GENEALOGICAL FORUM’s Thursday Evening E-News

THE GENEALOGICAL FORUM’s Thursday Evening E-News Edition January 3, 2019
Curious about the status of your GFO Membership? We’d love to have you as a GFO Member!
For more information visit www.gfo.org.
Contact us at info@gfo.org or 503-963-1932.
Be sure to check the complete GFO CALENDAR.
Also, don’t miss the current issue of The Forum Insider
You’re Amazing!
We Made Our Fundraising Goal! We can’t thank you enough. The GFO needed big support, and you came through! We needed to raise $25,000, and you made it happen before the turn of the new year. Our costs continue to rise yet member dues cover only 24% of our budget. Donations literally make the difference in whether we can keep going.
Thank you! Preserving and Sharing Heritage since 1946.
We Got the Gold!
We are pleased to report that the GFO has now achieved the Gold Seal of Transparency from GuideStar. GuideStar is the world’s largest source of information on nonprofit organizations. We are committed to transparency. By adding information about our goals, strategies, capabilities, achievements, and progress indicators, we are highlighting the difference we help to make in the world.
Mac Users Learn Your Apple Apps
The Portland Macintosh Users Group is excited to meet at the Genealogical Forum of Oregon LIbrary. Join us on Wednesday, January 9, 2019. The class will be about the trio of applications (Pages, Numbers, & Keynote) which are included on all current Apple operating systems.
This class is FREE for PMUG members and GFO members who use Macintosh computers.
• Learn how to use Apple’s free apps for creating written documents, spreadsheets, and presentations.
• The Pages App is an easy-to- use word processor and comes with great-looking templates for creating business cards, flyers and newsletters.
• Use the Numbers App to manage your information and perform automatic numeric calculations.
• The Keynote App makes beautiful slideshows and many other kinds of presentations.
• These apps also make it easy to export and share with others who use the Microsoft Office family of applications. To register: Call 503-228-1779 or email: college@pmug.org.
4 Speakers, 1 Conference, No Travel Needed
Would you like to attend a DNA Genealogy conference without the expense of travel? Family History Fanatics are offering a full-day Winter DNA eConference available online, including Tim Janzen, a familiar speaker at our GFO DNA Special Interest Groups. You’ll SEE the difference in this conference as your presenters will open the live chat throughout their sessions and turn on their cameras. Register by Jan. 18th for a discount.
Strike it Rich with Connections 2 Discoveries
The 2019 International German Genealogy Conference is a unique three-day event June 15-17 in Sacramento. Discounted conference registration ends in two weeks, after January 15, 2019. Details on the conference, online registration, and hotel accommodations are on the International German Genealogy Partnership website. An all-star cast of presenters from the United States, Germany, Austria, Australia, Israel, and Brazil will share their expertise in German genealogical research techniques, tools and more. This conference is hosted by the Sacramento German Genealogy Society (SGGS) and supported by a consortium of Germanic Genealogy Societies across the Golden State. The International German Genealogy Partnership (IGGP) comprises more than 100 organizations around the world. IGGP’s mission is “… to facilitate German genealogy research globally as the internationally-recognized federation of German genealogy organizations.”
A “living” German Guidebook
Here’s a great resource for German research. Under the title “Woher stammt meine Familie?” (English: Where does my family come from?) the Foundation Flucht, Vertreibung, Versöhnung in Berlin has published a German language PDF document as a guide to research that can be downloaded at their website. This “living” guidebook is in German, but it provides so many links to online sources, hints, current addresses, and so on—it should be on people’s radar. While the focus is on Germans displaced in the 1940s, the archives and resources provided may be useful to many.
This week at GFO …
SATURDAY, January 5th Virginia Group 10 a.m. – noon Land Records – Part II For this session, we will focus on deeds records and the benefits of using them for genealogy. We will discuss the types of deeds and the language of deeds. Over time, laws were enacted pertaining to real property and inheritance; knowing about those laws will help to interpret the deeds we find. We will discuss the value of using land records, and have many examples of how to use them for your research. For more information see our blog: “Virginia Roots and Vines”. Research in Virginia can be difficult, with the complication of burned counties, as well as the ordinary difficulties of using historical documents. But it is not impossible. We discuss the history of Virginia and explore various methods to do sound genealogy research. We hope to foster collaboration among our many Virginia researchers and work on our varied research problems, our brick walls, together. Each month we will have a discussion or presentation on a topic related to our research. There will also be time each meeting for discussion, suggestions, and perhaps research on individual research. We’ll also explore the settlement of Kentucky, the Carolinas and Tennessee. Facilitators: Judi Scott and Carol Surrency can be reached at Virginia@gfo.org. German Group 1 – 3 p.m. Topic: #1. Lew Ebner has a wonderful German video to show us along the Rhine River.
Topic #2. It’s a new year. Think of one place you are researching, and let’s all help each other fill in the pieces or at least a piece of the puzzle. Hoffentlich! / Hopefully! The German Interest Group was formed in the spring of 2011. It is intended to be a source of information and inspiration for anyone with German speaking ancestors. One goal is to provide information on a variety of topics related to Germanic history and migration. We also will provide time for members to share their research journeys and connect with others who may be researching the same region or time period. The group meets at the GFO Library on the 1st Saturday of every month. Questions? Email the group facilitators at German@gfo.org. SUNDAY, January 6th Manuscripts Work Party 9 a.m. – noon Explore our manuscript, personal papers, and Bible collection while we organize, scan, and create finding aids. Drop by at the time that works for you. Questions? Send a note to manuscripts@gfo.org. MONDAY, January 7th Free First Monday! 9:30 a.m. – 5 p.m. Come visit our research library each first Monday of every month and splurge on all GFO’s wonderful resources for FREE. Explore our online databases like Fold3, Ancestry World Library Edition, Newspapers.com, and many more. Our analog and microfilm collections total some 49,000 items. Don’t miss out! TUESDAY, January 8th Beginners’ Boot Camp 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. (Registration is now closed.) Laurel Smith leads a day of beginning genealogy. There will be sessions about the census, vital records, immigration and naturalization, discussions about genealogy software and database use, organizing your research and more — all geared toward beginners. WEDNESDAY, January 9th PMUG College 6 – 8 p.m. Apple Apps: Pages, Numbers & Keynote See all the details above for this week’s class! To register: Call 503-228-1779 or email: college@pmug.org. Bring your Mac to participate with instruction. If you would like additional information for attending this class, please email us at college@pmug.org.
(Note, updates may be sent for interruption of services due to weather, etc.)

