Good News & Bad News

Good news and bad news for today. This "news" came up in the discussions of your EWGS Program Committee at our follow-up-to-the-Fall-Workshop meeting. 

While we all realize there is no Magic Pill to swallow to help you find all your genealogy answers

but there are Magic Pearls!!! 

And where do you find or obtain or get Magic Pearls?? By looking for them, duh. 

Think of this oyster. First you had to deep dive in cold water to find the rascal, then risk your fingernails to pry it open, but VIOLA, look at the pearls! Each colored pearl represents a fact about your ancestor for which you've been seeking. 

The point of this silly post, and of our recent EWGS Fall Workshop, are that answers ARE, indeed, out there. We have but to go looking.

Eastside Genealogical Society September Workshop

It’s our 40^th Anniversary and we are celebrating with a special workshop:

“Finding Family History in Your Picture Mysteries”

Featuring Maureen Taylor – the Photo Detective

On Saturday, September 15, 2018

Three Presentations:

·         10 Easy Steps to Identify & Date Those Pictures in the Shoeboxes

·         Google Images and Beyond

·         Genealogical Clues in Family Photos

We invite you to join the celebration by setting up an informational table about your genealogical society for FREE!  Reserve a table today, with one free admission!

In exchange, would you share the information with your membership?  I have attached an electronic copy to our flier for sending out to your members.  Send me the request for your table reservation at EGSgenealogyhelpers@yahoo.com . 

The fun is happening at Vasa Park Ballroom, 3560 W Lake Sammamish Road SE, Bellevue, WA  98008.  Doors open at 9 am with presentations from 9:30 am to 2 pm. 

Private consultations are available afterwards with Maureen Taylor.

Pre-registration is open until September 1, 2018 with EGS members attending for FREE and non-members - $25.  Boxed lunches are available to order for $15.  Or $25 at the door, but no lunch orders.

Go to our website: www.eastsidegenealogicalsociety.com for more details and to register.

Thank you for helping to spread the word about this workshop and our many societies in the greater western Washington area!

Sincerely,

Celia McNay, President

Eastside Genealogical Society

PO Box 374

Bellevue, WA  98009-0374

NOT SURE WHO THEY ARE?

“Finding Family History in Your Picture Mysteries”

At Vasa Park Ballroom 3560 W Lake Sammamish Road SE, Bellevue, WA 98008

Doors open at 9 am—Three Workshops - 9:30 am until 2 pm

Private consultations available afterwards

1. 10 Easy Steps to Identify & Date those Pictures in the Shoeboxes
2. Google Images and Beyond
3. Genealogical Clues in Family Photos

Book sales and Vendor booths -- Door Prizes and Raffle

Pre-registration Open until Sept 1, 2018 (Members MUST register to get in Free)

Free to Members of EGS / Non-members - $25; Boxed lunch - $15

After Sept 1: $25 for everyone, no lunches.

Register online www.eastsidegenealogicalsociety.com or mail the form below & a check to:

Eastside Genealogical Society PO BOX 374, Bellevue, WA 98009-0374

Q’s ? email us at EGSGenealogyhelper@yahoo.com

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

Name: ___________________________________ Phone #: ___________________________________

Address: _____________________________________________________________________________

Email: _________________________________________ Total amount enclosed: _________________

Circle all that apply: Member of EGS -Free Non-member $25 Lunch $15 (mark selection below)

• Roast Beef & Cheddar sandwich with lettuce, tomatoes and balsamic mayo
• Uptown Turkey Avocado sandwich with turkey, bacon, avocado, tomatoes, lettuce & mayo
• Tomato Mozzarella sandwich with mozzarella, plum tomatoes, sweet roasted red peppers, fresh basil and arugula drizzled with balsamic vinaigrette
  
  
  NOT SURE WHO THEY ARE?
  
  

All boxed lunches include chips, fruit, bottled water, & a cookie (Catered by the Corner Bakery Café)

October 2013 Workshop What You Missed

This October workshop consisted of six half hour sessions, a pot luck dinner and a very quick board meeting. Note you can click on any of the photos for a bigger picture.

