Family History--Research and Helpful Hints

I have some ideas for Family History. I think a little Family History "Corner" in the church monthly newsletter could be helpful! I can put in the hours of the family history library, things I and the class discover about doing research and little updates about problems we solve with software or database management, etc. It might motivate people.


Problems to solve: 
1. How do we manage when "Great Aunt Sophie" has done all the research and none of it is digital? 
2. And how do we bridge the gap between those two? 
3. What is available if it seems that "all" the research is done?
4. Find out how to correct blatant errors in the Family Search database. If you see a death date and you know for sure - have physical proof...then how to correct that and list your sources, so that it is right on church records?
5. How to have good sources for information without purchasing death and birth certificates for each individual?  For example, a certificate, even if not notarized, costs $25.00 from the state of Georgia's Vital Statistics. So you'd want to purchase only what you desperately need.

These are questions I will bring up on Friday when I go.

Another thing I want to do is get a list to all the "subscription" information sites available at the library, so that each person doesn't have to individually purchase those. They can be quite pricey. Ancestry.com costs 55.00 for 3 months!

I downloaded "Ancestral Quest" which is the software that connects PAF5 databases and yet is compatible with GEDCOM files and IGI and Family Search. It was inexpensive and it is easy to use. The imported files are also easily assimilated! There are other software packages too at about the same price like Family Tree Maker, Legacy, and a couple of others. I chose Ancestral Quest because it was developed by the same fellow who did PAF and PAF is easy to use.

Regarding the first problem...I am thinking of using a descendancy chart to help figure out where to begin again. It should show "holes" in families where data needs to be found. For example, if I put my Great Grandfather in as the primary and create a descendancy chart from him....I can see which children/grandchildren etc. have inadvertently left out. I think in families where direct lines are done then working sideways (what I've nicknamed the crab-crawl) will be the way to find people who have been left out.