THE GENEALOGICAL FORUM’s Wednesday Evening E-News 3 March 2017
For more information visit www.gfo.org, contact us at info@gfo.org, or call our library at 503-963-1932. We love hearing from you!
For a complete GFO CALENDAR click here.
Also, if you missed your free copy of our monthly Insider for February 2017, you’re in luck because we saved you a copy HERE. NOTE: The Insider issues are now located under the “Learn” –> “Our Publications” menu at our new website (still gfo.org).
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GFO’s STAR This Month
Russ is a very valuable member of the team that brought the GFO’s new website live over this past year. Aside from organizing, formatting, and checking all the Useful Links, he added images to the website, tested forms, and entered loads of data for our search engine optimization. Most importantly though, his expertise allowed us to go live effortlessly by transitioning the website server and emails to the new hosting company. He also helped set up the Google Search app and Google Analytics, and he is always willing to work on the more technical challenges of keeping the website running.
We all thank you, Russ!
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Boy oh BOY! Have we got some hot tips in genealogy for you this week!!
Southern California Genealogical Society Jamboree
The Southern California Genealogical Society is proud to present the 48th Annual Genealogical Jamboree and the Genetic Genealogy 2017 conferences, as well as their very popular JamboFree and Jamboree Extension Webinars. They are very excited about the outstanding line-up of speaker and events! June 8-11, 2017
Gateway to Germany
Hosted by the Rogue Valley Genealogical Society, this two-day event (April 7-8) will teach you all about how to know where to look among all those dusty old records, what those ancient maps are trying to tell you, and how to read German Gothic handwriting. Sign up HERE.
Classes in Clark County
These upcoming Spring genealogical classes are just a short drive from Portland! Check out the whole line up for the next few months HERE.
2017 International German Genealogy Conference
What better way to celebrate your German roots than to join with other like-minded curious researching souls for this year’s annual international Germanic Genealogy Conference. Don’t forget the Biergarten on Thursday! For more information about how this event works and how you can get involved, check out the details HERE. July 28-30, in Brooklyn Park, MN
Just when you thought you knew all about DNA!
This article from Scientific American’s Michael Balter showcases just how important DNA research and findings can be for unlocking the mysteries of our ancestors, no matter how distant.
U.S. IMMIGRATION AND NATURALIZATION – AND – FRATERNAL ORGANIZATIONS OF THE EARLY 20TH CENTURY
Join the Jewish Genealogical Society on March 12th at 10am, at the Congregation Ahavath Achim in SW Portland, for this wonderful presentation by Hal Bookbinder. More information HERE.
Sherman County, Oregon, A Historical Collection
This brand new local history website has been introduced by Sherry Kaseberg of Wasco, Oregon. Kaseberg’s collection honors the people who lived there, kept the records, preserved the stories and encouraged her interest. It’s truly the work of many, and will appeal to history enthusiasts and genealogists.
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Calling all Research Assistants!!
Bring Your Research Skills to the GFO and Share Your Knowledge With Others!
Can you spare a few hours of your time to help the GFO? We need volunteers to fill spots as Research Assistants (RAs).
Our most current need is for occasional Tuesday and Wednesday afternoons from 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. Jackie and Judith, some of our most experienced RA’s, have signed on to train all new RA’s. They will give you a tour of our collection, explain the duties of the job, and teach you how to access the databases on our computers.
What better way to enhance your own research skills!
If this sounds like fun to you, please send me a message at volunteer@gfo.org or call the reception desk at 503-963-1932. Or better yet, go to our website, www.gfo.org and check out our volunteer page to sign up online.
Whatever works best for you also works best for us!
Sincerely,
Cathy Lauer, GFO Volunteer Coordinator
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Oregon Marriages Available! How’s that!?
The first volume of the State of Oregon Marriage Index has been revised and is available for saleE.
This volume is available in PDF format that you can purchase HERE on CD or on a USB.
They’re priced at $10 each (shipping is $2.00 extra).
Call the library at (503) 963-1932 for any purchasing questions.
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There’s still room for more CANDIDATES for March’s elections at the GFO…
Curious what makes the GFO go?? So curious you want to have a direct impact on the process!? Here’s your chance.
Positions still in need of candidates:
▪ Endowment Committee (two positions)
▪ Vice President (one position)
▪ Treasurer (one position)
▪ Director-At-Large (one position)
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If you have a candidate you’d like to put forward for one of the following Board Member positions, please email president@gfo.org or any of the existing Board or Staff contacts anytime from now until our Membership Meeting scheduled for Sat, March 25, 12:30pm – 1:00pm.
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Book Sales Associates, Incorporate Yourselves!!
As part of the GFO’s Open House Book Sales events, we need the help of someone or some severals who are very keen on books!
We need people for…
Friday, March 17th, preferably in the afternoon, to set up the book sales tables in preparation for the Open House festivities beginning March 18th. Volunteers and willing bookish fiends should make sure they’re ready to move tables, books, and leap small buildings in a single bound.
If you are able and willing to come in for some instructions on Wednesday, March 8th, in the early afternoon that would be oh so appreciated.
Please reply to GFO President, Laurel Smith, by emailing president@gfo.org.
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What’s Happening this Week at the GFO?
SATURDAY, MARCH 4th
Virginia Interest Group 10am – noon
TOPIC: Beyond the Federal Census
Federal censuses are a great place to start when researching your family. You can often discover additional information in the Non-Population Schedules and the State and Territorial censuses. Elsie will cover what information can be found in these documents and how to access them.
SIG LeaderTraining 12:15 – 12:45pm
Evacuation training for Special Interest Group leaders and any other interested parties.
German Interest Group 1 – 3pm
The German Interest Group was formed in the spring of 2011. It is intended to be a source of information and inspiration for anyone with German speaking ancestors. One goal is to provide information on a variety of topics related to Germanic history and migration. We also will provide time for members to share their research journeys and connect with others who may be researching the same region or time period. This week’s focus? How-to German research, eg. Emigration and Immigration Records links to emigration resources might reveal an immigrant’s place of origin for each state in Germany and immigration sources for dozen of US ports: genmanroots.com.
SUNDAY, MARCH 5th
Manuscripts Work Party 9am – Noon
Explore our manuscript, personal papers and Bible collection while we organize, scan and create finding aids. Drop in at the time that works for you. Questions? Send a message to manuscripts@gfo.org.
MONDAY, MARCH 6th
Free First Monday!! 9:30am – 5pm
Have a friend or family member interested in genealogy and other historical topics? Not sure where to start? Be sure to bring them by the GFO Library next Monday, as the first Monday of every month is free access to the “stacks” for non-members. Oh! And don’t forget about all the online subscription-only databases (Newspapers.com, HistoryGeo.com, World Edition of Ancestry.com, Fold3, and much, much more) that you can access on the GFO’s library computers.
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 8th
Get Acquainted With 6 – 8pm
Get acquainted with what?? Why, the GFO’s fine equipment! That’s what!! The presentation this month will including tips on how to use the library’s scanner, printer, and microfilm reader. Other topics will include connecting to wi-fi, using flash drives and email, and computer helps such as Snip-it. Presented by Nanci Remington.
This new monthly series is designed to help any and every GFO Library researcher become familiar with the resources available and how to use them. This class will be helpful to long-term members, new members, and even to our own research assistants! It will be offered on the second Sunday of the month at 1 p.m. and on the second Wednesday of the month at 6 p.m.