First was the presentation of the winners of the writing contest, and only Lois Thomason was the only one present and she won first prize.

Next was Shirley Penna-Oakes with some announcements.

Barbara Brazington started our with her session on the definition of genealogy and how to get started recording your ancestors.

Paul Manley talked about the Evergreen Cemetery how it came about, who is buried there, and what they want to do to keep it cleaned up and a functioning cemetery.

Cheri Casper talked about the Daughters of Civil War Veterans and the

 Lisabeth A. Turner Tent #4

Next was the board meeting, and a very good pot luck dinner, with a very funny

Shirley Penna-Oakes telling about her Farr ancestors. 

After lunch Paula Davis from Heritage Funeral Home talked

about writing your own obituary before it is too late.

Dolly Webb showed her half life story volume 1, and if you missed this story you missed a lot.

Ask her sometime about her brother trying to kill her.

Last was Dani Lee McGowan on digitizing your genealogy records, photos, etc.

Idaho Genealogical Society's Annual Meeting and Seminar

The Idaho Genealogical Society announces its Annual Meeting/Seminar on 29 September 2012 in Hayden, Idaho. It is sponsored by the IGS and the Kootenai County Genealogical Society and will be held at the Holiday Inn Express, 151 West Orchard, Hayden.

The itinerary for the day is as follows:

8:30 AM - Registration
9:00 AM - Welcome by Jean Timmermeister (KCGS)
9:10 AM - Welcome and Introductions by Juvanne Martin (IGS)
9:30 AM - IGS Business and Reports
10:40 AM - Break
11:00 AM - Speaker John Schalk: "Life in Nazi-Occupied Germany"
12:00 PM - Lunch (provided by KCGS)
1:00 PM - IGS Business and Elections
1:30 PM - Speaker Miriam Robbins: "Frugal Genealogy"
2:30 PM - Break
2:45 PM - Speaker Connie Godak: "Finding Family with FamilySearch.org"
4:00 PM - Wrap-up and Adjournment
4:00 - 5:00 PM - Networking and Socializing

Registration for KCGS and IGS members is $25; all others, $30. Fee includes lunch. Lunch cannot be guaranteed for late registrants and at-the-door, so register now. For more information or to register, call Waneva Maymon at (208) 772-6618 or email wmaymon@icehouse.net. This event is open to the public--bring a guest. Deadline for registration is September 15, 2012, so send it in soon!

The registration form, directions and overnight accomodations can be downloaded here.

EWGS 2011 October Workshop "The Yankees vs the Rebels"

Saturday October 1, 2011 the Fall EWGS workshop. The speaker Dr. George Schweitzer and his subject the Civil War. The workshop was at the Country Homes Christian Church at 8415 N. Wall in Spokane, Washington.


The first session was on the background and causes of the Civil War. Almost everyone knows that slavery and preserving the union were important causes, but he told of one I don't think I have heard before. The election of 1860 elected Abraham Lincoln, but it also eliminated the majority of Senators that the south had enjoyed since the Revolution.


He then went on to talk about slavery and the Constitution and the views of the founding fathers, Most did not want slavery and they tried to get it eliminated in the Constitution, but the southern states refused to sign if it mentioned slavery. My favorite quote was from Benjamin Franklin in 1789: "Slavery is such an atrocious debasement of human nature, that it may sometimes open a source of serious evils", and of course 72 years later the Civil War starts "a serious evil".

Notice the hat above, this one is a Confederate cavalryman hat and now he is giving the Southern Interpretation for the Civil War. Dr. Schweitzer tells how god has made slavery in the south such an astounding commercial success he must approve of slavery. Also the slaves are much better off than the Negroes back in Africa, our slaves are guaranteed food, shelter, clothing, and care in their old age.
The south also said they entered the union freely and had every right to leave when they wanted.

