I am kindly asking you to extend an invitation to any of your group’s members who are attending RootsTech to please stop by our booth, #1216, and say “Hi” during the conference. At RootsTech we’ll be:
Giving away our signature notebooks and other swag
Offering daily chances to win a 6-month subscription to Related Faces.
If they have a couple of photos they would like us to use as demonstration, bring along digital copies. We will help as many people as time allows.
Saturday March 4, we will be playing a little game to let attendees test their skills at identifying people in old photos. Their tally sheet is also an entry form to win a free 6-month subscription.
Plus, conference attendees will be receiving a special discount coupon.
For those who are not able to attend RootsTech, we don’t want them to miss out, so we are offering 10% Off their first Related Faces subscription, either 6 months or 1 year. Use code RFVFYBVM89 through 3/31/23when signing up at https://RelatedFaces.com. We will also be exhibiting at the NGS conference in Virginia at the end of May. We will have similar give-a-ways and activities there as well. So, that will be a second opportunity to stop by and meet us! If you are looking for speakers for your group meetings, I offer a free virtual class on identifying unknown people in photos. It’s called “Connecting Faces Through Time.” Please, email me @ tina@relatedfaces.com if you would like to know more. Thank you to all of you who have already hosted a class! Thank you for passing along my invitation, and I hope to see you during 2023!
Want to discover your Irish and Scots-Irish ancestors?
Many people believe that researching Irish ancestors is impossible because of the destruction of the Public Record Office in 1922. While many records were destroyed, others survived and large collections have come online in recent years.
Join Fintan Mullan and Gillian Hunt from the Ulster Historical Foundation during their annual United States lecture tour to learn how to get the most out of Irish resources and records, gain strategies for breaking down brick walls, and grasp important historical context that may help fill in gaps in your research.
Whether you are just beginning your Irish research or have been at it for years, you won’t want to miss these workshops!
Navigating the ‘Net The internet is a goldmine of genealogical information. Sometimes, it can be daunting to decide where to begin. In this presentation, we will have brief overviews of the largest and most frequently used sites. We’ll talk about some of the differences among them and their overall usefulness. We will also visit some sites that may not be at the top of a researcher’s list. There is value in all of them, and you just may find a new vein to mine! Joleen Aitchison has been involved in genealogical endeavors since she was a child and continues the search. She is a member of the Association of Professional Genealogists, the Bainbridge Island Genealogical Society, and the consulting genealogist for Traditions of the Ancestors (TOTA). Joleen has presented at various events throughout the United States. She teaches family history locally in Kitsap, Jefferson, and Clallam counties, as well as making presentations for area genealogical societies. She has served as a Family History Center Director and organized and presented at the Kitsap County Genealogy Expo held in Silverdale, Washington, for five years. You can find her blog at yourpedigree.blogspot.com.
Please join us for Tri-City Genealogical Society’s March General meeting at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, March 8. Richland FamilySearch Center (formerly known as the Richland Family History Center) director Wayne Ross will be presenting in person at the FamilySearch Center on the FamilySearch Wiki. At this point no Zoom streaming is planned.
The Richland FamilySearch Center is located at 1314 Jadwin Ave. in Richland. Entrance is down the ramp from the parking lot that is to the north of Dairy Queen.
Planning continues for further speakers in 2023 with the intention to have the presentations continue to occur on the second Wednesday of the month at 7 p.m. In the planning stages are presentations on April 12 by Michelle Hedgepeth on Researching Before the Census Records. On May 10 Ryan Bennett will be presenting at the East Benton County Museum and Historical Society in Kennewick on using facial recognition on My Heritage and Google. In June Margie Belden will be presenting on a topic to be determined. Please mark your calendar.
RootsTech 2023 is scheduled to begin on Thursday, March 2 and run through Saturday, March 4. If you cannot attend in person you may register for the virtual presentations at no cost. Search for RootsTech 2023 to register.
For years there has been periodic emphasis on “growth of our genealogical societies.” While we always welcome new members, we must not overlook another important task–sustaining the function of our existing societies.
Successful societies have established a mission such as that of SKCGS:
Stimulate interest in genealogy and aid individual members in compiling their family records
Seek genealogical and historical knowledge
Preserve and perpetuate the records of our ancestors
Promote the preservation of public and private genealogical materials
While the mission may be tailored to fit the needs of its members by time and location, one thing remains constant–who is sustaining the operation of the society? Does the society meet the needs of its members? Who is working behind the scenes to to accomplish that goal? How do leaders, members and newcomers contribute?
SKCGS works toward our purpose through monthly meetings featuring knowledgeable speakers on a range of topics in the field of family history and genealogical research. We have an Education Committee who plan an annual program, seek speakers and negotiate contractual details.
Who is on the Education Committee?
We have user groups and special interest groups for assistance with genealogical software, technology and DNA/genetic genealogy. We have this weekly blog with timely articles of interest.
Who is responsible for producing these outlets of information?
During the Covid pandemic we developed a very successful virtual program and have gained wonderful friends and members throughout the world. The Membership Committee maintains the current database, welcoming new members and sending gentle reminders for renewals.
Who is serving on the Membership Committee?
I can go on by listing the other committees and individuals who operate SKCGS–Publicity, Outreach, Resources, Librarian, Webmaster, etc. The point is, it takes many individuals to bring you a sustaining and healthy society.
And that is a crucial point, that the society must be able to sustain itself. It is a fact that our membership are an aging population. While our interests may not wane, our physical abilities do become diminished. We need capable helpers to start filling in.
It is the responsibility of a leader to recruit and train their replacement. But, in a virtual world such as we have now, how do we find willing volunteers? How do we get to know people? We still have telephone service. Leaders–look at the membership database and call people. Find someone you haven’t “seen” recently and renew an acquaintance. Or contact a new person to find out if they have a special need–or a special skill.
Your new contact may not be ready to take on a major volunteer role but perhaps would be willing to do a one time job or a small recurring job. Many people are just waiting to be asked to help. They may already be thinking about some way to help the society; they just need a suggestion.
And, new person, please don’t be shy. If you see a way to help the society please speak up to any of the group leaders with a question or suggestion. You will not be stepping on any toes by offering to help.
* images courtesy of Pixabay
MaryLynn Strickland
Published with permission from South King County Genealogical Society
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