
Whatcom Genealogical Society First Fall Meeting




Tacoma-Pierce County Genealogical Society Writing Family History
Wednesday, September 10, 2025, starting at 7:00 PM via Zoom
The Writing Family History Special Interest Group (WFH-SIG) supports TPCGS members in documenting, writing, and preserving their family histories—formally or informally. Monthly meetings will provide a mix of presentations, writing exercises, and peer reviews to help members make progress in their projects.
Meeting invite with links in file attached below
Date & Time: Every month on the Second Wednesday, starting at 7:00 PM Pacific Time
Please download and import the following iCalendar (.ics) files to your calendar system.
Monthly: https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/tZMoc-2qqDMjHNXnACfWJ0dop_pMeQXMRoYM/ics?icsToken=98tyKuGvqz8uGNKduR-GRpwEGY-gLOrwplxEgo1lkj7GBRd5Mgf5Jt1SH7dOKPXi
Join Zoom Meeting:
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/87544268961?pwd=oNtdztP51tePuSn3bt45J3wuxnGXzl.1
Meeting ID: 875 4426 8961
Passcode: 328639
One tap mobile:
+12532158782,,87544268961#,,,,*328639# US (Tacoma)
+12532050468,,87544268961#,,,,*328639# US
Dial by your location:
• +1 253 215 8782 US (Tacoma)
• +1 253 205 0468 US
Meeting ID: 875 4426 8961
Passcode: 328639
Find your local number: https://us06web.zoom.us/u/kclCP1SsOV

Tacoma Pierce County Genealogical Society Monthly Educational Meeting
Tuesday, September 9, 2025, starting at 6:00 pm
This month’s presentation: What genealogy research have you done this summer, and what did you find?
This meeting will be hybrid and we encourage everyone who can to attend in person at our new meeting location:
University Place Library
3609 Market PL W.
University Place, WA 98466
and via Zoom for those unable to attend in person.
Attend virtually via Zoom:
Tacoma-Pierce County Genealogical Society is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.
Please download and import the following iCalendar (.ics) files to your calendar system.
Monthly: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/tZIqduGpqjgsHtBNs9zc8CGna6R-KHlcz5so/ics?icsToken=98tyKuGuqToiG9CWth2DRpwAB4j4WevwiHZdgrd_sgy8GSMLQST4N7Rwf5lXHNvK
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86718143644?pwd=S0FjYU5acVVKbDEyamdXWWZVekFjdz09
Meeting ID: 867 1814 3644
Passcode: 630507
One tap mobile
+12532050468,,86718143644#,,,,*630507# US
+12532158782,,86718143644#,,,,*630507# US (Tacoma)
Dial by your location
+1 253 205 0468 US
+1 253 215 8782 US (Tacoma)
Meeting ID: 867 1814 3644
Passcode: 630507
Find your local number: https://us02web.zoom.us/u/kcFbCNTY39

September 6 @ 2:30 p.m. PT (online)
Free!
The Genealogical Forum of Oregon is pleased to host this GenTalk as part of our monthly series of talks.
Presenter: Colette Hokanson, AG® and FamilySearch Research Specialist
In today’s world of digitized records and searchable databases, it’s easy to think that every answer to our family history questions is just a click away. Yet some of the most meaningful discoveries – those that bring our ancestors’ stories to life – still require us to step beyond the computer screen.
This session explores the irreplaceable value of onsite research: walking through cemeteries where generations rest, paging through local archives filled with documents never scanned, and swapping stories with relatives during spontaneous visits. These experiences reveal family history in ways no search bar can.
Colette Hokanson, AG® and FamilySearch Research Specialist, will share her personal experiences finding missing family from the mountains of Norway to the valleys of Wales. She’ll illustrate how combining traditional onsite research with the power of innovative tools—including artificial intelligence—can break through decades-old brick walls and open new paths of discovery.
Registration: gfo.org/gentalk

Steven W. Morrison
Genealogist and lecturer
Using Hinshaw & Other Finding Aids to Locate Original Quaker Records
Speaker at the Lower Columbia Genealogical Society’s
September 11th Zoom meeting.
Virtual meeting doors will open at 6:30 pm
The speaker’s program will begin at 7:00 pm.
The public is invited to attend.
Please consider joining our society for $20/yr.
For a link to join the meeting or to join the society contact lcgsgen@yahoo.com 24hrs prior to the event.

