Category Archives: Z-2018 Past Seminars-Conferences

Eastern Washington Gen Soc Hosts Successful Fall Seminar

by Roxanne Lowe

Dave Obee with the WSGS Blog Team: Charles Hansen, Roxanne Lowe and Donna Potter-Phillips.

Despite a last minute venue change, the Eastern Washington Genealogical Society‘s annual Fall Seminar went off without a hitch — at least to the 70+ attendees.

Leading Canadian genealogy expert Dave Obee delivered five presentations in an information-packed day. One of my favorite gems was my introduction to CanGenealogy.com — a Canada only version of Cyndi’s List. So many resources to investigate to learn more about my New Brunswicker great-grandparents!

Organizers of the EWGS Fall Seminar should be very proud of themselves for pulling off this event. I felt so welcome — just like one of the group. If you’re looking for a well-done workshop, mark your calendar for Saturday, April 6, 2019. EWGS is hosting popular lecturer Sunny Jane Morton for their Spring Seminar. Donna Potter-Phillips (my gracious weekend hostess and fellow blogger) gave us a heads-up in this blog post.

Eastern Washington Genealogical Society November Seminar Venue Change

by Charles Hansen

 

The Seminar with Dave Obee on Canadian Genealogy is scheduled at Saturday morning (registration 8:30-9:00 am). The location has changed due to unforeseen conflicts. The all day seminar will be held at Prince of Peace Lutheran Church located at 8441 N Indian Trail Road in Spokane. There is plenty of parking available at this location when you arrive.
Lunch will be included for everyone who has registered. A mixed group of sandwiches has been ordered for you that registered afterr the October 15 cut off for the free lunch. So we all will receive “free lunch” for this event.
To emphasize. . . the Saturday seminar on Canadian Genealogy is being held at the announced time but the place has changed to Prince of Peace Lutheran Church located at 8441 N Indian Trail Road. I for one am really looking forward to learning from Mr. Obee and we hope everyone finds us at the new location.
Sincerely,
John Wilson
     EWGS Web Manager

Eastern Washington Genealogical Society November Canadian Seminar

by Charles Hansen

Saturday, November 3 through Saturday, November 3
Canadian Research  (Seminar)
8:30 am to 4:00 pm
Country Homes Christian Church, 8415 N Wall, Spokane, WA
Genealogical research in the Pacific Northwest often leads to cross-border connections, because our relatives seemed to think that the grass was greener on the other side. Or maybe it was love, or economic opportunities.
Presenter Dave Obee  —  a Canadian journalist and genealogical researcher, will give five presentations on researching your Canadian connections.
Syllabuses: (click on the link to download the pdf syllabus)
Dave has written a dozen books and given more than 600 presentations at conferences and seminars in Canada, the United States and Australia since 1997. He is Editor-in-Chief and Publisher of the Times Colonist in Victoria, British Columbia.

In 2012 Dave was awarded an honorary doctorate of laws by the University of Victoria for his work as a historian, genealogist and journalist. In 2017 Dave was awarded the annual Bill Good award, which recognizes a B.C. journalist, leader or educator who has made a significant impact in journalism and in the community at large.

He is a member of the board of Canada’s History Society, and is a member of the services consultation committee at Library and Archives Canada in Ottawa.

Dave is a columnist for two magazines, Internet Genealogy and Your Genealogy Today. He is the author of Counting Canada: A Genealogical Guide to the Canadian Census, and Destination Canada: A Genealogical Guide to Immigration Records. Dave is also the co-author (with Sherry Irvine) of Finding Your Canadian Ancestors: A Beginner’s Guide, published by Ancestry in 2007.

Dave’s talk in Spokane will deal with immigration, the census, war records, Internet resources and more. While in Spokane Dave plans to do more research into his family connections here – connections that he will include in his talks.

ADMISSION: $20 Members  $25  for non members
NO Lunch will be provided for REGISTRATION after October 15th.  Sorry, NO REFUNDS!
 
