Each year, the New England Historic Genealogical Society presents
an award for technology excellence in the field of genealogy. This award is
presented at the annual GENTECH conference, to be held this year in NEHGS’
home city, Boston. Nominations are due 20 November. If you are involved in a
genealogy technology project, or know someone else who is, you want to get your
nomination in now.
Here is the announcement from NEHGS:
The New England Historic Genealogical Society (local host
of GENTECH 2002), desiring to encourage and foster the development of rigorous
genealogical research techniques in computerized or electronic formats,
announces the Third Annual NEHGS Technology Excellence Award. This award
is granted annually during the GENTECH Conference for Genealogy and Technology.
The award may be granted to an individual or organization
and will carry with it:
- a one-year membership in NEHGS
- prominent listing on the NEHGS Web site
- travel expenses for the recipient (or recipient's representative) to
the award ceremony
- $500 in products of the recipient's choice from the NEHGS Family Treasures
store.
The award will be determined by a committee appointed by NEHGS.
Nominations are welcome and may be submitted; in addition, the committee
will also consider initiatives which fit its criteria but have received
no nomination. To be eligible for consideration, a project must demonstrate
or enable the highest standards of genealogical research in electronic form
and do so in an innovative and replicable manner. The award is intended
to recognize appropriate use of technology to achieve genealogical results;
eligible projects must therefore present a worthwhile genealogical result
obtained through technological tools. "Gee whiz" technology devoid
of genealogical merit will not be considered, nor will pure genealogical
content outweigh technological shortcomings.
Examples of projects which might fit these criteria are:
- Electronic representation of original source documents
- Electronic publication of genealogical research, including full source
documentation.
- Cataloging of repository materials for electronic access.
- Collaborative efforts among societies, family history associations or
commercial ventures to increase the electronic accessibility of genealogical
resources.
Employees of NEHGS and their immediate families are not eligible
for consideration for this award. Nominations may be sent to techaward@nehgs.org.
The deadline for submissions is 20 November.
Previous Tech Award Winners include: the Alberta Family Histories
Society, Canadian Genealogical Projects Registry, www.afhs.ab.ca/registry/index.html
in 2000; and the Illinois State Genealogical Society, www.tbox.com/isgs/
in 2001.
Dick Eastman Online