Notice this hat above it is a Yankee artillery hat, and here Dr, Schweitzer was giving the Northern view, that the Union was meant to be perpetual and that god has done nothing to perpetuate slavery, but slaves in the bible were whites, so if slavery is in the bible it follows that there should also be white slaves owned by blacks. So the south fought believing god sanctioned slavery and the north fought believing god wanted a perpetual union.

This is after the break and while it is a bad picture of Dr. Schweitzer it is a good one of former EWGS President Ruby McNeil. In the Walking with Ancestors pictures I took all of those I took of Ruby were of her back

This uniform is a Confederate cavalryman, the yellow band on the hat signifies cavalry, he was a corporal two bars v shaped on the sleeve of the top. He explained companies of 100 men, regiments of ten companies and brigades.
He also talked about sources for researching your Civil War ancestor, and the fact that while the south lost the war they have won the records war, they have many more records microfilmed that the north.

Next was lunch, and a wonderful pot luck lunch, my sister and I brought a cherry-rhubarb pie and I guess it was well received as it disappeared quickly.

After lunch Dr. Schweitzer appeared as a Yankee Artilleryman, a sergeant. Three red stripes in a v on the sleeve signify an artillery sergeant. He then went on to tell about where to find information on your Yankee ancestor.

NEWS FLASH!

The flyer giving all the details about author Dan Lynch (Google Your Family Tree) is now posted to our EWGSI.org website! Thank you, Miriam, for doing all the leg work (and Maria for helping) and thank you, Cecily, for getting it posted. March and April are going to be banner learning months for EWGS!

You can also download the flyer here.

Google - Dan Lynch - April 9th

Hope you all are signed up to come learn how Google can help you with your research from Dan Lynch on Saturday, April 9th, SFCC Student Union Building, Conference Rooms A and B. Click to our website for registration details: http://www.ewgsi.org/events.php or download the flyer here. This is going to be a fabulous day of learning!

FamilyRoots Seminar in Calgary on October 16

Alberta Family Histories Society
Presents
A
FamilyRoots Seminar
"New Horizons in Genealogy"

Featuring three of North America's leading genealogists

• Dick Eastman - The Organized Genealogist & Conservation: Keeping UP with Technology
  
• Lyn Meehan - Records Interrogation 101 - Squeezing Records Until They Talk
• Thomas MacEntree - Social Networking for Genealogists & Become a Genealogy Blogger

Saturday, October 16, 2010
8:30 AM - 4:00 PM
(Doors open @ 8:00 AM)
Deerfoot Inn Hotel
11500 - 35 St. SE, Calgary, AB, Canada
Dinner (Optional)
Big Rock Grill
5555 - 76 Ave. SE, 6:00 PM
Speaker: Dick Eastman
Topic: "Putting the Genes in Genealogy"

For more information, logon to FamilyRoots
http://www.afhs.ab.ca/familyroots/

What You Missed: The October 2010 Workshop with Thomas MacEntee

Hopefully you didn't miss the October 2010 Workshop at the Spokane Public Library with Thomas MacEntee this weekend! If so, you missed an informative, educational, and entertainment time. Thomas gave five presentations, one of which was brand new: Building a Research Toolbox, Facebook for Genealogists, Become a Genealogy Blog User, Building a Genealogy Blog, and Google Docs for Beginners. Here is what some attendees said about the workshop:

Wonderful, informative and cost effective event today.

This was the best workshop I've been to in a long time.

Thank you for one of the best workshops that I have attended in several years. Thomas was a great speaker, entertainer, and educator and probably produced one of the most informative syllabus in as many years.

Thomas MacEntee was interesting, entertaining, and very very good at explaining these Internet "mysteries" like Facebook and blogging to us.

We also had a terrific box lunch catered by Apple Spice Junction.

If you would like to get a glimpse of some of the great things Thomas shared with EWGS, check out his free cheat sheets:

• Facebook for Genealogists
• Getting Started with Blogger
• Getting Started with WordPress
• Google Docs - Getting Started

You can also view his slideshow, A Genealogy Blog Primer (or Everything You Wanted to Know About Genealogy Blogs But Were Afraid to Ask!).

