[APG Public List] Re: [APG Members] Soliciting Y DNA Samples from Strangers

[LBoswell]

It sounds like what I call the suspicion reaction. What seemed to be a good 
idea to them originally has become, for some reason, something that they 
aren't interested in sharing. Are they afraid that the results will somehow 
be used in ways that could cause them problems?  I know one client wanted to 
go the DNA route until someone told him that the results could be used to 
identify medical conditions (or potential conditions), that would cause 
problems if the information became available to the wrong people or 
organizations. It was a groundless fear, but it took a while before his 
fears were calmed.

Worth sending them an explanation of how the information is protected and 
exactly how it will be used, who will have access to it, and that there are 
no problems that could come back to haunt them.  Is it clear to them that 
their identities will be protected?

Larry
Larry Boswell BA, PLCGS
www.TheBackstairs.com
http://thebackstairs.com/blog/
"Historical & Genealogical Research Services"
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
laboswell at rogers.com
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Victor S. Dunn, CG
  To: apgmembersonlylist at apgen.org ; apgpubliclist at apgen.org
  Sent: Wednesday, March 10, 2010 8:35 AM
  Subject: [APG Members] Soliciting Y DNA Samples from Strangers


  I need some suggestions on how to get strangers to participate in a Y DNA 
study.  I am currently working with a client who appears to have a surname 
anomaly.  I have researched for a former client the same family that the 
current client is supposed to be related to, and Y DNA of relatives of the 
former client match a number of individuals with that surname. However, when 
the current client received his results, there were no matches to that 
surname and nothing definite on other surname matches.



  At this point, we have no reason to believe there was an adoption or 
illegitimacy in the last two generations.  Therefore, I have identified 
several 2nd and 3rd cousins in hope of getting them to agree to a test so 
that we can determine when the "non-paternal" event occurred. The client has 
personally contacted three of these cousins and each agreed to take the Y 
DNA test which the client funded.  Several months have gone by and all three 
have refused to return their samples to Family Tree DNA.



  I initially recommended that the client contact these cousins directly 
since I thought they would be more open to the tests if they were talking to 
a relative rather than a hired researcher.  I have talked to the client 
several times on the phone and find him to be very personable so I cannot 
imagine anything in his demeanor that might have turned them off.  However, 
despite a number of emails and phone calls from the client, no one is 
responding.  One of the candidates who received the test kit was very 
interested in his family history and asked a number of questions, so his 
non-participation is perplexing. The client is willing to keep trying with 
other cousins (fortunately there are a number of candidates), but we 
obviously need to be able to close the deal and get the tests returned. Any 
ideas are appreciated?



  Thanks,



  Vic



  Victor S. Dunn, CG

  www.virginiaancestry.com

  victor.dunn at virginiaancestry.com



  CG is a service mark of the Board for Certification of Genealogists.
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