Category Archives: Society News

Seattle Genealogical Society News

by Charles Hansen

LAST CHANGE TO 
REGISTER FOR THE SPRING SEMINAR

You can still register for the 2019 Spring Seminar, “Next Steps for Your DNA Test Results”.    Featuring Diahan Southard, a popular speaker and author of several quick guides on genetic genealogy, a regular contributor to Genealogy Gems, featured writer for Family Tree Magazine, regular contributor to Genealogy Today, as well as other writing engagements.

It’s too late to order a lunch or mail in your registration, but online registration is still open
Register for the Seminar onlineSAVE THE DATE

SGS and SIGS “DNA Learning Series” ,
Mountlake Terrace Library – Sno-Isle Libraries,
23300 58th Ave W
Mountlake Terrace, WA 98043
6:00 pm – 7:45 pm
 
See the featured article in this eNews! issue for more info. For members of SGS and SIGS only. Registration required. Register by email to: sgsdnasig@gmail.com

Scheduled dates for the next two classes:

  • May 16  “yDNA & mtDNA Testing”
  • June 20  “I’ve Got My Results … Now What?”

SGS 2019 Spring Seminar,
“Next Steps for Your DNA Results”,
with Diahan Southard,
Fairview Christian School,
844 NE 78th St, Seattle, WA 98115
Saturday, May 18 ,  9:00 am – 4:00 pm

From beginner to advanced genealogist, Diahan will help you understand and help you organize your results to find those lost relatives. Topics at the seminar will be:

  • Let Your DNA Tell Your Story
  • Me and My 1,000+ DNA 4th Cousins
  • Making YDNA and mtDNApart of Your Family History
  • Three Next Steps for Your DNA Test Results

Also check out the Special Workshop on Sunday afternoon, May 19: “Organizing Your DNA Results”.

Register for the Seminar online  

          SGS CALENDAR OF EVENTS

Unless otherwise indicated all programs will be at the SGS Library, 6200 Sand Point Way NE, Seattle. Check the SGS Web Site for additions, changes, and corrections. Programs may be canceled or postponed because of inclement weather. The SGS Library will closed May 25-27 in observance of Memorial Day weekend, although the Irish and German Special Interest Groups will meet on Saturday, May 25. Note the library will also be closed on May 18, the day of our spring seminar.  

MAY

Thursday, May 16, 6:00 pm-7:45 pm, DNA Learning Series Class 2: “yDNA & mtDNA Testing”,  with Cary Bright and Craig K Gowen. This series is for current members of the Seattle Genealogical Society (SGS) and the Sno-Isle Genealogical Society (SIGS) only. Free advance registration is required for each class.  These classes will be held at the Mountlake Terrace – Sno-Isle Libraries, 23300 58th Ave W, Mountlake Terrace, WA 98043. To register, email : sgsdnasig@gmail.com

Saturday, May 18, The SGS Library will be closed so all SGS volunteers may attend the SGS 2019 Spring Seminar at Fairview Christian School.

Sunday, May 19, the SGS Library will be closed for two special events – pre-registration required.   

Saturday, May 25, 10:15 am-12:15 pm, Irish Special Interest Group,  with Jean Roth

Saturday, May 25, 1:00 pm-3:00 pm, German Special Interest Group,  with Jean Roth
JUNE
Saturday, June 1, 10:15 am -12:15 pm, Family Tree Interest Group,
Lou Daly is leader of this special interest group exploring all the features of the tool Family Tree on FamilySearch.org Come learn about the proposed changes coming to Family Search and Family Tree.

Sunday, June 2, 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm, DNA Workshop, with Cary Bright. Q&A first hour, while focus second hour in on Genome Mate Pro.

