Can we support another challenge? Here is a draft proposal

Question

The "Twilight Genealogy" challenge would provide an opportunity for WikiTree volunteers to assist members who are nearing the end of their life in documenting their family history. This could include adding ancestors, updating relative profiles with photos/stories, and ensuring their research is preserved for future generations.

Benefits

• Allows members with terminal illnesses, dementia, or other debilitating conditions to pass on their genealogical knowledge before it's too late.
• Provides a sense of legacy and closure for the member by seeing their life's work captured.
• Engages the wider WikiTree community in an act of service for respected elder members.
• Preserves invaluable family history research that may otherwise be lost.

Process

• Members can nominate themselves or be nominated by others if facing end-of-life circumstances.
• A team of volunteers is assigned to each nominated member to assist with their specific needs.
• Volunteers work directly with the member (or their family if unable) to gather information, documents, photos etc.
• All additions and updates are properly sourced on WikiTree following best practices.
• The member gets final approval before any changes go live on their profiles.

Volunteers who participate in this challenge could receive:

• A special badge/certification for their profile recognizing the volunteer service.
• Entry into a drawing for genealogy-related prizes at the end of each challenge period.
• Public recognition/shout-outs from WikiTree for their contributions.

By providing this opportunity, WikiTree can ensure no member's family history research is lost while honoring their life's work. The "Twilight Genealogy" challenge connects volunteers with members in need during a profound life transition.

Comments

I really like this idea, all the reasons you stated are perfect and should help us all be more connected.

The families should be part of this process so that they do not feel that grampaʻs work is being taken over. Perhaps a family member or two has a plan already to complete the work.

I think it is a nice opportunity for members like me, I flail around trying to add the children of fifth cousins (or something) in order to increase my CC7.  This project would have much more meaning, doing something for a member who needs and would appreciate the help.

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Peter, thanks so much for suggesting this! 

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Bravo Kristina, as my aunt Hazel would have said, “You’re the best!”  I have really learned a lot from you by working on mutually held family and also the interesting non-DNA-related family. I know you’ll be an asset on this project and maybe you can briefly report on how it goes. — Cecil J. Roth, Jr.

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LEGACY PROJECT sounds more positive than Twilight. I'm there now and need someone to take over my files.

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Eloine, Legacy project would fit the aims of this project

Answer 1

I really like Eowyn's answer that suggests making this a Project, rather than a challenge.  A challenge sounds like a short, small, intense event to me.  This sounds like an ongoing project of WikiTree -- helping our older members, helping people preserve their parents/grandparents/kin's collected information.

Comments

I really like the project instead of a challenge. My parents have been gone over 20 years now and while they were here, I didn't ask the questions I should have. Now all knowledge and pictures are scattered among us children. I have 3 siblings and I only talk to my sister now; family feud with brothers who don't want to communicate with sisters. I have many pictures that I cannot id anyone. Anyway, this would be a great project and would help families preserve correct information and maybe could bring family members together.

Answer 2

It's an interesting idea, Peter! It reminds me a bit of the Remember the Children project but at the other end of the spectrum. In fact, it sounds more like a project of some sort to me than a challenge? Maybe approach it that way?

Comments

Yes, a project makes it easier to fit the time slots that are required in this case.

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I agree Eowyn, as a project there would be enough time available to 'do it right'.

I have often wished I had more of a strategy when I was helping my dad (he died in 2015 age 87) sort through all the family memorabilia he had collected over many years.

Helping him find records that supported and sometimes conflicted with the family history he knew became an almost daily activity.

An added bonus was finding other family members such as several 2C1R that he never knew existed..

He was a family doctor and was able to explain many causes of death on old certificates.

Communicating with them by email made him feel involved and included.

I think this is a wonderful idea!

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Here is a draft as a WikiTree Project:

Twilight Genealogy Project

The "Twilight Genealogy Project" aims to assist members who are nearing the end of their life in documenting and preserving their family history. This project provides an opportunity for WikiTree volunteers to collaborate with these members, ensuring their invaluable genealogical research is captured and shared with future generations.

Benefits

1. Preserving Family History: The project allows members with terminal illnesses, dementia, or other debilitating conditions to pass on their genealogical knowledge before it's too late, ensuring their life's work is not lost.
2. Legacy and Closure: Participating members gain a sense of legacy and closure by seeing their family history research properly documented and preserved on WikiTree.
3. Community Engagement: The wider WikiTree community is engaged in an act of service for respected elder members, fostering a sense of unity and purpose.
4. Invaluable Research Preservation: The project ensures that invaluable family history research, which may otherwise be lost, is preserved for future generations.

Process

1. Nomination: Members can nominate themselves or be nominated by others if facing end-of-life circumstances.
2. Volunteer Assignment: A team of volunteers is assigned to each nominated member to assist with their specific needs.
3. Collaboration: Volunteers work directly with the member (or their family if the member is unable) to gather information, documents, photos, and other relevant materials.
4. Documentation: All additions and updates are properly sourced on WikiTree following best practices.
5. Member Approval: The member gets final approval before any changes go live on their profiles.

