Seattle Genealogical Society News

SGS BOARD 2018-2019
The results of the SGS 2018 election for board of directors are: ​

  • President: Jill Morelli
  • Vice President: vacant
  • Treasurer: Karen Knudson
  • Secretary: Amandalei Bennett
  • Education: Janice Lovelace
  • Library: Sue Jensen
  • Publications: Julia Marconi
  • Technology: David Rimmer
  • Membership: Christine Schomaker
  • Volunteers: Heidi Mair
  • Operations: Rob Sexton
  • Past President: Marilyn Rose​

Electronic voting was employed for the first time. It was quick, easy, saved volunteer time, and was appreciated by all. Some folks thought that we should have included biographies of the candidates and we will do that in future elections. Use of electronic voting for this election was a “beta test” and was approved by the Board and reported to the membership at the last meeting. It will now be necessary to modify the Bylaws to reflect the adoption of technology in a number of sections of the Bylaws. These changes will be presented at the October Membership Meeting. Ballots were mailed to 19 individuals for whom we did not have email addresses; none of those mailed ballots were voted and returned.

Rob Sexton became Director of Operations by board acclimation when Lynn De Merritt resigned during the election cycle.

Nancy Hevley is the new Library Trustee for the 2018-2019 fiscal year. An ardent worker on the Library Committee each Thursday, Nancy will be a great addition. She’ll join two other Trustees, John Eschelman and Dona Bubelis, who are presently serving their three-year terms.

SGS applied for and received a grant from 4Culture to conduct a Japanese Genealogy Seminar in winter 2019. The event will be held the first weekend in February with guest speaker Linda Harms Okazaki of the Seattle Public Library. If you are interested in helping out with this event contact Heidi Mair at : volunteers@seattlegenealogicalsociety.org 

 

ArchiveFinder – FOLLOW-UP FROM JILL MORELLI 

 

At the Sunday, May 20, special seminar session on ArchiveGrid, Josh (D. Joshua Taylor) covered ArchiveFinder. He said ArchiveFinder was available only at academic libraries and only at some, not all.  Jill said she would inquire to see if it was available at UW. In a check with Lisa Oberg, Associate Director of Special Collections at UW, ArchiveFinder is not available at the University of Washington library.

We hope you were able to make the seminar. Everyone we spoke with thought Josh was well organized,  knowledgeable, an excellent speaker and communicator. The frequent Q&A sessions he worked into the program were very robust.

Our thanks to Josh for another successful SGS seminar. Also our thanks to all who attended and to all the volunteers that make these seminars possible.

 

SCANDINAVIAN SIG – SPECIAL TIME – SPECIAL GUEST
On Sunday, June 10, the meeting of our Scandinavian SIG will be held from 10:00 am – 12:00 pm instead of in the usual afternoon time slot. Leading the meeting will be Kathi McGinnes and the special guest will be Liv Christensen, Norwegian genealogical researcher.  Liv will Skype in and answer some previously submitted questions. This is your chance to come learn from a renowned expert in researching Norwegian genealogy.

 

IT’S SPRING, A TIME OF RENEWAL 

The SGS membership year runs from June 1 to May 31 so it’s nearing that time to renew your membership. Or are you joining SGS for the first time?

You can renew online and pay your dues with a credit/debit card here:

Online SGS membership form

Or print out a copy of our membership form and mail it to SGS with a check. Here’s a link to the printable form:

Printable SGS Membership Form

Not a SGS member yet? Annual dues are $40.00 individual, $50.00 dual (two individuals at the same mailing address). As soon as you join, you’ll be eligible for free or discounted rates for our seminars, online and offline classes, and access to SGS databases. You’ll receive our bi-annual online publication “Journal of the Seattle Genealogical Society”. You’ll learn along with other members in our special interest groups and Second Saturday programs. You’ll have opportunities to volunteer, helping others as an indexer, librarian, receptionist, instructor, or family history researcher.

