Beverly Benfer
Honor Code SignatorySigned 26 Nov 2014 | 14,684 contributions | 578 thank-yous | 741 connections
I love the idea of working with others to build one interconnected and, hopefully, well-researched tree for all of us. I am open to suggestions!
I began as a home economics teacher in grades 5-12, followed by working as Education Coordinator for Coats & Clark, providing workshops on new fabrics and sewing techniques. This was followed by several years as an educational video producer (long story!) and then opening a consulting business helping schools and colleges with instructional technology. All of this eventually led to being Director of Distance Education (online learning) for a Pennsylvania Community College until retirement. All evidence of rampant curiosity and desire to try new things.
I was never a big history buff - until the DAR asked my Dad to speak at the dedication of the burial site of a Revolutionary War patriot. Then we learned for the first time that we are descended from that soldier. Wow! That sparked curiosity because now I could see how historical events applied to my ancestors, their lives and decisions.
I began to explore the family history several years ago, but gave it up for a while after finding so many poorly researched online family trees. I know we have long lives in my family, but when I saw that one of my ancestors was born in 1784 and died in 2003, I lost all interest in what others had posted.
When a cousin asked a few years ago about that Revolutionary War ancestor, I decided to try again, using those wacky trees only as clues to research further. After connecting with two previously unknown distant cousins and collaborating to correct a long-standing error copied from one online tree to another, I caught the genealogy bug for real! I love finding the stories of their lives, not just documenting who begat whom and when.
Featured Foodie Connections: Beverly is 25 degrees from Emeril Lagasse, 27 degrees from Nigella Lawson, 26 degrees from Maggie Beer, 49 degrees from Mary Hunnings, 29 degrees from Joop Braakhekke, 27 degrees from Michael Chow, 23 degrees from Ree Drummond, 26 degrees from Paul Hollywood, 26 degrees from Matty Matheson, 25 degrees from Martha Stewart, 35 degrees from Danny Trejo and 31 degrees from Molly Yeh on our single family tree. Login to find your connection.
The next Connect-a-thon will be from 8 am Friday, April 12 to 8 am Monday, April 15th. I hope you will be able to join us. We are again using the new way to register we that was inaugurated in January. This link will take you to the post for the Mid-Atlantic Team:
https://www.wikitree.com/g2g/1717455/have-you-registered-for-our-april-2024-connect-a-thon-yet?show=1720767#c1720767
MIckey Bazley Co-Captain Mid-Atlantic Team
Mary, Project Coordinator, Military and War Project
I will do as you suggested and answer the G2G sign-up post. Especially since I do have another few men to add to the project! My high school classmates have stayed close over the decades and have a get-together planned this summer. I've been working on 3-generation family trees for those we lost to honor their memories and give their families a gift (and possibly a head start on taking it further). The family members that I've talked with are delighted with even the short trees because they all said they learned something they didn't know before. In the process, I've learned about a couple of classmates who served during Vietnam that I did not know had served. And a couple of their fathers who served in WWII. I very much want to add them to our Military and War Project.
I hope your winter has been safe so far. It's a good time to research when we can't be out gardening and going for picnics.
--- Beverly Benfer
I sent you a check-in message a week ago about the Military and War Project to ask you about your continued involvement but have no yet heard back from you. Do you still want to be in the project?
If I don’t hear from you by the same time next week I’ll assume that you’ve moved on to other things but you’re most welcome to re-join the project at any time.
Looking forward to hearing from you,
Mary, Project Coordinator, Military and War Project
This is the time for the annual check in with members of the Military and War Project. Have you been active during the last six months in the Military and War Project? Note that it is a requirement to respond to the Military and War Project Check-ins. Please respond to this message by clicking the reply button below this message, to post your answer. I look forward to hearing from you..