For more on this weekend, check out Miriam Robbins Midkiff's A Visit with Thomas MacEntee on her AnceStories blog, and Charles Hanson's EWGS October 2010 Workshop Day 1 and EWGS October 2010 Workshop Day 2 on his blog, Mikkel's Hus. Thomas also wrote about the workshop on his Destination: Austin Family blog at Next Stop: EWGS in Spokane and Video - Resource Toolbox Workshop at EWGS.

Speaking of blogs, several attendees have expressed an interest in starting one. Terrence Day started Day's Days and already has nine followers!

If you are interested in more information about starting a blog, don't miss a free webinar on Wednesday, October 20th at 5:00 PM, P.D.T. presented by Pat Richley (a.k.a. DearMYRTLE). This webinar is presented by Legacy Family Tree. More details available here.

It's Not to Late to Register for the October Workshop

It's not too late to register for the October workshop with Thomas MacEntee! Please send in your registration form (which you can download here - it will open with Microsoft Word) with a check to EWGS, PO Box 1826, Spokane, WA 99210-1826 as soon as possible! I would like to be able to give our caterer, Apple Spice Junction, a head count for the box lunches on Monday, September 27th.

If you choose NOT to preregister, you may register at the door at 8:30 on Saturday morning; HOWEVER, please bring your own lunch or plan to go out to grab lunch during the lunch hour, as ONLY those who PREREGISTER will be getting a box lunch from Apple Spice Junction.

Some other things to keep in mind:

• Bring your laptop, netbook, smartphone or whichever device with which you prefer to access the Internet. This is a workshop, and you may wish to follow Thomas' step-by-step directions in reading or building a blog, accessing Google Docs, or using Facebook for genealogy!
• If you are an EWGS member, you can come to Friday evening's presentation, "Building a Research Toolbox," for free. This will be from 6:30 to 8:00 PM in the library meeting rooms on the first floor.
• You will need to park in River Park Square or some other lot/parking garage instead of the library basement, because that lot will not be open the same hours as our workshop meetings.

I know that you will thoroughly enjoy Thomas, as he is an engaging and enthusiastic presenter and is very good at explaining technology in an easy-to-understand way. For those of you who would like to start a blog or have considered creating a genealogy website (a blog is a much-easier to create alternative to a website), you won't want to miss the two presentations on blogs. If you've ever felt intimidated by technology or thought, "How on earth would that relate to genealogy?", then this workshop is definitely for you!  I look forward to seeing you all there!

If you have any questions, please e-mail Miriam Robbins Midkiff.

Boston Family History Day 2010

Press release from Ancestry.com and the New England Historic Genealogical Society:

Ancestry.com and the New England Historic Genealogical Society (NEHGS) have once again collaborated to present Boston Family History Day 2010 -- Saturday, October 16, 2010, at the Seaport World Trade Center, in Boston, Massachusetts.

This full-day event will help you start or hone your genealogical skills:

•  More than 12 family history classes designed to help you grow your tree and learn more about NEHGS and Ancestry.com resources
•  Chances to meet one-on-one with professional genealogists
•  A beginner’s track where your family and friends can learn the basics to start their own research
•  Opportunities to have photos and documents scanned on high-speed scanners
•  NEHGS and Ancestry.com experts on hand to answer your questions
•  And much more!

Register today to attend Family History Day 2010 in Boston! The cost for attendance is only $38 for the full day. To learn more about Boston Family History Day 2010 – including class, scanning and consultation offerings, visit www.FamilyHistoryDay.com. We hope to see you there!

Thomas MacEntee Featured Speaker at Annual EWGS October Workshop

The Eastern Washington Genealogical Society presents its annual October Workshop Saturday, October 2, 2010 at the Spokane Public Library, 906 W. Main, 1st Floor Meeting Rooms in Spokane, Washington. Noted genealogy blogger, writer, and lecturer Thomas MacEntee will be our featured speaker. His presentations include:

• Facebook for Genealogists
• Become a Genealogy Blog User
• Building a Genealogy Blog
• Google Docs for Beginners

Thomas specializes in educating the “non-techie” crowd on various types of technology in a friendly and non-threatening environment.