For mail-in registration form Click here
Free lunch is no longer included but registration fee is still required.
You can register NOW online.  Time is past for the free lunch menu but the registration fee is still required.

Yakima Valley Genealogical Society Fall Workshop

by Charles Hansen

This is a final reminder for our upcoming Fall Workshop a week from this Saturday. Our speaker that will be presenting Friday night and Saturday morning is well know for doing a number of webinars for Legacy. She is considered one of the premier speakers in the northwest. This is really one very big bargain for the price. You get the presentation at the library on Friday night and all day at Mt. Olive Lutheran Church on Saturday with presentations in the morning and classes in the afternoon. The cost of attending includes cake and punch on Friday night and lunch on Saturday.
We have had to make one small change. Jim will be speaking on Revolutionary War Pensions instead of what was originally announced. Attached you will find an updated flyer and registration form if you have not had a chance to sign up yet.

Flyer and Registration form 1538519042_2018_fall_workshop

Mary Roddy

Friday, October 12 through Saturday, October 13
Annual Fall Workshop  (YVGS)
9:00 am to 4:00 pm
Mt Olive Lutheran Church 7809 Tieton
Friday evening session will be held at the YVGS Library. Speaker will  be Mary Kircher Roddy on  “Family Browse”.
Saturday: Workshop will be held at Mt Olive Lutheran Church.
               Morning Session with Mary K Roddy: 1. Bagging a Live One: Reverse Genealogy in Action
                                                                      2. A Decree of (Temporary) Divorce – My Life Without Ancestry.com
              Afternoon Session 1: A. Newspaper Research
                                             B. Using PERSI (Periodical Source Index) Like a Pro
                                             C. Lineage Society Memberships – DAR, SAR, Mayflower Society, etc
              Afternoon Session 2: A. Colonial War Veterans
                                             B. Up In Smoke – Where to Find Substitutes for Burned Records
                                             C. Seeing is Believing – Add Photos & Enhance Your Family Story Using Microsoft Word

HQRL Autumn Quest a Success

by Roxanne Lowe

What a day: DNA all day.

Even expert genealogists Cyndi Ingle (left) and Mary Kathryn Kozy (right) can learn a thing or two from Angie (middle). 05 Oct 2018

Spending the day listening to someone with a Bachelor’s Degree in Molecular Biology, a Master’s in Biotechnology and an alphabet soup of initials behind her name  may not be everyone’s cup of cappuccino, but if that someone is professional genealogist Angie Bush, run, don’t walk, to sign up. And that’s just what over 135 enthusiasts (double the number from last year) did at the recent Heritage Quest Research Library’s Autumn Quest to listen to Angie’s DNA presentations.

Held at the Emerald Queen Conference Center in Fife on Friday, 05 Oct 2018, Angie educated and entertained us on the science behind our DNA results, testing companies, “power tools,” and finding biological family histories for adoptees. She had just the right mix of technical information and storytelling.

Heritage Quest Research Library is undergoing some major revitalization efforts (more on that next week). Judging by the success of the 2018 Autumn Quest, they’ll have lots of support and enthusiasm.

Grays Harbor Fundraiser Workshop Set for Saturday

by Roxanne Lowe

Photo by Eric Timmons; published in The Vidette, Montesano.

The Grays Harbor Genealogical Society is sponsoring a fundraiser workshop on Saturday, 13 Oct 2018 with Portland area professional genealogist Pam Vestal. The workshop will be 1:00 – 3:15 p.m. at the American Legion Hall, 112 W. First St., Aberdeen. Cost is $25/person. ***Check out the special deal at the end of this post!***

Pam has donated her time and talent to help the society recover from the massive fire at the Aberdeen Armory on June 9 that destroyed their research library. Proceeds from the fundraiser will be dedicated to rebuilding the research library’s genealogical collections. Pam will be presenting (1) “Voting Records” and (2) “Finding What You Need & Making the Most of What You Find.”

*** If you sign up in advance, you’re eligible to attend a FREE morning session (10:00) with Pam called “Beyond Obituaries: Discovering Your Ancestor’s Life in Records of Death.” Just send an email to Info@GraysHarborGenealogy.com.

