FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Date: 8^th May 2013

Eneclann (www.eneclann.ie) and Family History Information Standards Organisation, Inc. (FHISO) announced today that Eneclann has finalised its plans to become a founding member of the organisation.  Brian Donovan, Eneclann’s CEO, said of the partnership “Digitising, indexing and publishing family history records online is fraught with problems. Genealogy needs FHISO to help navigate a collaborative solution to shared problems, and to set meaningful standards, and we in Eneclann are delighted to be partners in this”.  The company will participate with other FHISO members from the global genealogical community in the development of standards for the digital representation and sharing of family history and genealogical information. As an organisation involved in the management, digitisation of, and research with archives, they bring a unique perspective on the work of FHISO. Fiona Fitzsimons, Research Director, commented ‘Digitisation of records has transformed the way we do genealogy, but we need standards so we can be sure of the quality of the electronic records we use. FHISO is a welcome development to achieve this goal.’

“FHISO is proud to welcome Eneclann as a Founding Member. Recognised for its innovation, Eneclann has been involved in major digitisation projects. Its experts bring to FHISO professional services experience in the mixed-language and rich cultural heritage that is associated with Irish genealogy. Brian Donovan, himself an expert in digitisation techniques, also brings project management and business development skills to FHISO. Eneclann’s experience contributes to a unique perspective in the genealogy marketplace”, said FHISO Organiser, Tony Proctor (UK and Ireland).

About Eneclann Ltd.

Eneclann Ltd., incorporated in 1998, is the largest genealogical company in Ireland.  Well known internationally for its research for the hit T.V. series Who Do You Think You Are? worldwide, as well as the U.S. T.V. series Faces of America (2010), and Finding Your Roots (2012),  Eneclann has also traced the Irish roots of President Barack Obama and several celebrities, most recently Tom Cruise.

Eneclann has developed significant skills in archival management, and expertise in digital technology. The company was instrumental in the founding of the online service www.irishorigins.com in 2003, and more recently in 2011 launched the web service www.findmypast.ie with their Scottish joint-venture partner brightsolid.

To date the company has brought over 65 million genealogical records online, and has acted as a trusted partner of several archives, libraries and other Irish public institutions in making their historic records available to a wide audience.  Find out more at: www.eneclann.ie

About FHISO

FHISO is a standards-developing organisation bringing the international family history and genealogical community together in a transparent, self-governing forum for the purpose of developing information standards to solve today’s interoperability issues. To learn more about FHISO, visit http://fhiso.org/. To become an enquiring member, visit http://fhiso.org/membership-enquiries/.

Contacts:

Eneclann, info@eneclann.ie, +353 1 671 0338.

FHISO General Enquiries, enquiries@fhiso.org; Membership enquiries, membership@fhiso.org; FHISO Media Relations, Anthony C. Proctor, acproctor@fhiso.org.

Work on FHISO’s web-based collaboration platform is nearing completion. This tool will support our members in the development of a data and information standard intended to benefit the international genealogy and family history community. Making these tools available will be an important milestone along the road of achieving the organisation’s primary mission. Both the collaboration platform, as well as enhancements to this web site, should be available shortly.

A new tool or platform, however, is no substitute for community participation. While we’re putting the finishing touches on the new tools and site, I’m renewing our invitation made during RootsTech 2013 to participate in the community Open Call for Papers. This initiative is truly an opportunity for you to have your say, your way. If you have questions or would like assistance submitting a paper, you can contact us.

Robert Burkhead
Technical Standing Committee Coordinator

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Realising the Benefits – Community-driven Standards Development Begins

Salt Lake City, Utah, USA—Friday, March 22, 2013—Family History Information Standards Organisation, FHISO, has announced its 2013 Call for Papers Initiative (http://fhiso.org/call-for-papers/), signaling the commencement of open standards development work.

Members of the international genealogy and family history community are invited to submit written proposals as contributions to the FHISO standards development process.

“Modern standards development work is dynamic and deliberate,” said Robert Burkhead, FHISO Technical Standing Committee Coordinator and Acting Chair.  “The result will be inclusive; it will be effective. It begins here. It begins with you and your participation.”

“For the first time, the proposals will be published to the benefit of all stakeholders making up the international community,” said Tony Proctor (UK), FHISO Organiser. “Collectively, the proposals will give rise to comments, member working groups and project teams. The information standards developed from this process will better support how we work and how well we work together.”

FHISO is a community-driven organisation established for the purpose of developing genealogy and family history information standards on a modern platform that is

• Open
• Multi-stakeholder
• International
• Self-governing
• Balanced

The FHISO work platforms have been developed. A submissions platform for the Call for Papers is available (http://fhiso.org/call-for-papers/). As volunteers process the submissions, each will be posted for public viewing and commenting. A dynamic new platform to support working groups and project teams will follow.

It begins here. It begins with you. Become a member of FHISO today (http://fhiso.org/join-fhiso/).

Contacts:

FHISO General Enquiries enquiries@fhiso.org; Membership – membership@fhiso.org; FHISO Media Relations – Anthony C. Proctor (acproctor@fhiso.org).

Are you interested in FHISO?

Will you be at RootsTech 2013 a few days from now?

If so, be sure to stop by the FHISO Booth – Booth 646 in the Exhibits Hall.

In particular we’re arranging a “Meet & Greet” that will start at the FHISO Booth at 5:15pm on Thursday 21 March – after the last session for the day, and move to a nearby location to be determined (the Exhibit Hall closes at 6pm). If you don’t have a session in that last time slot, stop by earlier.

Looking forward to seeing many of you there!

We’re excited that this year FHISO will have a booth in the Expo Hall.

Plan of the RootsTech Expo Hall.

Come and visit us at Booth 646 during the hours the Hall is open.

Stop and chat a while, and fill out one of our “I just want it to work” question forms.