Date of First Contact: December 1, 2008
Type of Contact: Foundational Family Outreach
Role: Co-Founder, Organizer, Early Advocate
The First Invitation
This First Contact predates all others in the MyCousins archive. On December 1, 2008, Pamela (McClanahan) Elcik sent a family-wide letter inviting relatives to participate in a shared project to preserve recipes, stories, photographs, and family history.
At the time, the effort was described as a “family and friends” project. In retrospect, it represents the earliest documented articulation of what would later become the MyCousins ancestry archive.
The outreach emphasized participation, collaboration, and stewardship—values that would remain central to the project’s evolution.
What Was Already Taking Shape
The letter notes that significant work was already underway, including:
- A working prototype of the project
- A flash drive containing collected family artifacts
- Early efforts to preserve records, photographs, and personal histories
The goal was not merely to collect data, but to inspire participation and ensure that family memories were recorded before they could be lost.
Why This First Contact Matters
This outreach established the guiding philosophy of the MyCousins project: that family history is a shared responsibility and that preservation must begin while stories are still living.
It also reflects the influence of earlier generations—particularly the meticulous records kept by George Strand—and acknowledges how the loss of parents and grandparents often serves as the catalyst for preservation.
All later First Contacts trace their lineage, directly or indirectly, back to this moment.
A Foundational Contribution
Pamela (McClanahan) Elcik’s role was not peripheral. She was an early organizer, motivator, and advocate—helping transform an idea into a living archive supported by family participation.
This First Contact is preserved here in recognition of that foundational contribution.
Preserved as the earliest First Contact in the MyCousins archive.