Handbook for TXGenWeb

Position: Surfer

Our "surfers" spend about 4 hours a month browsing through their asssigned regions. The position requires honesty and a good eye for detail; it's one of the two most important positions in TXGenWeb. Texas surfers know more about TXGenWeb's counties than anyone else.

This position is immediately subordinate to the Awards Manager but your most important job is to be sure counties meet minimum REQUIREMENTS for TXGenWeb and USGenWeb.

(Outline Only)

  1. Be Prepared
    - Download the spreadsheet for your region.
    - Become familiar with the difference between Basic requirements and COM requirements.
    - Counties MUST have Basic requirements to be part of TXGenWeb.
    - Counties MUST have COM requirements to be nominated for COM.
  2. Be Honest
    - Click random links to see if they actually go anywhere (you can also use a link-checker attachment for your browser).
    - Type something into the search engine to see if it works and returns links for the correct site. (I use the word cemetery.)
    - If there is a last updated date, be sure it's within 30 days of the 1st of the month you're surfing for COM or within 6 months for TXGenWeb membership.
  3. Report Your Findings
    - If a county does not meet basic requirements, report it to the Awards Manager.
    - If a county doesn't meet requirements for COM, send a friendly note to the coordinator.
    - Nominate your choice for COM using the Surfer's mail list.
  4. Vote
    - When the COM nominees are announced, email your top three choices to the Awards Manager (not to the list).
    - You are expected to vote for the County of the Year and Hall of Fame County of the Year.
  5. Congratulate the Winner!
    - When winners and runners-up are announced, take a few moments to congratulate each of them by name on the Coordinators' list.