Stay connected! Get updates on our virtual and in-person events, plus the latest genealogy news and tips, by subscribing (free) to the online group at https://skcgs.groups.io
Skcgs.groups.io is the SKCGS online platform for discussion and information sharing:
PROGRAM UPDATES
All meetings are online except Genealogy Help at KCLS Auburn, Federal Way, and Renton Highland library branches.
Live transcription (captioning) is available during our Zoom meetings by request
Online meeting participants need to register for SKCGS Zoom meetings. Upon registration, Zoom will send a confirmation email with instructions on joining the meeting.
Members: passcode for the recording of this month’s speaker presentation is at the bottom of this email.
SEPTEMBER–EARLY OCTOBER 2025 MEETINGS & EVENTS
All meetings are Pacific Time (PT) zone
Register at https://www.skcgs.org for all meetings unless otherwise stated
Monday September 1 is Labor Day. No SKCGS events; KCLS Libraries are closed
Friday, September 5, 2025 from 12:30–2:30pm (online)
EGS German Interest Group
Topic: Using German Genealogy Societies/Special Interest Groups to Break Your Brick Wall Presenter Ann Broihier explores some prominent German genealogy societies and special interest groups in the US, plus genealogy groups in Germany. Additional information can be found on our Meetings page.
Saturday September 6, 2025, 10am–12pm
Family Tree Maker Users Group (online)
Topic: Question & Answer. Each month, we will learn about using the features of FTM. Subscribe to the free SKCGS FTM email list for announcements and discussion: https://skcgs.groups.io/g/FTMUG
Monday, September 8, 2025, 1–2pm
Genetic Genealogy/DNA Interest Group (Online)
Topic: Using all the tools at Family Tree DNA
Start at Your Results & Tools: https://help.familytreedna.com/hc/en-us/categories/1500001411561-Your-Results-Tools
This group is for genealogists who use DNA data as part of their research. Join the free email group for meeting notices and discussion: https://skcgs.groups.io/g/Genetic-Genealogy
Wednesday, September 10, 2025, 2–3pm
WikiTree User Group (online)
Topic: Using the WikiTree DNA tools.
See: https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Help:DNA_Tests
& https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Help:DNA_Features
Wikitree Users collaborate to create the best collaborative tree on Earth. Subscribe to our free online group: https://skcgs.groups.io/g/Wikitree-SIG
Thursday, September 11, 2025, 11am–1pm
Genealogy Help with SKCGS at Renton Highlands Library (In-person). Genealogy questions? SKCGS offers one-on-one help with a volunteer. 2801 NE 10th Street, Renton WA
Registration not required. In-person event.
Thursday, September 11, 2025, 5–6:30pm
Special meeting of the SKCGS Family Tree Maker User Group with speaker Mark Olsen. Topic: 2024 upgrade of FTM. We all have the new 2024 version and have lots of questions.
Register in advance for this meeting: https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/u5opcBKBQTqSFYd4KMjzCw. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.
Monday, September 15,1–2pm
Tech Users Group (Online)
Topic: What’s the Plan? From your research questions to a workable research process. See: Create Great Genealogical Research Questions: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mr20axYxjT8 (5 mins) & What Your Genealogy Research is MISSING! |Psst! It’s a Plan: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zadMApiMgDc (15 mins)
The Tech Users Group is for sharing knowledge and learning about technology tools, media, apps and websites. Please join our free email group for meeting information and discussion: https://skcgs.groups.io/g/TUG.
Friday, September 19, 1–3pm
Research Workshop (In-person/RSVP req)
SKCGS Members only. In-person research at the Kent FamilySearch Center
12817 SE 256th St, Kent, WA 98030, USA
RSVP in advance to Winona Laird (253) 631-3252
Saturday, September 20, 2025, 9:30am Social time. Speaker: 10–11:30am
SKCGS Speaker Series (online)
Writing Your Own Obituary
Your obituary is probably the most important thing that will ever be written about you. So why not write it yourself? Writing an auto-obituary is a way to make sure you’re remembered the way you want to be remembered. Roxanne will share examples and styles of obituaries. You’ll also get started on your own!
Roxanne Lowe is the proud great granddaughter of Washington Pioneers Daniel and Mary (Donovan) Murphy who came to Chehalis County (now Grays Harbor) in 1888. She is the past president of the Grays Harbor Genealogical Society and webmaster of the Washington State Genealogical Society’s website. She was the 2024 recipient of the WSGS President’s Award for Outstanding Achievement.
The program will be recorded for playback by SKCGS Members. Guests welcome! Register
Thursday, August 21, 2025, 11am–1pm
Genealogy Help with SKCGS at the Auburn Library (In-person)
Genealogy questions? SKCGS offers one-on-one help with a volunteer. 1102 Auburn Way S, Auburn, WA
Registration not required. In-person event. Safety guidelines and current protocols followed. More information at King County Library, email kcls-auburn@kcls.org
Thursday, August 21, 2025, 2–4pm
Genealogy Help with SKCGS at the Federal Way Main Library (In-person) Genealogy questions? SKCGS offers one-on-one help with a volunteer. 34200 1st Way S, Federal Way, WA 98003
Registration not required. In-person event. Safety guidelines and current protocols followed. More information at King County Library: https://kcls.org/locations/federal-way, or phone: (253) 838-3668
Monday, September 22⋅1–2pm
Genealogy Chat (Online)
Meet up and chat about genealogy subjects and topics. We have no agenda; we just like one another!
You are receiving this email because you have attended a SKCGS meeting and indicated you would like to receive periodic notice of events. If you would like to be removed from our mailing list, send an email to skcgsfriends+unsubscribe@skcgs.org.
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SOUTH KING COUNTY GENEALOGICAL SOCIETY

