Research Communities on Skype

We are excited to announce the creation of several online research communities powered by FamilySearch, and would like to take this opportunity to invite you to join! These communities are being created to help you and others researching in the same area to:


 * Collaborate on your research
 * Ask questions of each other
 * Share knowledge you have gained as you've done your own research in that area

Scroll down for instructions to join. There are groups in the following areas:

Ethnic Research Communities
African American (United States) American Indian (Southeastern United States) Hispanic (Americas)

North America
Canada Canada First Nations

Alabama, United States Arizona, United States Arkansas, United States California, United States District of Columbia, United States Florida, United States Georgia, United States Hawaii, United States Hemet, California, United States Idaho, United States Illinois, United States Indiana, United States Iowa, United States Kentucky, United States Louisiana, United States Maine, United States Massachusetts, United States Michigan, United States Minnesota, United States Mississippi, United States Missouri, United States Montana, United States New Jersey, United States New York, United States North Carolina, United States Ohio, United States Oklahoma, United States Oregon, United States Pennsylvania, United States Rhode Island, United States South Carolina, United States South Dakota, United States Tennessee, United States Texas, United States Utah, United States Vermont, United States Virginia, United States Washington, United States West Virginia, United States (scroll down for directions to join)

Latin America
Argentina Mexico Mexico City, Mexico Venezuela (scroll down for directions to join)

Europe
Czechoslovakia Denmark England Finland Germany/Prussia Ireland Italy Netherlands Norway Poland Scotland Spain Sweden Wales

(scroll down for directions to join)

Africa
South Africa

Asia
Thailand

Australia
Australia

To join a Skype group:

 * Download the Skype program at Skype.com and register for an account.
 * Send an e-mail to - robin.savingstories@gmail.com - and let her know your username and which group you'd like to be added to. She will add you into that Skype community group. (see instructions for adding contacts)
 * Join in the discussions! It's that easy. (see instructions for sending a message)
 * Learn more about Skype in the Skype User's Guide.


 * Not interested in joining Skype? Try our Facebook Communities instead.

Questions?

 * I would like to see a community started for ____________, could you create one?
 * Since this is a pilot program, only a few limited localities are being created now. If you would like to have a group created for a location you are researching:


 * Go to the Discussion page and click to edit the page. (You must be signed in to edit.)
 * Add a note about which groups you'd like to see next.
 * Include whether or not you'd like to be considered for an administrator for the group. An admin is required to create a new group.
 * After your request, add . That will Sign your username to the request and allow us to notify you when a community is created for that area.


 * If you would like to ask questions or help those researching in other areas of the world right now, you can visit the FamilySearch Forums where there are discussions going on in any are of the world you are currently researching in.


 * What is Skype?


 * Skype is a leading chat program that allows interaction and communication between individuals or groups. You can learn more or download the software at Skype.com.


 * What's the benefit of joining Skype vs. Facebook groups?


 * Both will be places where you can go to collaborate with other researchers. You may prefer one or the other simply because you already use one tool or the other. Other benefits to each are:


 * Facebook is a leading social media website. You can join a group on Facebook and just visit the website when you wish. Or, if you'd like to be more involved, you can even sign up to receive a text message when something is posted to the page.
 * Skype is a chat program that allows for more detailed communications and interaction between individuals or groups of users. It allows groups to participate together in group discussions. It also allows for sending documents that others can review to help with evaluating records and, if desired, live video discussions or screen sharing.


 * Additional questions?
 * Ask on the Discussion page. Click Edit this page and add your question.
 * Be sure to add after your question to sign your name to it so that someone can contact you if need be.