Volunteer Recognition

Volunteers who participate in the Twilight Genealogy Project could receive:

• A special badge recognizing their volunteer service.
• Public recognition and shout-outs from WikiTree for their contributions.

By providing this opportunity, WikiTree can ensure that no member's family history research is lost while honoring their life's work. The Twilight Genealogy Project connects volunteers with members in need during a profound life transition, fostering a sense of community, service, and preservation of invaluable genealogical knowledge.

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Love this discussion! Thank you, Peter!

Twilight Angels, parallel to Accessibility Angels and Adoption Angels?

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Love that!

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Chris, no more angels please, a huge number of us are either not religious at all or not Christians.

Twilight Genealogy is just fine.

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Good work Peter! It reads like a plan.
Probably one of the first tasks for the project leaders would be to describe an intake process: How do you decide if a member fits the criteria and would you need to describe 'member', e.g. are WT family members also eligible?

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I have seen requests for help in G2G from people who think their life will soon be ending.

But so many people do not participate in G2G.

Perhaps it would work as a large Banner on the weekly WT News?

Or on the home page.

Answer 3

I like the Idea cousin! 9th Cousin. I will be following to see how this develops!

Answer 4

Great suggestion! "Twilight Genealogy" is an apt name. And yes, better as project than as challenge, for all the aforementioned reasons.

Answer 5

A good idea.

The people making the first unsolicited contact will need a Code of Practice created to guide them.  No one likes being told "Hey, you are at the end of your three score and ten."

Answer 6

I would be happy to participate in such a project.

Answer 7

I like this, I'm in however it turns out. I like the consistency in using "Angels" which also helps us brand and promote our Angel Activities.

Answer 8

I really like this idea and also agree that a Project rather than a Thon as in the long run more members can be helped and perhaps more members will be involved.

Answer 9

An excellent idea. Thank you! My dad died in 1980 (the year I began researching), after several strokes, so I was unable to find out family information from him. Mother was able to help me with her side of the family. My uncle, (dad's older brother) had always been interested in family and was a great help. Unfortunately, the only document (?) I had contained incorrect information concerning our progenitor which took years for me to research and correct. Even so that information is still showing on a number of sites. Along the way I've met previously unknown cousins and received help from fellow genealogists. What a journey!

Answer 10

I love the idea of this and hope it will become a project.  Last year I was caring for a close family member who does not share my branch of the tree.  I had already done a lot of her research and she had followed closely and eagerly, then was diagnosed with a fatal brain tumor and had only a short time to live.  She was devastated she would not see the rest of the work done to the level she had hoped.  I was caring for her around the clock and was unable to do the in depth research needed to finish out her 4th great-grandparents, so reached out for help in a post.  Many kind people came to help and in no time at all her tree was filled out and I was able to show it to her.  How she smiled!  She was able to enjoy it and share it with her only child before she died a few days later.  A big thank you to those kind folk who came to help in our hour of need.  I would gladly join a project like this.

Answer 11

I love this idea. My father-in-law is 94 and wishes he knew more about his mother's branch of the family. I am struggling to find much more. This would be so meaningful to so many! Wonderful project!

Answer 12

I've thought about this too. Excellent project idea!

Answer 13

I agree with folks who would rather this be a project rather than a challenge. I would love to participate, but summer arrives early in the South (tomorrow is the last day of school in my county!), so, I'll be kinda distracted for a bit...

Comments

And you illustrate the need for this being a project -- so that WikiTreers can help out when they can and take breaks when they need too.

Answer 14

I like the concept, especially as a Project. Perhaps there could be two parts to what is done.

1. complete a person's research.
2. interview the person, probably in a Zoom call with family, to get the part of their life that they probably didn't write down. Start with questions that the family provides.

Comments

What a good idea Doug!

Answer 15

I'm getting on a bit now, but I'm still fine (luckily). I have set myself the task of transferring all of my research done and held on Family Tree Maker into WikiTree with well-written profiles—nearly 5000. I'm working on it as quickly and as accurately as I can, but I expect that job won't be completed. It's good to know that someone else may be able to take up the role when I have gone as far as I can.

Answer 16

Doing this type of thing as a project is a good idea. Sign me up!

One comment, There are a lot of genealogies in various places and the sun has already set, so twilight may not be an ideal name.

Having some sort of structure for people to help a family preserve their loved ones.

Answer 17

Great idea!

Answer 18

What an awesome idea.

So much family history is lost due to us losing people before we could research with them.

I think this is a clever idea and so sweet too

Comments

This is so true!

I never realized how much I didn't know, until AFTER my mum died.  Then, looking through all her stuff, I had questions, but no one to answer them.

Answer 19

We have to remember that anyone alive can die at any time. We don't always know when. Therefore, if you know something about your family that the younger generation does not know, it is better to document it now, than to wait until you are no longer able to do so for whatever reason.

Answer 20

I love this idea so much from both sides. I agree that it should be a project rather than challenge. Thank you for coming up with this idea.