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I became acquainted with family history research and the internet co-
incidentally in late 1996 as a need to occupy my time and mind after being
disabled with Parkinson's Disease. I learned much about family history
research
from selfless and experienced mentors at the local FHC, the Great Falls
Genealogy
Society and by monitoring genealogy forums on the internet. As a consequence,
I, like so many others, am mostly self-taught with computers and the
internet.
After a few years research experience and having participated in some of the
internet genealogy forums with a desire to help, I became active with
the Great Falls Genealogy Society as a librarian and a member of the research
department. With my wife, Karen, we were honored to receive the year
2002 Great Falls Genealogy Society Volunteer of the Year Award.
I have a good working relationship with the staff at the local public
library,
the local Family History Center,
the Cascade County Historical Society, the
Great Falls Genealogy Society and many of the Cascade County
offices.
How and why did I decide on the moniker -neighborjohn-?
I was raised in the post WWII rural environment where so many
neighbors helped each other without thoughts of reward.
When it was time to choose a user name as an identity on the internet, and
since I was labeled and known around our local neighborhood as neighbor John,
it seemed appropriate to continue the theme of helpfulness and to choose a
moniker that identified itself with that theme.
Even though one does not volunteer to help in the genealogy community
for the rewards, I have to freely admit that the excitement engendered
as a result of our assistance has an ego enhancing reward.
A. John Birkholz
Librarian & Researcher
Great Falls Genealogy Society
http://www.GreatFallsGenealogy.org
301 2nd Avenue N.
Great Falls, MT 59401
Cascade County GenWeb Coordinator
http://www.montanagenweb.com/home-page.html
Cascade County, MT--Cemetery Registry contact.
http://www.montanagenweb.com/Cemetery/cemet.html
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