Frequently Asked Questions About Project Administration
Becoming a Project Administrator at WorldFamilies.net
Recruiting new members
Editing my project's website and administering my project
What is a Project Administrator?
Typically, one or two volunteer researchers provide leadership for the project, coordinating the collection and display of pedigrees, the correlation of pedigrees to results and the presentation of results. They also share the project’s learnings with the members and coordinate the efforts to increase interest and awareness in the project.
For more information on becoming an administrator, read Become An Administrator
Why does WorldFamilies.net administer so many surname projects?
When Surname Projects do not have a family member to administer the project, Worldfamilies.net often steps in to administer the project until a family member is ready to take over. We provide the project's website, post results and pedigrees on the website, inform project members of any activity in the project, and answer questions from the project members. In addition, WorldFamilies also co-administers projects that have a Project Administrator who needs help administering the project. WorldFamilies has a business relationship with Family Tree DNA that allows us to provide this service.
More information about WorldFamilies.net
How do I start a new project?
If there is no FTDNA project serving your surname, we will set up the project for you through WorldFamilies.net and allow you to be the Co-Admin or simply be a participant.
Click here to request us to set up your Surname Project Surname Project Request
You can also contact Family Tree DNA directly to request a project.
What do I need to know to set up a Surname DNA project?
Most Surname DNA Project coordinators didn’t know a lot about DNA testing when they started. They had an interest in furthering their research and were willing to start their project and learn as they went. We have provided advice on how to start and run a project
at our WorldFamilies.net site.
For more information on becoming an administrator, read Become An Administrator
What is the time commitment?
It is as little or as much as you choose to give. A modest sized project will probably take 2-10 hours per week. It depends on how hard you work and how many other people you can get involved to help create the interest and bring in the families. Recruiting and answering questions will take the bulk of your time. Smaller projects which are allowed to develop at their own pace, with very modest recruiting efforts, probably take only 1-2 hours a week.
What kind of computer knowledge do I need?
You need to be able to navigate and use the resources available on the internet. It will be helpful if you are able to create a word document. You'll also find that working with an Excel (or similar) spreadsheet will be very helpful - but it's not critical. You do not need to be able to program or to create a website.
Can I manage more than one Surname Project?
Yes - we have Co-Admins who manage 6-8 surname projects.
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What if I want to manage a Surname Project at a different testing Company?
Our sites are only for Surname Projects based at FTDNA.
I already have a successful Surname Project. Why should I use one of your project website?
Our project sites offer up to 10 pages for your project's information. In addition, we can assist you in administering your project, if the need arises. The free project website can be used as a stand-alone system, can be used in conjunction with the project pages provided by FTDNA, or can be coordinated with another site which already supports your project. Having a website at WorldFamilies.net gives your project more visibility.
How will other people find my project?
We maintain The World's most complete Surname DNA Project listing. This includes all projects that are listed with Family Tree DNA plus any projects that have individually registered with WorldFamilies.net. We believe that this represents over 90% of all surname projects worldwide.
What kind of people should I recruit?
You need a male participant who either carries the Surname or one who is believed to be paternally descended from a man who carried the surname.
When you are establishing your project, the most important participants will be those who can trace their ancestry. Researchers who are enthusiastic about researching your surname through DNA testing can be very helpful in recruiting and in convincing the doubters of the value of DNA testing.
How do I identify appropriate participants for my project?
For information on choosing participants for your project, click here.
How do I find these people?
Use every possible method of contact that you can imagine. Typically, some are found through word of mouth, some are found through Surname Forums and Discussion Pages, some are found through Family History societies and some are found through luck. If you know old-timers who have a network of fellow researchers who still communicate by snail mail and phone, you have a potential source into many families in your surname, as these researchers usually keep a list of contacts who are a part of their line and a list of those who are not a part of their line. The more different channels of communication that you can open to find and recruit participants, the more likely you are to be successful in finding them.
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How do I convince them to get tested?
