Running a DNA Project takes a significant amount of time. Currently, I am the only active administrator for the Casey Surname DNA Project. Most successful DNA Projects have three to five active participants who share the duties of runing a DNA Project. I would be willing to train others to assist and lot of the routine tasks do not require significant skills. Here are the possible volunteer positions available:

1) Co-administrator for the Family Tree DNA web site.

2) Co-administrator for this web site.

3) If we create a new Casey forum web site, we would need co-administrator for this web site (I would set up the web site and would be the administrator).

4) If we create a new Casey forum web site, we would need three or four moderators of various forums that should be created (I would assist with DNA analysis topics).

Before the new Casey forum web site is created, I would first need co-admins for the existing two web sites. These positions are very flexible depending interests and skills of those who wish to volunteer. Below are high level descriptions of possible duties and a high level description of new Casey DNA Forum web site that we could create.

Backup Administrator for the FTDNA web site position:

This person needs a moderate expertise in both DNA analysis skills and some web design skills would be preferable. Here are some of the duties that need to be done:

- Continually extracting a summary spreadsheet of all FTDNA submissions
(merge submissions from other companies and add more information)
- Assigning submissions to genealogical clusters and naming of clusters
- Updating oldest proven ancestor FTDNA summary in a consistent manner
- Reviewing and approving requests to join the project
- Rejecting individuals that do not have Casey DNA (to reduce confusion)
- Requesting traditional documenation for new submissions (requires a lot of time)
- Keeping everyone updated on DNA charges, discounts, new tests, etc.
- Using the FTDNA MRCA utility for DNA analysis (optional)
- Sending queries to NPE members (why they believe they are Casey related)
- Requesting upgrades to key individuals when they would help the project's goals
- Organizing and monitoring fund raising activities
- Responding to e-mails when requested of the admins

Backup Admin for this web site (www.rcasey.net)

This person needs intermediate expertise in both DNA analysis skills and minimal web designs skills. Here are some of the duties that need to be done:

- Reviewing of existing content for organizational issues, errors, typos, etc.
- Taking on lead role for a subset of content (ie., updating pedigrees of submissions)
- Keeping the fund raising content up to date
- Data-mining Y-Search and other sources for additional submissions
- Hosting a secondary site that is coordinated with this primary site
- Actively assist with analysis of submissions (optional)
- Respond to e-mails for questions sent to the web site admins
- Coordinate with FTDNA admins and Forum admins
- Promote project in surname forums and other web sites
- Advocate for DNA at Casey Family Association meetings

Co-Admin for Yahoo based Casey DNA Forum (new website)

This person needs moderate DNA skills and moderate web skills. I would be willing to assist with the creation of this forum web site and would assist with some of the ongoing duties. However, we need a new person to provide leadership for this web site and devote a significant amount of time to ensure its success. Here are some of the duties that need to be done:

- Assist with determining how many forums and getting moderators recruited
- Defining rules for each forum (to ensure queries remain on topic)
- Organizing folders for uploading of files
- Defining objectives and scope of this web site and enforcement of scope
- Monitor forum queries and moderators
- Answer questions presented – be an expert on the forums
- Define how cluster specific forums are organized
- Define scope of traditional information uploads (GEDCOMs, Register reports, images)
- Conversion of word processing files, web content, etc. to PDF files (optional)
- Respond to join requests, password resets, etc.
- Determine what content should be duplicated at an Internet searchable web site

Moderators for Yahoo based Casey DNA Forums

The skills for these individuals can vary depending on the definition and rules of the forum. Unless we gain commitment for an active co-admin for the Yahoo based Casey DNA forum, there would be no positions available for moderators. Here are some skills required for possible new forum web site:

Many DNA Projects have forum web sites that vary dramatically in organization and traffic. Unfortunately, the previous web site for Casey DNA Forums has become inactive and we need volunteers to create a new Casey DNA Forums web site. The more successful DNA Forum web sites have the following characteristics:

1) The primary admin and the co-admin of the DNA forum web site helps run the web site and are usually very active participants in the forums. They constantly is monitoring the forums.