 

Most of all, you’ll be supporting a 95-year-young, all-volunteer organization, dedicated to maintaining a public research library, preserving records, and providing educational opportunities for all in our community. So click that link up above and join SGS today!

SAVE THE DATE

​”When It Takes a Village: Applying Cluster Research Techniques”,
presented by Emily H. Garber,
Jewish Genealogical Society of Washington State,
4200 124th Ave SE,
Bellevue, WA
Monday, June 11, 2018

This presentation by Emily Garber will outline a program for solving genealogical research problems via cluster and collateral research techniques and you are invited. Free admission and refreshments. The meeting will be  in the LDS Factoria Building at 4200 124th Ave SE, Bellevue. Doors open at 6:30pm and the presentation starts promptly at 7:15pm.

For more info on JGSWS, this presentation, or directions, visit the JGSWS website at :

http://www.jgsws.org

2018 Northwest Genealogy Conference,
Stillaguamish Valley Genealogical Society,
Byrnes Performing Arts Center,
18821 Crown Ridge Blvd,
Arlington, WA
August 15 – 18, 2018  

Keynote speakers will be Beth Foulk, CeCe Moore, Peggy Lauritzen, and Amie Bowser Tennant.

Days 2-4 will be packed full of lectures and activities, such as post a surname on the “Cousin Board”; have fun connecting with other attendees you may be related to. On Friday, participate in the optional  “Dress As Your Ancestor”  day to honor your heritage.

As usual, the first day of this four day conference is designed for beginners and is free (registration required).   .

For more details and to register, visit their website:
https://stillygen.org/cpage.php?pt=50

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 will be closed June 17, July 3, and July 4

JUNE

Saturday, June 2, 10:15 am – 12:15 pm, Canadian SIG, Come join David Robert, group leader, for help researching your Canadian ancestors.

Saturday, June 2, 10:15 am – 12:15 pm, Family Tree Interest Group, Lou Daly, leader of this special interest group exploring all the features of the tool Family Tree on FamilySearch.org

Saturday, June 9, 10:15 am – 12:15 pm, Family Tree Maker (FTM) Users Group,  Jess Ramey will lead this last meeting before the group breaks for the summer. Jess and Reiley Kidd will co- lead when the group resumes their meetings in the fall.

Sunday, June 10, 10:00 am – 12:00 pm, Scandinavian SIG, with Kathi McGinnes and Liv Christensen via Skype.  Liv will answer previously submitted questions.  Come learn from this expert in Norwegian genealogy. Please note the time change for this meeting.

Saturday, June 16, 10:15am – 12:15pm, Irish SIG, with Jean A Roth
Saturday, June 16, 01:00pm – 3:00pm, German SIG, with Jean A Roth

Sunday, June 17, closed for Father’s Day

Saturday, June 23, 1:00 pm – 2:30 pm,  SGS General Membership Meeting, speaker TBD
Saturday, June 30, 10:00 am – 12:30 pm,  DNA SIG,  this group meets at the Wedgwood Presbyterian Church, 8008 35th Ave NE, Seattle. Co-chaired by Cary Bright and Herb McDaniel. For more information contact SGSDNASIG@gmail

JULY

Sunday, July 1, 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm, DNA Workshop, Led by Cary Bright with first hour on a specific topic, and the second hour open for sharing DNA issues with focus on GenomeMate Pro.

Saturday, July 7, 10:15 am – 12:15 pm, Canadian SIG, Come join David Robert, group leader, for help researching your Canadian ancestors.

Saturday, July 7, 10:15 am – 12:15 pm, Family Tree Interest Group, Lou Daly, leader of this special interest group exploring all the features of the tool Family Tree on FamilySearch.org

Sunday, July 8, 1:30pm – 3:30pm, Scandinavian SIG, with Karin Knudson

Saturday, July 21, 10:15am – 12:15pm, Irish SIG, with Jean A Roth
Saturday, July 21, 1:00pm – 3:00pm, German SIG, with Jean A Roth