User group meeting agenda & minutes 6 August 2008

= Proposing ideas for this agenda =

To propose or discuss ideas for this agenda, please use the Discussion tab above. As the meeting draws near, we will review the items proposed on the Discussions page and decide which ones should get highest priority on the agenda.

= Agenda =

Administrative items

 * 1) Assignment of time keeper and note taker
 * 2) Introduction of new members: 10 seconds for name and desired takeaways.
 * 3) Prayer -- David Dilts
 * 4) Review of Minutes
 * 5) Today's agenda preview

Information items

 * The Wiki concept and changes to our articles -- Jimmy Parker

New Items

 * County Shell Project -- Wilma Adkins
 * Printable Versions -- James Anderson

= Minutes =

Facilitator was [Add name here], Note taker was [Add name here], Time keeper was [Add name here].

Prayer by [Add name here]

The total number of registered users on the FamilySearch Wiki as of the start of the user group meeting was 3,517 and that was an increase of 80 registered users over last week. p&gt;Facilitator was Jimmy Parker, Note taker was Barbara Baker, Time keeper was Jimmy.

Prayer by David Dilts

The total number of registered users on the FamilySearch Wiki as of the start of the user group meeting was 3,517 and that was an increase of 80 registered users over last week.

The Wiki is an open-source product and we should not get offended by changes made to or info added to pages we have created. If we feel something changed or added is incorrect, then we should use the discussion page to discuss your concerns. The purpose of the Wiki is to provide information and we do not know everything. We should have a best-use format/policy as to what should be on pages. We know that some areas will need to have extra fields that would not apply to all areas, but we should establish some standards.

Wilma Adkins: David Samuelsen and Jimmy Parker have created shells for U.S. states and counties that is brilliant (and others are working to add). The missionaries could be organized to put the shells into place for the remaining states and counties. See Ballard County, Kentucky as an example. There is a bread-crum trail at the top of the page (is this needed? What are opinions?), as well as the headings for the Contents. Other areas that could be added to the contents are Land records, Local histories, Probate records, etc. Others should be added as needed.

The sample statement "Want to help?..." is this needed? The "For ideas, see..." statement--may stifle one's creativity if they think they have to do something like someone else did. Beginners may benefit from examples from others, however. But example pages may change and may no longer be good examples. A suggestion is that we have a spotlighted county that changes.

Michael suggested that the getting starting pages can answer questions and give instruction. He will clarify his opinion on the discussion page.

Missionaries can copy information about a county, from the FHL catalog, into the shell. Vicky suggested an assembly-line approach to speed the process.

David Dilts suggested we have click-able maps instead of the Neighboring Counties. We may be able to do this eventually. David Samuelsen suggested we might be able to copy form Wikipedia, but Jimmy mentioned that counties that only touch on corners are not included.

Direct links to county library and archive websites are better than sending them first to a list. This will limit the clicks. Links should go directly to pages of interest in other websites and not just to their home pages. So many are hard to navigate. Limit the clicks and make the paths as direct as possible.

This conversation can be continued next week but Wilma will not be here. Missionaries can get started on some passes and begin to create shells.

James Anderson: Printable versions of Wiki articles:  When on the page you want to print, in the left column Toolbox, click on the link for 'Printable version.'  Then you can print the page. Thanks James!

Attendees
David Dilts, Vicki Standing, Carol Smith, Pat Heipern, Wilma Adkins, Jimmy Parker, James Anderson, Barbara Baker, Joan Healey, Charlene Pipkin, Anne Roach, David Samuelsen, Lisa McBride, and Kara Wahlquist. Remotely: Raeone Steuart, Lise Embley, Michael Ritchey,and others.