Rogue Valley Genealogical Society Research Like a Pro
VGA March Updates
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| March Updates VGA Now Offers Live Closed Captioning for all Events!VGA is excited to announce that all VGA webinars, events, and conference will be closed captioned! We have partnered with Rev.com to offer this service free to any member who desires it! All you have to do is turn on closed captioning and live transcription in Zoom. Upcoming Webinars On March 2nd, at 8pm Eastern Pam Vestal will present “What the Heck Does That Say? Overcoming Difficult Handwriting” On March 20th at 11am Eastern, Mary Patricia Voell will present “Family History, Genealogy, and Cognitive Health”You can register to watch webinars live by logging in to your VGA account and going to “Upcoming Webinars” in the Members Center. As always, they’ll be posted in the “Previous Webinars” section within 48 hours of the live event. VGA Members Only Community Forum VGA is excited to announce the Members Only Community Forum! This new forum located in the Members Center will allow VGA members to access and post topic specific content in one central location without having to hop from group to group. The Community Forum will grow as members post content which all VGA members can do!Because of this switch VGA will be archiving all of the topic specific Facebook groups on March 1st. Genearosity with Judy G. Russell If you missed our inaugural Genearosity lecture feature Judy G. Russell, the Legal Genealogist, you’re in luck! You can still watch it on demand by registering on the Genearosity page. The cost is $10 for VGA members and $15 for non-members. All proceeds benefit the Sluby Scholarship of the Board for Certification of Genealogists. |
NGS 2021 Family History Conference
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| NGS is Excited to Announce Thomas W. Jones Speaking at NGS 2021 Live! Dear , We’re excited to announce Tom Jones’ NGS 2021 Live! session: Writing About and Documenting Genealogical Conclusions Using DNA Test Results Tom Jones will describe and demonstrate how authors present DNA test results, how they weave them into genealogical conclusions, and how they document DNA-related sources. In this session Tom also discusses ways that genealogical articles, including DNA test results, differ from articles that do not include any DNA data. He also includes suggestions for handling test results from unresponsive test takers. You will learn how to structure and document articles, blog postings, and other genealogical writing that incorporates DNA test results. You will also will learn how to organize and present your own DNA test results along with documentary sources. Thomas W. Jones, PhD, CG, FASG, FUGA, FNGS, is an award-winning genealogical author and researcher, and a popular speaker at conferences, institutes, and seminars. He wrote Mastering Genealogical Proof and Mastering Genealogical Documentation, published by NGS and available for sale on our website. To learn more about the NGS 2021 Virtual Family History Conference’s weeklong events, 17-21 May, visit the conference website and download a copy of the program brochure. A discounted Early Bird registration fee is available through 15 March 2021. |
Form 990-N
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| Hello there, this is a simple reminder that you may now file your annual Form 990-N form for Your Genealogical Society |
 If you are not responsible for filing the Form 990-N for YOUR GENEALOGICAL SOCIETY, please forward this email to the appropriate party.  If you already filed, please disregard this email.  The IRS e-file system began processing business returns for the 2020 tax year on January 8th, 2021. |
Eastern Washington Genealogical Society Upcoming Meetings
Researching Colonial American Ancestor
Saturday, March 6 Monthly Meeting (EWGS Meetings) 12:30 pm to 3:00 pm Meeting via Zoom Jane Haldeman will present: Researching Colonial American Ancestors: Southern Colonies Did your ancestor live in one of the Original Thirteen Colonies? Were they here before the Revolutionary War? Each colonist came to the “new world” for different reasons and each colony was different. They came for both religious and economic opportunities. The Southern Colonies, Maryland, Virginia, North and South Carolina, and Georgia were rural, with planters and farmers. Besides English immigrants there were Scots, Scots-Irish, Germans and Africans. Find out what records are available and where they are, so you can learn about your Southern Colonial American Ancestors.
