JEFFERSON COUNTY GENEALOGICAL SOCIETY September Seminar

by Charles Hansen

JEFFERSON COUNTY GENEALOGICAL SOCIETY (JCGS)

PO Box 627

Port Townsend, WA 98368

Contact for this media release: Judy Tough 385-3065 or tough@olympus.net

FOR RELEASE: July 6 – September 15, 2017

A Decree of (Temporary) Divorce: My Life Without Ancestry.com

Jefferson County Genealogical Society (JCGS) is offering to the community a day-long Seminar on Saturday, September 16, featuring professional genealogist, Mary Roddy, who will give two presentations at the Tri-Area Community Center, 10 West Valley Road, in Chimacum, WA. Registration starts at 9:00 a.m. and the program begins 10:00 – 11:40 followed by the afternoon session 12:30 – 2:00. Suggested donation is $10.00 for the Seminar. Bring your own lunch, and snacks to share. Coffee and tea provided. Genealogy books from Heritage Quest will be for sale on

site. <www.wajcgs.org>

Mary Roddy says of her morning presentation A Decree of (Temporary)

Divorce: My Life Without Ancestry.com:  “Learn how I found free substitute records for many of the records I used to pay for at Ancestry.com, and how I discovered some new sites as well.  My temporary ‘divorce’ forced me to examine my genealogy from a different viewpoint with a fresh perspective.  You, too, can recharge your genealogy, and save a few pennies as well.” 

Mary says her afternoon presentation FamilyBrowse: “FamilySearch.org 

has millions of images on its website, many of which are un-indexed and

not searchable. But if you know how to get into the catalog and browse around, you can find images of birth and death certificates, naturalization papers, deeds, will, estate inventories and more. And FamilySearch is

adding more and more images every month. To take advantage of this ever-increasing bounty its important to know how to find these types of records.”

Mary Roddy, a Certified Public Accountant, earned a certificate from the Genealogy and Family History program at the University of Washington. She is an active member of the Seattle Genealogical Society and speaks frequently in the Seattle area. Mary is a regular contributor to YourGenealogyToday and Internet Genealogy magazines, and a webinar presenter with Legacy Family Tree Webinars. She is working on a novel which incorporates stories of ancestors she has discovered in her research.

Whatcom Genealogical Society September Meeting

by Charles Hansen

Whatcom Genealogical Society will meet Monday, Sept. 11, 2017 at 2:00 pm at the
Bellingham Elks Lodge, 710 Samish Way. Program: Summer research finds, and a discussion of
changes in the genealogy community (Family Tree Maker, Legacy, My Heritage, Family Search
microfilm, and upcoming educational opportunities.) Visitors welcome! Contact: 360-733-8300

 

Sharon Neem
WGS Publicity Chair
_________________________________________________________________

THE GENEALOGICAL FORUM’s Wednesday Evening E-News

by Charles Hansen

 

THE GENEALOGICAL FORUM’s
Wednesday Evening
E-News
9 August 2017

For more information visit www.gfo.org, contact us at info@gfo.org, or call our library at 503-963-1932. We love hearing from you!

For a complete GFO CALENDAR click here.

Also, if you missed your free copy of our monthly Insider for August 2017, you’re in luck because we saved you a copy HERE. NOTE: The Insider issues are now located under the “Learn” > “Our Publications” menu at our new website (still gfo.org).
Curious about the status of your GFO Membership?? We’d love to have you as a GFO Member!
***
GFO’s Upcoming DNA Speakers in the News!

Subjects of a recent Washington Post article, featured also on the front page of The Oregonian’s Living section are coming soon to the GFO!

She thought she was Irish until…. This recent news article recounts the wonderful true story of how Alice Collins Plebuch’s family research encountered a stunning breakthrough using DNA test results. And both Alice and the genetic genealogist, CeCe Moore, who helped her solve her 100-year-old family mystery are both coming soon to the GFO!
Sept 16th – GenTalk (free)

Come out to GFO’s free and open to the public GenTalk next month to hear Alice Collins Plebuch’s story firsthand!

WHAT? SWITCHED AT BIRTH – Unraveling a Century-Old Mystery with DNA
WHO? speaker Alice Collins Plebuch
WHERE? at the GFO Library (map)
WHEN? Saturday, Sept 16th, 2 – 4pm
Oct 14th & 15th – Fall Seminar with CeCe Moore

Come out to the GFO this fall and learn from the same DNA expert who helped Alice find her true ancestral line.

WHAT? Genetic Genealogy
WHO? speaker CeCe Moore
WHERE? Saturday at the Milwaukie Center (map) & Sunday at the GFO (map)
WHEN? Saturday, Oct 14th, 10am – 4:30pm, and Sunday, Oct 15th, 9:30am – noon
HOW? Click HERE to sign up for one or both days.
***
Call for More Volunteer Superheroes! Save the Bulletin!

The GFO’s quarterly publication, the Bulletin, needs your help!

