JENNIFER WELLS, VOLUNTEER OF WINTER QUARTER
Each quarter, the Seattle Genealogical Society recognizes one member as our Volunteer of the Quarter. Our Volunteer for Winter 2021 Quarter is Jennifer Wells.
Jennifer is being honored for her work writing grant proposals. Our most recent grant from 4Culture enabled the society to purchase sneeze guards, thermometers, and other materials to enable safe reopening of the library when State COVID restrictions allow.
Jennifer has been a member of Seattle Genealogical Society (SGS) since April 2018. She has attended SGS seminars and Second Saturday events and participates in the DNA Special Interest Group (SIG). She always appreciates opportunities to learn something new about genealogy, which might be access to new historical resources, techniques to analyze and organize genealogical research, or sharing of genealogical research and family stories with other members. She particularly enjoyed Herb McDaniel’s presentations at the DNA SIG.
In her personal genealogical research, Jennifer has many examples of (not uncommon) family secrets kept by relatives born in the 1920s and 1930s. She was able to determine that a DNA match predicted to be a first cousin is her half-niece from a paternal half-sibling, which would have been difficult to determine by genealogical research alone. The secret was shared only after her father’s death. Jennifer has many such stories to tell.
She has also had fun finding new Irish surnames. On a visit to Ireland in 2019, she met an elderly gentleman who may be distantly related (shared surname and ancestral location). The trip was not intended for genealogical research, but rather to see where her ancestors may have lived, so stumbling onto a possible relative was just a lucky coincidence. DNA suggests she also has Scottish and Northern Irish ancestors. The future holds more research and perhaps a trip to Scotland.
Jennifer has been the grants coordinator since January 2020. She says, “I like to find money for SGS so that a variety of programs and resources can be offered to its members and guests.” We can all appreciate that.
Congratulations, and thank you, Jennifer!
A PEEK AT THE SPRING SEMINAR!
The SGS Spring Seminar is scheduled for May 15, 2021, and the guest speaker will be Paul Miner.
Paul, a professional genealogist and internationally known lecturer, is a native of northern England who specializes in British Isles research. He has been designing genealogy workshops, writing books, and lecturing for over 35 years. Paul holds an advanced degree in Theology and is particularly knowledgeable about the church and its role in record keeping. As a genealogist he speaks on a variety of topics relating to research in the British Isles, migration to North America, and research methodology. Stay tuned. Details and registration for the seminar will appear in the eNews! and on the SGS website seagensoc.org within the next few weeks.
HOPE FOR THE NATIONAL ARCHIVES IN SEATTLE
On Friday, February 12, 2021, a US District Court judge granted a preliminary injunction to halt the sale of the National Archives property on Sand Point Way NE in Seattle. In coalition with 29 tribes and community organizations, Washington AG Bob Ferguson filed suit on January 4, 2021, seeking to declare the sale of the property to developers illegal. The injunction will allow time for the suit to work its way through the courts.
* SAVE THE DATE *
The International German Genealogy Partnership presents,a
“Researching Together Worldwide / Weltweit Gemeinsam Forschen”,
the first ever International German Genealogy Virtual Conference,
July 17-24, 2021
Is German genealogy one of your New Year’s resolutions for 2021? If so, be sure to mark your calendars for July 17-24, 2021. The IGGP Conference, which only takes place every two years, is your chance to take a deep dive into all things German genealogy – and learn from the experts themselves. This year, the conference will be virtual, which means you can tune in from anywhere in the world!
Don’t miss the “Early Bird Special” price. To learn more about this event, sign up for the conference newsletter on their website:
https://iggp.org
SGS CALENDAR OF EVENTS*
In consideration of COVID-19 social distancing recommendations, the SGS Library is closed until further notice and SGS in-person events have been replaced with online events.
** Go to the SGS Website Calendar of Events for the meeting links and for any last minute updates or changes to the schedule.
Wednesday, Feb 17, 2021, 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, Feb 23, 2021, 10:00 am-11:00 am, Tech Tuesday (Virtual), back by popular demand, the informal consultation time on DNA, genealogy software, or genealogy-related technical issues. All are welcomed. No appointment necessary. Visit www.seagensoc.org Calendar of Events for the Zoom meeting link.
Wednesday, Feb 24, 2021, 10:00 am-11:30 pm, 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.
Wednesday, March 3, 2021, 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 6, 2021, 10:15 am – 12:15 pm, FamilySearch Interest Group with Lou Daly, Discover the many ways to use Family Tree and FamilySearch. At each meeting a different aspect of the website will be featured. There will be time for Q & A. Want to join the mailing list? Email Lou: loudaly@nwlink.com
Sunday, March 7, 2021, 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm, DNA Workshop, To be included you need to be on the SGS DNA Interest Group email list. Contact Cary Bright at SGSDNASIG@gmail.com to join.
Tuesday, March 9, 2021, 10:00 am-11:00 am, Tech Tuesday (Virtual), back by popular demand, the informal consultation time on DNA, genealogy software, or genealogy-related technical issues. All are welcomed. No appointment necessary. Visit www.seagensoc.org Calendar of Events for the Zoom meeting link.
Wednesday, March 10, 2021, 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.
Wednesday, March 10, 2021, 7:00 pm-9:00 pm, MAC SIG Interest Group (Virtual), Jointly sponsored by SGS and Fiske, this group meets every other month from October through June on the second Wednesday of the month from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. Meetings address topics and resources helpful for those using MacIntosh (Apple) computers and the Reunion program in their genealogy research.
The link to logon will be sent to the MAC SIG email list. People wishing to attend should email dhettrick@earthlink.net to be added to the mailing list. Co-chaired by Lisa Marker and Diane Hettrick
Saturday, March 13, 2021, 10:15 am – 12:00 pm, Family Tree Maker (FTM), chaired by Rob Sexton, Learn and share tips and tricks for using Family Tree Maker 2017 by Software MacKiev™ . Want to join this SIG? Email operations@seagensoc.org.
Saturday, March 13, 2021, 12:00 pm – 12:50 pm, SGS Membership Meeting – Virtual, The March SGS Membership meeting is the time that the Board presents the slate of nominees for Board positions in preparation for the May election. We expect to have some open positions, so remember that nominations may be made by the membership at any time, including at this meeting.
In addition, there are two major interconnected projects underway we will discuss. First, we are working to reduce the physical size of our library, part of which is a plan to move large parts of it online to facilitate access by SGS members and the genealogy community at large. Second, as mentioned at earlier meetings, our lease runs out this year and we have been looking for a new location. We will be providing information about both of these topics and asking for feedback from the membership.
Saturday, March 13, 2021, 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm, Second Saturday Series:”Why They Left, Where They Went, and the Tales Their Journeys Can Reveal”, presenter will be Pam Vestal
Wednesday, March 17, 2021, 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 23, 2021, 10:00 am-11:00 am, Tech Tuesday (Virtual), back by popular demand, the informal consultation time on DNA, genealogy software, or genealogy-related technical issues. All are welcomed. No appointment necessary. Visit www.seagensoc.org Calendar of Events for the Zoom meeting link.
Wednesday, March 24, 2021, 10:00 am-11:30 pm, 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 27, 2021, 10:00 am – 12:30 pm, DNA Interest Group, with Cary Bright & Craig Gowens, to be included you need to be on the SGS DNA Interest Group email list.
Contact Cary Bright at SGSDNASIG@gmail.com to join. Link to be sent to the email group prior to the meeting with the pdf handout