This can be a challenge. Some folks are willing to participate, but can’t (or won’t pay the cost). In these cases, you can encourage the family to collectively pool the cost of the test for one representative. These situations are ones where the 12 marker tests are particularly useful, as $99 is easier to raise than $148, $189, or $269.
Some folks don’t understand the value of the testing. Hopefully, you can learn enough from these FAQs and other information to persuade them. Some coordinators have shared their challenges on the Genealogy-DNA-L list and gotten help from experienced coordinators.
Some folks fear that the test will somehow invade or compromise their privacy. Again, hopefully, you can learn enough from these FAQs and other information to persuade them.
If you aren’t able to convince someone to participate, don’t give up. (and don’t offend them, as they could become an ally later) One possibility is that they might refer you to another family member who is more receptive. You may also find a way to answer their concerns and discuss with them again another time.
Some projects create “sponsorships” to help pay the cost of testing in specific situations.
What is a Sponsorship Program?
The "FTDNA General Fund" is an easy way to set up a Sponsorship Fund for your project. (See the link on the GAP for your project. ) The advantage of doing your fund this way is that FTDNA will allow the donations to be made with a credit card or a check, and the funds will be held in your General Fund until you tell FTDNA how they are to be used for tests.
Do you have any suggestions for how a Project Administrator can make his Surname Project a success?
Yes, take a look at this page: Managing a Successful Surname Project.
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Where can I find a list of all the project administration information page at WorldFamilies.net?
You will find lists of the pages you should read as you take on the responsiblities of project administration on both the Administrator's Guide Page and on the Site Map
Can I choose which pages to use for my website?
Yes, log in as project administrator, go to your project's home page and click the edit button near the top of the page. Scroll down below the editing box and your will see "Pages Enabled". Click on each box to check it, meaning the page will be displayed on your project's website, or uncheck it, meaning the page will not be displayed. Home and Order must always be displayed. After you have selected the pages you want to display, scroll to the bottom on the page and click "Save"
Can I rename pages of my website?
Yes. On the home page of your project, you can click "Edit" and choose the name that will be displayed at the top of all project webpages, along with the tag line you would like to include.
On each of the other pages of your website, click "Edit", then type the name you want for the webpage in the top box called "Page Title".
Always scroll to the bottom of the page and click "Save" to make the changes you want.
How do I add a Co-Administrator to my project?
First, add your new Co-Administrator's name and email address to the GAP at Family Tree DNA.
Then, make sure that your Co-Administrator has registered at WorldFamilies.net Then have him/her go to your project's website and click "Track" in the left sidebar. Once he/she has done that, you can log in as Admin, click on " # members tracking project" in the left sidebar of your project's homepage. Click "Admin: Create" next to his/her name. Then click "Join Community". The Co-Administrator's name will now appear on the bottom of each of the project's webpages.
How do I edit my email address at WorldFamilies.net?
Log in at www.worldfamilies.net, then click on "my account" in the left sidebar. Then click "Edit". Change your email address, then scroll to the bottom of the page and click "Save" This will change your email address associated with your registration at WorldFamilies.net
To change the email address that is displayed for you as Project Administrator on your Project's website, click the tab "Personal Information" make the change to the name and display email address, and click "Save".
How can I learn to use the GAP at FTDNA?
Read the FTDNA pages for administrators listed on this page: FTDNA Resources for Project Administrators.
What is the difference in "Edit" and "Upload" on my project's webpage?
The “Edit” tool is the website-provided editing tool that allows you to change the text that appears on your project’s webpages, using the editing box and tool bar displayed on the editing page. You can make any changes or additions you want to the page's content, then scroll down to click "Save" so that the new content will appear on the page. For more information
The "Upload" tool allows you to upload to the page your own content that has been saved as an .html file. You cannot edit the uploaded file on the webpage, as you will lose the formatting. For more information.
How do I upload a page to my Project's website?
Click here for information on uploading an .html file
How do I save a file as an .htm or .html file for uploading?
Click here for information on saving as an .htm or .html file.
Do you have step-by-step instructions for posting pedigrees on the Patriarchs' Page?
Yes, for detailed instructions on posting to the Patriarch Page, click here.
