The German Interest Group of The Eastside Genealogical Society (EGS) meeting

When: Friday, November 1, 2019, from 12:30 to 2:30 pm

(Doors open at 12:10 pm for networking)

Where:  Relief Society Room of the Latter-day Saints Church

             10675 NE 20^th St, Bellevue, WA 98004.     

Topic: “Alsace Emigrations and Records” – A number of factors compelled emigrations not only from Alsace but also Lorraine, the Rhineland and Southwest Germany during the 18th and 19th centuries. Where did they go and why? This presentation will discuss those factors, however, the primary focus will be on Alsace and the records available.

Presenter: Melanie Matway became interested in genealogy as a teen asking her grandfather questions about family history when he spent a winter at their home in Southern California. Her interest renewed when she learned that church records for his family and other European ancestors had finally been microfilmed. In the last 10 years, Melanie has become the family genealogist and enjoys sharing what she has learned with other interested family members.

Visitors are always welcome.  More information: https://egsgermangroup.wordpress.com/  .  

The German Interest Group

of The Eastside GenealogicalSociety (EGS)meeting

When: Friday, October 4, 2019, from 12:30 to 2:30 pm

(Doors open at 12:10 for networking)

Where: Relief Society Room of the Latter-day Saints Church

10675 NE 20^th St, Bellevue, WA 98004

Topic: “Professional Time-Saving Research Tips” – Most of us have limited time and limited money. Saving time in working with records provides more time for research and reading. To save time, consider the tools we use, e.g. keyboard short-cuts and smart phone scanners. Consider our approach to research, to include going online before going off-line, keeping a research diary/journal as we research. Consider how to stay organized by building research lists and timelines. Learn a few of my professional time-savers that don’t cut corners.

Presenter: Janet Camarata is a genealogist with over 30 years’ experience. She currently leads the SKCGS Technology User Group and the SKCGS Genetic Genealogy/DNA Discussion Group and is a member of EGS, SKCGS as Director of Education, KCGS as newsletter editor and SVGS and presenter at the Northwest Genealogical Conference. She is currently a member of the GIG German Interest Group program committee. Janet is a graduate of the University of Washington Genealogy and Family History program.  She has a B.A. (Education) degree from Central Washington University and a master’s degree from Antioch University. 

German Interest Group URL

The German Interest Group of The Eastside Genealogical Society (EGS) meeting



When: Friday, September 6, 2019, from 12:30 to 2:30 pm

(Doors open at 12:15 pm for networking)



Where:  Primary Room of the Latter-day Saints Church

             10675 NE 20th St, Bellevue, WA 98004.


Topic: Genealogical Benefits of Facebook – Facebook can provide expertise, knowledge, and genealogical assistance on many facets to support your research. We will explore those benefits and demonstrate how to find the right pages or groups for your specific area of interest, and how to effectively access and search within groups, pages and your saved posts. Many of the examples address researching Germans from Russia.

Presenter: Marilyn Mullins Schunke – As a graduate of University of Washington’s Genealogy & Family History Certificate Program, Marilyn volunteered at Heritage Quest Research Library as a Board member, Education Coordinator and Volunteer Librarian. Technology is her forte and she presented Windows 10 and Digital Organization classes. She is a member of several local, state and national genealogy organizations. Marilyn will be presenting this same program at Concordia University’s Center for Volga German Studies in November.

Visitors are always welcome at our meetings. For more information about our Group, kindly visit our website at https://egsgermangroup.wordpress.com/  .

The German Interest Group of The Eastside Genealogical Society (EGS) will meet



When:  Friday, June 7, 2019, from 1 to 3 pm (Doors open at 12:40 for networking)

Where: Primary Room of the Latter-day Saints Church

             10675 NE 20th St, Bellevue, WA 98004


Topic:  Four Corners – An opportunity for members to ask questions and receive assistance when using Ancestry, FamilySearch, Facebook and Google websites.  Four tables will be set up with a computer and internet connection at each.  Bring your questions and problems to the appropriate table(s) for answers and solutions.  Feel free to move at any time among any of the tables.   Our meeting time will be used to address as many questions as possible.