GENEALOGICAL FORUM’s Thursday Evening E-News

THE GENEALOGICAL FORUM’s Thursday Evening E-News Edition December 27, 2018
Curious about the status of your GFO Membership? We’d love to have you as a GFO Member!
For more information visit www.gfo.org.
Contact us at info@gfo.org or 503-963-1932.
Be sure to check the complete GFO CALENDAR.
Also, don’t miss the current issue of The Forum Insider
Best Wishes for 2019!
Please Act Before the Year Ends
We Need YOU to Help Us Reach Our Goal! The new year is just days away and the GFO needs your help! We are just $2094 away from reaching our year-end fundraising goal. The GFO asks for your financial support only once a year. Donations fuel our very operations.
Member dues don’t come close to covering our budget.
This once-a-year appeal for contributions makes all the difference in our being able to keep the library open every day. The amount you spend to buy lunch out could make the difference. Even small gifts help us tremendously when many people come together. You can make it happen! Please make your tax deductible donation to the GFO today! Thank you for your continued support. Preserving and Sharing Heritage since 1946.
Give Today
The GFO belongs to the Oregon Cultural Trust.
We have a Gold rating for transparency on GuideStar.
Please check with your employer on possible matching donations, especially through Benevity. Thanks for all you do to keep GFO going strong!
A Serendipity Moment
The Oregon State Regent for DAR, Rebecca Taylor, came into the GFO recently to pick up some books that we were clearing from our shelves. She is not a genealogist.

Rebecca told us of a book about her family, Lafollette, and that she had not been able to locate a copy anywhere. Just for fun, our Research Assistant on duty checked the GFO catalog and found L’histoire de la familie LaFollette en Amerique. This was the exact book she was looking for! Rebecca was ecstatic, thrilled to find the book and will be back one day soon to sit and browse through it. Check our catalog. You may find your family on our shelves, too.
Own This Piece of History
During our recent inventory, we discovered we had two books about a piece of American history many have forgotten. On Dec. 30, 1903, fire swept through the Iroquois Theatre in Chicago. More than 600 perished, making it the deadliest fire in a single building in U.S. history. Since we don’t need two copies, we are selling “The Great Chicago Theater Disaster, The Complete Story Told by the Survivors.” If you know a theater or Chicago history buff, get this book for just $25. Contact booksales@gfo.org if you’d like to buy it. As you can see from the photo above, the binding is damaged and has been repaired but all the pages inside appear fine. This this 114-year-old “Memorial Edition” was published in 1904. Don’t forget to check out all the hundreds of surplus historic books we have for sale online.
Deadline Soon to Register for Boot Camp
Our popular quarterly class is filling up!
Registration closes January 3rd for Beginners’ Boot Camp on January 8th. Join Laurel Smith to learn how to get your research organized and the best techniques for finding family records. This is an all day lesson, even during lunch! Beginners’ Boot Camp is FREE for GFO members, $20 for non-members.
Sign Up Now!
GFO Volunteers: Please Report Your Hours
We’re all volunteer. That means we don’t have to track payroll. But we do need to track how many hours people contribute to keep the GFO running. If you volunteer during the month, please remember to tell us how many hours you generously give us.
We’ve made it easy to report on this handy online form.
This week at GFO …
MONDAY, December 31
Library Closed
TUESDAY, January 1
Library Closed
WEDNESDAY, January 2
Learn & Chat 10 a.m. – noon Jan. 16. It will not meet next week.
At Learn & Chat some of the learning comes from speakers with particular expertise but most of it comes from the sharing of experiences and knowledge of attendees who have developed methods that work for them. Join us to talk about your genealogy questions and help provide support to others. Facilitated by Jeanne Quan.
DNA Q&A 1 p.m. – 3 p.m.
Lisa McCullough will be available to help answer your DNA questions, whether you are new and just getting started or have more involved questions. Questions? Email her ahead of time.
Library Open late to 8 p.m.

GENEALOGICAL FORUM’s Thursday Evening E-News

THE GENEALOGICAL FORUM’s Thursday Evening E-News Edition December 20, 2018
Curious about the status of your GFO Membership? We’d love to have you as a GFO Member!
For more information visit www.gfo.org.
Contact us at info@gfo.org or 503-963-1932.
Be sure to check the complete GFO CALENDAR.
Also, don’t miss the current issue of The Forum Insider
Happy Holidays from the GFO
So Close…
The Finish Line is in Sight! We are so grateful for your support. Donations fuel our very operations.
Member dues don’t come close to covering our budget.
This once-a-year appeal for contributions makes all the difference in our being able to keep the library open every day. Thank you to everyone who has contributed to our Annual Appeal!
We need to raise $25,000 and we are 85% of the way there! We’re confident you can help us make it to the finish line. Please make your tax deductible donation to the GFO today!
Give Today
The GFO belongs to the Oregon Cultural Trust.
We have a Silver Star rating on GuideStar.
Please check with your employer on possible matching donations, especially through Benevity. Thanks for all you do to keep GFO going strong!
A Serendipity Moment!
Recently, the Oregon State Regent for Daughters of the American Revolution, Rebecca Taylor, came into the GFO to pick up some books that we were clearing from our shelves. She is not a genealogist.

Rebecca told us of a book about her family, LaFollette, and that she had not been able to locate a copy anywhere. Just for fun, our Research Assistant on duty checked the GFO Catalog and found L’histoire de la familie LaFollette en Amerique. This was the exact book she was looking for! Rebecca was ecstatic, thrilled to find the book and will be back one day soon to sit and browse through it. Check our catalog. You may find your family on our shelves, too.
We Smile When You smile.amazon.com
We’re smiling! Big thanks to all of you who do your online shopping through smile.amazon.com.
Each time you shop, we get a small donation – and it does not increase the prices you pay.
All you have to do is choose the Genealogical Forum of Oregon as your non-profit of choice to receive your benefits.
This week at GFO …
SUNDAY, December 23rd Library Work Party 9:00 a.m. – Noon There’s another work party at the GFO library today for those of you who can come. There’s lots to do and we’d love to have your help. Doors open at 9 and work usually wraps up around noon. Some people come for just an hour or so; others work the full time. You are welcome to do either. Any time you can share is valuable. Hope to see you there.
MONDAY, December 24th Library Closed
TUESDAY, December 25th Library Closed
WEDNESDAY, December 26th Library Open late to 8 p.m.

