Yan Ming / Unsplash
 SGS MEMBER PUBLISHED IN IRISH ROOTS MAGAZINE

Susan McKee is sharing her knowledge with the readers of the Irish Roots magazine. McKee, the leader of SGS’s Irish Special Interest Group, breaks down Irish naming conventions in an article in the spring edition of the publication.

“Researching ancestors in Ireland in the nineteenth century,” she writes, “has a reputation for being difficult.” 

In the article, McKee breaks down the challenges and demonstrates through a case study how to push through those challenges. This is the first of a four-part series which will run in each of Irish Root’s quarterly issues this year.

McKee is thrilled with the deal. She described Irish Roots as “a magazine that I have dreamed of writing for these last seven years,” and reflected on how much she has learned and grown as a writer.

“Publishing these articles also adds umph to my motivation as I continue working on my portfolio. I continue to embrace the idea of creating ‘ugly drafts”’ and then spending my time on the editing. I am confident this mindset will get me to the completion of my portfolio.”

Researchers everywhere are sure to reap the benefits of McKee’s insights.

The digital issue of the magazine has just been released, with the print edition hitting U.S. shelves in the next couple of weeks.  SGS SEEKS VOLUNTEERS FOR IRISH FEST

Can you help out at Irish Fest? SGS is sponsoring a booth at the Irish Festival being held at the Seattle Center Armory the weekend of March 16-17, from noon until 6 p.m. on Saturday, and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Sunday. This year, our booth will be located adjacent to the Irish Heritage Club at the main south entrance to the Armory. If you are interested in staffing our booth for a 2-hr or 3-hr period, please contact James Ryan at janglinjehu@yahoo.com.

IRISH WEEK KICKS OFF MARCH 9
 
Celebrate Irish Week 2024 with the Irish Heritage Club of Seattle. 

Events begin March 9th and continue through March 17th. They include a film festival, a St. Patrick’s Pirates Landing at South Lake Union Park, a downtown parade and so much more. All of this leading up to a weekend festival at the Seattle Center on March 16 and 17.

Learn more at the Irish Heritage Club and Seattle Center websites.

SGS SECOND SATURDAY’S DIVES INTO
WOMENS HISTORY MONTH

Do you want to learn more about your female ancestors? Genealogist Janice Lovelace will share how special collections at libraries and archives can shine a light on the lives of women through artifacts such as diaries, letters, manuscripts, and photographic material generated by women. Join the presentation Saturday, March 9, from 1:00 p.m.-2:30 p.m., in person at the SGS library or at home. RSVP to attend in personRSVP to attend via livestream from home


GET TO KNOW THE CANDIDATES
AT SGS’S MEMBERSHIP MEETING

The following SGS members have volunteered to be candidates for SGS Board or director positions for the year running from June 2024 through May 2025:

President: Kathy Weber
Vice President: Lisa Oberg
Secretary: Cybelle O’Brien
Treasurer: Betsey Cotter
Education Director: Cecellia Rogers
Library Director: Kathi M.

There will be an SGS Membership Meeting on 9 March starting at 12:30PM, just prior to Second Saturday, at which the candidates will be introduced, and the attending members will have the opportunity to propose additional candidates for any position.  After that meeting, any new candidates will be vetted to make sure they are eligible to run, after which the slate is final. Ballots will go out at the end of March (via email or via mail to those with no email address), and voting will run through the end of April.
 ACCESS FAMILYSEARCH LOCKED RECORDS
AT THE SGS LIBRARY

When searching the FamilySearch catalog, you may come across images you are unable to access. But not to worry, you can access many of these locked records at the SGS Library. 

To tell if the image may be available at the SGS library, click on the locked record on FamilySearch. The pop up message will explain how to access it. If the message says it can be accessed at “a FamilySearch affiliate library,” the image may be available at the SGS library. 

Come to the library or call ahead to confirm if the record will, in fact, be unlocked when at the SGS Library. Our the desk volunteers can assist by phone.

If the pop up says the document image may be accessed at “a FamilySearch affiliate library,” contact the SGS Library. The record may be available at the library.FINDMYPAST SUBSCRIPTION UPDATE

In my recent e-letter to the membership I neglected to note that our subscription to Findmypast allowing access to FMP on the computers in the SGS Library is for three months only (March, April, May).  If we see a lot of usage during these three months the SGS Board will consider getting a longer-term subscription.  So, if you want to use Findmypast via SGS’s subscription you should get to it right away!

Jim Secan
President, SGS

SAVE THE DATE“Empowering Genealogists with Artificial Intelligence” with Steve Little (Virtual)
Utah Genealogical Association
Tuesday March 5, 2024, 5:00 pm-6:00 pm

This presentation will explain AI, the new consumer ChatGPT program, and the benefits and limitations of using AI and ChatGPT for genealogy. Register today for this free webinar.

