[Previous entry: "State Wide, Recycling & Garbage Are Increasing"] [Next entry: "Save Turtleback Mt Deadline Is Near & Dear"]

10/18/2006: "San Juan Island's New "Personal Historian""

Vikky Dauciunas – that's pronounced "da-Q-ness" -- likes people, and she believes that each of us has an interesting story to tell. That's why she's a "personal historian" who makes video recordings that focus on the lives and key events of "ordinary" people who want a video for their families, friends – and descendents.

She is currently working with the San Juan Historical Museum to update its library of Oral Histories. This includes "digitizing" the library to CD and to a format that can be loaded to digital media players – such as iPods and MP3 players. "The stories have taught me so much about the wonderful place we live in. Listening to the voices brings alive how it was many years ago, here on the island."

Vikky has launched a new business in Friday Harbor, Vikkyd Productions, Inc. – say it "Vikky D" -- to create a range of video products including tributes, scrapbooks, memoirs, and even "video ethical wills" so that each of us can talk directly to our families, friends, and descendents even after we're gone.

Vikkyd Productions is already at work with several islanders, and island families, to record and preserve their lives and experiences. This summer, Vikky produced a Video Tribute for Mary Rice's 80th birthday celebration. Dr. Rice, of Friday Harbor Labs, says she's "overwhelmed" by the "amazing" DVD that Vikkyd Productions turned out for her. For those who prefer the oral tradition of the spoken word, Vikkyd Productions can also record stories on audio CDs.

"Telling your story through video is the perfect way to preserve and share who you are," says Vikky, who started making videos 10 years ago in California. "And it's a priceless gift for loved ones."

Before moving to Friday Harbor four years ago with her husband, Vince, Vikky worked in the corporate world. She's using her business savvy to produce various types of Video Promotions that help local businesses and non-profits to "tell the story" of their products and services. Grant Calverly, of San Juan Timberframes, reports that "the 2006 Seattle Street of Dreams Video Kiosk" Vikkyd Productions did for him "has already brought in several qualified leads" in just a few weeks of its display. "The quality was fantastic. I can't wait for our next project with Vikky, which will be a targeted video brochure."

Vikky is a member of the Association of Personal Historians (APH). APH is an international professional organization dedicated to helping individuals, families, and organizations preserve their histories.
You can learn more about Vikkyd Productions at www.vikkyd.com and about APH at www.personalhistorian.org. You can reach Vikky by phone at 472-1305 or by email at: vikkyd@rockisland.com .