Saturday, June 8, 1:00 pm-3:00 pm, Second Saturday Speakers Series – “Organizing Your Family History in Order to Stay Sane” with Mary Kathryn Kozy

Saturday, June 15, 10:15 am-12:15 pm, Irish Special Interest Group,  with Jean Roth
Saturday, June 15, 1:00 pm-3:00 pm, German Special Interest Group,  with Jean Roth

Thursday, June 20, 6:00 pm-7:45 pm, DNA Learning Series Class 3: “I Got My Results… Now What?”,  with Cary Bright and Craig K Gowen. This series is for current members of the Seattle Genealogical Society (SGS) and the Sno-Isle Genealogical Society (SIGS) only. Free advance registration is required for each class.  These classes will be held at the Mountlake Terrace – Sno-Isle Libraries, 23300 58th Ave W, Mountlake Terrace, WA 98043. To register, email : sgsdnasig@gmail.com

Saturday, June 29, 10:00 am – 12:30 pm,  DNA SIG, this group meets quarterly at the Wedgwood Presbyterian Church, 8008 35th Ave NE, Seattle. Co-chaired by Cary Bright and Herb McDaniel. For more information
contact SGSDNASIG@gmail    

Washington State Genealogical Society News

by Charles Hansen

Announcement from the Board of Directors

The Board of WSGS met in Yakima on May 10th & 11th to consider our future. Many changes have come about in the past few years to the science and practice of genealogy. We recognized that WSGS was no longer fulfilling some of our missions developed many years ago. Our current model of business was no longer working.

The Board was challenged with the decision of whether to close our doors or to reinvent WSGS to meet the challenges of staying relevant. The Board made a unanimous decision to take WSGS in a new direction. The renewed WSGS will be rolling out our vision later this year. Hint: preservation! So stay tuned!

Virginia Majewski, President

German Interest Group of The Eastside Genealogical Society June Meeting

by Charles Hansen

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



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

Where: Primary Room of the Latter-day Saints Church

             10675 NE 20th St, Bellevue, WA 98004


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

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

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

Skagit Valley Genealogocal Society Grandpa worked on the Railroad

by Charles Hansen

I’d like to let you know about an upcoming educational program we are offering on Saturday, June 8, 2019 from 1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. in partnership with Skagit Valley Genealogical Society. The topic of the program is “Grandpa Worked for the Railroad” and will be presented by Janice Lovelace, PhD. This event is free and open to the public. I’ve attached a flyer with more information. Please feel free to forward or post on any wall you wish! We appreciate your help in getting the word out, because we would like as many people as possible to benefit from our programs.

Please contact me with any questions or feedback. Thank you for helping us spread the word about these free and valuable community resources.

Hope to see you there!

Kathleen Headden, Reference Librarian

Burlington Public Library

820 E. Washington Ave.

Burlington, WA 98233

360-755-0760, ext. 7906

Clark County Genealogical Society May Meetings

by Charles Hansen

WEBINAR: THE 10 MOST USEFUL DATABASES FOR EASTERN EUROPEAN RESEARCH

Wed, 15 May 2019: 11 a.m.-12:30 pm

CCGS Library

With more information available online, it is often possible to find key records for your Eastern European ancestors in free and subscription databases. In this Legacy Family Tree webinar, learn about the various record sets available, how to access them, and how to overcome privacy and language issues and other research roadblocks.

THIRD THURSDAY EVENING HOURS

Thurs, 16 May 2019: 6-9 pm

CCGS Library

Do you find it hard to get to the Clark County Genealogical Library during daytime hours? Come in on Third Thursday to tap into our richest resource: knowledgeable librarians who can help you with your family history search. We won’t do it for you, but we will provide guidance. One librarian has Scandinavian research expertise. The library has over 10,000 books and resources, and free access on our computers to Ancestry.com and AmericanAncestors.com. Bring your own computer and use our free wifi.

KNOW BEFORE YOU GO: PREPARING FOR A RESEARCH TRIP FOCUS GROUP

Mon, 20 May 2019: 10 a.m.-12 Noon

CCGS Library

Share ideas, ask questions, and learn organizational tips in this genealogy travel research group before you hit the road. Whether you’re staying close to home, traveling across the country, or winging around the world to research your genealogy, it helps to be prepared! Go it alone or join a fall 2019 CCGS group trip to the Family History Library, Salt Lake City, UT (dates TBD).