We’re searching for two to three very special volunteers to help with layout duties (about 50 hours total per quarter) for the Bulletin. Our Bulletin is published in September, December, March, and June each year, featuring about 40 to 50 pages each issue jam packed with genealogical tips, brick-wall breakthrough stories, highlights from our library’s collections, Bible transcriptions, book reviews, and much much more.

Our current layout specialist volunteer, who is likely shortly retiring from his Bulletin duties, has been utilizing InDesign software to do the Bulletin layouts, but we’re open to other methods and softwares that will also prove to do the trick!

If you’re interested in or are already an expert of graphic design, or even if you’d like to learn something new to contribute to the GFO community, please email bulletin@gfo.org today!
Without a layout specialist volunteer, we won’t be able to continue the Bulletin publications! Don’t let this happen on YOUR watch!
***
Beginners’ Boot Camp!?! Only with less wooden ducks.
RSVP Me Now!

Better lace up quick!

August 12th at the GFO from 9:30am to 5:00pm

Join Laurel Smith for a day of beginning genealogy. There will be classes about the census, vital records, immigration and naturalization, discussions about genealogy software and database use, organizing your research and more–all geared toward beginners. Bring a sack lunch so the discussion can continue while we eat.

GFO members may attend for free, non-members $20 at the door.

Attendees are encouraged to bring their laptops, but it is not required.
Please let us know if you plan to attend by sending a message to RSVP@gfo.org. The handouts will be emailed in advance.
***
Mexican Special Interest Group This Friday at 11:30am!

Researching Mexican ancestry within the regions of Mexico, Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, California and even farther south!

The group meets the second Friday of every month from 11:30am to 1:30pm in the multi-purpose area at the back of the library. Please check the GFO calendar for updates and more information.

This Special Interest Group (SIG) pertains specifically to Mexican ancestors from Mexico and the American Southwest (New Mexico, Arizona, Texas, and California). Beginning and intermediate researchers are very welcome. Some subjects will include online parish records, Hispanic genealogy societies, Family History Library/FamilySearch.org. Ancestry.com, solving genealogical problems, the methodology of organizing your research, etc. Of course, this group will also be about sharing our research experiences and having fun.

If you know of any other people interested in Hispanic genealogy tell them about the group. They don’t have to be a GFO member to participate.

The Facilitator is Vincent Ramirez. For questions or comments, please email Vince today!

Like all our SIG’s this group is free to join whenever you have time! And psst! It’s at the GFO!
***

FRIDAY, AUGUST 11th

Mexican Ancestry Group 11:30am – 1:30pm

As noted just above, come on out this Friday for this monthly SIG meeting to learn all about your Hispanic ancestry and how to research this part of your heritage. Hope to see you there. Remember, this is a free group, so ANYONE can literally just come and join the discussion!
SATURDAY, AUGUST 12th

Beginners’ Boot Camp! 9:30am – 5pm

Join our fearless president, Laurel Smith, for a day of beginning genealogy. There will be classes about the census, vital records, immigration and naturalization, discussions about genealogy software and database use, organizing your research and more–all geared toward beginners. Bring a sack lunch so the discussion can continue while we eat.

GFO members may attend for free, non-members $20 at the door. RSVP@gfo.org before it’s too late.
SUNDAY, AUGUST 13th

Library Work Party Party Party!!! 9:30am – noon

Come on in and help out. We’re currently labeling books for all the counties in Oregon and we can use all the help we can get! The Maps Work Party, which usually meets on this date, will resume in September.
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 16th

DNA Q&A 1 – 3pm

Lisa McCullough leads a discussion on various DNA related subjects, with each meeting focused on a particular subject. General questions are welcome at the end of each planned discussion. This and all our Special Interest Groups are FREE to the public!

Honoring our Past Presidents

by Roxanne Lowe

Serving as President of this organization is an honor and a privilege. As such, we want to honor those who provided leadership to our Society and to the genealogical community.

To recognize and honor the service of our Past Presidents, we have created the WSGS “Presidents’ Circle,” an exclusive group composed of men and women who served as president of our state society. They have helped shape WSGS into what it is today: an active and ever-changing organization dedicated to educating its members about genealogy and to cultivating public awareness of the educational, historical and personal value of genealogical research. Our past presidents include:

1984 – Alma Greenwood, Olympia Genealogical Society

1985 – Elsie Trautloff (deceased), South King County Genealogical Society

1987 – Maxine Bissell, Yakima Valley Genealogical Society

1989 – Kathleen Johnson, Long Beach

1992 – Pam Chilton, Lower Columbia Genealogical Society

1994 – Frank McLean, Yakima Valley Genealogical Society

1996 – Laura Pemberton Sparr, Skagit Valley Genealogical Society

2000 – Robert Witherspoon (deceased), Whatcom Genealogical Society

2004 – Stephen Baylor, Stillaguamish Valley Genealogical Society

2008 – Sue Ericksen, Yakima Valley Genealogical Society

2013 – Mikal McKinnon, Tri-City Genealogical Society

As a member of the “Presidents’ Circle,” each honoree received a lifetime membership to WSGS – a small thank you for their years of service, dedication and support. For more information, including photographs, visit the Presidents’ Circle page on the WSGS website.

