ADMIN'S GUIDE: Becoming a Project Administrator

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There are four main functions of the Project Administrator:

1. Managing your surname DNA project by
   1. welcoming new members with an email
   2. advising members when they have  a match
   3. answering emails
   4. recruiting new members
2. Editing your project’s website
3. Posting pedigrees on your project’s website
4. Posting test results on your project’s website 

• the flexibility of taking on one or two tasks to begin and adding more functions later
• step by step instructions for carrying out the functions of the administrator
• When we set you up as an administrator for your surname project, you will receive:
  • A sample emails for welcome messages, new results, and new pedigrees to send to project members
  • Sample answers to “Questions Frequently Asked of Administrators”
  • A Project Administrators' Guide for posting and editing
  • Suggestions for managing your project and recruiting new members  
  • For more information about the relationship between WorldFamilies.net and Family Tree DNA.    

How can I set up a project for my surname?

First find out if there is already an FTDNA  project for your surname:

• Go to Surname Projects to see if your desired project comes up in the right hand column of the Search results
• Check again by going to www.familytreedna and typing your surname in the surname search box to see if your surname is included in a project with a similar name.
• If there is no project at FTDNA, we will be happy to set up a surname project at FTDNA and a project website at WorldFamilies.net for your surname. 

How can I become the Administrator of an existing surname project?

• If the project is a WorldFamilies.net Project and it already has an Admininstrator from the family, we will discuss with the existing Admin(s) their willingness to add you as another Co-Administrator
• If the project is a WorldFamilies.net Project that is being administered by WorldFamilies.net because there is no Administrator from the family, we will be happy to set you up as Project Administrator if you are willing to begin with sending welcomes and to take over the other tasks as you feel ready.      
• If the project is based at FTDNA, already has a project administrator, but has no website at WorldFamilies.net,  we are unable to help you.  (You'll need to contact that Admin directly) 

What are the skills I need to be a Project Administrator or a Co-Administrator?
                               

• An enthusiasm for working with the issues of the entire surname grouping
• An ability to contact and communicate with the other researchers in the family
• A basic understanding of genealogy and the issues researchers face
• An interest in learning how to compile the genealogy and integrate it with the dna-learning created by the project
• A desire to share the knowledge gained
• An ability to type (two-finger hunt and peck is fine) and a basic knowledge of using computers.
• As many of the “Perfect Attributes” as you happen to have.

1. Send a welcome email to new project members. 
2. Send an email whenever there is a new posting on the Patriarch page or on the Results Page, using the "bulk email" tool at FTDNA.
3. Begin posting pedigrees from the Pedigree Forum to the Patriarch Page
4. Begin posting results to the Results page
5. Assume the lead role in understanding the dna results in your surname and answering questions from your participants
6. Fully take over management of the Project and/or start training a co-admin of your own
7. Customize the project and the website to your needs – and to the specific issues that your surname families face.
8. Work with the various surname families and their researchers.  If you can get “each family” to post their pedigree and to have a dna representative in the project, you have a wonderful start.
9. Our role becomes coach as you gradually take over. 
   
   Still Interested?  Contact Terry Barton for more information.
   (Please identify the surname(s) that you are interested in working with.)

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Q & A

Some common questions we receive from potential Project Administrators

1. 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.
2. What kind of Computer Knowledge do you 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.
3. Are there other ways to become involved? 
   Yes, you can be a volunteer helper to the admin - doing only what you choose and when you choose.  You can also become a "Line Leader", with responsibility for recruiting the appropriate members of your paper trail family, resolving genealogy conflicts, and becoming a resource for other researchers in your own family.  Again, the time commitment is up to you.
4. Can I manage more than one Surname Project? 
   Yes - we have Co-Admins who manage 6-8 surname projects.
5. Do I have to be associated with WorldFamilies.net to use one of your websites?  No.  We will set up our website structure for you upon request.  The website is free and the requirements are modest.  If you prefer to take a project we have already established and operate it it at another site - that is fine.
6. What does WorldFamilies.net do?  
   We set up and administer Surname DNA Projects at Family Tree DNA when they do not already exist.  We also assume the administrative role when the administrator is no longer available - for whatever reason.  This is a service that we are pleased to provide – when no one has stepped forward from the families to do it.  However, most of the Surname Projects that we set up are not our ancestral surnames.  Our goal is to find 1 or 2 people who are interested in the Surname DNA Project who will gradually (or immediately) take over the management of the project.   We do not have time to promote the project, so it is up to the participants to help do that.  The more people involved, the better chance of finding your genetic family and breaking down your blank wall.  WorldFamilies has a business relationship with Family Tree DNA that allows us to provide this service. 
7. What if I want to manage a Surname Project at a different testing Company?   Our sites are only for Surname Projects based at FTDNA. 
8. What if I want a Surname Project that you have set up - but I don't want you to be involved?  
   That is your decision.  If that is what you want, with Family Tree DNA's permission we will turn over the project to you and discontinue our involvement.
9. But, what if I want to keep your website and not have you involved?  That is possible, too.  With Family Tree DNA's permission, we will turn the project over to you and allow you to keep the Project site,

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Here are the perfect attributes for a Surname DNA Project Administrator.

Before you panic – this is in jest.  I doubt that any Surname Admin even comes close to meeting these requirements:

• Knows every researcher in the surname and all of the associated spelling variations
• Knows all of the family histories, the theories on how they tie together, how the surnames evolved over time and where the questionable links are in each pedigree
• Completely understands the use of DNA as it applies to understanding the surname’s genealogy
• Is completely humble, very patient and never makes a mistake
• Has an unlimited amount of time to devote to this project
• Is able to create a fabulous website in one sitting
• Has unlimited funds to help pay for testing

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