Press Releases

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Lutterworth, Leicestershire (UK) and Gilbert, AZ (USA) — December 4, 2012 — The Federation of Family History Societies (FFHS) and Family History Information Standards Organisation, Inc. (FHISO) announced today that the The Federation of Family History Societies has finalised its plans to become a founding member of the organisation. As part of this process, FFHS has designated Malcolm Austen as its key organisational member representative. Malcolm 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 family historians embrace the digital age and new technology transforms the way we research, discover and collate information about our ancestors, it is vitally important that we ensure that we adhere to the highest standards available when accessing and sharing data online.  We are already seeing some of the problems emerging – incorrect citation of primary sources, confusion about where information was originally created, and issues around referencing personal archives that have been made available on the internet.  The Federation of Family History Societies is therefore proud to be one of the founder members of FHISO, and will assist its work in creating the much-needed standards for genealogical data around the world”, said Dr. Nick Barratt, FFHS President.

“We are a community of diverse practitioners and interests. Recognising the needs and devising solutions for our community is not a job for the few, but the many.  It is an honour to welcome the Federation of Family History Societies to FHISO. Already instrumental in uniting more than 160 member societies in the United Kingdom and around the globe, FFHS brings vision and experience to FHISO. Our future is today better and brighter for their commitment”, said acting FHISO Chairman, Robert Burkhead.

The Federation of Family History Societies (FFHS) is an educational charity formed in 1974. Over the years, membership has grown to over 160 societies throughout the world, including national, regional and one-name groups. The Federation provides eduational opportunities and administers both the Elizabeth Simpson and Geoff Riggs awards. The Federation publishes the FFHS Ezine. FFHS has a long history of providing an authentic, audible, and respected voice for the many thousands of individual family historians. To learn more about FFHS, please visit the organisation’s website,  http://www.ffhs.org.uk/index.php.

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/.

Please join us in welcoming the Federation of Family History Societies and Malcolm Austen to FHISO!

CONTACTS:

Federation of Family History Societies, it.coordinator@ffhs.org.uk

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

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Austin, TX and Gilbert, AZ — October 29, 2012 — The Federation of Genealogical Societies (FGS) and Family History Information Standards Organisation, Inc. (FHISO) announced today that the Federation of Genealogical Societies has finalized its plans to become a founding member of the organization. As part of this process, FGS has designated Drew Smith as its key organizational member representative. Drew 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.

“After RootsTech 2011, the Federation of Genealogical Societies launched a Technology Initiative and committed itself to serving as a technological role model for its member societies.  By becoming a founding member of FHISO, FGS provides yet another example of this leadership role in an area of technology that significantly impacts the lives of genealogists,” said Drew Smith, an FGS Director and FGS Representative to FHISO.

“One of the things that distinguishes modern standards development is the diversity of interests that drive the multi-stakeholder model. FGS’s hundreds of member organizations extend across interests and borders. With today’s announcement, FGS has shown the leadership that will help make that modern model possible for all of us,” said Robert Burkhead, acting FHISO Chairman.

The Federation of Genealogical Societies (FGS) was founded in 1976 and represents the members of hundreds of genealogical societies. FGS links the genealogical community by helping genealogical societies strengthen and grow through resources available online, FGS Forum magazine (filled with articles pertaining to society management and genealogical news), and Society Strategy Series papers, covering topics about effectively operating a genealogical society. FGS also links the genealogical community through its annual conference — four days of excellent lectures, including one full day devoted to society management topics. To learn more about the FGS, visit http://www.fgs.org.

FHISO is a standards-developing organization 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/.

Please join us in welcoming the Federation of Genealogical Societies and Drew Smith to FHISO!

CONTACTS:

Federation of Genealogical Societies, Drew Smith, drewsmithtpa@gmail.com
FHISO General Enquiries, enquiries@fhiso.org; Membership enquiries, membership@fhiso.org; FHISO Media Relations, Anthony C. Proctor (acproctor@fhiso.org)

VOOR ONMIDDELIJKE PUBLICATIE

Den Haag (Nederland) en Gilbert, AZ (USA) — 11 oktober 2012 — Coret Genealogie en Family History Information Standards Organisation, Inc. (FHISO) hebben vandaag aangekondigd dat Coret Genealogie zijn plannen heeft afgerond om stichtend lid van de organisatie te worden. Als onderdeel van dit proces heeft Coret Genealogie zijn oprichter, Bob Coret, aangewezen om de organisatie als lid te vertegenwoordigen.  Bob zal, samen met andere FHISO leden uit de wereldwijde genealogische gemeenschap, participeren in de ontwikkeling van standaarden voor de digitale representatie en het delen van familiegeschiedenis en genealogische informatie.

“Ik ben ervan overtuigd dat de genealogische gemeenschap als geheel – organisaties met en zonder winstoogmerk, collega’s en concurrenten, ontwikkelaars en eindgebruikers – profijt hebben van standaarden. FHISO biedt ons de mogelijkheid om het inzicht van alle internationale genealogische spelers te combineren bij het ontwikkelen van standaarden op het vlak van familiegeschiedenis”, zei Bob Coret, oprichter van Coret Genealogie.

