Category Archives: Z-2017 Past Meetings & Seminars

JEFFERSON COUNTY GENEALOGICAL SOCIETY MAY MEETING

by Charles Hansen

 

JEFFERSON COUNTY GENEALOGICAL SOCIETY

PO Box 627

Port Townsend, WA 98368

Contact for this release: Judy Tough 385-3065 or tough@olympus.net

FOR RELEASE: MAY 12 – 19, 2017

MAKING SENSE OF SUPPLEMENTAL CENSUSES

Jefferson County Genealogical Society (JCGS) has invited Professional Genealogist, Janet Camarata, to be their speaker at their monthly meeting on Saturday morning May 20, 9:30 – 11:30 at the Tri-Area Community Center, 10 W. Valley Rd, Chimacum. The public is invited; donations are gratefully accepted. Janet’s topic “Making Sense of the Supplemental Censuses” will acquaint us with the many census collections such as agriculture, manufacturing, slave schedules, veterans, social statistics, etc that the U.S. government has collected over the years. Learn what is available, where to find them in Ancestry, Family Search, and the National Archives and how to build a personal guidebook for help in reading and understanding each census. For more information www.wajcgs.org

Janet Camarata is a member of the Association of Professional Genealogists and is an experienced instructor having taught for many years in the workplace and at the University of Phoenix. She is a popular presenter at genealogy societies, libraries, museums and conferences across Washington state.

 

Bainbridge Island Genealogical Society May Meeting

by Charles Hansen

For Immediate Release
  The Bainbridge Island Genealogical Society (BIGS) will meet Friday, May 19, 2017, at the LDS church on Bainbridge Island, 8677 Madison Ave, from 10:00a.m. – 12 noon. Guest speaker, Janice C. Lovelace, Ph.D. Will be speaking on “Beyond Online: Beginning Court House Research.” Ms. Lovelace is a member of the Association of Professional Genealogists, the National Genealogical Society, and the Seattle Genealogical Society. Free to members, a $5.00 donation is suggested for nonmembers. For more information go to http://www.bigenealogy.org or call 206-780-8009. BIGS is a 501c(3) non-profit organization.
                                                           ####
Thank you!
Sue Elfving
Bainbridge Island Genealogical Society
Director of Publicity and Public RelationsM

Seattle Genealogical Society News

by Charles Hansen

DEB KLEIN, VOLUNTEER OF THE SPRING QUARTER

Deb Klein, the editor of our indispensable SGS eNews! has been named the Volunteer of the Spring Quarter. Her role demands familiarity with all that is happening in the society so that the rest of us stay up to date.

Deb says that she had driven by SGS for years, but it was a conversation with her neighbor’s mother that prompted her to join.  As a self proclaimed genealogy junkie, addicted to the thrill of the hunt, the classes and special interest groups sounded like something she would enjoy.

In answer to how she happened to get involved, Deb responded, “I wanted to volunteer to help out at SGS, but my part-time, sporadic work schedule prevented me from being able to commit to a set routine.  Reiley Kidd had a full plate and wanted to be relieved of publishing the eNews! As a former programmer/analyst, I had the technology experience, the hours were flexible, and I could work remotely; all this made for a good fit.”

Deb reports that she has always been a bit of a history buff, but never was into genealogy.  “In 2011”,   she notes, “I was reading Nathaniel Philbrick’s book Mayflower, and there were a few paragraphs on Major John Talcott, ‘Indian Fighter’. Hey!, I said to myself, Maybe that story Grandpa Talcott told me about our family coming to America in colonial times had some truth to it. The next week Ancestry had a free weekend promotion and I was easily able to trace my Talcott ancestors through the census back to 1860. Then I found the e-book Talcott Pedigree in England and America from 1558 to 1876. Eureka! What a gift. The family is far more interesting than I ever imagined. We arrived in Newtowne, MA in 1632 and in 1636 traveled with Reverend Hooker’s party to found Hartford, CT.  Equally as easily,  I traced my Acton family branch back to colonial Maryland. Oh, and here’s a fun fact; my 10 times great-grandfather, William Pynchon, wrote one of the first book banned in the New World.”