Yakima Valley Genealogical Society
1901 S. 12th Avenue
Union Gap, WA 98903
Phone: (509) 248-1328
Email: yvgs@yvgs.net
Yakima Valley Genealogical Society
General Meeting will be held in the library
Date: Saturday, September 6, 2025
Time: 10:00 a.m.
Richard Kyle will be giving a presentation on the Washington State Regional Archives. About the different records available on-line and how to access them. Plus, how many regional offices there are for what counties and how to do in-person research.

Yakima Valley Genealogical Society
1901 S. 12th Avenue
Union Gap, WA 98903
Phone: (509) 248-1328
Email: yvgs@yvgs.net
Yakima Valley Genealogical Society
Y.V.G.S. Huge Yard Sale will be held in the Library Parking Lot.
Date: Thursday thru Saturday, September 11th, 12th, and 13th
Time: 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
To name a few items: Furniture, clothes, books, baby clothes,
kitchen items used in cooking, sewing items, arts & crafts, office equipment, sports equipment, pictures, etc.

Please join us for Tri-City Genealogical Society’s September General meeting at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, September 10. The presentation will be at the Richland FamilySearch Center located at 1314A Goethals Dr. Entrance is down the ramp from the parking lot that is to the north of Dairy Queen. The presentation will also be on Zoom so you can join in from the comfort of your own home. See below for the Zoom link.
The September TCGS General meeting will be on the topic of archival newspapers. There are several websites that are focused on using optical character recognition (OCR) to search their scanned newspaper collections. Newspapers.com, GenealogyBank.com, MyHeritage (OldNews.com) and to a small extent FamilySearch all have scanned newspaper articles. This presentation will focus on Oldnews.com and their efforts to utilize Artificial Intelligence (AI) to summarize articles and, if so desired, integrate the results into MyHeritage trees. Oldnews.com features a diverse range of publications from local, national, and international news from across the U.S., Canada, U.K., Australia, and European countries such as Austria, Germany, the Netherlands, and more, with extensive coverage of the 1800s and 1900s. The title of the presentation is Uncovering the Past with AI: How MyHeritage Extracts Historical Records from Newspapers presented by Maya Geier.
Topic: TCGS General Meeting September 10 at 7 p.m.
Time: Sep 10, 2025 07:00 PM Pacific Time (US and Canada)
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83278885121?pwd=4bPvbaRAndbaSzMh6q9EvGa5Ot0WrF.1
Meeting ID: 832 7888 5121
Passcode: 551654
One tap mobile
+12532158782,,83278885121#,,,,*551654# US (Tacoma)
+12532050468,,83278885121#,,,,*551654# US
Join instructions