GENEALOGICAL FORUM’s Thursday Evening E-News

THE GENEALOGICAL FORUM’s Thursday Evening E-News Edition December 13, 2018
Curious about the status of your GFO Membership? We’d love to have you as a GFO Member!
For more information visit www.gfo.org.
Contact us at info@gfo.org or 503-963-1932.
Be sure to check the complete GFO CALENDAR.
Also, don’t miss the current issue of The Forum Insider
Have you answered GFO’s Annual Appeal yet?
You Rock! Thank you to everyone who has contributed to our Annual Appeal!
We are 2/3 of the way to our grand goal of $25,000! We’re confident you can help us make it to the finish line. Please make your tax deductible donation to the GFO today! Member dues cover only 24% of our budget. Your donations are vital to GFO’s basic operations.
Give Today
The GFO belongs to the Oregon Cultural Trust. We have a Silver Star rating on GuideStar. Please check with your employer on possible matching donations, especially through Benevity. Thanks for all you do to keep GFO going strong!
Oregon Cultural Trust Offers Tax Credits
GFO is proud to be part of the Oregon Cultural Trust. Any donation you make to GFO could lead to a state tax credit (not just a deduction) if you give the same amount to the Oregon Cultural Trust. “Make your donation to the Cultural Trust by December 31st to earn the tax credit on your entire Cultural Trust donation. That’s right – you get your entire matching donation to the Cultural Trust back. Double your impact for free.” Learn more here!
Join Library Tour for Hispanic Heritage Resources
Do you have an interest in Hispanic heritage? GFO’s Mexican Ancestry Group invites you to join a tour of the Multnomah County Library’s Hispanic genealogical resources.
The tour begins at 12:30 p.m. on Monday, December 17th at Multnomah County’s Central Library 801 SW 10th Ave. There is paid parking across the street and in the area. PLEASE RSVP by emailing sw@gfo.org.
We’d Like YOU to be a part of GFO’s Open House
GFO’s 2019 Open House is right around the corner. Mark you calendars for March 23rd through 31st! We are looking for presenters to give 50-minute sessions on any topic that may be of interest to beginning genealogists. Opening weekend: Saturday will be devoted to Irish research and is being planned by the Irish Special Interest Group. Sunday will be a Beginners’ Boot Camp. The closing Saturday and Sunday will be DNA Days planned by Emily Aulicino and team and will feature a very special guest. Stay tuned for more information. The theme on Wednesday will be finding biological family and additional participants are being sought. There will be panel discussions and presentations relating to questions about whether to search for biological family. There will also be resources available on topics such as how to make first contact. If you are an adoptee, a biological parent, or someone seeking a biological relation and would like to share your views or provide a presentation, please contact laurel.smith@gfo.org. There are still a few presentation spots open on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday. Check out the open slots at our website calendar. Again, if you can participate by leading a session at GFO’s 2019 Open House, please send a message to laurel.smith@gfo.org. Presenters will be compensated with profuse gratitude! GFO will print and provide any handouts for attendees. We don’t know of any other genealogical organization that provides a 9-day event, packed with content, absolutely FREE to all attendees. But we need your help to make it happen!
This week at GFO …
Friday, December 14th Mexican Ancestry Group 11:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. Finding your Hispanic ancestors from Mexico, Texas, Arizona, New Mexico, and California! This Special Interest Group (SIG) pertains specifically to Mexican ancestors from Mexico and the American Southwest (New Mexico, Arizona, Texas, and California). This will be our last meeting of the year. Lets share our successes and discoveries for this past year and what you are hoping to accomplish for 2019. I will share a few successes in my research and how I obtained records online. Also want to talk about our upcoming library tour for Monday December 17, 12:30-1:30 at Central Library downtown Portland. This will be Hispanic genealogical resources available through the library. Bring your questions for our tour guides, Enrique and Kim. They are willing to answer any additional questions and assist you in find genealogical resources after the tour. If you know of any other people interested in Hispanic genealogy tell them about the group. They don’t have to be a GFO member to participate. For questions or comments, please email Vince at sw@gfo.org. SUNDAY, December 16th Library Work Party 9:00 a.m. – Noon There’s another work party at the GFO library today for those of you who can come. There’s lots to do and we’d love to have your help. Doors open at 9 and work usually wraps up around noon. Some people come for just an hour or so; others work the full time. You are welcome to do either. Any time you can share is valuable. Hope to see you there. Family Tree Maker Users’ Group 1 – 3 p.m. Join other users who want to work through the 2017 Companion Guide to Family Tree Maker. Bring your laptop with 2017 version of FTM installed and an empty USB thumb drive. Facilitated by Joyce Grant-Worley, who can be contacted at FTM@gfo.org. WEDNESDAY, December 19th DNA Q&A 1 – 3 p.m. Lisa McCullough leads a discussion on various DNA related subjects, with each meeting focused on a particular subject. General questions are welcome at the end of each planned discussion. Questions? Send Lisa a note at dna_lm@gfo.org.

