Profile Improvement Project (PIP) : What we do and how to join [closed]

Question

See New Join Post

Want to create attractive, interesting, and accurate profiles? Then you need to join the Profile Improvement Project (PIP)! 

PIP is dedicated to helping you make YOUR managed profiles some of the best on WikiTree. As you embark on our Voyage, you will be assisted by one of our friendly and knowledgeable Guides. You will learn how to create fun, interesting, informative, well-sourced profiles that adhere to WikiTree standards, styles, and guidelines. 

If you discover that you're just automatically improving profiles as you randomly fix the large and small problems on WikiTree profiles, consider joining the Profile Improvement Project. Read the Project Page and follow the steps in the "How to Join" section. Add an answer below to get started on the Voyage.

Thank you.

Profile Improvement Project

Comments

Because you bumped a thread by making an edit --

I don't have the PIP badge, because back in the day I didn't think I would remember to "update" as regularly as was required.  (I tend to forget to do that kind of thing, then all of a sudden it's "oh, oops", and half a dozen or so updates at one time.)

I would love to do this, because I'm a tad CDO about spelling and punctuation and having things understandable, but I don't think I could remember to "do it right" and update whatever I was doing as per requirements.

commented Dec 14, 2018 by Melanie Pau

. 

From the "where's the beef" thread -- 

Honestly Debi, while my own overall goal is to write well defined profiles by following PIP guidelines, that commitment is exactly why I haven't joined the project. I don't want to say i will do it and then not have the time.

commented Sep 18 by Jonathan Crawford

Rather than derail this conversation, I have responded to Jonathan's comment over on the Profile Improvements join thread.

https://www.wikitree.com/g2g/583757#c1108127

It includes my thoughts and asks questions about whether we have set the bar too high and, if so, to where it should be lowered. I welcome a conversation over there about PIP and the Voyage.

commented Sep 18 by Debi Hoag

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Regards  the commitment : I'm one of those, like Jonathan, who doesn't want to say I will do it and then not have the time.  (I believe I emailed about those concerns.)

As an example of my doing what I can to "improve" profiles (although I did not create them, they are now on my watchlist) : 

Last week -- Sir Arthur Harris., his second wife: Thérèse (Jillie) Harris formerly Hearne. (Also, as part of "improving", I created Arthur's first wife, and the children of the first marriage - and other related persons).  

Also, this week -- Desmond Wilkinson Llewelyn (aka Q in the Bond movies); his father: Ivor Llewelyn, his mother: Mia Llewelyn née Wilkinson, also Ivor's brother, Leonard Wilkinson Llewelyn KBE JP.

Still works in progress (because rabbits) - begun in the (successful) attempt to get Desmond Llewelyn connected to the main Tree : 

John Henry Cawsey Dennis, and his first wife Sarah Ann aka Dora Annie Baker.  (John Cawsey Dennis is the brother of Leonard Wilkinson Llewelyn's son-in-law -- and found as part of the working to connect Desmond, because going up wasn't going anywhere.)

I still do not believe I could honour any commitment to "improve one profile on my watchlist each week" (because I would forget, more than any other reason), so won't be taking the Voyage, much as I might like to.  

I just wanted to encourage others who read this that, while you don't need a badge to improve profiles, if you can make that commitment, you should do so.   From what I have heard from some who have gone on the Voyage, it is extremely worth the time spent.

Cheers.  

edited to correct typo in name

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LOL gotta get attention to the Project any way I can LOL

You're doing great work on those profiles. I had no doubt that you continue to make improvements around the tree *grin* the CDO demands no less.

I do want to make sure you noted that "commit" has been removed from the mission statement, largely as a result of the "Where's the Beef" conversation. It now reads that "members are strongly encouraged to review one profile from their own watchlist each week with a goal of continuous improvement."

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I do want to make sure you noted that "commit" has been removed from the mission statement, largely as a result of the "Where's the Beef" conversation. It now reads that "members are strongly encouraged to review one profile from their own watchlist each week with a goal of continuous improvement."

commented by Debi Hoag

.

