19 December 2023

Accentuate the Positive 2023

Geneameme 2023 - front image on book generated using Microsoft co-pilot,
book image and text added in Photofunia

Each year Jill, GeniAus puts out an invitation to bloggers to Accentuate the Positive in the form of a geneameme that provides a range of prompts to reflect on our year in genealogy, and celebrate our successes. 
Below is my response to some of the prompts followed by ChatGPTs modification of my words.

1. On re-reading my mother's memoir I discovered some forgotten details.

2. In 2023 I reconnected with a living cousin when he emailed me to thank me for the research done on my mother's paternal line.

3. I'm pleased I replaced Twitter for genealogical discussion with Mastodon the social tool that is open source, has no advertising and a growing body of family history and genealogy users.

4. I was pleased that I finally purchased and read Your DNA guide by Diahan Southard

5. I enjoyed my journey to South Australia to visit five of my siblings in March 2023 not only for the opportunity to catch up with them but also to record some of the events in their lives for future generations.

6. I am pleased that I have been a member of Queensland Family History Society, receiving their newsletters and updates as well as having access to their online programs and data. This has helped me get an overview of ideas for our local group.

7. I made several DNA discoveries thanks to two siblings who tested and gave me control of their test results. These tests revealed connections with higher matches than showed in my matches list and thus enabled me to determine the correct lineages from sets of 2x gt-grandparents solving a couple of longstanding genealogical mysteries.

8. An informative Facebook group I have joined is We Are [enjoying our family histories] and while I have not yet committed to spending more on genealogy it is very interesting to see the development of this software with the ability to integrate blog posts with dynamic family trees, media and much more.

9.. Trove has helped me follow many marriages and deaths of descendants of my 2x gt-grandparents overcoming challenges such as missing records and gaps in historical data.

10. AI was new to me but I learnt so much from reading, experimenting and from presentations given by Andrew Redfern and Carole McCulloch.

11. The best value I got for my genealogy dollars was my membership of Genealogy South Australia.

12. It felt good to contribute to our local group by providing some classes and some technical expertise. I was pleased to be recognised outside the group by being asked to present sessions on a couple of topics for three different genealogical societies this year.

13. It was wonderful to catch up with genimates Pauleen and Fran for a recent lunch.

14. I wouldn't be without my Canon flatbed scanner as I continue to digitise documents and photos relevant to our lives and those of our ancestors.

15. I rewrote and updated some stories about our O'Dea ancestors who arrived in South Australia in 1854. This was distributed via email as a pdf attachment for close relatives.

16. I got a thrill from opening someone's eyes to the potential of using a variety of technology tools for genealogical purposes.

17. Another positive I would like to share is the continuing satisfaction I get from pursuing our families shared histories.



I asked ChatGPT to use the above text with the prompt acting as a professional genealogy blogger summarise my year
Here's the response: 

Genealogy Blogger Year in Review: A Journey of Rediscovery and Connection

As the year draws to a close, reflecting upon my genealogical journey in 2023 brings a wave of satisfaction and meaningful connections. Here's a summary of the highlights and discoveries that defined my year:

1. Rediscovering Family Narratives:
Revisiting my mother's memoir proved to be a treasure trove, unearthing forgotten details and enriching my understanding of our family history.

2. Reconnection through Research:
An unexpected email from a living cousin expressing gratitude for my research on my mother's paternal line led to a heartwarming reconnection, highlighting the power of shared family narratives.

3. Embracing Mastodon for Genealogical Discourse:
Replacing Twitter with Mastodon for genealogical discussions brought a sense of community. The open-source platform, free of advertisements, facilitated engaging conversations with a growing community of family history enthusiasts.

4. Empowering DNA Research:
Reading "Your DNA Guide" by Diahan Southard proved to be a pivotal moment, empowering me with insights that enhanced my DNA research capabilities.

5. Journey to South Australia:

March 2023 marked a memorable journey to South Australia, not only for the joy of reuniting with five siblings but also for recording significant events in their lives for future generations.

6. Queensland Family History Society Membership:
Being a member of the Queensland Family History Society provided valuable insights, newsletters, and access to online programs, shaping ideas for our local genealogical group.

7. DNA Discoveries:
Taking control of my siblings' DNA test results led to several breakthroughs, unravelling mysteries and connecting with distant relatives, enriching our family tree.

8. Exploring Innovative Genealogy Software:
Participation in the Facebook group "We Are [enjoying our family histories]" introduced me to innovative genealogy software, sparking interest in the evolving landscape of tools that integrate blog posts, dynamic family trees, and media.

9. Trove Triumphs:
Trove played a crucial role in overcoming challenges, helping trace marriages and deaths of descendants by bridging gaps in historical data.

10. AI Exploration:
Venturing into the realm of AI for genealogical purposes, learning from experts like Andrew Redfern and Carole McCulloch, opened new dimensions of understanding and application.

11. Value in Genealogical Memberships:
The most rewarding investment proved to be my membership with Genealogy South Australia, offering unparalleled value for my genealogy endeavours.

12. Contributing to the Local Genealogical Community:
Sharing expertise through classes and technical contributions to the local group not only felt fulfilling but also led to invitations to present sessions for three different genealogical societies.

13. Memorable Gatherings:

Lunch meetings with genimates Pauleen and Fran added a personal touch to the genealogical journey, creating lasting memories.

14. Essential Tools:
The Canon flatbed scanner remained an indispensable tool, facilitating the digitization of documents and photos vital to preserving our family's history.

15. Sharing Ancestral Stories:
Rewriting and updating stories about our O'Dea ancestors, distributed via email with PDF attachments for close relatives, ensured the preservation and dissemination of our shared history.

16. Inspiring Others:
The joy of opening someone's eyes to the potential of technology tools for genealogical purposes was a gratifying experience, fostering a sense of community and shared exploration.

17. Continuing Satisfaction:
Above all, the continuing satisfaction derived from delving into our family's shared histories remains the driving force, reaffirming the profound importance of preserving and celebrating our roots.


Back to my own words: ChatGPT is quite wordy and suggests more than one lunch with genimates, but can be used to improve some of my blog posts, or make suggestions for individual sentences. I would definitely take out some of its excessive use of adjectives. The headings certainly make for easier reading. 

How have your experiences been with ChatGPT or other AI tools?

This post first appeared on earlieryears.blogspot.com by CRGalvin

Harrigan Horgan Hogan

Johanna (Horgan) Hogan What's in a name? Well it depended on how you pronounced it, how a clerk may have heard it and how it was written...