“THERE ARE SEVEN DAYS IN THE WEEK and
SOMEDAY ISN’T ONE OF THEM” – unknown
The beginning of a new year is often the time people take stock of their lives, their habits, and their goals. If there is one regret I have in my genealogical research journey, it’s that I didn’t begin sooner, when my grandparents were still alive. What a wealth of knowledge I missed out on.
So NOW would be the time to interview your oldest living relatives. Go through all those old family photos with them. Document and label who’s who. You’ve been meaning to visit elderly Aunt Minnie, right? Schedule that activity SOON. Listen to her family stories, ask questions about the family history, and write it down. Is there a family Bible or family memorabilia? Who has possession of them? These are a few frequently asked questions.
Another thing is, with the advent of DNA testing, experts now recommend you test your oldest generation while you still can. Get these things on your schedule. Better sooner than later; don’t delay.
SGS RECEIVES NEW TWO-YEAR GRANT
FROM 4CULTURE
SGS’s application for a two-year Heritage Sustained Support grant from 4Culture has been approved. We’ll receive $3,500 per year in 2017 and 2018. Since membership dues cover less than 40% of SGS’s overhead expenses each year, these grants are vital to us. We’ve received such grants annually since 2010.
4Culture is a tax-exempt public development authority (PDA) run by King County. Their mission is to make our region stronger by supporting citizens and groups who preserve our shared heritage, and create arts and cultural opportunities for residents and visitors. A portion of Lodging Tax revenues collected in King County provides all of the funding for the Heritage grants.
WANTED – PAST ISSUES OF SGS NEWSLETTER
SGS Plans to digitize all past issues of the SGS Bulletin and the SGS Newsletter and place them on the website.
We’re missing issues of the Newsletter and want to make the collection complete. Contact Reiley Kidd at: secretary@seattlegenealogicalsociety.org if you have issues you can loan or give to SGS for this project.
“Black Sea German Ancestors” lecture at SGS by
Carolyn Schott, author and travel blogger
JANUARY 22, 1:00 P.M.
Carolyn Schott, a lifelong traveler, has visited Germany, Ukraine, Moldova, Hungary, and Poland in pursuit of her family heritage. Along the way, she’s sampled Zwiebelkuchen (onion tart) at a German village festival; hiked through rural cemeteries with a broken foot; and found herself in a protest in Kyiv, Ukraine. Her talk will describe how she’s located her ancestral towns and made the most of opportunities to visit them.
A native of Seattle, Carolyn Schott has been actively involved in researching her Black Sea German ancestors for about 20 years. Her book, “Yes You! Yes Now! Visiting Your Ancestral Town”, is designed to help others learn from her experiences. Carolyn is one of the founders of the Black Sea German Research Community (www.blackseagr.org). She belongs to a number of genealogy societies that focus on German in Eastern Europe, and she was formerly a board member of the Germans from Russia Heritage Society (GRHS) and editor of the GRHS Heritage Review.
SGS CALENDAR OF EVENTS
Unless otherwise indicated all programs will be at the SGS Library, 6200 Sand Point Way NE, Seattle. Check the SGS Web Site for additions, changes, and corrections. Programs may be canceled or postponed because of inclement weather. The SGS Library is closed from Saturday, December 24th through Monday, January 2nd.
JANUARY
Tuesday, January 3, 12:30 pm – 3:00 pm, Technology Tuesday, Bring your laptop or mobile device, and enjoy discussions centered around technology and genealogy – software, genetic genealogy, internet research and more. Hosted by Lisa Chan.
Saturday, January 7, 10:15 am – 12:15 pm, Canadian SIG, David Robert, leader
Sunday, January 8, 1:30 pm – 3:30 pm, Scandinavian Interest Group, at this meeting Kathi McGinnis will be demonstrating several tools for researching your Norwegian ancestors – come see demonstrations of Digitalarkivet, DIS-Norge, Norgeskart, and Norway Heritage.
Saturday, January 14, 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm, Family Tree Maker Users Group, members helping one another with FTM, led by Reiley Kidd and Betty Ravenholt; email Reiley at secretary@seattlegenealogicalsociety.org for more info.
Tuesday, January 17, 12:30 pm – 3:00 pm, Technology Tuesday, Bring your laptop or mobile device, and enjoy discussions centered around technology and genealogy – software, genetic genealogy, internet research and more. Hosted by Lisa Chan.
Wednesday January 18, 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm, Mac Computer Interest Group, sponsored jointly by SGS, Fiske, and dBug, meets quarterly at the Fiske Genealogical Library, 1644 43rd Ave E, Seattle. This group addresses topics useful to users of MacIntosh (Apple) computers and the Reunion genealogy program. Email Lou Daly at loudaly@nwlink.com or Diane Hettrick at dhettrick@earthlink.net with questions.
Saturday, January 21, 10:15 am – 12:15 pm, Irish Interest Group, an open session on Irish research using old and new resources Leader: Jean A. Roth
Saturday, January 21, 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm, German Interest Group, an open session on German research using old and new resources Leader: Jean A. Roth
Sunday, January 22, 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm, Carolyn Schott, world traveler and author of “Visiting Your Ancestral Town”, a result of her passion for genealogy and travel, wants to share with you how to get the most out of a trip to explore your family roots. See featured article above for more info on Carolyn and her lecture.
Saturday, January 28, 10:00 am – 12:30 pm, the DNA Interest Group meets quarterly at Wedgwood Presbyterian Church, 8805 35th Ave NE, Seattle. For information contact SGSDNASIG@gmail.com Co-chaired by Cary Bright and Herb McDaniel.