Cost will be $20 for EWGS members or $25 for non-members, which includes a choice of three box lunches from Apple Spice Junction for pre-registered attendees. A special presentation, "Building a Research Toolbox," will be held for EWGS members only on Friday evening, October 1 from 6:30 - 8:00 PM, in the same location. A registration form can be downloaded here.

Check in will be at 8:30 AM Saturday and the workshop will be held from 9:00 AM through 3:30 PM. A lunch break will take place from 11:45 AM to 1:15 PM. Paid parking is available across the street in River Park Square. For more information, contact Miriam Robbins Midkiff.

It's Not Too Late to Register for the May 15th Spring Seminar with Barbara Nuehring!

You can still register for the May 15th Spring Seminar with Barbara Nuehring on the morning of the seminar at our registration table at 9:00 AM! The held Saturday, May 15th at the Country Homes Christian Church, 8415 North Wall Street in Spokane, Washington (see map at bottom of post). Registration is only $15 each for members; $18 each for non-members. No registration form is necessary. Either cash or checks made out to EWGS will be accepted. Syllabuses are not guaranteed.

Registration and check-in begins at 9:00 AM. The meeting will begin at 9:30 AM, with the first lecture starting at 10:00. A potluck lunch will be held at 12:15 PM. Members are asked to bring the following items according to their surname (coffee, tea, and water will be supplied):

• A-F: potato or pasta salad, or rolls and butter
• G - L: fruit tray or dessert
• M - P: green salad with dressing or veggie tray with dip
• R-Z: meat or bean dish or casserole

The last lecture will conclude at 3:30 PM.

Barbara has been a guest lecturer at genealogical seminars and society meetings, teaching courses on a wide variety of subjects that couple traditional genealogy methodology with computer technology. The seminar's theme is "Oh, the Places You'll Go!" and Ms. Nuehring will be presenting the following four topics:

• Exploiting Maps to Track Down Your Ancestors
• Dealing with Stumbling Blocks: Calendars and Penmanship
• On Site Research: Ready, Set, Go!
• Across the Pond: Researching Your European Ancestors

In addition to the lectures, door prizes will be handed out and a raffle will be held. There will also be a contest to name EWGS's new digital publication. This is a seminar you won't want to miss! For further information, please contact Miriam Robbins Midkiff by phone (484-6759) or e-mail.

View Larger Map

Barbara Nuehring to be Featured Speaker at Spring Seminar 2010 (May 15th)

Barbara Nuehring will be the featured noted lecturer at the Eastern Washington Genealogical Society's Spring Seminar held Saturday, May 15th at the Country Homes Christian Church, 8415 North Wall Street in Spokane, Washington (see map at bottom of post). Ms. Nuehring has a B.S. in Business from the University of Maryland and after a successful career as a comptroller withing the U.S. Department of the Army, she has spent her time researching her family history and taking active roles in several organizations.

Currently she and her husband travel full-time in their motor home, which gives her ample opportunity to do on-site research and make regular visits to the Family History Library in Salt Lake City.  Barbara is the Secretary/Treasurer of the 200+ member Escapees Genealogy Group and writes feature columns for their newsletter and for the Green Valley [Arizona] Genealogy Society Past Tracks. She is a member of the National Genealogical Society; Genealogical Speakers Guild; International Society of Family History Writers and Editors; Palatines to America; and several local societies.

Barbara has been a guest lecturer at genealogical seminars and society meetings, teaching courses on a wide variety of subjects that couple traditional genealogy methodology with computer technology. The seminar's theme is "Oh, the Places You'll Go!" and Ms. Nuehring will be presenting the following four topics:

• Exploiting Maps to Track Down Your Ancestors
• Dealing with Stumbling Blocks: Calendars and Penmanship
• On Site Research: Ready, Set, Go!
• Across the Pond: Researching Your European Ancestors

In addition to the lectures, door prizes will be handed out and a raffle will be held. There will also be a contest to name EWGS's new digital publication. Registration is only $15 each for members; $18 each for non-members. No registration form is necessary; to ensure a syllabus, simply mail your check made out to EWGS and marked "Spring Seminar" by April 30th to the address below. Payment will also be taken at the door, but syllabuses are not guaranteed.