Researching other branches has come harder for Deb than researching those colonial lines. Her Irish and Swiss ancestors that immigrated during the 1800’s have managed to keep their lives before America a mystery.  Deb says that she would be thrilled to be able to break through one of these brick walls. “In this quest, I’ve signed up for the webinar version of the Western European Family History Conference coming up in May; I’m taking the classes focused on research for Switzerland.” We wish Deb success in this research venture, and we thank her for serving as the editor of SGS eNews!.

DON’T MISS THE 2017 SPRING SEMINAR
“VOICES FROM THE PAST”
Featuring Lisa Alzo,
International Lecturer & Freelance Writer

Topics for the 4 workshops are:
•Diseases, Disasters, Distress: Bad for Your Ancestors, Good for Genealogy!
•Writing Your Family History Step-by-Step
•Silent Voices: Telling the Stories of Your Female Immigrant Ancestors
•Make Those Skeletons Dance: Exploring Your Family’s Dark Side

For more information and online registration: http://seattlegenealogicalsociety.org/2017-spring-seminar

Help Needed the Day of the Seminar, May 20th
 

Needed –  someone to take photos
Needed –  someone to fill the snack trays for breaks
Needed –  help with set-up, hanging signs, directing parking, and directing people to the registration desk

If you can help, please email Sandra Stark at :
seminar@seattlegenealogicalsociety.org

SGS 2017 ELECTION RESULTS

The 2017 SGS election has concluded.  The Election Committee has met and tabulated the votes. Ballots were mailed to 445 SGS members at the end of March; 134 ballots were returned, representing a turnout of 30%.

The following candidates, all running unopposed, were elected:
President: Jill Morelli

Secretary: Amandalei Bennett
Treasurer: Karen Knudson
Director of Education: Karin Borgerson
Director of Library: Ann Wright
Director of Membership: Christine Schomaker
Director of Operations: Lynne DeMerritt
Director of Publications: Julia Marconi
Nominating Committee: Siri Nelson and David Rimmer
Congratulations to all these candidates!  We wish them great success!!

Both Bylaws revisions that had been recommended by the Board passed handily, with more than 90% of votes cast.

We were unable to find any candidates for three offices (Vice President, Director of Technology and Director of Volunteers) and for 3 more members of the Nominating Committee.  Several individuals received write-in votes for each of these positions; these names will be turned over to the Nominating Committee.  The NC will contact each one, to see if they are willing to serve, and if so, will recommend them to the Board of Directors.

Thanks also to the Election Committee – John Harley, Trish Howell, and Lisa Oberg for their work during this election!

IS YOUR SGS MEMBERSHIP CURRENT?

Ballots were mailed on March 30 to all 445 current members of SGS.  If you did not receive a ballot, and believe that your membership is current, please email the membership director at: membership@seattlegenealogicalsociety.org
It may be we do not have your correct mailing address, or possibly your membership has lapsed.

The SGS eNews! goes out to nearly 800 individuals –  members, former members, and non-members alike.  We do not purge former members from the distribution list; therefore, the fact that you are receiving it does not mean that your membership is current.

SAVE THE DATES

Seattle Genealogical Society Spring Seminar,
 “Voices from the Past” with Lisa Alzo,
 Fairview Christian Church
 844 NE 78th St
 Seattle, WA
 Saturday, May 20, 2017   9am – 4pm

Doors open at 8am – welcome at 9am. Did you receive the brochure in the mail? Registration and further information also available online at www.seattlegenealogicalsociety.org

Federation of Genealogical Societies (FGS),
 2017 Conference –  “Building Bridges to the Past”,
Pittsburgh, PA
 August 30 – September 2

Ready for a road trip? This conference is open to anyone with an interest in family history.  FGS is teaming up with the Western Pennsylvania Genealogical Society to put on this four day events.  There will be various tracks to suit the individual researcher; beginner to experienced.

