- Roadtrip! There is only so much you can do online, and it’s really time for me to get my hands dirty, up close and personally, in the courthouses, cemeteries, and churches again. I would like to visit Austin, Texas; Homer, Louisiana; multiple parishes in southwest Louisiana; and Kanawha County, West Virginia. I would also like to explore the Texas Heritage Museum at Hill College.
- Organize a Family Reunion. I’m helping to plan a reunion for a line of my family that has ties to Africa, Virginia, Mississippi, and Louisiana. The last time any segment of this family branch met was over 20 years ago. This will be the first time that we ever will have brought together the descendants of two formerly enslaved brothers. The reunion committee members are super excited, but it is definitely an ambitious project!
- Register for a genealogy course. The last time I took a course was SLIG 2021, and I was very disappointed that the COVID pandemic led the organizers to change it to a virtual only course. I also didn’t get the feedback from the instructor that was promised. Most are still virtual, but I would prefer to do an in-person course. I might even consider a course that would enable me to earn a certificate.
- Submit articles to at least three peer-reviewed journals. There are three journals that I’m eyeing, one of which is probably definitely out of my range right now. My plan is to shoot high and learn a lot both along the way and on my way down.
- Take full advantage of my genealogy memberships. I want to read every issue of the magazine and attend every seminar, but I know I won’t. However, I believe that making a commitment to doing more will enable me to accomplish more than I did last year.
- Publish my book. I would love to finish editing and publishing my book before our family reunion. I’ve been waiting for over a year to hear back from the editors and readers who are reviewing my manuscript. I’ve been advised to wait it out, but I’m feeling pretty frustrated and anxious. Yes, I know that those conditions are not conducive to good decision-making, but decide I must.
- Revisit genealogical certification. I applied for certification through BCG this year and did not make the cut. I was disappointed, but I am not deterred. I intend to review the feedback I received, improve the projects based on that feedback, and consider submitting a new portfolio in 2026.
Published by GenealogyGriot
Tameka Miller is a genealogist, psychologist, and full-time homemaker and homeschool educator. She has been a genealogy researcher and family historian for over 20 years.
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