EWGS

P.O. Box 1826

Spokane, Washington 99210-1826

Registration and check-in begins at 9:00 AM. The meeting will begin at 9:30 AM, with the first lecture starting at 10:00. A potluck lunch will be held at 12:15 PM. Members are asked to bring the following items according to their surname (coffee, tea, and water will be supplied):

• A-F: potato or pasta salad, or rolls and butter
• G - L: fruit tray or dessert
• M - P: green salad with dressing or veggie tray with dip
• R-Z: meat or bean dish or casserole

The last lecture will conclude at 3:30 PM.

Ms. Nuehring was EWGS's featured speaker at the October 2008 workshop and her presentations were met with much enthusiasm. This is a seminar you won't want to miss! For further information, please contact Miriam Robbins Midkiff by phone (484-6759) or e-mail.

View Larger Map

Free Genealogy Seminar in Hayden, Idaho on Saturday

The Family History Center (FHC) in Hayden, Idaho announces a free seminar this Saturday, September 19th from 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM.

To get to the FHC from the west (Spokane), go east on I-90, take the Northwest Blvd exit (first Coeur d'Alene exit) and go north on Ramsey Road. Turn left at Hanley and go 1/2 mile to the traffic circle. The building is on the northwest corner of that intersection.

Check in begins at 9:30. A variety of soups and sandwiches will be served from 12:00 to 1:00 PM, but please register no later than Thursday, September17th. Call 208-765-0150 through Thursday 10:00 AM to 9:00 PM or e-mail joannefaye21@msn.com.

Here are the choices of classes being offered:

FIRST SESSION – 10:10 to 11:00
 1. German Research – Diane Kamphaus
 2. Internet Genealogy – Karen Bennett
 3. History & Genealogy – Joe Mitchell
 4. Hidden Sources – Sunny Webb

SECOND SESSION – 11:10 to 12:00
 5. New Family Search & Family Insight – Connie Godak
 6. Photoshop – David Van Etten
 7. Locating Ancestral Land Using Google Maps, Google Earth, and GPS Units – Joe Mitchell
 8. Publishing Their Stories – Teresa Olson

THIRD SESSION – 1:00 to 1:50
 9. FH Center Resources You Might Have Missed – Connie Godak
 10. Old Photo Analysis – Sandy Simon
 11. Gadgets, Gifts from Cyberspace, Computer Savvy – Jeshua Barlow
 12. Scotology 101 (Customs, Clans, Gaelic, & Geography in Scotland up to 1745) – Sandy Doutre

FOURTH SESSION – 2:00 to 3:00
 13. PAF: Slideshows & Scrapbooks – Connie Godak
 14. Family History Software Comparisons – Diane Kamphaus
 15. Scandinavian Research – Sharon Gibson
 16. Scotology 102 (American & Canadian Immigration, 1620-1850) – Sandy Doutre

Reminder: Get Your Registration In to Hear Colleen Fitzpatrick

Kootenai County Genealogical Society
& The Family History Store
Present

Colleen Fitzpatrick, PhD - Forensic Genealogist

Come join us - May 30, 2009

Friends Church
251 West Miles Avenue - Hayden, Idaho

Dr. Fitzpatrick is the author of several books, including:

Forensic Genealogy

DNA & Genealogy

The Dead Horse Investigation: Forensic Photo Analysis for Everyone

Dr. Fitzpatrick is world renowned for her expertise in solving the cases of "The Hand in the Snow" in Alaska, "The Unknown Baby from the Titanic," and in helping Dr. Ken Waltzer expose the Herman Rosenblat Holcaust Fraud.

