Request Project or Website

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For New Surname Projects at FTDNA: 
WorldFamilies.net helps projects get going and helps admininstrators learn their way.  We'll be glad to extend that service to you and your project. We can set up a project where none exists at Family Tree DNA, or we can provide a website and/or administrative support to an existing FTDNA project.  

For Existing Surname Projects at FTDNA: 
WorldFamilies.net provides a website to any project that operates at FTDNA at absolutely no charge when requested by the project administrator.  Our project approach has evolved through over 10 years of project administration, applied to hundreds of projects, serving thousands of participants. The free site 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.  For more information about the relationship between WorldFamilies.net and Family Tree DNA. 

We also support admins who are beyond their capabilities (due to health, other committments or technology) and  even "adopt" projects when an admin dies or retires. If we are supporting an active family admin, it means that he (or she) puts their energies into the parts of the project where they get the most impact and we provide the remaining support.  In that ideal case - the net effort goes up.  If we take over a project from an active admin, then the net effort may diminish, as we don't recruit or initiate contact.  However, our support allows a project to continue when it would other wise stop.  Ideally, another family admin soon steps up.

A partial listing of projects where we have recently stepped in to help is listed at the bottom of this page, followed by a listing of some of the project administrators we support - in varying arrangements.

• How do I request a project for a surname or set up a website for my existing FTDNA project?
• What are my options?
• What does the website include? 

Setting up a project website is as easy as sending Terry an email with this information:
* Name of project at FTDNA (either existing or proposed)
* Name and email address of lead admin
* Name(s) and email address(es) of additional admins
* Your choice of  Option 1 or Option 2 – explanation below
* Reason for request

Click here to open an email to request a project or a project website.

Options for Free Website at Worldfamilies.net
There are three ways we can do this. In each scenario, we will set up with a project site at WorldFamilies and surname Forums at WFNForum.net - which are interlinked with the "Project ordering page" at FTDNA.  You and your participants will still have exactly the same relationship with FTDNA as you will have if you set up the project on your own and will pay exactly the same for DNA tests that you will pay if you are totally unconnected to us.  We gain a small commission on any orders that are placed through our links to FTDNA. We hope to recover our cost of providing the Free Sites through these commissions.  Let us know which option you want.  And - feel free to verify that our service is legitimate and endorsed by FTDNA - they actually initiated the concept for us.

Option 1. You can become one of the WorldFamilies.net projects, which brings our   direct support to your project

• You will handle:  (Please let us know if you want us to adjust this by sending an email to marilyn@worldfamilies.net)

  • Sending welcome messages to new project members
    (Sample: http://www.worldfamilies.net/sampwelcome#welcome)
  • Sending bulk email to members when new posting on the Patriarch page.
    (Sample: http://www.worldfamilies.net/resultsmessage)
  • Sending bulk email to project members when new resultsⁱ are posted.
    (Sample: http://www.worldfamilies.net/resultsmessage)
  • Queries from members and researchers (ask for our help when you need to)
    (Sample queries and answers: http://www.worldfamilies.net/faqpa)
  • Recruiting and Awareness (Suggestions: http://www.worldfamilies.net/oldhintsforadmin#recruit
  • Updates to project members (to let them know any information or conclusions that have come to the project.)
• We can handle the following tasks until you feel ready to take them on, but you can choose to take them on right away (just let us know by email):

  • Posting pedigrees to the Patriarch Page (we encourage you to take this role as soon as you are ready – as this allows you to merge pedigrees and to become more familiar with the project’s families and paper trails)
  • Posting results. (Most administrators let WorldFamilies post and update the Results page until we are ready to make the Results Tool available to Project Admin)
• We'll help you get things running smoothly and be on call when you need.  (This will mean that we will have access to the Group Admin page)
• Terry's name can be on or off the bottom of the WorldFamilies.net pages – that’s your choice.
• You'll be able to count on us if you need a second set of eyes or technical insight.
• There is absolutely no cost to you or your project for this website or our services.  (WorldFamilies.net has a business relationship with Family Tree DNA that allows us to provide this service.)
• To do option 1, we will need your confirmation that you would like to be included in our WorldFamilies.net system.  I can then request the project be established - and designate you (or whomever you designate) as Lead Admin. You and your participants will still have exactly the same relationship with FTDNA as you have when you set up the project on your own.  Your project participants will pay exactly the same with or without World Families’ involvement
• Click here to learn more about Option 1.

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Option 2: You are completely independent as project administrator and have the use of  the free project sites that we furnish.

• The Project Administer does all the administrative work on the project and edits the website pages
• The Project Administer can ask for help from World Families if circumstances arise when he/she needs some assistance.
• In this scenario, we ask that you and your project participants use the link that we put on the project pages to order at FTDNA.
• WorldFamilies has a business relationship with Family Tree DNA that allows us to provide this service. he price of the tests remains the same for your project members, with or without our help

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Option 3: We set up a surname project for your surname, if no project already exists at FTDNA.

• The project will get a free website at World Families.
• You agree to order a surname test to kick off the project and we'll do the administration.
• You simply use the project for your research
• You and your participants will still have exactly the same relationship with FTDNA as you have when you set up the project on your own.  Your project participants will pay exactly the same with or without World Families’ involvement.

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Click here to open an email to request a project or a project website.[back to top]

Administrator’s can name their project site, choose which pages to display and re-name some of the pages.  


Pages offered are:

• Home page can be customized with links and information
• Patriarchs displays pedigrees for project members, along with kit numbers
• yDNA Results page for marker results, grouped by “Lineage” or “Haplotype”
• Join Projects page tells interested visitors how to join your project.
• mtDNA page for posting mtDNA results and related discussion
• Discussion page for the Administrator’s Analysis or other thoughts
• Help page if you can’t figure out what to do next
• Order Test – a link to the FTDNA order page
• Forum for interactive discussion about your surname and the project, 
• Pedigrees—the forum where researchers post their pedigrees

*You can choose which pages to display on your project’s website, you can rename pages and you can use the HTML File upload feature on some pages. 

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More About Option 1:

Along with the free website we offer:

• The basic services needed for project administration:
  • Posting Results
  • Posting Pedigrees
• Help and support as you undertake the tasks of administration
• Project Administrators Guide to help edit your website and administer your project.
• Sample emails to use for Welcomes and Updates http://www.worldfamilies.net/sampwelcome#welcome and http://www.worldfamilies.net/resultsmessage
• Easier ways to recruit and test new project members
• "Invite friend” on your project site helps bring people to your project website
• New recruits--a link on your project's website takes users to the order page for your project, making them members of your project.
• To help new members fully participate: our guide:”DNA the Smart Way”
• A family forum for project members to offer information and ask questions.
• Resources to help you become a better administrator
• “Project Admin Forum” to communicate with and learn from other admin
• Reference pages with links to more information
• Link to The Journal of Genetic Genealogy, which Terry helped found.
• You can administer several projects, using the same tools
• You can make plans to assure continuity in the project if you ever need help administering the project, either short term or long term.

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