GENEALOGICAL FORUM’s Thursday Evening E-News

Curious about the status of your GFO Membership? We’d love to have you as a GFO Member!
THE GENEALOGICAL FORUM’s Thursday Evening E-News Edition December 6, 2018
For more information visit www.gfo.org, contact us at info@gfo.org, or call our library at 503-963-1932. Be sure to check the complete GFO CALENDAR.
Also, don’t miss the current issue of The Forum Insider
GFO’s Annual Appeal: It’s a Time of Giving!
What do you call a group with no paid staff, the largest genealogy collection in the Pacific Northwest, and a library that’s open daily? You know the answer: Portland’s very own Genealogical Forum of Oregon! Did you also know that member dues cover only 24 percent of our budget? Our rent is going up $1,200 every year. Oh my!
Our database subscriptions now cost almost $5,000 each year. Once a year we ask for your support. Now is that time. During this Annual Appeal we need to raise $25,000.
We’re confident you can help us make it happen. Please make your tax deductible donation to the GFO today.
Give Today
The GFO belongs to the Oregon Cultural Trust. We have a Silver Star rating on GuideStar. Please check with your employer on possible matching donations, especially through Benevity. Thanks for all you do to keep GFO going strong!
Join Library Tour for Hispanic Heritage Resources
Do you have an interest in Hispanic heritage? GFO’s Mexican Ancestry Group invites you to join a tour of the Multnomah County Library’s Hispanic genealogical resources.
The tour begins at 12:30 p.m. on Monday, December 17th at Multnomah County’s Central Library 801 SW 10th Ave. There is paid parking across the street and in the area. PLEASE RSVP by emailing sw@gfo.org.
Don’t Miss It! Free Mac Class for GFO Members next Wednesday
Photos 101 – As genealogists, we do a lot of photo handling. Apple’s free Photos App is a great tool to edit and organize your photos to make them look their best for all archiving purposes. Don’t struggle with tasks like fixing/cropping images from sites like FindAGrave when you can get a solid grasp of the basics in this free class. The Portland Mac Users Group offers this PMUG College class on Wednesday, December 12th, from 6 to 8 p.m. at GFO’s very own library. This class is completely FREE for GFO and PMUG members. $10 for non-members. (Become a GFO member here!) More information is available on the PMUG website.
Boot Camp: No Boots, Tents or Experience Needed!
Join Laurel Smith at the GFO for a day of beginning genealogy on January 8th. There will be sessions about the census, vital records, immigration and naturalization, discussions about genealogy software and database use, organizing your research and more — all geared toward beginners. Bring a sack lunch so the discussion can continue while we eat. GFO members may attend for free, non-members $20. Here’s what attendees are saying: “Boot Camp was rocking, wow do I regret not having it before I started my work . . . such a good teacher . . . a marathon that was time well-spent . . . informative and motivational . . . with humor and positive energy . . . more than exceeded my expectations” Member or not, please let us know if you plan to attend and REGISTER ONLINE by January 3rd. A link to the class notes will be emailed on Saturday, January 5th.
This week at GFO …
SATURDAY, December 8th Writers’ Forum 1 – 3 p.m. We are currently working on Bruce Tarshis’s How to be Your Own Best Editor, chapters 10 and 11. Everyone is welcome, whether you have participated before or not. This is your chance to get started writing or to improve your writing, whether you are writing for yourself or for others. We learn about good writing techniques — write and read what we write to each other. Without exception, everyone who has participated in this group over the last fourteen years writes better than they did when they started.
Purpose: This is a peer group of genealogists, who meet to learn about writing and to share our writing with each other. Peggy Baldwin facilitates this group and can be reached at writers@gfo.org or 503-916-9410. SUNDAY, December 9th Library Work Party 9:00 a.m. – Noon There’s another work party at the GFO library today for those of you who can come. There’s lots to do and we’d love to have your help. Doors open at 9 and work usually wraps up around noon. Some people come for just an hour or so; others work the full time. You are welcome to do either. Any time you can share is valuable. Hope to see you there. WEDNESDAY, December 12th PMUG – Mac Users’ Class 6 – 8 p.m. Portland Mac Users Group offers its college class at GFO library. The class this time will be about the Photos application, which is included on all current Macintosh systems. Free to GFO and PMUG members. More information available at PMUG’s website.

GENEALOGICAL FORUM’s Thursday Evening E-News

THE GENEALOGICAL FORUM’s

Thursday Evening

E-News Edition

November 29, 2018

Curious about the status of your GFO Membership?

We’d love to have you as a GFO Member!

For more information visit www.gfo.org, contact us at info@gfo.org, or call our library at 503-963-1932.

Be sure to check the complete GFO CALENDAR.
Also, don’t miss the current issue of The Forum Insider

Giving Tuesday Volunteer Blitz = THANK YOU!

Thank you to 34 marvelous volunteers who donated their time on Giving Tuesday!

They helped to inventory and label thousands of books.

We are thrilled with the number of red “DONE” labels sticking out from so many of our shelves.

No one can remember the last time we methodically took stock of what’s in our collection. Volunteers were able to restore books to the proper order and document a number of them that are missing. It’s not exciting work but its important for a successful library.

We didn’t get through all the inventory that needs to be done. Please come join us for one of our Sunday morning Work Parties so we can finish the job.

As always, thank you for all you do for GFO!

Annual Appeal: Please Give Now to the GFO

What do you call a group with no paid staff, the largest genealogy collection in the Pacific Northwest and a library that’s open daily?

You know the answer: the Genealogical Forum of Oregon.

But did you know that member dues cover only 24% of our budget?

Our rent is going up $1200 every year.
Our database subscriptions now cost almost $5,000 each year.

Once each year we ask for your support.

Now is that time.

We are already 1/4 of the way to our goal!
During this Annual Appeal we need to raise $25,000.

That’s a big goal. We’re confident you can help us make that happen.

Please make your tax deductible donation to the GFO today.

Give Today
The GFO belongs to the Oregon Cultural Trust. We have a Silver Star rating on GuideStar. Please check with your employer on possible matching donations, especially through Benevity.

Join GFO’s German Special Interest Group! Saturday, December 1st

December’s meeting agenda: Duane Funk and Bonnie Randolph will share the highlights of their recent trips to ancestral towns in Germany.

The German Special Interest Group (SIG) was formed in the spring of 2011. It is intended to be a source of information and inspiration for anyone with German speaking ancestors. One goal is to provide information on a variety of topics related to Germanic history and migration. We also will provide time for members to share their research journeys and connect with others who may be researching the same region or time period.

The group meets at the GFO Library on the 1st Saturday of every month. Meetings start at 1:00 p.m. and end at 3:00 p.m.

All GFO’s Special Interest Groups are completely free and open to the public!

GFO’s French Canada Special Interest Group – Holiday Break

Reminder: The French Canada Special Interest Group (SIG) will not meet in December this year.

The group’s leader, Bob LaMarche, invites everyone to join at the SIG’s next meeting in the new year!

The group is hoping to see you again on Sunday, January 20th, from 3:30 to 5 p.m.

Don’t Miss Portland’s 34th Annual ScanFair!

If you have Scandinavian roots and you’ve never been to this event, well, this weekend is a great time to discover the magic!

This annual event is a two-day Nordic craft fair extravaganza, complete with foods and drinks of the region.

WHEN? Saturday, December 1st, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m., and Sunday, December 2nd, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.

The fair is always held on the first full weekend in December each year and is located at the Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Portland’s Rose Quarter area.

See their website for a full list of vendors and other details!