9:30 a.m. ~ Registration

10:15 a.m. ~ Introductions

10:30-11:30 a.m. ~ Session 1: Forensic Genealogy
CSI Meets Roots: The DNA Detective - As described in Forensic Genealogy and DNA & Genealogy, and featured on National Public Radio’s Talk of the Nation program, forensic scientists and genealogists share the same goal - to find out who was who, and who did what and when. If you are interested in using your genealogical materials in unique and innovative ways, this talk is for you! Come learn new approaches to using photographs, databases, and DNA either alone or in combination to solve your genealogical mysteries. This talk will give you new insights into how DNA works and how it can be useful.

11:30-12:00 p.m. ~ Break and Browse Books

Lunch Break ~ 12:00 - 1:00
Bring a sack lunch or eat at a nearby restaurant

1:00-2:00 p.m. ~ Session 2: DNA & Genealogy
You Will Never Look at Your Old Photos the Same Way Again! As featured on NPR’s Talk of the Nation with Neil Conan, in Internet Genealogy, Family Tree Magazine, Ancestry, and Family Chronicle, Forensic Genealogy offers innovative new tools for getting the most information out of your old photographs. This talk will present innovative approaches to identifying old photographs, many drawn from Forensic Genealogy and from solutions to the weekly photographic quizzes offered on the website www.forensicgenealogy.info. After attending this talk, you will never look at your old photos the same way again!

2:00-2:30 p.m. ~ Break and Browse Books

2:30-3:30 p.m. ~ Session 3 Forensic Photo

Analysis: The Database Detective- Discovering facts about your ancestor such as his birth, marriage, and death dates is much easier to find nowadays thanks to the internet. The challenge to modern genealogists is to extract information from those facts. As featured on National Public Radio’s Talk of the Nation program, and as the cover article of Internet Genealogy, Family Tree Magazine, Ancestry, and Family Chronicle, Forensic Genealogy shows you how to extract exciting and unusual information about your ancestors by milking databases for every drop of information they can provide.

3:30-4:00 p.m. ~ Break and Browse Books

$25 Pre-registration ~ $30 at the door, if space is available

Make checks payable to KCGS and mail with name, address and phone number to:
Kootenai County Genealogical Society
8385 North Government Way
Hayden, Idaho 83835

Space is limited so pre-registrations must be in by May 15, 2009.

Questions? Contact Louisa Durkin at (208) 699-2687 or (208) 666-6064
or email leory1@earthlink.net.

2009 Family Trees and Ancestries Conference (FREE!)

The 2009 Family Trees and Ancestries, which is a FREE genealogy/family history conference sponsored by the Spokane, Washington North Stake LDS Church, will be held this coming Saturday, March 28th from 8:30 AM to 1:00 PM at the North Stake LDS Church, 401 W. Regina Ave., Spokane.

You can get directions, read about the speakers, look at the schedule (there are three session times and 10 classes to choose from), and register online at http://www.spokanegenconf.org/. While the website says the registration deadline is today, March 22nd, I just received news that they will accept registration throughout this coming week. However, if you would like to order a syllabus, you must place your order today.

The following EWGS members are part of the line up of speakers: Barbara Brazington will be speaking on "Using County and Local Histories in Research"; Shirley Penna-Oakes will present "What Have You Missed in Vital Records"; and Miriam Robbins Midkiff will give presentations of using the WorldVitalRecords and Footnote websites.

Unlike past Family Trees and Ancestries Conferences, the conference will only be held half a day and therefore, no lunch will be available. If you have never had an opportunity to check out a Family History Center or would like to get a friend interested in beginning their genealogy, please consider attending this free conference!

Free Family History Seminar in Hayden, Idaho

Free Family History Seminar

Saturday, October 25th, 2008 -- Hayden Lake Family History Center -- 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM

A variety of soups, salad & fresh breadsticks will be served from 12:00 to 1:00. Yes! There is such a thing as a free lunch, but please pre-register by Thursday, October 23 so we know you are coming!

