Category Archives: Z-2018 Past Seminars-Conferences

The “Lowe Down” on the Tacoma-Pierce County Seminar

by Roxanne Lowe

Additional tables had to be brought in to accommodate the crowd.

“Slow down. Mull and ponder.” That was a frequent reminder from J. Mark Lowe, the featured speaker at Tacoma-Pierce County Genealogical Society‘s Spring Seminar on April 27 and 28, 2018. Good advice to someone (like me!) who often jumps from rabbit hole to rabbit hole while researching my family history — and other activities.

Quite the storyteller, Mark captured and held the attention of a roomful of enthusiasts with tales of his Southern family. His presentations included using online newspapers; finding and using sources at home or your library; migration through Virginia, the Carolinas, Kentucky and Tennessee; and a using a brick wall as a foundation for your research.

Mark Lowe and Mistress of Ceremonies Cyndi Ingle. What great chemistry between those two!

We learned to consider that brick walls were of our own making and could be used as a stepping stone to further research. He encouraged us to start with a research plan and complete that question. Even if we didn’t get an answer to the research question, we should document that, then move on to a new question. He also encouraged us to think about the big picture, open our minds to every possibility and not get too myopic — remember that research plan — and mull and ponder the possibilities!

Tacoma-Pierce County Genealogical Society always hosts a first-rate seminar. Good location, good organization, very welcoming. They are so well-organized, they’ve already lined up their speaker for 2019: Michael Lacopo, DVM. Dr. Lacopo has a varied and interesting ancestry and is a self-described “all-American mutt.” Mark your calendar for April 26 – 27, 2019.

 

Kelowna & District Genealogical Society Genealogical Conference

by Charles Hansen

 

Who’s Up For a Genealogy Road Trip?

September is the perfect time for a road trip – the tourists have mostly gone home, the roads are in good condition and the weather is perfect!  What could be better?  Well, how about a Genealogy Road Trip?

Why not get a few friends together and come to Kelowna for the “Harvest Your Family Tree” Genealogy Conference, taking place from Sept. 28-30, 2018 – Western Canada’s Largest Genealogy Conference?  Sharing the costs and enjoying the companionship of like-minded friends is a wonderful way to see the countryside. All you need is your passport! Don’t want to drive? Our airport has direct flights between Seattle and Kelowna via Horizon Air.

 

We are thrilled to offer Eleven acclaimed speakers, including: Blaine Bettinger (genetic genealogist/DNA specialist); Cyndi Ingle (Cyndi’s List); Helen V. Smith (from Australia); Dave Obee (Canada’s preeminent genealogist); Lesley Anderson (Ancestry). Of the 31 workshops on offer, only five are on Canadian records so there is something for every researcher no matter where in the world you are searching.

 

We have great rates at two local hotels: The Kelowna Inn & Suites (www.kelownainnandsuites.com, 1-800-667-6133) is offering rooms at only $99 per night (plus taxes), including breakfast; The Ramada Hotel (a full-service hotel; ramadalodge@rpbhotels.com, 1-800-665-2518) is offering $119.99 per night (plus taxes).  This is definitely budget-friendly, especially if you share the room with a friend or two.  Both hotels are located along Hwy. 97 and a short drive to all conference venues (carpooling can also be arranged).  When making your reservation, be sure to tell them you are coming for the Genealogy Conference.

 

While in Kelowna, enjoy our great shopping, many beautiful wineries, historic sites and get in some genealogy research at our KDGS Family & Local History Resource Centre and Kelowna’s other great archives and specialty libraries.

 

For more information, visit our Conference pages at https://kdgswix.wixsite.com/kdgs/ or follow the link from our homepage, www.KDGS.ca. Register soon as some workshops are filling up quickly! Questions: email me at Conference@KDGS.ca.

 

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

 

Join us in Vancouver

by Roxanne Lowe

Momentum is building for a fabulous and meaningful weekend full of genealogical as well as historical events! Register now for the Clark County Genealogical Society‘s Spring Seminar with David Allen Lambert from the New England Historic Genealogical Society. Registration info here.

And there’s more!

  • The Washington State Genealogical Society will be presenting their awards during the seminar’s lunch hour on Saturday.
  • An 1833-35 Hudson Bay Company (HBC) descendant is attending the HCB Gala Reception Friday evening and he has stories.
  • The Ft. Vancouver Tapestry will be showing at the CCGS Library Annex for 5 Full Days (24th-28th).
  • There’s a walking Cemetery Tour is scheduled for Sunday (meet up at Library).