For more info visit :  fgs.org

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 library will be closed May 14 for Mother’s Day and May 27-29 for Memorial Day.

MAY

Tuesday, May 2, 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, May 6, 10:15 am – 12:15 pm, Canadian SIG, David Robert, leader
Saturday, May 6, 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm, Family Tree Interest Group, Lou Daly, leader of this new special interest group exploring all the features of the tool Family Tree on FamilySearch

Sunday, May 7, 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, May 13, 10:15am – 12:15 pm, Irish Interest Group, with Jean Roth, an open session on Irish research using old and new resources

Saturday, May 13, 1:00 pm  – 3:00 pm, German Interest Group, with Jean Roth, an open session on German research using old and new resources

Tuesday, May 16, 12:30 pm – 3:00 pm, Technology Tuesday, DNA FOCUS, 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.

Friday, May 19, 11:00 am – 3:00 pm, Beginning Genealogy, Want to learn how to get your genealogy project going? Linda Fitzgerald, a past president of SGS,  will be presenting her “Beginning Genealogy Class”. Add it to your calendar.  Invite a friend.

Saturday, May 20, 9:00 am  – 4:00 pm, SGS Spring Seminar “Voices from the Past”, featuring: Lisa A. Alzo, M.F.A., a freelance writer, instructor, and internationally recognized lecturer. At Fairview Christian School, 844 NE 78th Street,Seattle, WA  Doors open at 8:00 a.m. – Welcome at 9:00 a.m.

JUNE

Saturday, June 3, 1:00 pm – 2:30 pm, Annual SGS Membership Meeting

Sunday, June 4, 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.

Tuesday, June 6, 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, June 10, 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm, Family Tree Interest Group, Lou Daly, leader of this new special interest group exploring all the features of the tool Family Tree on FamilySearch.

Sunday, June 11, 1:30 pm – 3:30 pm, Scandinavian Interest Group, Leader: Karen Knudson

WHATCOM GENEALOGICAL SOCIETY Meeting

by Charles Hansen

WHATCOM GENEALOGICAL SOCIETY meeting Monday, May 8, 2017, 2 pm, Bellingham Elks Lodge, 710 Samish Way.  “DNA: Your Next Steps” with WGS member Judith Culver. Whether you are deciding whether to test or looking to go deeper in the study of DNA, this is for you. There is a detailed handout about DNA, including basic genetic facts, description of tests with recommendations, tips for using test results and third-party software, and a bibliography.   Visitors welcome.  Contact:  360-733-8300.

Judy Russell in Tacoma Today – Saturday, 29 April

by Roxanne Lowe

Ignore today’s sunshine! I know that’s hard to do, considering the long winter we’ve had, but you won’t be sorry if you get yourself to Tacoma’s LaQuinta Inn & Suites to hear Judy Russell, the Legal Genealogist. The Tacoma-Pierce County Genealogical Society is hosting this nationally acclaimed lawyer/genealogist. Wickedly funny, sharp as a tack — not to be missed.

Walk-in registration starts at 8:00 a.m. ($45, cash or check only). Cindy Ingle kicks off the day at 9:00, then Judy will educate and entertain you for the rest of the day. If you need more convincing, check out the flyer.

Olympia Genealogical Society’s May meeting

by Charles Hansen

WRITING YOUR MEMOIRS by Dolores Nelson will be presented at Olympia Genealogical Society’s May meeting.  Join us on Thursday, May 11 at 7 pm at the Thurston County Courthouse, Building 1, Room 152.

Thank-you   Joyce Ogden, publicity

=======================================================================                                                                  Joyce T. Ogden             jtogden@comcast.net

Jewish Genealogical Society May Seminar

by Charles Hansen

 

Dear Genealogy Friends,

 

You are invited to attend our upcoming free genealogy event, on
Monday evening, May 8, 2017.

 

We would also appreciate it if you could help us publicize these event using this email or our flyer, attached above, by emailing out, posting at your location or on your website, or handing out flyers to or sharing this email with those you think might be interested.