Many thanks,
Mary, Project Coordinator, Military & War
Can you believe it is time for another Connect-a-thon? It will run from 8 am EST Friday, January 19th to 8 am EST Monday, January 22nd. I hope you will join us. Registration ends on Wednesday, January 17th at midnight EST. Registration is a little different this time around. You have to find the post for your team and reply to that post. Here is the link for the Mid-Atlantic Team:
https://www.wikitree.com/g2g/1674015/have-you-registered-for-the-january-2024-connect-a-thon-yet?show=1685723#c1685723
Mickey Bazley Co-Captain Mid-Atlantic Team
We hope you can join the MidAtlantic Team for the 2023 Source-a-thon. It will start 8 am EDT on Friday, September 29th and end at 8 am on Monday, October 2nd. The Source-a-thon is different from the Connect-a-thon in that we will be improving existing profiles. To register for the Source-a-thon, please answer this post:
https://www.wikitree.com/g2g/1628429/register-now-for-the-2023-source-a-thon
Also, different is that most of the prizes given out at the hang outs are donated by members so there are a wide variety. If you would like to look at what has been donated so far or to donate a prize yourself:
https://www.wikitree.com/g2g/1621243/the-2023-source-thon-is-coming-would-you-like-to-donate-prize
Looking forward to seeing you there.
Mickey Bazley & Lucy Selvaggio-Diaz Co-Captains Mid-Atlantic Team
Just a quick reminder the next Connectathon is coming up the weekend of July 14th to 16th. We would love to have us join us again on the Mid-Atlantic Team. To register, answer the post in G2G: https://www.wikitree.com/g2g/1595502/have-you-registered-for-the-july-2023-connect-a-thon-yet?start=560#a_list_title
Hope to see you in the branches
Mickey Bazley Co-Captain Mid-Atlantic Team
Thanks so much for participating in the April Connectathon and being part of the Mid-Atlantic Team.
Mickey Bazley Co-Captain Mid-Atlantic Team
We hope you can join us for the next Connect-a-thon. It starts Friday, January 13th at 8 am EST and ends Monday, January 16th at 8 am EST. (You don't have to be available the entire time.) Regisration ends Wednesday, January 11th.
To register, answer this post in the G2G forum and ask to be put on the Mid-Atlantic Team: https://www.wikitree.com/g2g/1505819/have-you-registered-for-the-january-2023-connect-a-thon-yet?start=0#a_list_title
If you do not have a project of your own to work on, in addition to the Unconnected and Needs Profiles lists on our team page, the Civil War project is looking for participants to help connect Civil War veterans: https://www.wikitree.com/g2g/1506578/us-civil-war-january-2023-challenge
Mickey Bazley & Lucy Selvaggio-Diaz Co-Captains Mid-Atlantic Team
Wow, even with our challenge tracker issues Mid-Atlantic Part Deux had credit for sourced 1,503 profiles and Mid-Atlantic US was credited with sourced 1357 profiles. Thanks for being part of Team Mid-Atlantic.
Mickey Bazley & Lucy Selvaggio-Diaz Captains
We hope you can join Team MidAtlantic for the 2022 Source-a-thon. It will start 8 am EDT on Friday, September 30th and end at 8 am on Monday, October 3rd. The Source-a-thon is different from the Connect-a-thon in that we will be working on existing profiles. There are links on our team page to lists of unsourced profiles: https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Space:Team_New_York
To register for the Source-a-thon, please answer this post:
https://www.wikitree.com/g2g/1463120/register-now-for-the-2022-source-a-thon?start=0#a_list_title
Also different is that most of the prizes given out at the hang outs are donated by members so there are a wide variety. If you would like to look at what has been donated so far or to donate a prize yourself:
https://www.wikitree.com/g2g/1462777/the-2022-source-thon-is-coming-would-you-like-to-donate-prize
Looking forward to seeing you there
Mickey Bazley & Lucy Selvaggio-Diaz Co-Captains Mid-Atlantic Team
Mickey and Lucy, Co-Captains
We would love to have you join the Mid-Atlantic Team for the Connect-A-Thon. The event will start on Friday, July 15th, at 8 AM (EST) and run until Monday, July 18th, at 8 AM (EST). You do not need to be available the entire time and there will be links on our page to the Needs Profiles categories .
If you would like to join us then please answer the G2G post here https://www.wikitree.com/g2g/1431009/have-you-registered-for-the-july-2022-connect-a-thon-yet and ask to join the Mid-Atlantic Team.
Hope you will join us again!
