Friday, April 29, 2011

Daughters of Utah Pioneers Annual Convention

The Daughters of the Utah Pioneers (DUP) is having their Annual Convention on Monday, May 2, 1011, at 10:00 in the Bowdish Bldg, 40th and Bowdish, Spokane Valley, WA. Call Pauline Quick for directions (509-924-5248).

Maureen Smith, the 1st Vice President from Salt Lake City, will be the guest speaker.  Luncheon will be served following the meeting at a cost of $5.00, payable at the door.

The theme for the convention is Pioneer Handwork. "You are welcome to bring any pioneer handwork for display."

Id you are a DUP member or a prospective member, I hope you already knew about this and are planning to do, but if not, sounds like it's not too late.

Monday, April 25, 2011

Up Coming Learning Opportunities from Miriam.

Our EWGS shining star, Miriam Robbins Midkiff, is once again offering knowledge to us in the form of classes through the Continuing Education program here in Spokane. She will teach:

[The military records class has been cancelled.]

Who Do You Think You Are?  - What do you know about your ancestors or your heritage? In this beginning online genealogy class, learn how to start your search, confirm family lore, and use all sorts of records to trace your family tree; prerequisite: a working knowledge of the computer.
Class #L154  --  Tuesdays, May 3, 10, 17, 24,  6:00-8:00pm,  Centerplace, Room 209,  Cost $49


Vital and Cemetery Records - Learn now to use birth, marriage and death and cemetery records for the basis of your genealogy research; discover where to find these documents onsite and online.
Class #L113  --  Tuesday, May 31, 6:00-9:00pm,  Centerplace, Room 209,  Cost $25


Register for any or all of these classes online at http://www.ccs.spokane.edu/Continuing Ed or call (509) 279-6030 (they will ask for a credit card number).

Wednesday, April 20, 2011

Meeting coming up..... May 7th

The May 7th EWGS meeting will begin with the usual Coffee, Cookies & Conversation at 12:30 on that Saturday at the downtown Spokane Public Library, BUT then the fun will begin!  The First Annual EWGS Great Swap Meet will happen! We all will bring our no-longer-needed genealogy related stuff, lay it all out on tables, and pick up to take home what stuff we want. Then Dick Jensen, of the Inland Empire Tours, will speak on Set in Stone about the historical monuments and markers of the Spokane area. He will have copies of his book for sale too.  So hope you're planning to come on Saturday, May 7th for it promises to be an especially wonderful EWGS day.

Friday, April 15, 2011

FamilySearch FORUMS..... have you used this resource??

I've spent this week in the Family History Library and share with you some wonderful new thing I learned about:  http://www.forums.familysearch.org/

You've likely used GenForum or RootsWeb so you know about posting queries (asking questions online) and checking back for answers. The FS Forum (now in Beta stage) will be just that but bigger and better.

First you will have to have a Family Search account (both LDS and non-LDS folks). This is free and will not obligate you or infringe upon your privacy. How can folks reply to your query/posting if your email is not in the system??

Click to the above address and WAY UP IN THE RIGHT CORNER is sign in. Sign in with your FamilySearch account and scroll down to see the many forums currently availble.

Right near the top of the list was the Locality forum. I clicked on that, then selected Washington, and read about a dozen posted queries/questions about research and/or records in Washington. I even answered one!

THAT is the beauty of the FamilySearch Forums.....anybody with any amount of knowledge can post answers and don't we know that every little bit helps?

Take 30 minutes soon and click around on http://www.forums.familysearch.org/ and see if you don't agree that this might just could become a wonderful new research tool in your genealogy toolbox.

Wednesday, April 13, 2011

Spokane Area Legacy Users Group to Meet Wednesday, April 20th

If you are a Legacy Family Tree genealogy software user, or are simply curious about this genealogy software program, you may be interested in the Legacy Users Group (LUG), which will meet next Wednesday, April 20th, from 1:30 to 3:30 PM in the meeting room of the Shadle Park Branch of the Spokane Public Library at 2111 W. Wellesley. This meeting is free and open to the public. Regular attendees will take turns in the role of moderator for each meeting.  If you have more questions, please contact Donna Potter Phillips here.

Monday, April 4, 2011

April 16th and the EWGS Computer Class

Susan Beamer will be the teacher for the April 16th EWGS computer classes (10:15-11:15, repeating 11:30-12:30). Her subject will be Researching the the American SOUTH.  Classes are free to EWGS members but you must register with Miriam Midkiff (kidmiff@gmail.com) for the session you prefer.

And while I have your eyes, don't forget to come hear Dan Lynch teach us about using Google to find our family tree. It is too late to register and get lunch; you may bring your own sack lunch and pay the registration fee of $30 at the door.......... SFCC, Student Union Bldg. He's bringing his books to sell at a discount too!