5-8-17 Emily Garber–Beyond the Manifest

The Jewish Genealogical Society of Washington State is pleased to present our February meeting program

 

Beyond the Manifest: Methods for Confirming One’s Ancestral Origins
By Emily Garber, Genealogical Lecturer, Blogger, and Author

 

DATE: Monday, May 8, 2017

LDS Factoria Church Building
4200 124th Ave SE

Bellevue, WA 98006

(just off I-90 and I-405)

  • Doors open at 6:30 m., for all to enjoy the extensive JGSWS Library’s genealogical resources!
  • Free Wi-Fi Come early to network with other attendees!
  • Presentation starts promptly at 7:15 m.
  • Free admission and refreshments

 

ABOUT OUR PROGRAM: “Beyond the Manifest: Methods for Confirming One’s Ancestral Origins”    

When several communities in Eastern Europe have similar names and their names have been changed over the years, it may be difficult to unambiguously identify a family’s shtetl of origin. Considering the investment in time and energy in researching one’s family shtetl, it is imperative that we apply rigor in identifying our family’s communities of origin, as required by the Genealogical Proof Standard. With its application and a well-designed research plan, we assure that our findings are robust and our conclusions not easily challenged. We will explore applied methodology and suggested genealogical sources and techniques. Resources will include landsmanshaft burial data, online archival material, and Shoah databases toward the goal of providing tools and methods for confirming the location of one’s family shtetl in Eastern Europe.

ABOUT OUR SPEAKER

An archaeologist by training (B.A. and M.A.), Emily H. Garber has been researching her Jewish ancestry since 2007 and holds a certificate from Boston University’s Genealogical Research program. She specializes in Jewish genealogical research and has worked with records for both German-Jewish and Eastern European Jewish immigrants. Her client work has included research into narrowly defined genealogical problems as well as development and writing of broadly based family history narratives. In June 2013, she toured family shtetlach in Ukraine and explored archives in Lviv, Khmelnitsky and Zhitomyr. She is chair of the Phoenix (Arizona) Jewish Genealogical Group, board member of the Arizona Jewish Historical Society, owner of Extra Yad Genealogical Services, and she blogs at http://www.extrayad.blogspot.com. Emily has served for several years as one of the moderators of the JewishGen Discussion Group and is communications director of the Ukraine Special Interest Group.

 

Please visit our website at http://www.jgsws.org to join or to donate to JGSWS to help support the incredible speakers and workshops we bring to you, to view library listings, download handouts, or for more information.  JGSWS is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt non-profit organization. Membership dues and donations are tax deductible.

 

 

 

Thank you very much,

Karen vanHaagen Campbell
1st VP & Publicity, Jewish Genealogical Society of Washington State
www.jgsws.org

 

Tacoma-Pierce County Spring Seminar on Saturday

by Roxanne Lowe

Judy Russell, the Legal Genealogist, is coming! And it’s not too late to be wow’d by her!

The Tacoma-Pierce County Genealogical Society’s Spring Seminar promises to be a great one with Judy. You can register at the door — only $45 (cash or check only, please) on Saturday, April 29 at the La Quinta Inn and Suites, 1425 East 27th Street in Tacoma. Doors open at 8:00 a.m.

Join us beginning at 9:00 a.m., to hear Cyndi Ingle (yes — THAT Cyndi!) introduce Judy who will educate and entertain us about:

  • No Vitals? No Problem! — Building a Family through Circumstantial Evidence
  • When Worlds Collide: Resolving Conflicts in Genealogical Records
  • “Don’t Forget the Ladies” — A Genealogist’s Guide to Women and the Law
  • Beyond X and Y: The Promise and Pitfalls of Autosomal DNA Testing

For more information, download the seminar brochure: 2017TPCGSSeminarBrochure

WSGS Awards Announced at Annual Meeting in Yakima

by Roxanne Lowe

Many thanks are extended to the Yakima Valley Genealogical Society for hosting the WSGS Annual Meeting and Awards Event on Saturday, 22 April 2017. The annual meeting was held in conjunction with YVGS’s Spring Seminar featuring Jay Fonkert, a Minnesota-based genealogy researcher, educator, and writer who focuses on nineteenth-century Midwest research. Nearly 90 people attended the seminar and annual meeting.