2) The objectives of the forum web site are well defined with rules for participation. The DNA forum web site should be clearly organized and have good navigation that match the objectives.

3) There is usually one general forum where general news and updates are made available to all. There are usually five to ten well defined forums that are limited to specific topics.

4) Most DNA forums also have the ability to upload files for all to share. Again, organization and navigation must be clear and match objectives.

5) Most DNA forums are usually private intranets and require logon ID and passwords to access. The content is not found by search engines like Google. Summary reports and analysis are usually found in both the forum web site and are also published for the general public at the primary web site.

6) A very important factor is to have active and enthusiastic moderators for each forum. This job can be time consuming to respond to questions and promote usage of the forum. The moderator also has to enforce the rules of the forums which is never a pleasant task.

7) There must be close coordination between the DNA Forum web site and the primary web site (some redundant content is good – but too much redundancy causes confusion).

The author of this web site (www.rcasey.net) is a FTDNA admin for both the Casey surname and the Brooks surname. The Brooks DNA Project has a very active forum web site where several Brooks DNA forums reside. It uses Yahoo forums and has around four or five active moderators of their forums. The Brooks DNA forums are very active and have between 100 and 200 forum entries every month. This forum web site also has hundreds of files uploaded for sharing. This DNA forum web site has really created an environment that promotes the Brooks DNA project and the Brooks DNA project now gets a new submission or upgrade every week. Before the forum web site was created, the project was proceeding at much slower pace.

Almost every web site with forums ends up with a few forums that are very active and successful due to knowledgeable moderators who are responsive and proactive on the forums. I would be able to assist in setting up the Yahoo forum but would rely on others for the day to day operation of the web site. I would also be available to assist with updating the forum web site and assist the moderators with answering challenging questions on DNA. Unless we recruit volunteers for an active co-admin and several moderators, this forum web site will not be created.

There are currently six forums that make sense (suggestions only):

1) South Carolina (most active cluster)
2) Munster, Ireland (well defined cluster)
3) R1b1a2 (will evolve into multiple clusters later)
4) Non-Irish haplogroup clusters (currently two clusters)
5) General news forum
6) DNA Q&A forum

The first four cluster oriented forums would include both DNA topics and traditional research topics associated with their respective cluster. It is very common and acceptable for volunteers to be the moderator for multiple forums. It is also common to have multiple co-moderators to monitor and answer questions for each forum. As project progresses, there is always a lack in leadership is some forums which results in the closing or merging of forums. Also, some forums become too active and need to be split into multiple forums.

Forums always generate a little drama and excitement at times. There is a delicate balance of enforcing the rules of the forums and letting off-topic discussions change the whole flavor of the objectives of each forum. Also, there is never a lack of opinions on how to organize and run a forum web site (including my bias). The general rule for most successful forum web sites are that the admins and moderators should be the primary drivers of how the web site will operate (this is often results in some negative press). However, forums are great for organizing and coordinating research for both traditional and DNA research. They also generate a lot of enthusiasm and support for DNA Projects.

It is unfortunate that the original Casey DNA Forum web site by Chris Casey became inactive over time and the web site was recently closed. I only suggest the Yahoo forum website since I am very familiar with its operation at the Brooks DNA Project and the Brooks DNA forum web site has been very instrumental in keeping interest high for the Brooks DNA Project. We can definitely learn from the Brooks DNA forum web site which has been operating for around two years now. The forum web site that Chris Casey created never really had formal or active moderators. This site also lacked clear objectives and navigation. Chris was a good admin created a nice forum web site and added many useful links to sites that had excellent Casey research documentation. Again, without active volunteers, any forum will not be successful. Chris and I can not be the sole drivers of any Casey Forum DNA web sites. I would volunteer to be the admin of a Yahoo Forums based Casey Forum web site - but I would need an active co-admin for the daily activities. I would be glad to be a co-moderator for DNA Questions and Answers - but we would need three or four moderators for other forums listed above.