MEXICAN SPECIAL INTEREST GROUP LAUNCHES
JANUARY 9

Do you have family history or ethnicity that might be called Indigenous North American, Spanish, Cuban, Hispanic?

Did you have ancestors who lived in Mexico, the Mexican Empire, or the Spanish Empire?

Even if your family no longer lives in those places, if you research people with history from the lands of Mexican ancestry, this SIG is for you!

Join leader Diane Hughes-Hart, an experienced genealogist and instructor who has been studying the ancestry of her Mexican mother since 2010.

The group will meet monthly, ten times per year, at 7:00 p.m. for 90 minutes (not in August or December) on a weekday to be decided. Come to the virtual inaugural meeting January 9, at 7:00 p.m. to help decide on a permanent time going forward.

Contact Diane Hughes-Hart via Education@seagensoc.org to join.

images courtesy
Sheyna Watkins

GET ORGANIZED WITH HELP FROM SGS CLASS

Managing all the information that is collected recording family history is a challenge. Papers, both physical and digital, accumulate and can be easily lost. To help researchers SGS will be offering a “Organizing for Genealogy” class in February. Through targeted and thoughtful presentations and exercises, instructor Susan McKee will help participants create a system of organization, or adapt their current system, to meet their specific research needs.

Successful organization starts with organizing ourselves. Over the course of four sessions we will look at why and how we research as the foundation of an effective personal organizational system.

Questions about who, what, where, and when we research clarify how best to apply our time, energy, and resources. This enables us to create and maintain a system of organization that best supports our needs as we engage in genealogical research.

Four weekly, two-hour class sessions:

Session 1: Organizing Our Self – Our thoughts, actions, time, and space
Session 2: Organizing Our System – Paper systems and Digital Systems
Session 3: Organizing Our Workflow – Research, Records, and Resources
Session 4: Pulling it all together – Developing a tailored organization system

Choose one of two class series during February 2025

Mondays evenings from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m., February 3–24
Tuesday afternoons from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m., February 4-25
Sign Up Today!

Each class series is limited to 20 participants.
Class Fee: $80 (SGS members $60)

WRITER’S GROUP SEEKS NEW MEMBER

The Pass It On writer’s group has openings for 1 or 2 new members. The group is intentionally kept small, just 5-6 members. It focuses on writing genealogy history and memoirs for personal and family use. It meets monthly to review 3-5 pages of writing from each member. The group meets virtually using Zoom on the third Tuesday of each month from 10:00 a.m.-12:00 noon with the focus to review each member’s monthly submission for content, continuity, and interest for the intended audience.

If you are interested in joining this group, please contact the SGS Director of Education (education@seagensoc.org), who will forward your information to Kathi Hamilton, one of the current group members. Please include some information about your writing and what you hope to accomplish being in a writing group. You will be contacted to see if this group is a good fit for you.

GIVING TUESDAY IS DECEMBER 3

Please consider making a tax-deductible contribution to support the Seattle Genealogical Society and Library during our Annual Appeal this holiday season. There are many ways to give, by check, credit card, from your IRA or donor advised fund. And now SGS can accept shares of stock.
Donate Now Online
If you have a PayPal account, you may donate to SGS via the PayPal Giving Fund and their transaction fee will be waived.

LOOKING FOR TECH HELP

SGS is planning to modernize the computer backup system used in the Library and could use some help. There are two computers (both on Windows 11) on the library network for which we want to make routine backups. The plan is to use external USB drives for the backup storage. If you have any experience setting up an automated backup for Windows computers on a network and would be willing to help us get this done, please contact either Ann Wright (libtech@seagensoc.org) or Jim Secan (mactech@seagensoc.org).

SGS CALENDAR OF EVENTS

Good Shepherd Center, Suite 302
4649 Sunnyside Ave N
Seattle, WA 98103
206 522-8658

Hours : Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday
** 10:00 a.m .- 3:00 p.m. **

Always check the SGS Website Calendar of Events for the meeting links, registration, or for last minute updates or changes to the schedule. Be advised you may need to register in advance to join a meeting.

