Seattle Genealogical Society News

 HAPPY NEW YEAR AT SGS

  Start out 2021 on the right foot, don’t miss the first Second Saturday Series of the new year, on Saturday, January 9, from 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm.   

In this presentation, Carolyn Schott, will be following  the footsteps of the Billigmeier family, who left the Pfalz region after the “Year Without a Summer” to immigrate to Russia in search of a better life. After years of peaceful prosperity in the Beresan (Odessa) area, the fate of two branches of the family diverged. One branch went to Bessarabia and then on to homestead in North Dakota. The branch that remained in the Odessa region had their farms seized and collectivized, suffered during the famine genocide, and finally faced arrest and execution. Some family members were exiled to Kyrgyzstan.

The presentation blends historical events and the story of a specific family. It will also review the documents that were used to re-create the lives of this family, from church records. to local histories, to copies of KGB/NKVD files.

Carolyn Schott has researched her German ancestors for 20 years. She’s a founder of the Black Sea German Research Community, a former board member of the Germans from Russia Heritage Society, and author of the book, “Visiting Your Ancestral Town.”  


IMPORTANT MESSAGE FROM OUR DIRECTOR OF TECHNOLOGY
  As some of you may have heard, the owner of the company that hosts our SGS website, EasyNetSites.com (ENS), has run into legal problems. The result is that ENS will only be hosting websites through the end of June 2021 (at best).  Our Webmaster, Ann Wright, has formed a small team to identify a new host and plan a transition of our website to the new host. If you, or someone you know, has experience with current website technology and would be interested in consulting on this effort, please contact Ann at webmaster@seagensoc.org.

David Rimmer,
Director of Technology


SAVE THE DATE“A Post-Holocaust Genealogical and Family History Journey:
From the USA to Ukraine”, 
Jewish  Genealogical Society of Washington State,
Bellevue, WA
Monday, January 11, 2021 
6:00 PM PST


Notice the time is earlier than normal. Visit their website for final info and to get the meeting id. 
https://www.jgsws.org

RootsTech Connect 2021 (Virtual),
hosted by FamilySearch International
February 25-27, 2021


This 2021 virtual conference is free. They do ask that you register. Something for everyone, no matter your age or experience:

  • Genealogy Classes
  • Food and Cultural Demonstrations
  • Mind-break Activities, Exercise and Relaxation
  • Travel and World Heritage 

Visit the website for more info and registration. 
http://www.rootstech.org/?lang=eng
SGS CALENDAR OF EVENTS

* In consideration of COVID-19 social distancing recommendations, the SGS Library is closed until further notice and SGS in-person events have been replaced with online events.
** Go to the SGS Website Calendar of Events for the meeting links and for any last minute updates or changes to the schedule.  


Saturday, Jan 2, 2021,  10:15 am – 12:15 pm, FamilySearch Interest Group with Lou Daly, Discover the many ways to use Family Tree and FamilySearch. At each meeting a different aspect of the website will be featured. There will be time for Q & A.  Want to join the mailing list? Email Lou: loudaly@nwlink.com

Wednesday, Jan 6, 2021, 11:00 am-12:30 pm, Brags & Bricks Social Interest Group (Virtual),  Join us for an informal social gathering. Share your recent genealogical successes and challenges, or just come to hang out with other genealogists. 


Saturday, Jan 9, 2021,  10:15 am – 12:15 pm, Family Tree Maker Users Group, Learn and share tips and tricks for using Family Tree Maker 2017 by Software MacKiev . Want to join this SIG? Email operations@seagensoc.org. Chaired by Rob Sexton.
Saturday, Jan 9, 2021,  1:00 pm – 3:00 pm, Second Saturday Series:”From Church Archives to KBG”, presenter will be Carolyn Schott founder of the Black Sea German Research Community 

Sunday, Jan 10, 2021,  1:00 pm – 3:00 pm, Scandinavian Interest Group, chaired by Karen Knudson, Share information and discuss Scandinavian ancestral research.

Tuesday, Jan 12, 2021, 10:00 am-11:00 am, Tech Tuesday (Virtual), back by popular demand, the informal consultation time on DNA, genealogy software, or genealogy-related technical issues. All are welcomed. No appointment necessary. Visit www.seagensoc.org Calendar of Events for the Zoom meeting link. 


Wednesday, Jan 13, 2021, 11:00 am-12:30 pm, Brags & Bricks Social Interest Group (Virtual),  Join us for an informal social gathering. Share your recent genealogical successes and challenges, or just come to hang out with other genealogists. 

Wednesday, Jan 13, 2021, 7:00 pm-9:00 pm, MAC Computer Interest Group (Virtual),  Chaired by Lisa Marker and Diane Hettrick, these meetings address topics and resources helpful for those using MacIntosh (Apple) computers and the Reunion program in their genealogy research. The link to logon will be sent to the MAC SIG email list. People wishing to attend should email dhettrick@earthlink.net to be added to the mailing list.  

Wednesday, Jan 20, 2021, 11:00 am-12:30 pm, Brags & Bricks Social Interest Group (Virtual),  Join us for an informal social gathering. Share your recent genealogical successes and challenges, or just come to hang out with other genealogists. 

Tuesday, Jan 26, 2021, 10:00 am-11:00 am, Tech Tuesday (Virtual), back by popular demand, the informal consultation time on DNA, genealogy software, or genealogy-related technical issues. All are welcomed. No appointment necessary. Visit www.seagensoc.org Calendar of Events for the Zoom meeting link. 

Wednesday, Jan 27, 2021, 11:00 am-12:30 pm, Brags & Bricks Social Interest Group (Virtual),  Join us for an informal social gathering. Share your recent genealogical successes and challenges, or just come to hang out with other genealogists. 

Saturday, Jan 30, 2021,  10:00 am – 12:30 pm, SGS DNA Interest Group workshop , will be meeting via Zoom.To be included you need to be on the SGS DNA Interest Group email list. Contact Cary Bright at SGSDNASIG@gmail.com to join. Link to be sent to the email group prior to the meeting along with the pdf handout.