Guess what? New flash! Cyndi Ingle, of wide renown in the genealogy world, is coming to Spokane to be the presenter at the EWGS Fall Workshop. Practically everybody has learned from CyndisList as part of their research and now we get the chance to hear from her face-to-face. I’ve heard her in person several times and she is worth the time, money and effort to come to the EWGS Fall Workshop. Details to be announced, but save the date:  Saturday, 3 October 2015. 

Besides hosting that wonderful show, Genealogy Roadshow, Josh Taylor is president of the Federation of Genealogical Societies. As such, he was a keynote speaker at the recent FGS/RootsTech conference. Toward the end of one of his sessions (a presentation on society management), he said this:  “To help your society take on a new idea and  start it and take another new idea and apply it to something you are already doing and make it better.”  I thought that was sound and wonderful advice and could apply to any group of any ilk.

A genealogy friend who lives in New York once told me that she suffers from Squirrel Syndrome. She explained that just like a squirrel, she gets distracted and side tracked very easily. I can identify with that!  Also with Shiny Object Syndrome……… past EWGS member, Cecily Kelly, explained this malady to me. “I easily get distracted and side tracked by “shiny objects” which in my world are too many websites to click!”

From a brochure I picked up at the Family History Library in Salt Lake:  “The People’s Collection Wales is a contemporary, dynamic and bilingual online experience dedicated to the history of Wales and its people. People’s Collection Wales is a place to discover and learn, contribute your own content and share your story of Wales with the world. Discover. Contribute. Share. To find out more go to www.peoplescollectionswales.co.uk “

The Arecibo Observatory is a radio telescope in the municipality of Arecibo, Puerto Rico. 

The film shown in the Visitors’ Center at the Arecibo Observatory contained a wonderful quote:  

“Awaken within yourself the fascination of the universe.” 

During our January 2015 visit to this island commonwealth, I spotted many names that “belonged” to the U.S. mainland:  Salinas, San Antonio, Carolina, Virginia, Rio Grande. Point is that it seems quite seldom to find a place name that has not been used more than once, somewhere. Do you know of any?

Bet you did not know that Spokane has a Slavic Newspaper. Slavic Ways “is a publication in the Russian language for Slavic people in Washington, Idaho and Oregon, educating legal immigrants and refugees on how to become productive and independent ASAP in the land of the free, home of the brave.”  Of course, I could not read this newspaper but I could see ads for services and products that might be useful to this community plus several articles which were interesting, I’m sure. Check it out at www.slavicways.com

In early February, 2015, an AP story appeared in our local newspaper:  “Four Magna Cartas united; First-ever event marks anniversary.” The blurb went on to say that a “unification event” was held in the British Library when the four surviving copies of the priceless document were put on display together for the first time, marking the 800th anniversary of the Magna Carta, which established the timeless principle that no individual, even a monarch, is above the law.” What does this have to do with your family history? It is believed that the Magna Carta influenced not only Thomas Jefferson when he helped draft the Declaration of Independence, but also the writers of the French Constitution and the late South African leader, Nelson Mandela. Perhaps you live freely under the law because of the Magna Carta??

Donna Potter Phillips, until next Friday.