All times listed are Pacific Time unless otherwise noted

Sunday, Dec. 1, 2024, 1:00 pm-3:00 pm, DNA Workshop, with Cary Bright and Craig Gowens. To participate you need to be on the SGS DNA Interest Group email list. Contact Cary Bright at sgsdnasig@seagensoc.org to join.

Monday, Dec. 2, 2024, 10:00 a.m.-11:30 a.m., Brags & Bricks Social Interest Group (Virtual), Join us for an informal social gathering. Share your recent genealogical successes and challenges, or just come to hang out with other genealogists. Remember the new Zoom link started this month.

Wednesday, Dec. 4, 2024, 6:30 p.m.-7:30 p.m., Pacific Northwest Interest Group (Virtual), Share information and discuss Pacific Northwest genealogical research. Register on the SGS website.

Saturday, Dec. 7, 2024, 10:15 a.m.- 12:15 p.m., FamilySearch SIG, Discover the many ways to use the FamilySearch website in your research. Meeting includes instruction and time for Q&A. Email Lou to get on the email list: loudaly@nwlink.com.

Monday, Dec. 9, 2024, 10:00 a.m.-11:30 a.m., Brags & Bricks Social Interest Group (Virtual), Join us for an informal social gathering. Share your recent genealogical successes and challenges, or just come to hang out with other genealogists. Remember the new Zoom link started this month.

Monday, Dec. 9, 2024, 1:00 p.m.-3:00 p.m., SGS Board of Directors Meeting (Virtual), All SGS members are welcome to attend. SGS is an all volunteer organization. Please be involved. Members must sign in to website to see Zoom link.

Tuesday, Dec. 10, 2024, 10:00 a.m.-11:00 a.m., Tech Tuesday (Virtual), informal consultation time on DNA, genealogy software, or genealogy-related technical issues. All are welcome. No appointment necessary. Bring us your problem; we’ll try to help.

Saturday, Dec. 14, 2024, 1:00 a.m.-2:30 p.m., Second Saturday, “Exploring Your Empire State Roots,” Presented by Michelle Dowd Torosian. Are you interested in tracing your family’s roots in New York but aren’t sure where to start? Learn tips and techniques to best utilize the use records of the Empire State. Register here.

Sunday, Dec. 15, 2023, 1:00 pm- 2:30 pm, Virtual Sunday: Something Old, Something New, Topic and speaker TBA. See the SGS website Calendar of Events for further information. Please register in advance.

Monday, Dec. 16, 2024, 10:00 a.m.-11:30 a.m., Brags & Bricks Social Interest Group (Virtual), Join us for an informal social gathering. Share your recent genealogical successes and challenges, or just come to hang out with other genealogists. Remember the new Zoom link started this month.

Monday, Dec. 16, 2024, 7:00 p.m.-8:30 p.m., Write It Up! SIG (Virtual), Join this group to share and discuss writing projects, resources, and ideas. To join or learn more, contact SGS Director of Education (education@seagensoc.org).

Tuesday, Dec. 17, 2024, 1:00 p.m.-3:00 p.m., “Pass It On” Writers’ Group, Create your family history and share with others in an effort to improve your writing. Please note: The Writers’ Group is at the maximum number of participants and is not currently accepting any new members.

Saturday, Dec. 21, 2024, 10:00 a.m.-noon, Irish SIG (Virtual), with Susan McKee. Share information and discuss Irish ancestral research. View SGS calendar for details on joining this group.

Saturday, Dec. 21, 2024, 1:00 p.m.-3:00 p.m, German SIG (Virtual), Share what you know OR get help with problems in your own research. Register on the SGS website.

Monday, Dec. 23, 2024, 10:00 a.m.-11:30 a.m., Brags & Bricks Social Interest Group (Virtual), Join us for an informal social gathering. Share your recent genealogical successes and challenges, or just come to hang out with other genealogists. Remember the new Zoom link started this month.

Monday, Dec. 30, 2024, 10:00 a.m.-11:30 a.m., Brags & Bricks Social Interest Group (Virtual), Join us for an informal social gathering. Share your recent genealogical successes and challenges, or just come to hang out with other genealogists. Remember the new Zoom link started this month.