WSGS Vice President Donna Phillips presenting Outstanding Volunteer Award to Patricia McCann Manning from the Stillaguamish Valley Genealogical Society.

Region 6 Representative Janet McKinnon presenting an Outstanding Team member award to husband Mikal McKinnon for his work on the Tri-City Genealogical Society’s Library Recataloging and Renumbering Team.

During the annual meeting and awards lunch, nearly 40 local society members were recognized with Outstanding Volunteer and Team awards. These volunteers were praised for their commitment and energies to promote genealogy and family history in their local communities.

Some of the 2017 local society award winners

Other awards presented included:

  • Outstanding Communication – Whitman County Genealogical Society for its newsletter filled with personal stories, photos and “snippets from the olden days.” Their newsletter started on in 1984 with just a few pages focusing on Whitman County. Today the newsletter is 10 pages with a continued focus on the county, but has expanded to include a wide variety of genealogy-related articles, designed to educate and entertain the society’s members and other readers. Special acknowledgement was extended to newsletter editor Judy Standar McMurray, with assistance from Monica Bartlett Peters.
  • Outstanding Project — Grays Harbor Genealogical Society for the preservation of thousands of records from a 100-year-old funeral home that closed suddenly. The records were in danger of being lost or discarded until the society stepped in. Twelve boxes of paper were organized, scanned, cataloged and indexed into 19 binders. While this was an effort tackled by almost half of this small society, special recognition was extended to Cathy Cook, Gary Parfitt, Marlene Payne and Bonnie Johannes.

Five local societies were awarded Innovative Grant Awards. See separate blog feature.

The President’s Award for Outstanding Achievement was presented to Joanne Egbert Calhoun of the Wenatchee Area Genealogical Society. See separate blog feature.

For more photos of the seminar and annual meeting, visit our Facebook page.

Joanne Calhoun Honored with President’s Award

by Roxanne Lowe

President’s Award for Outstanding Achievement honoree Joanne Egbert Calhoun

In an announcement made at the WSGS Annual Meeting on 22 Apr 2017, Joanne Egbert Calhoun was awarded the WSGS President’s Award for Outstanding Achievement. The award, made by WSGS President Virginia Majewski, is designed to single out that rare individual, society or organization that has demonstrated exemplary service above and beyond expectations. And Joanne certainly exemplifies that.

Veterans memorial shrine, Wenatchee City Cemetery

Joanne has been a member of the Wenatchee Area Genealogical Society (WAGS) and its predecessor since 1945, and is often called the “glue” that has kept the society active and strong.  Her willingness to serve as WAGS Treasurer for over 40 years, as well as president for three years, demonstrates exemplary service above and beyond expectations.

Over the years, Joanne has recorded and indexed cemeteries in Chelan and Douglas Counties, as well as indexed 38 years of society’s “Appleland Bulletin” (1972 – 2010). But a few years ago, she really stepped up her involvement, turning a community project that began with the observation, “somebody ought to…” into a full-time commitment.  She identified and collected the histories of World War I veterans once honored in an American Legion Memorial Shrine located at the Veterans’ Memorial Hall, which, sadly, was abandoned when the Hall was destroyed by fire. In 2009, representatives of WAGS, the Wenatchee Valley Museum and the City of Wenatchee arranged for relocation of the memorial building to a place of honor in the Veterans’ section of the Wenatchee City Cemetery.  Joanne’s extensive research and compilation of records included those whose identities had been desecrated or were missing from the monument. After completing four large notebooks containing records for all Chelan and Douglas County veterans serving in World War I, Joanne summarized her efforts, “I thought they shouldn’t be forgotten.”

In determining the award recipient, President Majewski said, “There were some great nominations for the President’s Award and all are certainly deserving, but Joanne stood out as demonstrating a lifetime of contribution to the community.” We honor her accomplishments.