Spring Seminar (April 3, 2021)
 Saturday, April 3 Spring Seminar (Seminar) 9:00 am to 3:00 pm Meeting via Zoom We have 2 NATIONALLY known speakers!! Karen Stanbary – Author/Lecturer will be presenting: 1) DNA: A Power Tool in the Genealogist’s Tool Box – Learn the many ways DNA test results confirm and advance documentary research. Fun and entertaining lecture. All levels. 2) The Everleigh Sisters: A Case Study in Conflict Resolution – Minnie and Ada Everleigh, Chicago’s most famous pair of sisters, fabricated many details of their lives in order to run their shady business. Learn to sort the fact from the fiction. Maureen Taylor – The Photo Detective will be presenting: Photo Detective Roadshow – EWGS members submit photos and Maureen does a live show weighing in on our mysteries! Please submit photos to Lynn Krogh at lynndenyse@msn.com and please include any information you know about the photo. Cost is $25 for EWGS members and $40 for non-members. Registration via PayPal or credit card is available on the EWGS website. This will allow payment by credit card even if you are not a PayPal member. MAXIMUM REGISTRATION is 100 registrations. Each registration will receive the Zoom information just before the seminar. To register with a check send your check made out to EWGS to: EWGS P. O. Box 1826 Spokane, WA 99210-1826 Please include your email address with the check. |
German Interest Group of the Eastside Genealogical Society March Meeting
The German Interest Group of The Eastside Genealogical Society (EGS)meeting
When: Friday, March 5, 2020 from 12:30 to 2:30 pm PT – Virtually
Topic: “Connect Your Family: Useful Research Strategies”
Do you have a broken branch or stump in your family tree? Come learn some useful research strategies to find your brick wall ancestors.
Presenter: Dana Palmer, CG®, CGL(SM) has been a genealogy instructor since 2010 and has spoken at many genealogy events and conferences. She specializes in Midwestern research and has experience in Germany, Denmark, and the U.K. She loves problem solving and tracking down those elusive ancestors.
More information: https://egsgermangroup.wordpress.com/
Visitors are always welcome. To request an invitation, please use the Contact tab on our website, no later than 2 days prior to our meeting.
Seattle Genealogical Society Tip of the Week Small Town Newspapers
TIP OF THE WEEK
– Small Town Papers This tip came from a member of the Seattle Genealogical Society Networking private group on Facebook. If you would like to become a member of the group, just ask; use the Facebook search to find the group and then click on the JOIN GROUP icon.
Karen P. turned us onto a website she found, www.stparchive.com , which is a “Master List of all newspaper archives hosted by SmallTownPapers”. This list is sorted by newspaper name, or by state. Karen says, “I just found this website on small town newspapers. Click on the newspaper, Then Browse will give you the years the have digitized. Search will let you search. As always finding things are hit and miss, but it looks like a good source.”
Seattle Genealogical Society News
JENNIFER WELLS, VOLUNTEER OF WINTER QUARTER
Each quarter, the Seattle Genealogical Society recognizes one member as our Volunteer of the Quarter. Our Volunteer for Winter 2021 Quarter is Jennifer Wells.
Jennifer is being honored for her work writing grant proposals. Our most recent grant from 4Culture enabled the society to purchase sneeze guards, thermometers, and other materials to enable safe reopening of the library when State COVID restrictions allow.
Jennifer has been a member of Seattle Genealogical Society (SGS) since April 2018. She has attended SGS seminars and Second Saturday events and participates in the DNA Special Interest Group (SIG). She always appreciates opportunities to learn something new about genealogy, which might be access to new historical resources, techniques to analyze and organize genealogical research, or sharing of genealogical research and family stories with other members. She particularly enjoyed Herb McDaniel’s presentations at the DNA SIG.
In her personal genealogical research, Jennifer has many examples of (not uncommon) family secrets kept by relatives born in the 1920s and 1930s. She was able to determine that a DNA match predicted to be a first cousin is her half-niece from a paternal half-sibling, which would have been difficult to determine by genealogical research alone. The secret was shared only after her father’s death. Jennifer has many such stories to tell.
She has also had fun finding new Irish surnames. On a visit to Ireland in 2019, she met an elderly gentleman who may be distantly related (shared surname and ancestral location). The trip was not intended for genealogical research, but rather to see where her ancestors may have lived, so stumbling onto a possible relative was just a lucky coincidence. DNA suggests she also has Scottish and Northern Irish ancestors. The future holds more research and perhaps a trip to Scotland.
Jennifer has been the grants coordinator since January 2020. She says, “I like to find money for SGS so that a variety of programs and resources can be offered to its members and guests.” We can all appreciate that.
Congratulations, and thank you, Jennifer!
A PEEK AT THE SPRING SEMINAR!
The SGS Spring Seminar is scheduled for May 15, 2021, and the guest speaker will be Paul Miner.