Mickey Co-Captain for the Mid-Atlantic Team
edited by Michele Bazley
Please note that it is a requirement for membership in the Military and War Project that you respond to these check-ins. To make bookkeeping easier, just click Reply to this message on your own page, add your reply, then <SAVE>. I look forward to hearing from you..
Many thanks,
Mary~ Project Coordinator, Military and War Project
Mary
Thanks so much for being a member of the Mid-Atlantic Team for the April Connectathon. It was a fun and productive weekend. We added 3,716 profiles to Wikitree between the two teams and had 49 people participate. Considering many of us can’t stop at just one source, we may never make the top ten, but we did great!
Mindy usually sends out a wrap up message in which she mentions how to delete from your watchlist profiles you do not want to continue to manage. Can I make a request, wait until tomorrow before you do this, and then can you check your suggestion list and see if there are any typos that need to be corrected. We don’t want to add to the data doctors’ work.
See you next thon Mickey
Thank you for contributing to the March 2022 Sourcerers Challenge! As you know, every source added to an unsourced profile improves our One Tree. Thank you for taking time from your own family history to help others.
WT Appreciation Team
We would love to have you join the Mid-Atlantic Team for the Connect-A-Thon. The event will start on Friday, April 22nd, at 8 AM (EST) and run until Monday, April 25th, at 8 AM (EST). You do not need to be available the entire time and there will be links on our page to the Needs Profiles categories .
If you would like to join us then please answer the G2G post here https://www.wikitree.com/g2g/1392037/have-you-registered-for-the-april-2022-connect-a-thon-yet?show=1395381#c1395381 and ask to join the Mid-Atlantic Team.
Hope you will join us again!
Lucy & Mickey Co-Captains for the Mid-Atlantic Team
Thanks for being a member of the Mid-Atlantic Team for the January Connectathon. It was a fun and productive weekend. We added 2,936 profiles to Wikitree, almost a thousand more than last July’s Connectathon.
In Mindy’s wrap up message, she mentions how to delete from your watchlist profiles you do not want to continue to manage. Can I make a suggestion, before you do this, can you check your suggestion list and see if there are any typos that need to be corrected. We don’t want to add to the data doctors’ work.
See you next thon Mickey
We would love to have you join the Mid-Atlantic Team for the Connect-A-Thon. The event will start on Friday, January 14, at 8 AM (EST) and run until Monday, January 17, at 8 AM (EST). You do not need to be available the entire time and there will be links on our page to the Needs Profiles categories and Findagrave, possible father, mother, spouse lists on our page if you don’t have something of your own to work on.
If you would like to join us then please answer the G2G post here Connect-a-thon Registration and ask to join the Mid-Atlantic Team.
Hope you will join us again!
Lucy & Mickey Co-Captains for the Mid-Atlantic Team
Scipio, Seneca County, OH, United States Death: circa May 01, 1972 (83-91) I have her parents as Robert Henry Benfer and Elizabeth Ann Vickery, but some info shows they only had 2 sons. I was hoping you may know some information on her
I saw your profile on "WikiTreer of the Week" And saw that we were only 14 Degrees separated... That usually means a strong connection. So I checked our relationship and found that you and I are 6th cousins once removed, through our common ancestor Johann Peter Reed (1723 - 1767) Johann Peter Reed.
Ron Gragg ( https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Gragg-349 )
edited by Ron Gragg (Ret.)
Thanks for your participation during our Connect-A-Thon 2020. It is amazing how many more profiles were created and added to our Shared Tree over the weekend. I hope you’ll join us for the Source-a-thon this fall.
Kind regards,
Pippin Sheppard ~ WikiTree’s Appreciation Team
Thanks so very much for your participation in the spring Clean-a-thon! Every suggestion you cleared (over 600!) made our Tree that much better. The WikiTree community appreciates YOU!
Pip Sheppard WikiTree’s Appreciation Team
It's almost time for the 2019 Source-A-Thon, and I'm excited to be on the Mid-Atlantic Team with you! Good luck with your sourcing tis weekend, and have fun. ~ Star
It's always good to have you join us, Beverly. Thanks for all your sources.