 

Friday Serendity

by Charles Hansen

You’ll recall that in the past I’ve highly recommended Nathan Dylan Goodwin’s books to you? Stories of Morton Farrier, Forensic Genealogist? Well, this prolific author has done it again with what just might be his most interesting yarn to date. The Missing Man: was to be the most important case of Morton Farrier’s career in forensic genealogy so far. A case that had eluded him for many years: finding his own father. Harley ‘Jack’ Jacklin disappeared just six days after a fatal fire at his Cape Cod home on Christmas Eve in 1976, leaving no trace behind. Now his son, Morton must travel to the East Coast of America to unravel the family’s dark secrets in order to discover what happened to him.
This is book #6 in his series and I especially liked this one because it’s set in places I’ve been…..Cape Cod. And it has the coolest ending! Check it out at Amazon.
Inline image 2
Even the red cardinal perched on the snowy tombstone figures into the story; you will enjoy it, I guarantee.

Get More Than You Pay For at the Northwest Genealogy Conference

by Roxanne Lowe

The Northwest Genealogy Conference begins in less than a week — but there’s still time to jump on board! The conference is a bargain at any price, but Wednesday, August 16 is beyond a bargain! In a prelude to the jam-packed three-day conference, join hundreds of genealogists for “Free Day Wednesday.” Did I say “free”? Yes, I did! FREE.

Professional genealogist Peggy Lauritzen will be conducting a “beginning” class on Wednesday, where she’ll guide attendees on their adventure researching their family’s history. While the session will aid the beginner, I can guarantee even those more experienced genealogists will learn (or relearn) tips, tricks and other valuable information.

In addition to the beginning genealogy class, the Washington State Genealogical Society will be conducting two local society management classes.

Donna Potter Phillips

How to Attract & Keep Members…Awake
Presenter: Donna Potter Phillips, WSGS Vice President

Donna will share some new, some old and some WOW ideas for your society to use to increase and retain your membership. She will also present some program-giving tips for keeping members “awake” and eager to attend your society’s programs. You’ll leave this class with ideas and energy galore!

 

Virginia Forney Majewski

The Nuts and Bolts of Society Management
Presenter: Virginia Forney Majewski, WSGS President

This presentation is geared toward officers, board members or those considering running for office. Attendees will learn about different types of societies and the legal requirements of maintaining each, insurance needs and about developing policies or rules to protect the society when problems or problem makers arise. You’ll leave this class knowing how to help your Board be functional, responsible and active.

Looking for more? Check out all the vendors! Start networking — you might find a long-lost cousin in the crowd! Get ready for the “main event” starting Thursday, August 17. Dozens and dozens of classes; professional genealogists galore; photo opportunities; more…more…more.

You can register online through Tuesday, August 15 by clicking here. After that, you’ll have to stand in line at the door.

Don’t miss this premier regional event.

Wednesday Nostalgia

by Charles Hansen

Who remembers roller skating? And did you have the metal skates that screw-tightened onto your regular shoes?? With leather straps around your ankles? And the slide-to-size part got rusty??

And what happened when you lost that darn key?

Do kids roller skate around their neighborhoods anymore???

Washington Civil War Association Sponsoring a Battle Re-enactment

by Charles Hansen

Dear Members and Guests:
The Washington Civil War Association is sponsoring a Battle Re-enactment and a Camp Re-enactment this coming Saturday and Sunday (August 12th and 13th) at the Columbia Park in Kennewick.
See the enclosed links which gives further information about the scheduled agenda for this weekend as well as a map of the event location.
http://www.wcwa.net/events/  (directions and map)
http://www.wcwa.net/news.html  (schedule of events)
Hopefully, you will be able to take advantage of this annual Civil War Re-enactment.
Sincerely,
Art Kelly

Tuesday Trivia

by Charles Hansen

Last week I posted some trivia about logging in the northeast corner of Washington and the Idaho panhandle. Our beloved WSGS Founding President, Alma Greenwood, contributed this memory:

Hi Donna,
Your description of the logging in North Idaho struck a chord with me. My 90-year old husband grew up in the area you are describing and his uncle had logging camps just like the one you mentioned. The nearest town was Meadow Creek (now a ghost town according to the sign) which was a few miles south of the Canadian border.    Glad you are staying busy and involved. So many of the old timers are not around but some of us keep plugging along. Thanks for all you do for genealogy in Washington State.  Alma

Today’s trivia is much different. Paul Turner, in his The Slice column in our Spokesman Review paper, posed the question about Spokane as a surname. WELL! Clicking to Ancestry, and doing a U.S. census search across all the years, the results were 19,990 persons surnamed Spokane! And 581 lived in Spokane. Most of them were Native Americans but still.

There were 5077 folks surnamed “Seattle.” And 1646 for Wenatchee. Tacoma was 2214 and Kennewick 1412. I was really surprised and it was something I’d never thought about. Thanks, Paul, for turning on a light.

Was your Washington town ever a surname????