This week at GFO …

SATURDAY, December 1st

Virginia Group 10 a.m. – noon

Land Records, Part One – Virginia, West Virginia, & Kentucky

Land records are some of the most rewarding records for genealogical research. They generally represent the longest time span for records, and are rich in genealogical information. We’ll discuss the laws that were passed to manage land claims as new areas opened for settlement. We will explore the various original land records in Virginia, West Virginia, and Kentucky, where the land is located, and where to find the records. The discussion will include headrights, bounty land, preemption certificates and other methods of claiming land. Part Two of this series will be discussed at the group’s January 2019 meeting.

For more information see our blog: “Virginia Roots and Vines”!

Questions? Email Judi Scott and Carol Surrency at Virginia@gfo.org.

German Group 1 – 3 p.m.

Duane Funk and Bonnie Randolph will share the highlights of their trips to ancestral towns in Germany. Come join the fun!

SUNDAY, December 2nd

Manuscripts Work Party 9:00 a.m. – Noon

Explore our manuscript, personal papers, and family Bibles collection while we organize, scan, and create finding aids. Drop by at the time that works for you. Questions? Send a note to Nanci Remington and LauraDenise White at manuscripts@gfo.org.

MONDAY, December 3rd

Free First Monday! 9:30 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Come visit our research library each first Monday of every month and splurge on all GFO’s wonderful resources for FREE. Explore our online databases like Fold3, Ancestry World Library Edition, Newspapers.com, and many more. Our analog and microfilm collections total some 49,000 items. Don’t miss out!

WEDNESDAY, December 5th

Learn & Chat 10 a.m. – noon

Topic: Walking the Shelves: all that GFO has to offer.

At Learn & Chat some of the learning comes from speakers with particular expertise but most of it comes from the sharing of experiences and knowledge of attendees who have developed methods that work for them. And if you have been doing genealogy for any length time you have likely experienced the wonderful moments of exhilaration, the successes that you then share with others and that drive you to continue researching. Unfortunately those times can be few and far between. Join us to talk about your genealogy questions and help provide support to others. Facilitated by Jeanne Quan.

DNA Q&A 1 – 3 p.m.

Lisa McCullough will be available to help answer your DNA questions, whether you are new and just getting started or have more involved questions. Curious? Send Lisa a message at dna_qa@gfo.org, or feel free to just drop by!

GENEALOGICAL FORUM’s Thursday Evening E-News

THE GENEALOGICAL FORUM’s

Thursday Evening

E-News Edition

November 23, 2018

Curious about the status of your GFO Membership?

We’d love to have you as a GFO Member!

For more information visit www.gfo.org, contact us at info@gfo.org, or call our library at 503-963-1932.

Be sure to check the complete GFO CALENDAR.
Also, don’t miss the current issue of The Forum Insider

***
Hallman-Widerburg 2

For 14 straight summers, someone has run the same obituary in The Oregonian for three triplets who died the day they were born. Reporter Tom Hallman tracked down the woman responsible.

It was GFO member Bonnie Widerburg, memorializing her grandchildren.
Bonnie didn’t think it was a story, but Tom knew it would strike a chord.

His article “While They Lived All of One Day, They are Not Forgotten” was published on August 11th of this year. Bonnie was grateful and moved by Tom’s writing, but she had only talked to him by phone, never in person.

Last Saturday, Bonnie finally got to meet the reporter who told her family’s story. The Pulitzer winner presented GFO’s latest GenTalk about “Writing Your Own Story” to a crowd of 34 people at GFO’s library. Widerburg called the session “a real highlight for me. We were fortunate to hear from this talented man.”

All of us who were in attendance echoed Widerburg’s comments, as the talk ran 15 minutes long and no one wanted it to end.

***

Did you know you can shop for the holidays and help the GFO at the same time?

The best part? Giving won’t cost you anything!

Cyber Monday is around the corner with some super big sales. If you buy on Amazon, please start your online shopping trips here: smile.amazon.com.

Be sure to register with Amazon Smile and choose the Genealogical Forum of Oregon to benefit from your purchases. We get a small donation with every purchase you make.

It’s a great way to preserve and share heritage. Member dues cover less than half of our annual library rent. Donations pay the bulk of GFO’s all-volunteer operation, and this is one more way you can help.

As always, thank you for all you do for GFO!

***
GivingTueday 2018 v2

On #GivingTuesday, most non-profits are asking for monetary donations — and GFO would never turn those down — but this is our annual appeal for your TIME.

This year we’ll be attempting a partial inventory of our books. We want to discover what’s missing AND get the books in the correct order on the shelves. People will work in teams, and there will be some book labeling for those who can’t stand to do shelf reading.

Food, free passes to the library, and a general good time to be had by all! We hope to see you there.

***
Virginia SIG Logo

“Land Records: Part 1” – Virginia, West Virginia, & Kentucky

Saturday, December 1st at 10 a.m. in GFO’s Multipurpose Room (at the back of the library)

Land records are some of the most rewarding records for genealogical research. They generally represent the longest time span for records and are rich in genealogical information. We’ll discuss the laws that were passed to manage land claims as new areas opened for settlement. We will explore the various original land records in Virginia, West Virginia, and Kentucky, where the land is located … and where to find the records. The discussion will include headrights, bounty land, preemption certificates, and other methods of claiming land.

Questions? Send them please to the group’s leaders, Judi Scott and Carol Surrency, at Virginia@gfo.org.

***

As genealogists, we do a lot of photo handling. Apple’s free Photos App is a great tool to edit and organize your photos to make them look their best for all archiving purposes. Don’t struggle with tasks like fixing/cropping images when you can get a solid grasp of the basics in this free class.

The Portland Mac Users Group offers this PMUG College class on Wednesday, December 12 from 6 to 8 p.m. at the GFO library. FREE for GFO and PMUG members. $10 for non-members.

More information is available on the PMUG website.

***

At this time of year, we are so thankful for all of you who help keep the GFO library open.

Every single person here is a volunteer. We have no paid staff.

But we need two (or three) more people to step up to help us keep the GFO library open.

We have lost our Research Assistant/Receptionists on two vital shifts:

Wednesday 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. – each week.
Wednesday 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. – 1st and 3rd Wednesdays of each month.

Can you spare some hours? We must have two people on duty on each shift. For the safety of our volunteers we must close the library if only one person is here.

Please contact Cathy, our volunteer coordinator, at volunteer@gfo.org.

***

Visit the Oregon Historical Society On Us

Oregon Historical Society Logo

We’re pleased to offer a new benefit to GFO Members.