Whitman County Genealogical Society Mini Seminar

by Charles Hansen

Whitman County Genealogical Society

is hosting a FREE Fall mini-seminar

Bishop Place Independent Living Social Room, 811 SE Klemgard, Pullman, WA

Saturday, October 13, 2018

featuring:

“All About Heraldry and Its Use in Genealogy”

By Anthony (Tony) Durnford deGray Birch

 

“Digital Research – Tips, Tricks and Resources” By Lee Pierce

9:00 am: The doors open.

9:30 am-10:30 am: Anthony (Tony) Birch is a retired higher education administrator and long standing member of Eastern Washington Genealogical Society. He doesn’t claim to be a heraldry expert, but a family historian trying to make sense out of things he has inherited or found through research. His presentation will focus on heraldry, and how the genealogist/family historian can use heraldry to learn more about their ancestors. He will share examples of his ten-year search of his ancestors’ crests and coats of arms and what the many images, forms and colors mean.

10:30-10:45 Break and refreshments.

10:45 am-11:45 am: Lee Pierce is the archivist for the Eastern Region Branch of the Washington State Archives in Cheney, Washington. His mission is to collect, preserve and provide access to the records of local government agencies of the 11 furthest east counties of the state. He will be showing and telling about the digital archives and how best to use it, as well as other government resources that are available to researchers.

If you have any questions or need more information contact WCGS President, Sue Kreikemeier at:

aerocraft@completebbs.com or 509-635-1303. Please RSVP to Sue or whitmancgs@gmail.com

by October 6 to accommodate handouts & refreshments.

While the seminar is free, donations are welcome at the door.

Directions: Turn off Bishop Boulevard onto Klemgard Ave., follow Klemgard Ave. up the hill and turn left at the top. Do not go into the front entrance, but turn right, continuing up the hill and turn left at the white car ports. Find an appropriate parking place, enter the building through the main doors and go straight ahead to the Social Room.

BIOGRAPHIES OF FALL SEMINAR SPEAKERS

Anthony (Tony) Durnford deGray Birch’s biography includes the following:

  • BS and MS degrees from Oregon State University
  • MBA from University of Washington
  • 40 years working in higher education, including 16 years as administrative vice-president of Clark College in Vancouver, Washington
  • Selected by his community college peers as Outstanding Chief Business Officer for the four-state Northwest Region in 1996
  • Came with his wife, Janette, to the Inland Empire in 2006
  • Longtime member of Eastern Washington Genealogical Society where he and his wife are “greeters”
  • He and Janette were honored in 2015 as Washington State Outstanding Volunteers
  • He and Janette have done the following:

Compiled seven books about their ancestors

Volunteered with Find-A-Grave for many small cemeteries in the Palouse area

Enjoyed a number of weeklong trips to the Family History Center in Salt Lake City, Utah

Lee Pierce’s biography includes the following:

 

  • Been in the archival field broadly since 1997
  • BA in history from Eastern Washington University in 1998
  • MA in history from Eastern Washington University in 2000
  • Worked for the Arizona State Historical Society Museum’s archives at Papago Park in Tempe
  • Worked as a freelance researcher and a freelance processing archivist
  • Began working at Eastern Region Branch of the Washington State Archives in 2005
  • Currently the Archivist at Eastern Region Branch of the Washington State Archives
  • Enthusiastic historian of the American military experience, most especially the period of the American War of Independence and from WWII to present
  • Writes fiction in his “spare time”
  • Member of the City of Cheney’s Historic Preservation Commission

Kelowna & District Genealogical Society September Seminar

by Charles Hansen

 

Are you coming?

A reminder that registration closes at midnight on September 20th!! This promises to be our biggest conference ever and certainly is the largest genealogy conference in Western Canada. People are flocking from all four Western Provinces plus even Australia! If you are interested in Family History, don’t miss out.