Also, see Editing Your Project's Website for good information.
Do you have step-by-step instructions for posting pedigrees on the Results Page?
Yes, for detailed instructions on posting results, click here.
Also, see Editing Your Project's Website fpr good information.
I'm having trouble editing a project webpage or uploading an .html file.
Go to this page for Common Problems and Questions with Editing Pages
Also, see Editing Your Project's Website for good information.
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Do you have sample emails for welcoming new members and informing project members of new results or pedigree postings?
Yes, you can find samples here:
"Welcome" "New Results Have Been Posted" "New Pedigree Posted"
Can I allow people who have tested at companies other than FTDNA to submit yDNA results for posting on the project's results page?
WorldFamilies.net no longer accepts results from companies other than FTDNA for the Surname Projects we administer, as FTDNA now makes it so easy to add these results to FTDNA for a modest fee.
To learn more, click here: http://www.familytreedna.com/landing/ydna-transfer.aspx
However, some Project Administrators choose to accept results if placed in a conversion table. Here is a link to that table.
What is a Lineage?
Project members' results who match at 23/25, 33/37/, 61/67 or better are grouped together as a Lineage, which means they share a "recent" common ancestor.
What is a haplogroup?
This name is used for the branches of the "Family Tree of Man" based on analysis of yDNA. The Haplogroups shows the different branches that have separated over 1000s and 10,000s of years. Haplogroup branches characterize the early migrations of population groups. As a result, haplogroups are usually associated with a geographic region and can tell us about our ancient ancestors and their migrations. Haplogroups were assigned letters of the alphabet before the complete analysis was done which means that the specific letter assignment itself is meaningless. Each man today can be assigned to a Haplogroup, which tells him the "deep ancestry".
What is an "Apparent Ancestral Profile"?
When men are grouped together in a lineage, we can estimate the yDNA profile for their common ancestor by deducing what his profile had to be in order for his descendants to have their specific results. This Apparant Ancestral Profile appears in the top row of the lineage, on the same line as the name of the Lineage. Also called Ancestral Signature and Modal Haplotype at FTDNA.
What is the "Earliest Known Ancestor"?
the male who is the farthest back in the paternal line of the participant - as traced through a paper trail. Earliest Known Ancestor is the term used by WorldFamilies.net. FTDNA uses the term “Most Distant Known Ancestor”
How is the Earliest Known Ancestor obtained for the Results Page?
When the project member posts his "Most Distant Known Ancestor" on the "User Preferences" page of his MyFTDNA page, FTDNA picks up that information and displays it with his results.
Why should I post the pedigrees on the Patriarchs Page?
Project Administrators who take over the posting of pedigrees find that this is a great way to get a feel for the lineages and the researchers for this surname. In addition, 1. You will be aware of activity and interest in the project.
2. You can contact the person posting the pedigree who is not a project member, to encourage him/her to test or encourage a family member to test.
3. You will be able to find and develop possible linkages in paper trails, and put project members in touch with each other.
4. Your Patriarch Page will be up-to-date, so that project members and viewers can see the pedigrees and contact the posters, and you.
How do I get a spreadsheet of my project's results?
1. You can send an email to marilyn@worldfamilies.net asking for WorldFamilies.net to create a spreadsheet and send it to you
2. You can make a copy of the results table as displayed on the Results Page by placing the curser on the table, clicking control-a, control-c, and then pasting it into an Excel sheet by clicking control-v.
What is ISOGG?
The International Society for Genetic Genealogy is the first society founded to promote the use of DNA testing in genealogy. Its mission includes educating people about the use of genetics. It is a noncommercial non-profit organization, with other 7,000 members from across the world. Their website provides a wealth of information about using DNA for genealogy. http://isogg.org/
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How do I change my username or password at WorldFamilies.net?
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If you would like to change your username or password, log in, and click on "My account" in the left sidebar. Then click "Edit" to change your password.
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If you would like to change your email address that appears at the bottom of each of the project's webpage, click on "My account" in the left sidebar. Click “edit” and then click "Personal Information". Make the change and click “Save”.