Paul, a professional genealogist and internationally known lecturer, is a native of northern England who specializes in British Isles research. He has been designing genealogy workshops, writing books, and lecturing for over 35 years. Paul holds an advanced degree in Theology and is particularly knowledgeable about the church and its role in record keeping. As a genealogist he speaks on a variety of topics relating to research in the British Isles, migration to North America, and research methodology. Stay tuned. Details and registration for the seminar will appear in the eNews! and on the SGS website seagensoc.org within the next few weeks.
HOPE FOR THE NATIONAL ARCHIVES IN SEATTLE
On Friday, February 12, 2021, a US District Court judge granted a preliminary injunction to halt the sale of the National Archives property on Sand Point Way NE in Seattle. In coalition with 29 tribes and community organizations, Washington AG Bob Ferguson filed suit on January 4, 2021, seeking to declare the sale of the property to developers illegal. The injunction will allow time for the suit to work its way through the courts.
* SAVE THE DATE *
The International German Genealogy Partnership presents,a
“Researching Together Worldwide / Weltweit Gemeinsam Forschen”,
the first ever International German Genealogy Virtual Conference,
July 17-24, 2021
Is German genealogy one of your New Year’s resolutions for 2021? If so, be sure to mark your calendars for July 17-24, 2021. The IGGP Conference, which only takes place every two years, is your chance to take a deep dive into all things German genealogy – and learn from the experts themselves. This year, the conference will be virtual, which means you can tune in from anywhere in the world!
Don’t miss the “Early Bird Special” price. To learn more about this event, sign up for the conference newsletter on their website:
https://iggp.org
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.
Wednesday, Feb 17, 2021, 10:00 am-11:30 am, 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, Feb 23, 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, Feb 24, 2021, 10:00 am-11:30 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, March 3, 2021, 10:00 am-11:30 am, 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, March 6, 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
Sunday, March 7, 2021, 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm, DNA Workshop, To be included you need to be on the SGS DNA Interest Group email list. Contact Cary Bright at SGSDNASIG@gmail.com to join.
Tuesday, March 9, 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, March 10, 2021, 10:00 am-11:30 am, 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, March 10, 2021, 7:00 pm-9:00 pm, MAC SIG Interest Group (Virtual), Jointly sponsored by SGS and Fiske, this group meets every other month from October through June on the second Wednesday of the month from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. 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. Co-chaired by Lisa Marker and Diane Hettrick
Saturday, March 13, 2021, 10:15 am – 12:00 pm, Family Tree Maker (FTM), chaired by Rob Sexton, Learn and share tips and tricks for using Family Tree Maker 2017 by Software MacKiev™ . Want to join this SIG? Email operations@seagensoc.org.
Saturday, March 13, 2021, 12:00 pm – 12:50 pm, SGS Membership Meeting – Virtual, The March SGS Membership meeting is the time that the Board presents the slate of nominees for Board positions in preparation for the May election. We expect to have some open positions, so remember that nominations may be made by the membership at any time, including at this meeting.
In addition, there are two major interconnected projects underway we will discuss. First, we are working to reduce the physical size of our library, part of which is a plan to move large parts of it online to facilitate access by SGS members and the genealogy community at large. Second, as mentioned at earlier meetings, our lease runs out this year and we have been looking for a new location. We will be providing information about both of these topics and asking for feedback from the membership.
Saturday, March 13, 2021, 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm, Second Saturday Series:”Why They Left, Where They Went, and the Tales Their Journeys Can Reveal”, presenter will be Pam Vestal
Wednesday, March 17, 2021, 10:00 am-11:30 am, 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, March 23, 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, March 24, 2021, 10:00 am-11:30 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, March 27, 2021, 10:00 am – 12:30 pm, DNA Interest Group, with Cary Bright & Craig Gowens, 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 with the pdf handout
South King County Genealogical Society
Did you get a DNA test for Christmas? Even while waiting for your results to arrive, there is much you can do to make your test results useful to you as you research your family. We’ll begin with creating a profile, show you how to get started with your tree and where you can research for free! See what your “match list” looks like and how to start using that. There will be plenty of time for questions.
Presented by MaryLynn Strickland AND Valorie Zimmerman of the South King County Genealogical Society.
REGISTER: https://kcls.bibliocommons.com/events/601d78ab78553424005eb852
