's happening, if I could fulfill someones need - just for fun and relaxation after a hard day of thinking! Altho I don't think Acts of Kindness is ever a waste of time, I do think that potentially it would be very easy to start doing That instead of what I want to do with my own stuff.
Until I read up some more on where this site is supposedly going...IF IT IS...not many that I can see are interested here. So I'll keep quiet and occasionally check to see if it's going to go into what it was...
Thanks Barb
Kitty

Re: Random Acts of Genealogical Kindness is back!

Posted: 17 Dec 2014 1:14AM GMT
Classification: Query
Edited: 17 Dec 2014 1:39PM GMT
Hi Jack

I used to volunteer my services on the old site here in Jacksonville, Florida. I loved doing the volunteering. I am so glad the site is back. My email is mmacosta@bellsouth.net. Please send me a link to the new site.

Thanks again

Monica Acosta

Re: Random Acts of Genealogical Kindness is back!

Posted: 7 Jan 2015 2:26AM GMT
Classification: Query
The original domain is back up at www.raogk.org
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