LINDA FITZGERALD
VOLUNTEER OF THE QUARTER
The Board of Directors has named Linda Fitzgerald Volunteer of the Quarter (July through September) for her invaluable work as a desk volunteer, and especially for the generosity of her time these past three months when it has been so badly needed. While we often speak of the desk volunteer’s “work,” Linda describes it as “fun.” She loves doing it, is so gracious to library patrons, and has a desire to help researchers in any way she can.
Linda has served the Society at many levels, and always with the same wholehearted gusto and reliability. She has been SGS President and Past President. Her first Board position was Director of Operations, which requires a knowledge of the basic functions of the society and the space which houses it. After that, she was Director of Membership. These roles have given Linda an invaluable overview of SGS.
But her contribution to us goes beyond activities on the Board. Linda Fitzgerald has, with outstanding success, organized and coordinated a number of our association’s Seminars, which are held in the Autumn and in the Spring. These are the high points of our year and require an enormous amount of time and effort. With the same helpful spirit, she lends a hand to the more routine but still important tasks that keep SGS moving. She is currently a member of a new group that is digitizing some of our archival and other collections; and she serves on the Library Committee where she organizes and repackages the various periodicals in our library.
All the while Linda continues her own research. Her interest in genealogy, as she reports, began while looking at photographs that belonged to her paternal grandmother, who had written the first, middle, maiden and married names on the back of photographs of her mother. But on her mother-in-law’s photos, there were only the first, middle and married name. Linda knew her grandmother was intelligent, very well self-educated and very precise. Thus what her grandmother chose to write, Linda knew, was not accidental: there was a reason for it. Determining what that reason was turned out to be the first step that stirred her interest in genealogy. Linda’s research has by now, inevitably, moved back in time. Her ancestral group in Ohio, she suspects, must have dropped out of the ether into the Ohio River, whence they swam to the shore, It is, she says, the old story of “there were three brothers.” She knows the Tennessee group in her family came through the Cumberland Gap, but she is still trying to figure out where they started. So for Linda, as for so many of us, the search goes on.
SAVE THE DATE!
SGS FALL SEMINAR
October 15, 2016
“GENETIC GENEALOGY”
Presented by
Emily Aulicino,
author of Genetic Genealogy: The Basics and Beyond (2014)
Make plans now to attend the SGS Fall Seminar, “Genetic Genealogy,” on Saturday, October 15, 2016. Learn how you can break through your genealogical brick walls, how you can prove or disprove your paper trail, and why thousands are turning to genetic genealogy to supplement their family history research.
Two tracks of presentations – advanced or beginner level! Mix and match your choice of seminar presentations according to your interests or level of expertise in genetic genealogy. Advanced and beginner classes will be taught by Emily with the assistance of the SGS DNA Special Interest Group.
Speaker Emily Aulicino is the author of the recently published “Genetic Genealogy: The Basics and Beyond” and is also the Regional Coordinator for the International Society of Genetic Genealogists. Ms. Aulicino teaches genetic genealogy classes at the Genealogical Forum of Oregon (Portland) as well as weekly classes on writing childhood memories and family stories.
Seminar registration forms and online registration will be available in early September. The SGS 2016 Fall Seminar will be held at the Fairview Christian School, 844 NE 78th Street, Seattle, WA 98115. Plenty of free parking!
FALL MEMBERSHIP MEETING DATE CHANGE
Since many SGS members are interested in attending the event “Ancestry Day In Washington State” in Tacoma on Saturday, September 24th, we have postponed the SGS Fall Membership Meeting until the following Saturday, October 1st, at 1 pm. Watch for more information on our Fall Membership Meeting in the next issue of the eNews!
If you’d like more information on “Ancestry Day In Washington State”, you can find their web page at :
eventbrite.com/e/ancestry-day-in-washington-state-tickets-26178375225
T. J. STILES to SPEAK in SEATTLE
September 8, 2016
The Puget Sound Civil War Roundtable, a 501(c)3 nonprofit, is pleased to announce that it will host author T. J. Stiles winner of the 2016 Pulitzer Prize for History for his book “Custer’s Trials: A Life on the Frontier of a New America”. Mr. Stiles will discuss the Civil War career of General George Armstrong Custer.
The event will be held on Thursday, September 8, 2016 at the China Harbor Restaurant located at 2040 Westlake Avenue North in Seattle. The program begins at 6 p.m. with social hour, dinner will be served at 7 p.m. and, Mr. Stiles’ presentation at 8 p.m.