You can now check out Cultural Passes from the GFO to visit the Oregon Historical Society.

As an affiliate of OHS, the GFO receives two annual membership cards. We’d like to share this benefit with you.

We’ve turned the cards into Cultural Passes, which you can check out one day and return the next.

HOW?? Just ask at our reception desk if you’d like to visit the Oregon Historical Society. You might like it so much that you choose to become a member there too!

***

SATURDAY, November 24th

DNA Beginners 9 a.m. – noon

This session will be a discussion of your questions. It would be easier if you submit your questions to Emily Aulicino at least a few days before the class. This way, they will not be overlooked or lack time. We’ll address those first. Even if you are not planning to come, send in your questions.

This is the chance to cover your particular issues which could include what tests work for what problems, exploring how to use spreadsheets to help you organize your data, viewing the company websites, and more. Anyone interested in using DNA for genealogy is welcomed.

Time will be provided for additional questions. You are welcome to send me your questions before the meeting. Feel free to email us at dna@gfo.org.

African American Ancestry Group 12:30 – 2:30 p.m.

We realize that for November’s meeting will be on Thanksgiving weekend. Because many people will be spending time with family instead of other family historians, rather than have a speaker and program, we will be holding an open-ended help session for the meeting. If you’re stuck in your research, want some advice, or just want to brainstorm, come on by. SIG coordinator Janice Sellers will be there for the entire time and will be happy to talk with you.

If you know of any other people interested in African American genealogy, tell them about the group. You do not have to be a GFO member to participate! For more information, contact us at African_American@gfo.org.

SUNDAY, November 25th

Library Work 9:00 a.m. – Noon

There’s another work party at the GFO library today for those of you who can come. There’s lots to do and we’d love to have your help. Doors open at 9 and work usually wraps up around noon. Some people come for just an hour or so; others work the full time. You are welcome to do either. Any time you can share is valuable. Hope to see you there.

MONDAY, November 26th

Library Closed to prep for #GivingTuesday.

TUESDAY, November 27th

#GivingTuesday!! 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Come join the fun and give of your time at GFO’s library this Giving Tuesday! We need able-minds and able-bodies.

Don’t forget! Non-members who come to volunteer can earn a free pass to the library so they can research on another day.

We will bring in food to fortify us, so please give a few hours or make a day of it!

GENEALOGICAL FORUM’s Thursday Evening E-News

THE GENEALOGICAL FORUM’s

Thursday Evening

E-News Edition

November 15, 2018

Curious about the status of your GFO Membership?

We’d love to have you as a GFO Member!

For more information visit www.gfo.org, contact us at info@gfo.org, or call our library at 503-963-1932.

Be sure to check the complete GFO CALENDAR.
Also, don’t miss the current issue of The Forum Insider

***

On #GivingTuesday, most non-profits are asking for monetary donations — and GFO would never turn those down — but this is our annual appeal for your TIME.

This year we’ll be attempting a partial inventory of our books. We want to discover what’s missing AND get the books in the correct order on the shelves. People will work in teams, and there will be some book labeling for those who can’t stand to do shelf reading.

Non-members can earn a free pass to the library so they can research on another day.

We will bring in food to fortify us, so please give a few hours or make a day of it!

***

The job of the journalist and that of the genealogist are surprisingly similar: we both research the facts and the context of people. And then we tell their stories!

Genealogists tend to focus more on the research. So what do journalists bring to the table?? Journalists add the reporting element that can help genealogist share their stories with others.

Pulitzer Prize winner Tom Hallman, Jr., of The Oregonian knows a thing or two about journalism, and he is coming to the GFO to share his insights with us this weekend!

Join us for this amazing GenTalk at the GFO this Saturday, November 17th at 2 p.m.

All our GenTalks are free and open to the public.

***

Would you like to be a part of GFO’s Open House?

Open House Ford Building

GFO’s 2019 Open House is right around the corner. Mark you calendars for March 23rd through 31st!

We are looking for presenters to give 50-minute sessions on any topic that may be of interest to beginning genealogists.

Opening weekend: Saturday will be devoted to Irish research and is being planned by the Irish Special Interest Group. Sunday will be a Beginners’ Boot Camp.

The closing Saturday and Sunday will be DNA Days planned by Emily Aulicino and team and will feature a very special guest. Stay tuned for more information.

The theme on Wednesday will be finding biological family and additional participants are being sought. There will be panel discussions and presentations relating to questions about whether to search for biological family. There will also be resources available on topics such as how to make first contact. If you are an adoptee, a biological parent, or someone seeking a biological relation and would like to share your views or provide a presentation, please contact laurel.smith@gfo.org.

There are lots of presentation spots open on Monday and Tuesday, as well as some on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday.

Again, if you can participate by leading a session at GFO’s 2019 Open House, please send a message to laurel.smith@gfo.org.

Presenters will be compensated with profuse gratitude! GFO will print and provide any handouts for attendees.

We don’t know of any other genealogical organization that provides a 9-day event, packed with content, absolutely FREE to all attendees. But we need your help to make it happen!

***

Link up with these great Rewards Programs to donate to GFO when you shop!

Through a one-time link, you can trigger an automatic donation to GFO every time you make purchases through the Fred Meyer Community Rewards Program, AmazonSmile, and Family Tree DNA.

The best part is that linking your Rewards Programs will not diminish any benefits or rewards you already receive.

As always, thank you for all you do for GFO!

***

SATURDAY, November 17th

Genealogical Problem Solvers 9:30 – 11:30 a.m.

GPS is a monthly support group where we help each other find information about a family line. We will learn to do a reasonably exhaustive search and develop research plans. The focus will shift depending on the needs of the group. Several experienced researchers have volunteered to help. Beginners and intermediate researchers are encouraged to submit problems to work on. For more information contact Katie Daly at GPS@gfo.org.

GenTalk 2 – 3 p.m.

Presenter: Tom Hallman, senior reporter for The Oregonian

On March 4, 2018, you may have read “Della’s Lost Letter,” and wondered about the methods Tom used to locate her, and the other principals in the story. Learn how reporters find people for their stories (sound familiar, genealogists?) and get some writing/storytelling tips from a Pulitzer Prize winner.

Tom Hallman Jr., a senior reporter for The Oregonian, was born and raised in Portland and graduated from Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa in 1977. He’s worked at a car wash, a grocery store, a greyhound race track and was a volunteer at a VA hospital. He won the 2001 Pulitzer Prize for Feature Writing.

