“Why move to intermediate projects when I really enjoy the beginning ones?” That’s a question indexers and even stake indexing directors frequently ask. What’s the harm in choosing the easy projects and letting others do the harder ones?
If you are like most indexers, when you click the Download Batch button to select a batch to index, you look for the “Beginning” label. Many indexers usually pick the beginning projects because they feel safe doing them. But the intermediate batches need to be indexed as much as the beginning projects.
Experienced indexers shouldn’t shy away from intermediate projects just because they are more difficult. After all, the people in those records are just as important as the people in the beginning records. Indexing their names is equally needed so that others can find their ancestors and perform their temple work. Experienced indexers need to step up and try some of those intermediate projects. They may really like them!
As a stake indexing director, I have encouraged indexers who are ready to try some of the intermediate projects and found that after they have tried them, they said, “This is almost easier than some of the beginning batches!”
It’s important to understand that projects are rated differently for different reasons. An intermediate project isn’t always rated that way because it’s hard to read. Obituaries are a perfect example. Most of them are typewritten, and anyone can read them. In obituaries, the difficulty lies in properly identifying all the people who are mentioned in the obituary. Once the rules for obituaries are mastered, the actual indexing is a breeze.
So how can you help your stake try intermediate projects?
How can you get your stake excited about intermediate projects? What are some of your ideas? What success have you found working on intermediate projects? Please share your insights and experience! Your words can really inspire and guide other stake indexing directors. Leave a comment below, or email us at fsindexing@familysearch.org.