Dinner is $21.00 and the presentation only is $5.00. Reservations can be made at : pscwrt.org/pscwrt/reservations.php
Among his many accomplishments, awards and honors, T. J. Stiles won the 2010 Pulitzer Prize for Biography and the 2009 National Book Award for Nonfiction.
SGS CALENDAR OF EVENTS
Unless otherwise indicated all programs will be at the SGS Library, 6200 Sand Point Way NE. Please check the SGS Web Site for additions, changes, and corrections. Programs may be canceled or postponed due to inclement weather. The SGS Library will be closed Labor Day Weekend, September 3rd and 4th. ** Please note, the date for the Fall Membership Meeting has been changed.
SEPTEMBER
Tuesday, September 6, 12:30 pm – 3:00 pm, Technology Tuesday, Hosted by Lisa Chan, SGS Director of Technology, Bring your laptop or mobile device, visit with other members and learn from each other while working on your family history. Discuss current projects, hardware, software, organizing data, and technology trends in genealogy.
Sunday, September 11, 1:30 pm – 3:30pm, Scandinavian SIG, at this meeting leader, Karen Knudson, will talk about her trip to Norway & Sweden; followed by discussion and Q&A.
Tuesday, September 13, 12:30 pm – 3:00 pm, Technology Tuesday, Hosted by Lisa Chan, SGS Director of Technology
Saturday, September 17, 10:15 am – 12:15 pm, Irish Interest Group, Leader: Jean A. Roth
Saturday, September 17, 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm, German Interest Group, Leader: Jean A. Roth
Tuesday, September 20, 12:30 pm – 3:00 pm, Technology Tuesday, Hosted by Lisa Chan, SGS Director of Technology
Tuesday, September 27, 12:30 pm – 3:00 pm, Technology Tuesday, Hosted by Lisa Chan, SGS Director of Technology
OCTOBER
Saturday, October 1, 10:15 am-12:15 pm, Canadian Interest Group, Leader: David Robert
Saturday, October 1, 1:00 pm – 2:30 pm, Fall Membership Meeting **
Tuesday, October 4, 12:30 pm – 3:00 pm, Technology Tuesday, Hosted by Lisa Chan, SGS Director of Technology
Sunday, October 9, 1:30 pm – 3:30 pm, Scandinavian SIG, with leader, Karen Knudson
Tuesday, October 11, 12:30 pm – 3:00 pm, Technology Tuesday, Hosted by Lisa Chan, SGS Director of Technology
SAVE THE DATES
September 23rd-25th
The Kelowna & District Genealogical Society’s (KDGS)
“Harvest Your Family Tree” Conference 2016
Kelowna, BC, Canada
More info and registration at: kdgsconference2016.blogspot.ca
SGS member Mary Kircher Roddy is also speaking at this conference.
September 23rd-24th
“Ancestry Days in Washington State”
Greater Tacoma Convention Center
1500 Broadway
Tacoma, WA 98402
The Office of the Secretary of State and the Washington State Historical Society are partnering with Ancestry to bring a very special genealogical event to the Pacific Northwest. Ancestry Day in Washington will be held in Tacoma on Saturday, September 24, and is expected to attract more than 1,000 family historians. Whether you are a new subscriber to Ancestry, an experienced genealogist, or just interested in finding out what genealogy is all about, this is the event for you! Activities on September 23 will be held at the Washington State History Museum in Tacoma and will include access to the museum and special presentations on outstanding genealogical resources in Washington. On Saturday, September 24, Ancestry will take center stage at the Greater Tacoma Convention & Trade Center. They will be bringing their expertise, engaging speakers, door prizes, and Ancestry DNA kits to purchase. There also will be vendors from around the state sharing their products and ideas.
Registration opens in late July. Stay tuned for more information. For more details, see:
wasgs.org/blog/2016/07/07/ancestry-day-coming-soon/
September 24th, 10am – 12pm
“Save Your Photos Day”,
Mercer Island Community Center,
8236 SE 24th Street,
Mercer Island, WA
“Save Your Photos Day” is a free annual event that offers resources for what you can do to safeguard your memories before disasters or accidents occur. Local photo organizers and scan/print experts will join offer their expertise about preserving your photo memories. For more information email: molly@seattlephotoorganizing.com or visit the website: saveyourphotos.org
October 15th
SGS Fall Seminar,
“Genetic Genealogy”,
Fairview Christian School,
844 NE 78th Street,
Seattle, WA 98115
Featuring author Emily Aulicino, well-known expert on DNA and genealogy.