Winter Virtual Classes
Fiske Genealogical Library
Wednesdays 10:00 am-noon

Join the Fiske’s free virtual classes.

• March 6: “19th-Century Women Settlers Confront the Far West,” with Janice C. Lovelace
• March 13: “French-Canadian Records: Beyond Initial Resources,” with Judy Nimer Muhn

For further information see the Fiske website.

Registration opens for IGHR 2024
Georgia Genealogical Society
Saturday March 9, 2024, 6:00 am

Register for the Institute of Genealogy and Historical Research 2023 Virtual Institute. Classes are scheduled to take place July 21-26, 2024. Registration remains open until July 1st, but some classes fill very quickly. Find more information on courses, instructors, and registration.

Family Tree Maker SIG
Eastside Genealogical Society
March 15, 2023, 10:30 pm-12:30 pm

Join Eastside Genealogical Society and SGS to learn and share tips and tricks for using Family Tree Maker by Software MacKiev.  The meetings open about 15 minutes in advance.  You can join and/or leave whenever you have to, and you may email your question(s) in advance or bring them up during the meeting.

SGS CALENDAR OF EVENTSGood Shepherd Center, Suite 302
4649 Sunnyside Ave N
Seattle, WA 98103
206 522-8658Hours :  Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday   
** 10:00 am – 3:00 pm **  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 notedSaturday, March 2, 2024, 10:15 am-12:15 pm, FamilySearch SIG (Virtual), with Lou Daly. Discover 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

Sunday, March 3, 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@gmail.com to join.

Monday, March 4, 2024, 10:00 am-11:30 am,  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.

Saturday, March 9, 2024, 12:30 am-1:00 pm, General Membership Meeting  (Virtual or at the SGS library), Update on SGS activities and slate of board candidates for upcoming election. The meeting will be followed by a Second Saturday presentation by Janice Lovelace. (See below). To view at the library, register here. To view from home online register here.

Saturday, Mar. 9, 2024, 1:00 am-2:30 pm, Second Saturday: Women in Special Collections  (Virtual or at the SGS library), Celebrate Women’s History Month with “Special Collection Repositories: Finding Women’s Stories and Voices,” presented by Janice C. Lovelace: To view at the library, register here. To view from home online register here.

Monday, March 11, 2024, 10:00 am-11:30 am,  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.

Monday, March 11, 2024, 1:00 pm-3:00 pm,  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.

Monday, March 11, 2024, 6:00 pm-7:30 pm, Write It Up! SIG (Virtual), Join this group  to share and discuss writing projects, resources, and ideas. To join or learn more, contact Alaine Keisling at keisling@gmail.com. Notice the new meeting time.

Tuesday, March 12, 2024, 10:00 am-11:00 am, 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.

Wednesday, March 13, 2023, 7:00 pm-9:00 pm, MAC Computer SIG,  Co-chaired by Lisa Marker and Diane Hettrick. Jointly sponsored by SGS and Fiske. Meetings address topics and resources for Macintosh (Apple) computers and the Reunion genealogy software program. Meetings are on the second Wednesday of alternating months. 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. 

Saturday,

March 16, 2024, 1:00 pm-3:00 pm, German SIG (Virtual), “My People on the Road:  Switzerland to the Pfalz to Russia to America.” Allyn Brosz will follow one family who migrated to multiple German-speaking areas and he’ll talk about the various sources he used to piece together his family’s history. Register on the SGS website.

Monday, March 19, 2024, 10:00 am-11:30 am,  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.

Tuesday, March 19, 2024, 1:00 pm-3:00 pm,  “Pass It On” Writers’ Group (Social Interest 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, March 23, 2024, 10:00 am-noon, Irish SIG (Virtual), with Susan McKee. See the SGS website Calendar of Events for further information. Note the date change, this month only.

Saturday, March 23, 2024, 1:00 pm-3:00 pm, DNA SIG, Come to the first DNA SIG meeting of 2024 to meet its new facilitator, Michelle Carroll. This is your chance to introduce yourself to Michelle and tell her about your interests. NEW TIME, this month only. Voice your opinion on some potential topics. Message SGSDNASIG@gmail.com to join.Monday, March 25, 2024, 10:00 am-11:30 am,  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.

Tuesday, March 26, 2024, 10:00 am-11:00 am, 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. 

Monday, April 1, 2024, 10:00 am-11:30 am,  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.Saturday, April 6, 2024, 10:15 am-12:15 pm, FamilySearch SIG (Virtual), with Lou Daly. Discover 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

Our mailing address is:

Seattle Genealogical Society

4649 Sunnyside Ave N, Suite 302

Seattle, WA98103-6955