Everyone knows that genealogists are those crazy people who go tromping around cemeteries – the older the better – and have an unusual attraction to old papers. Or maybe that’s just me. But part of what I also love about doing genealogy is connecting with living family and distant cousins. I would say that I’m definitely my family’s Record Keeper and I bet a lot of you are too. But in this day and age of families spread out across the country, how do you keep up with even the first cousins?

In the past, my Grandmother’s were the focal point of information. Everyone talked to them and gave them the latest news: babies being born, engagements, divorces, illness, new jobs – you name it. Now that they’ve both passed on, the family has lost that touch-point and I’ve lost a wonderful conduit of information. Some of the family I keep up with via Facebook, but it’s not a complete view for sure.

What about you? Are you the Record Keeper for your family? If so, how do you get your information? Do people offer it or do you have to seek it out? What about sharing news? Do you have a family print or email newsletter or website? Or do you utilize a web-based application like Geni.com to do both?

Hum…I feel a survey coming on.

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