 

Besides having many interesting and informative sessions; a large Marketplace full of unique merchandise, information and piles of great used books; we are providing a FREE lunch and all-day refreshments! We also have over 100 Door Prizes including hotel packages, DNA Kits, Genealogy Software, Website Subscriptions and so much more! What’s not to love? You may even meet a distant cousin or finally make that big breakthrough on your elusive ancestor!

 

Be sure to join us for a fun and informative weekend! Much more information, registration and payment via Interac e-transfer (or by cheque) at: https://kdgswix.wixsite.com/kdgs

 

 

Claire Smith-Burns

Kelowna & District Genealogical Society

Director, KDGS Family & Local History Resource Centre, Librarian@KDGS.ca

“Harvest Your Family Tree” Conference 2018, Conference@KDGS.ca

www.KDGS.ca                     

Eastern Washington Genealogical Society November Seminar

by Charles Hansen

 

Canadian Research
Saturday, November 3
Canadian Research  (Seminar)
Country Homes Christian Church, 8415 N Wall, Spokane, WA

Genealogical research in the Pacific Northwest often leads to cross-border connections, because our relatives seemed to think that the grass was greener on the other side. Or maybe it was love, or economic opportunities.

Presenter Dave Obee  —  a Canadian journalist and genealogical researcher, will give five presentations on researching your Canadian connections.

Dave has written a dozen books and given more than 600 presentations at conferences and seminars in Canada, the United States and Australia since 1997. He is Editor-in-Chief and Publisher of the Times Colonist in Victoria, British Columbia.

In 2012 Dave was awarded an honorary doctorate of laws by the University of Victoria for his work as a historian, genealogist and journalist. In 2017 Dave was awarded the annual Bill Good award, which recognizes a B.C. journalist, leader or educator who has made a significant impact in journalism and in the community at large.

He is a member of the board of Canada’s History Society, and is a member of the services consultation committee at Library and Archives Canada in Ottawa.

Dave is a columnist for two magazines, Internet Genealogy and Your Genealogy Today. He is the author of Counting Canada: A Genealogical Guide to the Canadian Census, and Destination Canada: A Genealogical Guide to Immigration Records. Dave is also the co-author (with Sherry Irvine) of Finding Your Canadian Ancestors: A Beginner’s Guide, published by Ancestry in 2007.

Dave’s talks in Spokane will deal with immigration, the census, war records, Internet resources and more. While in Spokane Dave plans to do more research into his family connections here – connections that he will include in his talks.

ADMISSION: $20 Members  $25  for non members
Lunch will be provided for PRE-REGISTERED guests.  Sorry, NO REFUNDS!
PRE REGISTER BY OCTOBER 15, 2018
NOTE: Mail in Registration form will be soon be available.  Please check back.
You can register NOW online.  Don’t forget to select your choice of sandwich when you register.  Use the pull-down menu to select from a beef, ham or turkey sandwich.
Preregister Here by October 15th https://ewgsi.org/eventListings.php?nm=283

Eastside Genealogical Society is Hosting the “Photo Detective”

by Charles Hansen

 

Maureen Taylor, the nationally known “Photo Detective”,

is coming to Bellevue on September 15, 2018.

 

 “Finding Family History in Your Picture Mysteries”

 

Her Three Presentations:

 

  • 10 Easy Steps to Identify & Date Those Pictures in the Shoeboxes
  • Google Images and Beyond
  • Genealogical Clues in Family Photos

 

This event will be held on September 15, 2018 at the Vasa Park Ballroom, 3560 W Lake Sammamish Road SE, Bellevue, WA  98008.  Doors open at 9 am with presentations from 9:30 am to 2 pm.

 

Admission is only $25. (The date to order lunch has passed, so please bring your own.)

 

Private consultations with her are available afterwards at an additional cost of $20 for 10 minutes for the maximum of 2 pictures. Of course, you can book more than one consult and pay her directly. These can be arranged by sending an email to EGSGenealogyhelper@yahoo.com stating the desired number.

 

For more details, see our website   . Of course, you can register for the event using our website to the prior day. At the door of the event, cash and checks will be accepted for admission.

 

Come and bring your friends for a fun day!