“Coret Genealogie bouwt sinds 2003 gereedschap en netwerken in de Nederlandse genealogische gemeenschap. Of het nu gaat om inhoud of verbindingen, we hebben allemaal voordeel van Bob Coret’s ervaring en inzicht. Dat Bob zich vanuit Nederland aansluit bevordert het wereldwijde netwerk van technologen en genealogen die samenwerken om FHISO’s onafhankelijke en zelfbesturende operatie mogelijk te maken”, zei Robert Burkhead, waarnemend voorzitter van FHISO.

Het Nederlandse bedrijf Coret Genealogie biedt een variëteit aan webgebaseerd genealogie gereedschap. Genealogie Online publiceert stambomen en door vrijwilligers gescande bronnen. De website fungeert ook als een onderzoeksgereedschap, door suggesties te geven aan deelnemende genealogen omtrent online beschikbare bronnen die gerelateerd zijn aan het eigen genealogische onderzoek en omtrent overeenkomsten tussen gepubliceerde stambomen. Stamboom Forum is een sociaal netwerk voor genealogen. Deze website faciliteert de uitwisseling van kennis en diensten in de Nederlandstalige genealogische gemeenschap. Het brengt ook genealogen met elkaar in contact, op basis van de familienamen die zij onderzoeken of het genealogische evenement dat zij bezoeken. Voor meer informatie over de hulpmiddelen die Coret Genealogie levert, bezoek http://genealogie.coret.org/

FHISO is een standaards ontwikkelende organisatie die de internationale familiegeschiedenis en genealogie gemeenschap samenbrengt in een transparant, zelfbesturend forum om informatiestandaarden te ontwikkelen om de huidige interoperabiliteitsproblemen op te lossen. Voor meer informatie over FHISO, bezoek http://fhiso.org/.

Wij nodigen u uit om Coret Genealogie en haar oprichter, Bob Coret, te verwelkomen bij FHISO!

Contactpersonen:

Coret Genealogie (Dutch and English), genealogie@coret.org

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

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

The Hague (Netherlands) and Gilbert, AZ (USA) — October 11, 2012 — Coret Genealogie and Family History Information Standards Organisation, Inc. (FHISO) announced today that Coret Genealogie has finalised its plans to become a founding member of the organisation. As part of this process, Coret Genealogie has designated its founder, Bob Coret, to be an organisational member representative. Bob 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.

“I am convinced that the genealogical community as a whole—profit and non-profit organisations, colleagues and competitors, developers and end-users—benefit from standards. FHISO provides the opportunity for us to combine the insight of all international genealogical players in the development of standards to support family history”, said Bob Coret, founder of Coret Genealogie.

“Coret Genealogie has been building tools and networks in the Dutch genealogical community since 2003. Whether the subject is content or connections, we all benefit from Bob Coret’s first hand experience and insight. That Bob joins us from the Netherlands furthers the world-wide network of technologists and genealogists uniting to make FHISO’s independent and self-governing operations a reality”, said Robert Burkhead, acting FHISO Chairman.

The Dutch company Coret Genealogie provides a range of web-based genealogy tools. Genealogie Online publishes family trees and scanned materials by volunteers. The website also acts as a research tool—offering suggestions to participating genealogists about online sources related to their genealogical research and between genealogist’s published trees. Stamboom Forum is a social network for genealogists. This website facilitates the exchange of knowledge and services in the Dutch speaking genealogical community. It also brings genealogists in contact with each other, based on the family names they research or the genealogical fair they visit. For more information about all tools provided by Coret Genealogie, please visit http://genealogie.coret.org/en/.

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/.

Please join us in welcoming Coret Genealogie and its founder, Bob Coret, to FHISO!

CONTACTS:

Coret Genealogie (Dutch and English), genealogie@coret.org 

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

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

London (United Kingdom) and Gilbert, AZ (USA) — September 24, 2012 — Calico Pie Limited and Family History Information Standards Organisation, Inc. (FHISO) announced today that Calico Pie has finalised its plans to become a founding member of the organisation. As part of this process, Calico Pie has designated its founder, Simon Orde, to be an organisational member representative. Simon 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.

“Open standards make possible products and applications that even the creators of the standards themselves could never have imagined. Family Historian was originally built around one standard GEDCOM that has been hugely important for genealogy.  We look forward to the opportunities and possibilities that future standards will bring. The emergence of FHISO is exactly what the genealogy world needs, and we are delighted and excited to be part of it”, said Calico Pie’s managing director, Simon Orde.

“Developing international standards requires a supporting network of vendors and users that extends across the globe. Thanks to the leadership of Calico Pie and Simon Orde, our world community became better connected today in a big way. This announcement is good news for Family Historian users and genealogists everywhere”, said FHISO Organiser, Tony Proctor (UK and Ireland).

Simon Orde founded London-based Calico Pie Limited in 1995. Its award-winning product, Family Historian, is the United Kingdom’s leading genealogy software program. Ease of use, integrated visuals and graphics, emphasis on getting the most out of the data and bringing a balance to pre-configured and user-customisable features are just some of the goals and philosophy behind the development effort. In January 2012, Family Historian 4 was honored with the “Best Buy” award from Which? Computing. To learn more about Calico Pie and Family Historian or to take the latest release, Family Historian 5, on a test drive, visit the company website, http://www.family-historian.co.uk/.

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/.

Please join us in welcoming Calico Pie and its founder, Simon Orde, to FHISO!

CONTACTS:

Calico Pie / Family Historian, info@family-historian.co.uk

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