I did see that, but it feels as though that's a big commitment!   I review my watchlist profiles when I think of them (usually because I was brickwalled and hope I can find something new), or when something arises that may be new, but it's not as frequent as once a week.  It might be once a month, or once every few months.  Unless you count the newer additions to my watchlist who get more frequent attention until I think I've done all I can "for now" (because I'm never, really, done). 

At the risk of threadjacking, I also want to give a shoutout to Leandra Ford, one of the graduates of the Voyage, without whose help I would still be working on getting Desmond Llewellyn connected.  Collaboration at work!  

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Thank you and you're welcome. It was one of the more enjoyable connecting experiences.

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I would like to take the PIP Voyage, Debi.  Sounds interesting!  

Thanks,

Shani

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I have sent you a private message, Shani

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I’m in!  New WikiTreer here. I have added my family tree to my great grandparents. I want to ensure that the biographies and sources I create for them are top notch. So would like to learn best practices here and eventually move on to helping this group writing biographies and sources.

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I have sent you a private message, Brenda.

Answer 1

Debi, what an awesome project! Could I pretty please join? I would love to learn to improve profiles, and the voyage sounds like so much fun

Kindest regards

Pam

Comments

Pam, I've sent you a private message.

Answer 2

Debi, I'd like to submit the following two profiles for consideration for membership: William Henry Toy and William Spaldyng.

The latter is a medieval profile but shows the sort of work I'm doing better than most.

Comments

Rob, I've sent you a private message.

[edited to correct name. Sorry Rob]

Answer 3

Hello, Happened across this project. I have done biobuilder profile updates for both England Project and US Southern Colonist profiles.

Going on the PIP Voyage will help me to keep my skills sharp, but membership on this project will also help me to take the time to review the profiles that I manage.

Thanks.

Comments

Fann, I've sent you a private message.

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I didn't get a response from you to the private message I sent. Did you decide that the Voyage was not for you?

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Hi Debi,

I am catching up on a few things, and didn't take into consideration that this was the annual insurance enrollment period, which further slowed me down in completing the beginning steps. I should be able to respond by Tuesday, 8 Dec.

Thanks for the email, by the way. Lots of great information.

Fann (Fann-206)

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Thanks for your continued patience. I had gotten an email from a previously unknown cousin who I was ultimately able to assist in finding a MRCA and identify existing profiles on WikiTree and FamilySearch. I wanted to be able to clear that up before starting my Shore Excursion.

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I've identified two profiles that come up in my watchlist. Let me know if they're good choices and then I'll do the improvement process, if that's the way this works... Thanks!

In my Watchlist, but I'm not the PM; however, I'll be glad to work on 1) Baggett-499 if that's ok; and, 2) Garner-4231 for which I am PM.

Answer 4

I would love to join this project.  I sign up for sourcing challenges, but then get caught on the story and the profile.  I'm a natural profile improver!  Happy to learn and improve.

Comments

I've sent you a message, Virginia

Answer 5

I would like to do the PIP journey. Sounds like fun as well as being a learning curve.

Comments

I've sent you a private message, Nan

Answer 6

Interested in joining the PIP voyage as part of the Australia project

Comments

I've sent you a private message, Veronica

Answer 7

Hi Debi,

I am already a PIP team member, so I thought that I should complete the PIP voyage as an Australia Project member.

Thanks.

Comments

I've sent you a private message, David

Answer 8

Hi, I would like to join  the Profile Improvement Project, and start the PIP  Voyage.  Thanks!

~Kathy

Answer 9

Hello, I would like to have someone make suggestions about two profiles that I recently updated.  I am starting at the beginning and updating profiles so maybe there is something I can learn to help me do a better Job

[[ Looser-23|Bernice Looser ]]

[[Looser-25 | Joseph Looser]]  I also added his wife

[[Sprayberry-123 | Era Sprayberry]]

I found a connection in Era's line and have improved it and suggested two merges for Israel Henry Sprayberry. [[Sprayberry-80 | Israel Sprayberry]] and

[[Sprayberry119 | Israel Sprayberry]] with

[[Sprayberry-9 | Israel Sprayberry]]

Thanks, [[Cushing-1054 | Cherry Duve]]

[[Sprayberry-9|Israel Sprayberry]]  I also added the two generations between Era and Israel.