SUNDAY, November 18th

Library Work 9:00 a.m. – Noon

There’s another work party at the GFO library today for those of you who can come. There’s lots to do and we’d love to have your help. Doors open at 9 and work usually wraps up around noon. Some people come for just an hour or so; others work the full time. You are welcome to do either. Any time you can share is valuable. Hope to see you there.

Family Tree Maker Users’ Group 1 – 3 p.m.

Join other users who want to work through the 2017 Companion Guide to Family TreeMaker. Bring your laptop with 2017 version of FTM installed – build 1-480 of FTM installed. Facilitated by Joyce Grant-Worley. Questions? Email FTM@gfo.org.

French Canada Group 3:30 – 5 p.m.

Sharing stories of our history. Come and join this group to learn more about French Canadian ancestry and Acadia. This group leader is Bob LaMarche. Send him a note at FrCan@gfo.org.

WEDNESDAY, November 21st

Library Closes at 1 p.m.

THURSDAY, November 22nd

Library Closed for Thanksgiving Holiday

Please note, our Thursday Evening E-News will be sent out on Friday.

GENEALOGICAL FORUM’s Thursday Evening E-News

THE GENEALOGICAL FORUM’s

Thursday Evening

E-News Edition

November 8, 2018

Curious about the status of your GFO Membership?

We’d love to have you as a GFO Member!

For more information visit www.gfo.org, contact us at info@gfo.org, or call our library at 503-963-1932.

Be sure to check the complete GFO CALENDAR.
Also, don’t miss the current issue of The Forum Insider

***

Cyndi Ingle Rocks, Attracts Record GFO Audience!

FallSeminar-2018-CyndiIngle 8999x
Cyndi Ingle 1

Wow! That’s the easiest way to say it. We can’t thank you enough for making the GFO Fall Seminar a record-setter.

More than 200 people came on Saturday and more than 100 on Sunday to hear Cyndi Ingle, the creator of the comprehensive genealogy website, Cyndi’s List.

We also sold a record number of raffle tickets, a great way to help us pay our rising bills. Special thanks to these sponsors for donating valuable prizes: Southern California Genealogical Society, Find my past, Fold3, Family Tree DNA, History Geo, and Newspapers.com.

And our biggest thanks go to Cyndi herself. If you made it to the seminar you know how engaging, informative, entertaining, and funny she can be.

***

GFO Becomes FamilySearch Affiliate Library

FamilySearch Logo Affiliate

We’ve got great news! The GFO is now an official FamilySearch Affiliate Library. This grants you access to many FamilySearch records not available when you search their site from home. FamilySearch has billions of records online and adds another 300 million free genealogical records and images online every year.

Access to FamilySearch computers at the GFO will be free to anyone.

GFO membership or payment of day-use fees will be required to use the other resources in our library.

***

The job of the journalist and that of the genealogist are surprisingly similar: we both research the facts and the context of people to tell their stories.

Genealogists tend to focus more on the research, but journalists must do both.

Pulitzer Prize winner Tom Hallman, Jr., of The Oregonian knows a thing or two about journalism, and he is coming to the GFO to share his insights with us.

Join us for our next GenTalk at the GFO Saturday, November 17 at 2 p.m.

This talk is free and open to the public.

***

The next meeting of the African American Special Interest Group (SIG) is scheduled for Saturday, November 24, from 12:30 – 2:30 p.m.

Our meetings are regularly held on the fourth Saturday of the month. We recently realized that for November this is the Saturday of Thanksgiving weekend.

Because we figure many people will be spending time with family instead of other family historians, rather than have a speaker and program, we will be holding an open-ended Help Session for this month’s meeting.

If you’re stuck in your research, want some advice, or just want to share your family history stories with fellow researchers, come on by! SIG coordinator Janice Sellers will be there for the entire time and will be happy to talk with you.

Questions? Comments? Send Janice a note at African_American@gfo.org.

***

Ever wondered what it would be like to have New York’s State Archives at your finger tips?

Well, wonder no more! The National Park Service and the Institute of Museum and Library Services granted $125,000 last month to the New York State Archives and the Archives Partnership Trust to allow them to digitize and post historical documents from the Revolutionary War era to the State Archives’ website.

The archivists began their work on November 1st, so keep an eye out for updates as they make progress on this amazing accessibility project.

Access to our history is always a revolution in and of itself!

***

FRIDAY, November 9th

Mexican Ancestry Group 11:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.

Finding your Hispanic ancestors from Mexico, Texas, Arizona, New Mexico, and California! This Special Interest Group (SIG) pertains specifically to Mexican ancestors from Mexico and the American Southwest (New Mexico, Arizona, Texas, and California).

Beginning and intermediate researchers are welcome. Some subjects will include online parish records, Hispanic genealogy societies, Family History Library/FamilySearch.org. Ancestry.com, solving genealogical problems, methodology of organizing your research, etc. Of course this group will also be about sharing our research experiences, and having fun.

If you know of any other people interested in Hispanic genealogy tell them about the up and coming group. They don’t have to be a GFO member to participate.
For questions or comments, please email Vince at sw@gfo.org.

SATURDAY, November 10th

Great Lakes Region 9:30 – 11:30 a.m.

Duane Funk will talk about the War of 1812, and in particular its effects on the Great Lakes region and our research there. Also, we will check in with our database. After that we will have time for sharing research and brainstorming some possible solutions to your genealogy questions.

Interest in the Great Lakes Region can be broad and diverse, as some ancestors settled and remained there for generations, while others spent a short time there before moving on. The group’s interests include migration, travel, trade, historical events, and research techniques specific to the area. For more information contact Lynn Rossing at GreatLakes@gfo.org.

Writers’ Forum 1 – 3 p.m.

Purpose: This is a peer group of genealogists, who meet to learn about writing and to share our writing with each other. Peggy Baldwin facilitates this group and can be reached at writers@gfo.org or 503-916-9410.

Book we are using: Roy Peter Clark’s Writing Tools: 50 Essential Strategies for Every Writer published by Little, Brown and Company in 2006. Each month we cover a tool. To see what tool we are covering at a particular meeting, please visit our web page here.

SUNDAY, November 11th

Library Work 9:00 a.m. – noon

There’s another work party at the GFO library today for those of you who can come. There’s lots to do and we’d love to have your help. Doors open at 9 and work usually wraps up around noon. Some people come for just an hour or so; others work the full time. You are welcome to do either. Any time you can share is valuable. Hope to see you there.