Presenters: Janet Camarata for Ancestry, Melanie Matway for FamilySearch, Marilyn Schunke for Facebook and Dorothy Pretare for Google.

Visitors are always welcome. For more information about our Group, kindly visit our website at https://egsgermangroup.wordpress.com/  .

The German Interest Group of The Eastside GenealogicalSociety (EGS)will meet on Friday, May 3, 2019, from 1 to 3 pm in the Primary Room of the Latter-day Saints Church at 10675 NE 20^th St, Bellevue, WA 98004 with doors opening at 12:45 pm for networking. Enter through the double wooden doors on the right side of the Chapel. Visitors are always welcome at our meetings.   

Topic: Facebook: It’s not just for “Friends” – Much can be learned using Facebook for genealogy. We will investigate some WHYs, WHATs and HOWs regarding Facebook usage. I will show several examples of WHY I use Facebook for genealogy and WHY you might want to do so also. WHAT is available for genealogists on Facebook is found in the ultimate listing of genealogy Facebook pages. We will look at the list and show HOW to ensure you find the ones of potential interest to you. I’ve also found that WHAT is available on Facebook is birth, wedding, and death dates of family members which I did not previously have recorded. We will investigate HOW to use the various options available within Facebook: searching for a group, joining a group, searching within a group, saving posts to your own collection folders, accessing those saved posts when you are ready to process them, and many more. Join us to learn the benefits of using Facebook…a great tool for genealogists. You might learn a few computer usage tips along the way.

Presenter:  Marilyn Mullins Schunke – As a graduate of University of Washington’s Genealogy & Family History Certificate Program, Marilyn volunteered at Heritage Quest Research Library as a Board member, Education Coordinator and Volunteer Librarian. Technology is her forte and she presented Windows 10 and Digital Organization classes and served, and continues to serve, as Technical Assistant in Janet O’Conor Camarata’s genealogy courses at Pierce College. She is a member of several local, state and national genealogy organizations.

For more information about our Group, kindly visit our website at https://egsgermangroup.wordpress.com/  .  

The German Interest Group of The Eastside GenealogicalSociety (EGS) will meet on Friday, April 5, 2019, from 1 to 3 pm in the Primary Room of the Latter-day Saints Church at 10675 NE 20^th St, Bellevue, WA 98004 with doors opening at 12:45 pm for networking. Enter through the double wooden doors on the right side of the Chapel. Visitors are always welcome at our meetings.   

Topic: “Google Tools for German Research” – Google is known for general web searching. It has several additional features specifically helpful for German Research, e.g. searching images, maps, online books, YouTube videos and translation tools unfamiliar to many of us. If you have a certificate from a foreign country, Google can help translate it. If you want to read a newspaper from the last century, check Google for availability. Can’t find where you ancestor lived? Google maps will help locate the place and can show what it looks like today. Want to read county histories or a biography of an ancestor? Check Google books. Google tools beyond basic search can make the life of genealogists easier and more interesting. 

Presenter:  Janet Camarata is a genealogical seminar presenter, educator and trainer in genealogy societies, libraries, retirement centers and senior centers across Washington and supported genealogy by volunteering in a variety of ways – presenter, educator, newsletter editor, program coordinator, publicity and past-president of South King County Genealogical Society (SKCGS).  She is also an instructor of a year-long, 6-week series of classes, “Genealogy: Discovering Your Ancestors” at Pierce College and Puget Sound Genealogical Society that addresses both topics – genealogy and technology support research in today’s world. Janet is a member of the Association of Professional Genealogists, a graduate of the University of Washington Genealogy and Family History program, and a master’s degree from Antioch University.   

For more information about our Group, kindly visit our website at https://egsgermangroup.wordpress.com/  .  