SCANDINAVIAN ROOTS FOCUS GROUP

Mon, 20 May 2019: 2-3:30 pm

CCGS Library

If you want to discover your Scandinavian roots, attend this monthly meeting and learn how to conduct your research. Meet with other like-minded individuals who have discovered their ancestors going back many generations. Geographic areas include Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Finland, Iceland, and the Faroe Islands. This group meets regularly on the third Monday of the month, September-May. Members and non-members are welcome.

WEBINAR: GOOGLE DRIVE – AN OFFICE IN THE CLOUD

Wed, 22 May 2019: 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m.

CCGS Library

Never again suffer the heartache of a dead hard drive. Take advantage of ‘found” research time when you keep research notes available anywhere with internet access. Learn how to make it all work in this Legacy Family Tree webinar.

WEBINAR: TOOLS FOR TRANSLATING AND TRANSCRIBING GENEALOGY RECORDS

Wed, 29 May 2019: 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m.

CCGS Library

Documents – old and new – are a requisite resource for genealogy research. This Legacy Family Tree webinar will discuss the latest tools and programs available to translate foreign language documents. Learn how to transcribe documents in order to extract needed information.

Tacoma Pierce County Genealogical Society May Meeting

by Charles Hansen

TPCGS will hold our monthly meeting this Tuesday, May 14th, at Bates Community College, South Campus.
6:00 pm Member Networking and Sharing6:30 – 8:30 pm Business Meeting and Program
PROGRAM: Mapping your ancestors: how geography can be an untapped resource for genealogy research. Learn how to use geography and maps to provide visual clues that will help focus research, locate property and identify lost place names. 

SPEAKER: Janet Camarata
Hope to see everyone there!
TPCGS monthly meetings are held September through June from 6 pm to 9 pm, usually at Bates Technical College, South Campus, Building E, 2201 South 78th St., Tacoma.
Guests are always welcome, so bring a friend! For more information check our website at www.tpcgs.org.
Please note that we hope to reschedule to cancelled Timelines presentation by Cyndi Ingle in the fall.

Bainbridge Island Genealogical Society May Meeting

by Charles Hansen

The Bainbridge Island Genealogical Society (BIGS) will meet Friday, May 17, 2019, at the Bainbridge Island Public Library on Bainbridge Island, 1270 Madison Ave N, from 10:00a.m. – 12 noon. The topic for the BIGS Monthly Meeting will be “Finding Your Immigrant Ancestors”,  presented by Claire Smith of Massachusetts, formerly of Bainbridge Island, and one of the founding members of BIGS. We all have immigrant ancestors, whether they came in Colonial times or more recently. We’ll be looking at strategies for tracking down their places of origin, finding out whether records exist, where to find them and what they can tell you. Parking is available in the 2 library parking facilities, accessed from High School Ave and Madison Ave North. Free to members, a $5.00 donation is suggested for nonmembers. For more information go to http://www.bigenealogy.org or call 206-755-9283. BIGS is a 501c(3) non-profit organization.

Thank you! Sue ElfvingBainbridge Island Genealogical SocietyDirector of Publicity and Public Relations

Skagit Valley Genealogical Society May Meeting

by Charles Hansen

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Skagit Valley Genealogical Society Monthly Educational Program:
How to Read a Cemetery

 BURLINGTON — Cemeteries are valuable resources for family historians. Gravestone markers contain clues to our ancestors’ lives. Come learn the basics of cemetery gravestone types and the mystery behind the icons on the stone. Best practices for recording cemetery inscriptions will also be discussed in preparation for a field trip to Hawthorne Cemetery in Mount Vernon for volunteers to “read” and record the gravestone inscriptions.

Join us for Skagit Valley Genealogical Society’s monthly program on Sat., May 11, 1:00-3:00 p.m. at the Burlington Public Library, 820 E. Washington Ave. Admission is free and the public is invited.