‘Tis the Season for Genealogy Gifts
It’s the time of year many of us are searching for gift ideas for loved ones. What do you get someone who has everything? Or whose tastes you don’t understand? You don’t want to give a gift the recipient doesn’t like, but gift cards are so impersonal.
We genealogists can create and give unique gifts that family members will love; we can share part of our research and help the recipient learn more about our mutual family history. In Preserving Memories: How to Write a Family History, my editor, Lillie Ammann, tells how her mother enjoyed writing about her life and her family. Each year at Christmas, she gave her children new stories to add to the collection. Lillie said those family stories were treasured gifts each Christmas and created a valuable legacy that has lasted long past her mother’s death.
My favorite gifts are copies of old letters or other documents. Almost any document can be inexpensively copied on parchment paper for an authentic look. For example, I recently found a fascinating letter written by an ancestor asking for help in rescuing her granddaughter who was being help captive by Indians. The copy can be framed to make an attractive display – one that is especially meaningful to the recipient. I like to choose letters or records that are most appropriate for the specific family member or friend. These gifts are always welcomed with enthusiasm and proudly displayed by the recipients.
Those of us who love genealogy have a wonderful opportunity to share the results of our research with loved ones who would like to know more about their family or who would enjoy displaying a historical family document without having to do the hard work to gather the information and find the records.
Lights, Camera, Author! Book and Author Dinner
I’m honored and excited that I have been invited to participate in Lights, Camera, Author!, a Book and Author Dinner which the Literacy Council of Fort Bend County (Texas) says “will highlight literacy and a love of reading and writing by giving literacy supporters a chance to meet and dine with several prominent Texas authors.”
The other participating authors and I will sign books before the dinner, then we’ll share our experiences as writers over dinner. Khambrel Marshall, an award-winning journalist on Houston TV who has been recognized for his volunteerism, will serve as master of ceremonies and introduce the authors.
Being called “a prominent Texas author” and signing and talking about my book will be great fun. But what I’m most excited about is the opportunity to contribute to a cause I believe in strongly. The Literacy Council has trained more than 2,000 volunteers and served more than 15,000 adult learners since its inception in 1987. And its goal is to serve the 90,000 people in Fort Bend County who can’t read or write. Reading and writing have given me so much pleasure that I can’t imagine not being able to do either. So I’m glad to do what I can to help.
Supporters can sponsor tables of 10 people each (including an author and the author’s guest) for thousands of dollars, purchase a ticket for $50, or contribute any amount at all to the Literacy Council of Fort Bend County. If you’re in the Houston area, I encourage your support. As the Council says, “Literacy changes lives!”
And if you don’t live in the area … there are literacy organizations all across the country meeting the needs of those with limited literacy in their communities. All these fine organizations need support — volunteer time and cash donations. If you appreciate being able to read and write and would like to help others change their lives through literacy, I encourage you to find a literacy organization in your community and support it.
After all, don’t you want everyone to be able to read my books? 