The German Interest Group of The Eastside Genealogical Society (EGS) will meet on Friday, March 1, 2019, from 1 to 3 pm in the Primary Room of the Latter-day Saints Church at 10675 NE 20th St, Bellevue, WA 98004 with doors opening at 12:45 pm for networking. Enter through the double wooden doors on the right side of the Chapel. Visitors are always welcome at our meetings.



Topic: German Immigration Patterns – Since the 17th century, millions of German-speaking emigrants were leaving Europe for places far and wide, especially North America. Who were they? Why did they leave? The answer? It’s complicated. This talk explores waves of emigration in historical context, for reasons of war, religion, politics, weather, economics and other factors. Talk also takes a look at patterns of settlement of German-Americans once they arrived in North America, and its far-reaching effects today.

Presenter: Claire Gebben is the author of the historical novel The Last Blacksmiths (Coffeetown Press, 2014) based on the true story of her German immigrant ancestors. Her family memoir about writing family history, How We Survive Here: Families Across Time, was just published in November 2018. Her articles on blacksmithing, German Separatists, immigration and genealogy have appeared in German Life, Family Chronicle, and other publications. More info about her: http://clairegebben.com.

For more information about our Group, kindly visit our website at https://egsgermangroup.wordpress.com/

The German Interest Group of The Eastside Genealogical Society (EGS) will meet on Friday, February 1, 2019, from 1 to 3 pm in the Primary Room of the Latter-day Saints Church at 10675 NE 20th St, Bellevue, WA 98004 with doors opening at 12:45 pm for networking. Visitors are always welcome at our meetings.



Topic: “Using the Online Catalogs for the University of Washington Suzzallo & Allen Libraries” –  Learn to use the advanced search functions of the card catalogs in preparation for our field trip to Suzzallo & Allen Libraries in March. Learn to develop quality search terms, access research guides and the university wi-fi network, obtain a copy card or use printing services and asking for assistance from the librarian.

Presenter:  Janet Camarata is a genealogist with over 30 years’ experience. She is a seminar presenter, educator and trainer in genealogy societies, libraries, retirement centers and senior centers across Washington and supported genealogy by volunteering in a variety of ways – presenter, educator, newsletter editor, program coordinator, publicity and past-president of South King County Genealogical Society (SKCGS).   She currently leads the SKCGS Technology User Group designed to address the technical needs of genealogists in the today’s world of online and offline genealogical research. She is also an instructor of a year-long, 6-week series of classes, Genealogy: Discovering Your Ancestors at Pierce College and Puget Sound Genealogical Society that addresses both topics – genealogy and technology support research in today’s world. Janet is a member of the Association of Professional Genealogists, a graduate of the University of Washington Genealogy and Family History program.  She has a B.A. (Education) degree from Central Washington University and a master’s degree from Antioch University.  She also taught within The Boeing Company and at the University of Phoenix.

For more information, kindly visit our website at https://egsgermangroup.wordpress.com/  .

The German Interest Group of The Eastside Genealogical Society (EGS) will meet on Friday, January 4, 2019, from 1 to 3 pm in the Relief Society Room of the Latter-day Saints Church at 10675 NE 20thSt, Bellevue, WA 98004 with doors opening at 12:45 pm for networking. Visitors are always welcome at our meetings.
Topic:  “A Research Experience in the Rheinpfalz region in Germany” – Carol Stromberg will share her research story in discovering more about her Schwarzwalder family, wine growers in Rheinpfalz region in southwestern Germany. She will share her approach to her research, her travel to Germany and include her experiences meeting with her cousins and fellow genealogy researchers, her visit to the regional archives and photos of her ancestor’s home and workplace.
Presenter:  Carol Stromberg is a local genealogist who has been a member of EGS for 10-15 years. She became interested in genealogy in 1996 when she was planning a trip to Germany. Starting with two pieces of paper containing family information, she wrote directly to Germany asking questions and requesting documents. She loves learning about her ancestors and their stories. Her presentation is the results of her latest trip to Germany in 2018.


For more information, kindly visit our website at https://egsgermangroup.wordpress.com/  .