GENEALOGICAL FORUM’s Thursday Evening E-News

THE GENEALOGICAL FORUM’s

Thursday Evening

E-News Edition

November 1, 2018

Curious about the status of your GFO Membership?

We’d love to have you as a GFO Member!

For more information visit www.gfo.org, contact us at info@gfo.org, or call our library at 503-963-1932.

Be sure to check the complete GFO CALENDAR.
Also, don’t miss the current issue of The Forum Insider

***

Don’t Forget to Fall Back This Saturday Night!

daylight savings public domain image

This is an image from the Nationaal Archief, the Dutch National Archives, donated in the context of a partnership program.

Daylight Saving time ends this weekend, which means an extra hour of sleep, huzzah! Be sure to set your clocks back one hour on Saturday night, November 3rd, before you go to sleep.

This means, 2 a.m. on Sunday, November 4th, will magically become 1 a.m. all over again. Isn’t time travel wonderful?

We want to make sure you arrive on time at our Sunday Seminar with Internet genealogy guru Cyndi Ingle.

***

The syllabus for both days of the Fall Seminar with Cyndi Ingle was emailed out on Tuesday, October 30th.

If you registered for the seminar but did not receive your electronic copy, please check your junk mail folder. If you still can’t find your syllabus copy, please email education@gfo.org.

If you paid for a paper copy of the syllabus, it will be waiting for you at the check-in table the morning of the event.

If you previously canceled your registration but still received an emailed syllabus, don’t worry. As long as you received a reply from us confirming your cancellation, or if you already have your money refunded, then you know your cancellation has been processed.

Check-in both Saturday and Sunday will begin at 8:45 a.m. at the Milwaukie Center.

Remember to bring cash for our raffle of great prizes. We also have many books for sale.

Our volunteers are scheduled to arrive by 8:30, and they will need a few minutes to get situated before opening up their tables. Please be patient, because this weekend will be our largest event ever at the Milwaukie Center, and we’re so excited!

Haven’t registered yet?

Please do so by Friday, November 2nd, at noon. That’s tomorrow! Due to the number of people already registered, there will be no walk-ins allowed on either Saturday or Sunday. Please be sure to register online here by tomorrow, Friday, at noon.

***

GFO’s Open House

March 23rd – 31st

We’ve got a great line-up of presenting professionals and genealogist specialists this year! For our DNA Days on the closing Saturday and Sunday, March 30th and 31st, we’ll be welcoming Barbara Rae-Venter as our key-note speaker. Rae-Venter is a retired patent lawyer and volunteers with the nonprofit DNAadoption.com. She’s the genetic genealogist who helped crack the Golden State Killer case and was recently featured in this New York Times article helping adoptee Lisa Jensen find her true identity. All our events and access to our research library are complete FREE the entire Open House week. Keep an eye on GFO’s online calendar and E-News over the coming months for updates to make sure you don’t miss a moment!

GFO’s Spring Seminar

April 27th & 28th

Our Education Committee is already hard at work preparing our Spring 2019 Seminar. The guest speaker this coming April will be none other than international genealogist Tony Burroughs, FUGA (Fellow of the Utah Genealogical Association). Check out his website here for his globetrotting and genealogical work. Burroughs is the author of
****Black Roots: A Beginners Guide to Tracing the African American Family Tree. Be sure to watch our Seminar & Classes webpage for registration coming early in 2019!

***

Registration Opened Today, November 1st!

This year’s theme is Strike It Rich! With Connections 2 Discoveries, set for June 15th – 17th, in Sacramento, California.

See the full line-up at the International German Genealogy Partnership here. They’ve got a great schedule of speakers and classes.

To register, visit their website here. Looks like there may be volunteer opportunities also!

***

Heading up to Seattle after the New Year?

Japanese family meal in 1950s

The Seattle Genealogical Society is sponsoring a Japanese Genealogy Seminar, February 2rd and 3rd.

Registration will open December 1st. Registration is free, but the Seminar and the Train the Trainer sessions are limited to 40 individuals. The registration for the One-on-One sessions will open January 1st. Lunch will be provided for a fee on the first day only.

For more information, please contact Jill Morelli, President of SGS, at president@seagensoc.org.

This program is generously funded under the Heritage Grant program by 4Culture, a King County arts support agency.

***

SATURDAY, November 3rd

Fall Seminar 10 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

Where: Milwaukie Center, 5440 SE Kellogg Creek Dr, Milwaukie, OR 97222 (map)

Presenter: Cyndi Ingle

Registration: By Friday, November 2nd, at noon please, here.

SUNDAY, November 4th

Manuscripts Work Party 9:30 a.m. – noon

Explore our manuscript, personal papers and Bible collection while we organize, scan and create finding aids. Drop by at the time that works for you. Questions? Send a note to manuscripts@gfo.org.

Half-Day Seminar 9:30 a.m. – noon

Where: Milwaukie Center, 5440 SE Kellogg Creek Dr, Milwaukie, OR 97222 (map)

Presenter: Cyndi Ingle

Library Opens at 1 p.m. due to the Sunday Half-Day Seminar session at the Milwaukie Center.

MONDAY, November 5th

Free First Monday 9:30 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Come visit our research library each first Monday of every month and splurge on all GFO’s wonderful resources for FREE. Explore our online databases like Fold3, Ancestry World Library Edition, Newspapers.com, and many more. Our analog and microfilm collections total some 49,000 items. Don’t miss out!

WEDNESDAY, November 7th

Learn & Chat 10 a.m. – noon

Legalities of Emigration: Revisit What you Have

Why Did They Leave? Where Did They Go and Why? Historical Context and Timelines.

At Learn & Chat some of the learning comes from speakers with particular expertise but most of it comes from the sharing of experiences and knowledge of attendees who have developed methods that work for them. And if you have been doing genealogy for any length time you have likely experienced the wonderful moments of exhilaration, the successes that you then share with others and that drive you to continue researching. Unfortunately those times can be few and far between. Join us to talk about your genealogy questions and help provide support to others. Facilitated by Jeanne Quan.

DNA Q& A 1 – 3 p.m.

Lisa McCullough will be available to help answer your DNA questions, whether you are new and just getting started or have more involved questions. Curious? Send Lisa a message at dna_qa@gfo.org, or feel free to just drop by!