Tacoma-Pierce County Seminar Kicks Off

by Roxanne Lowe

Roxanne Lowe and Mark Lowe are still looking for their family confluence — somewhere in the hills of North Carolina.

If Tacoma-Pierce County Genealogical Society‘s kick-off Meet & Greet with J. Mark Lowe is any indication, the  main event on Saturday, April 28, 2018 is going to be a fun ride! At the Friday night event, Mark entertained the attendees while they dined on a scrumptious dessert buffet. What could be better than laughter and chocolate!

A good ol’ Southern boy from Tennessee, Mark is a born storyteller from a long line of storytellers. Every lesson he shared had a witty, entertaining story behind it — from driving sheep to Atlanta to the escapades of his pistol-packin’ grandma. For him, it’s all about the story, urging all of us to “tell your stories or they’ll die.”

You can register on-site for the Tacoma-Pierce County Genealogical Society’s Spring Seminar  at the LaQuinta Inn, 1425 East 27th Street in Tacoma. Registration opens at 8:00 a.m. with opening remarks by Cyndi Ingle at 9:00.

Olympia Gen Soc Hosts Successful Seminar

by Roxanne Lowe

Keynote speaker Lisa Alzo and OGS President Nancy Neville Cordell

It comes as no surprise that the Olympia Genealogical Society‘s Spring Seminar was a resounding success. Lisa Alzo, professional writer, lecturer and genealogist rolled into one terrific presenter, entertained and educated more than 110 attendees on Saturday, April 7, 2018. Her topics included:

  • Immigrant Cluster Communities: Past, Present and Future
  • Silent Voices: Telling the Stories of Your Female Immigrant Ancestors
  • Diseases, Disasters and Distress: Bad for Your Ancestors, Good for Genealogy
  • Murder, Mayhem and Town Tragedy Making Those Skeletons Dance: Exploring Your Family’s Dark Side

Roger Newman from Shelton won one of the raffles. Photo by Patty Olsen.

Always a first-rate affair, Olympia’s Spring Seminar also included book sales and fabulous raffle baskets. It was also a great opportunity to welcome and network with fellow genealogists from the area.

There are a number of upcoming seminars in the region. Check out this blog post for a list.

Societies: If you’d like to promote your workshop or seminar on the WSGS Blog, send a flyer or paragraph to WSGSBlog@wasgs.org. We’d love to share it with our readers!

David Allen Lambert Coming to Vancouver — You Should, Too!

by Roxanne Lowe

Register now for the Clark County Genealogical Society‘s Spring Seminar on Saturday, May 26. An added bonus to the day is the Washington State Genealogical Society’s Recognition Event during the lunch hour. Registration information and form are available here.

Clark County and their partners have organized a weekend-long event, packed with a wide variety of activities. The Saturday seminar key speaker will be David Allen Lambert. Serving as chief genealogist for the venerable New England Historic Genealogical Society (NEHGS), David’s seminar topics include 1) World War 1 Military; 2) Great Migration Era settler research; and 3) Probate & Deed Records research.

Friday, May 25
7:00 p.m. – 9:30 p.m.

As an honored guest at the Hudson Bay Company Gala Reception Friday evening, David Allen Lambert will be sharing his genealogical gems; seemingly small finds that lead to amazing stories. CCGS is collaborating with Friends of Fort Vancouver to bring some of the wonderful Fort interpreters as guests. The Hudson Bay Company Gala Reception will be held at the Artillery Barracks of the Fort Vancouver National Historic Site, 600 Hathaway Rd. in Vancouver.

Saturday, May 26
8:00 a.m. – 3 p.m.

The seminar includes three lectures from David Allen Lambert, NEHGS chief genealogist. Additionally, the Washington State Genealogical Society will announce their annual recognition awards. The event will be at  the Historic Red Cross Building, 605 Barnes Street in Vancouver.

Sunday, May 27
10:00 a.m. – 3 p.m.

The Clark County Genealogical Society will host a library open house at 715 Grand Blvd, Vancouver. A guided cemetery tour is also planned; brochures will be available for other self-guided tours.

Before and During Memorial Weekend

For 5 days before and during Memorial Weekend, The Fort Vancouver Tapestry will be displayed at the CCGS Library. Completed in 2005, this historic community project required 57 skilled stitchery workers contributing 100,000 hours over 5 plus years.