Thanks, [[Cushing-1054 | Cherry Duve]]

Comments

I have sent you a private message, Cherry.

Answer 10

I'd love to join. The narrative aspect of wikitree biographies is one of my favorite parts of this site!

Comments

I have sent you a private message, A.

Answer 11

Hi Debi,

I would like to join the Profile Improvement Project.  I am quite new to WikiTree and would like to learn how to "do it right the first time".  

Thanks,

Cindy Hanrahan

Comments

I have sent you a private message, Cindy.

Answer 12

I would like to join the PIP. For the Voyage I am working on the following profiles, both German, the second involving an identity problem that I finally resolved and have tried to explain succinctly: https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Kunzmann-27 and https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Godelmann-1

Comments

I've sent you a private message, Ann.

Answer 13

Debi,

I have always wanted to take a "Cruise" which is out of the question these days, I believe I would like to take a "Voyage" with your project. May I join?

Comments

Sorry for the delay, Loretta. I thought I had responded here but see that I didn't. You are now in that long snaking line, waiting for your Guide to show up. Hopefully, it won't be much longer.

Answer 14

I am quite interested in learning how to improve profiles and the "Voyage"

Comments

I've sent you a message, Ron.

Answer 15

I would like to start the Voyage. This is my challenge for the new year.

Comments

I've sent you a message, Ben.

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Thank you. Should I choose something that already shows my level of skill, or something blank, something with few sources or ..... Do you have a suggestion? Of my ancestors, I have completed back to all of my gg x grandparents, and am wanting to continue with my ggg x grandparents. Perhaps my work should be checked, or I should just learn from scratch to make sure I knew it properly. Basically, what type of profile have you found most useful to work with people on?

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I usually suggest working on a profile of someone who isn't too close to you and whose profile needs work. I sorted your watchlist by oldest edit date and had a quick look. I suggest starting with https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Keane-811

Answer 16

I'd love to join the PIP, learn and complete the voyage. Please let me know the next steps!

Comments

I've sent you a message, Shanna.

Answer 17

We at the DRP made many times earlier - and still create many times very attractive (in our opinion )  profiles. For example about our famous painters like Rembrandt.

Having fun together to source our wonderful heroes and our notorious ones too and pi(m)p their profiles. 

I think those that worked on the profiles would love to add the profiles we PI(m)P-ed to the PIP project.

Can you please share what template should be added to add the profile to the project?

I would love to travel with Dutch ones that like to PI(m)P profiles. Pip if you need help at any in The Netherlands, just give me a call (mail!)

Congrats Pip!

Answer 18

My personal wonderful profile and (maybe because it was ) the first profile I was able to add more than just BMD sources. The profile was not even my own as it was already online at WT but very poor at sources and info.

I would love to add my second cousin four times removed, but feeling so close to me, to the Project; Maria Breen.

Just hoping I understand what you like to add.

Thank you.

A.

Comments

Hi Astrid,

For the PIP Voyage, we have members work on a couple of profiles from their own watchlist. It is a teaching tool with a one-on-one Guide that can answer questions and help the Voyager to learn how to create profiles. Based on the work you did for Maria Breen's profile, it looks like you understand most of it.

If you would like to take the Voyage, I suggest working the process for https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Goulooze-71, a profile that you manage.

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Ah I misunderstood the goal of this project. I even like the goal more!

I like to offer my help if there is help needed for pimping profiles in The Netherlands.

Answer 19

I would like to join the voyage to improve the profile of my great grandfather, Richard Foucault (Foucault-130).

Comments

Sherri, I have let the Guides know that you are ready to embark.

Answer 20

I would like to improve my skills in writing biographies.  PIP looks like a great start to accomplish that goal.  I will be signing up for PIP.  Thanks, Scott

Comments

Scott, I have sent you a private message.