Saturday, Jan. 1, 2025, 10:15 a.m.- 12:15 p.m., FamilySearch SIG, Discover the many ways to use the FamilySearch website in your research. Meeting includes instruction and time for Q&A. Email Lou to get on the email list: loudaly@nwlink.com.

Monday, Jan. 6, 2025, 10:00 a.m.-11:30 a.m., Brags & Bricks Social Interest Group (Virtual), Join us for an informal social gathering. Share your recent genealogical successes and challenges, or just come to hang out with other genealogists. Remember the new Zoom link started this month.

Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2025, 6:30 p.m.-7:30 p.m., Pacific Northwest Interest Group (Virtual), Share information and discuss Pacific Northwest genealogical research. Register on the SGS website.

Wednesday, Dec. 8 2025, 7:00 p.m.-9:00 p.m., MAC Computer SIG, Jointly sponsored by SGS and Fiske. Meetings address topics and resources for Macintosh (Apple) computers and the Reunion genealogy software program. A link to login will be sent to the MAC SIG email list. If you would like to join, send an email to macusersig@seagensoc.org to be added to the email list.

Thursday, Jan. 9, 2025, 7:00 p.m.-8:30 a.m., Mexican SIG (Virtual), Share information and discuss Indigenous North American, Spanish, Cuban, and Hispanic genealogical research. Email Education@seagensoc.org to join.

Saturday, Jan. 11, 2025, 10:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m., Holiday Open House, Join us for our annual holiday celebration in the SGS library at the Good Shepherd Center. Bring cookies to share and say hello to your SGS friends IN PERSON at the library. Come early, come late (not too late). Stay for the Second Saturday Zoom presentation.

Saturday, Jan. 14, 2025, 1:00 a.m.-2:30 p.m., Second Saturday, “Research Logs: Write or Regret It!,” Presented by Rebecca Whitman Koford. Organizing is key to understanding. This presentation introduces three organizational tools, including strategic use of timelines, and how they can work together to improve your analysis skills and get closer to finding the answers you need. Register here.

OUR NEIGHBORS AND BEYOND

“Piecing Together History: Using Maps and Directories to Rediscover Eastern European Towns” (Virtual)
Jewish Genealogical Society of Washington State
Friday, Dec. 9, 7:00 p.m.

Michelle Chubenko, AG, will share how to use published materials such as gazetteers, schematisms, directories, and maps to build the historical image of your ancestral town or village. She will demonstrate how to use the statistical data and incorporate visual details using a variety of examples from locations across Central and Eastern Europe… For more information about the event see the website.

“How to Avoid Common Family History Pitfalls and Myths” (Virtual)
American Ancestors by NEHGS
Thursday, Dec. 19, 2025, 12:00 p.m.-1:00 p.m.

Senior Genealogist Rhonda R. McClure will share her top tips for avoiding common “hazards” in your research process. She’ll discuss how to develop a research plan, staying organized, analyzing your research, and more. For more information see the website.

“Finding the Origins of an Immigrant Ancestor” (Virtual)
Eastside Genealogical Society
Thursday, Jan. 9, 2025, 7:00 p.m. (virtual doors open at 6:30 p.m.)

Join Eastside Genealogical Society and Debbie Gurtler, AG and Assistant Director of the FamilySearch Library in Salt Lake City as the explore methods to find the homeland of an immigrant ancestor. This presentation will highlight the methodology and U.S. record types that should help you identify their hometown so you can expand your family tree. A case study highlighting the methodology needed will also be presented. For more information about the event see the EGS website.

“AI (Artificial Intelligence) Made Easy:
Boosting Your Genealogy Research with Technology” (Virtual)
Olympia Genealogical Society
Saturday, Feb. 1, 2025, 8:50 a.m.-2:30 p.m.

Speaker Blaine Bettinger, will outline how AI can aid your research. In this 4-hour seminar he will cover:

Using Artificial Intelligence Tools for Genealogy
10 Generative AI Prompts Every Genealogist Needs to Know
Ethical Issues Associated with Generative Artificial Intelligence
Memories in the Digital Age: AI Transcription of Handwritten Diaries

For more information about the event see the OGS website.

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  December 1, 2024

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