Accommodations

For out-of-towners, the Hilton Hotel offered special rates. The CCGS group reservation code is CCG. Click here for the special rate.

Register Now for Clark County Spring Seminar and WSGS Recognition Event

by Roxanne Lowe

The WSGS Annual Meeting and Awards Ceremony, which includes the announcement of the Outstanding Volunteer and Team awards, Outstanding Communication and Project awards,  WSGS President’s Award for Outstanding Achievement and Innovative Grant winners, will be Saturday, May 26, 2018 during the lunch period of Clark County Genealogical Society‘s Spring Seminar. The seminar and awards event will be held at the Fort Vancouver National Historic Site in Vancouver.

David Allen Lambert

The seminar’s featured speaker will be David Allen Lambert, New England Historic Genealogical Society‘s chief genealogist. His seminar topics include:

  • World War 1 Military
  • Great Migration Era settler research
  • Probate & Deed Records research

CCGS has planned other events during the weekend, including:

  • Hudson Bay Company Gala Reception on Friday night. David will be the honored guest and will share his genealogical gems: seemingly small finds that led to amazing stories.
  • A guided Cemetery Tour is proposed for Sunday. There will also be brochures for other local self-guided tours available at the CCGS Library.
  • For the five days before and during Memorial Weekend, The Fort Vancouver Tapestry will be displayed at the CCGS Library. Completed in 2005, this historic community project required 57 skilled stitchery workers contributing 100,000 hours over more than five years.  For more information, visit http://www.fortvancouvertapestry.com.

For out-of-towners, the Hilton Hotel is offering special rates.  The Hilton’s web access page is:  http://www.hilton.com/en/hi/groups/personalized/P/PDXVAHH-CCG-20180525/index.jhtml?WT.mc_id=POG. Be sure to  mention the CCGS group reservation code CCG.

The CCGS Spring Seminar flyer, including a registration form, can be downloaded by clicking on REGISTRATION FORM seminar 2018 or visit the CCGS website.

Seattle Genealogical Society Optional Sunday Sessions Waiting List

by Charles Hansen

 SGS 2018 SPRING SEMINAR
* Optional Sunday Sessions *
Have a Waiting List

 

Registrations have been pouring in for the SGS 2018 Spring Seminar featuring D. Joshua Taylor to be held Saturday, May 19, 2018.  Send in your registration form soon to ensure your place at the seminar.  Or register online at this link:

https://goo.gl/forms/4zQAcwg0rpAKiUu12

Please note, the SGS 2018 Spring Seminar optional classes scheduled for Sunday, May 20, 2018:
Session I “Treasures in the Archive: Using Archive Grid” and
Session II “Building Context and Making Connections: Using JSTOR for Family History”,  are full.

Any additional registrations we receive for either of these Sunday sessions will go on a wait list, in the order received, or postmarked.

If you still care to register and be placed on the wait list, you may do so, but we request that you do not include payment at this time.

* For Mail in Registration *  If you wish to register for a Sunday Session in hopes that a space becomes available, you may send in registration for the session, but please do NOT include payment for the Sunday Session. If a seat becomes available for you, payment will be requested.

* For ONLINE registration * If you wish to register for a Sunday Session in hopes that a space becomes available, please fill out the online registration and you will be placed on the waiting list. You will not be invoiced for the Sunday Session unless a space becomes available for you.

If you have questions, feel free to email membership@seattlegenealogicalsociety.org, or call the SGS Library, (206) 522-8658.

Whitman County Genealogical Society Spring Mini-seminar

by Charles Hansen 

Seminar reminder--
 For those of you who have not yet registered for our spring 
mini-seminar, but plan to attend, we encourage you to register 
by April 14 so we can plan for refreshments, handouts and room 
set-up. We have two excellent speakers in Prof. Horace Alexander
Young and Fr. Mike Savelesky. Please see the attached flyer for 
seminar details as well as the bios of the speakers. It promises 
to be an exciting and informative morning. The seminar is being 
held at Bishop Place in the Independent Senior Living Social Room, 
811 SE Klemgard, Pullman, WA. Driving directions are on the flyer. 
Doors open at 9 AM and the program begins at 9:30, ending by noon. 
For questions or to RSVP, e-mail whitmancgs@gmail.com or call 
Sue Kreikemeier, 509-635-1303.
 Hope to see you there. Monica Bartlett Peters

 

Fr. Savelesky’s & Horace Young’s bios

Seminar Flyer April 2018 with pix