For more information, or to register:

• Call (208) 765-0150 Monday, 10 AM to 5 PM or Tuesday through Thursday, 10 AM to 9 PM; or
  
• E-mail Joanne Faye; or
• Mail your name, address, phone number and choice of classes to Connie Godak, 2203 James Crowe, Hayden, ID 83835

Class Choices:

1. Digital Photo Repair, taught by Dave Van Etten, artist, graphic artist & owner of Van Etten Studios: two sessions
2. New Family Search, taught by Donna Austin, Family Search Support Missionary; two additional sessions taught by Karen Bennett, FHC Staff Trainer
3. Organization Makes Life Easier, taught by Betty Marriott, FH Consultant. Betty brings home an exciting method of organizing your family history from a class she just attended in Utah.
4. Daughters of the American Revolution workshop, taught by Jeanne Venturino, KCGS, & Liz Jones, local DAR chapter Vice Regent.
5. Internet Genealogy, Take One, taught by Karen Bennett, FHC Staff Trainer
6. Beginning Personal Ancestral File, taught by Connie Godak, FHC Director
7. Advanced Personal Ancestral File, taught by Connie Godak, FHC Director
8. Internet Genealogy, Take Two, taught by Joseph Mitchell, University of Idaho Cartography BS and grad student in Historical Archeology.
9. Searching and Understanding Land Records, taught by Joseph Mitchell (see above)
10. Who's PERSI? If you don't know, you are missing 1/3 of the records that are out there: taught by Connie Godak, FHC Director.
11. Accessing State & National Archives Records, taught by Joseph Mitchell (see above)
12. Cancel Confusion! Does working with GEDCOMs and thumb drives, burning CDs, or knowing where to look for what you need to know to find what you want to know drive you crazy? This class will help! taught by Connie Godak, FHC Director.

Of Course, Walk-ins Are Welcome!

Choose one from each session below. Use the class choice numbers listed above:

• 10:10 to 11:00 AM - 2 (instructor: Donna Austin), 6, 9
• 11:10 to 12:00 PM - 1, 4, 5, 7
  
• 1:10 to 2:00 PM - 1, 2 (instructor: Karen Bennett), 10, 11
• 2:10 to 3:00 PM - 2 (instructor: Karen Bennett), 3, 8, 12

Name _______________________________
Phone _______________________________
Address ______________________________

Directions:
Don't use Google Maps to map your way to the Family History Center. It gives an incorrect location! From Spokane, take I-90 East. Take exit 11 into Coeur d'Alene. Stay to the left. Turn left onto Ramsey. Go north two miles. Turn left on Hanley. Go ½ mile to the church just past the round-about.

What You Missed: The Fall 2008 Seminar

Those who attended, agree: if you missed the Fall 2008 Seminar with Barbara Nuehring, you missed out! Ms. Nuehring brought knowledge, skill, and humor to her topics, Bytes, Boxes & Beyond, and every one of us came away having learned much and eager to try out her suggestions!

Her first lecture, "Timelines: Understanding Your Ancestor's World," discussed the importance of timelines to family historians, the different types and scopes of timlines, sources of existing timelines, and methods for develoing customized timelines. Not only did Barbara encourage us to put flesh on the bones, but to add clothing and a setting to our family history!

"Using Boxes to Think Outside the Box" came next, and she explained that cells and tables found in spreadsheets and word processing programs are the "boxes" we can use as tools to analyze, organize, and absorb information. Her helpful syllabus gave step-by-step directions to create an Excel worksheet from the Family History Catalog's film notes, as well as links to free downloadable pre-formated Excel spreadsheets or Microsoft Word documents for transcribing source documents. Her instructions were clear and concise and helpful even for those with limited experience with these programs.

After a tasty lunch catered by the Mukogawa Fort Wright Institute food service staff, we listed to "Digitizing Your Genealogy: Relax! It's Only Bits & Bytes". Ms. Nuehring explained the importance of digitzing your genealogy files, the various types of files, how to download, photograph, and/or scan files so that they are digitized, and gave ideas on how to organize these digital files. The last was especially useful, as she gave some great ideas for naming files within folders so they are easy to find as well as easy to analyze while browing through them.

"Beyond Words: Dressing Up Your Family History" was next. While her "Timelines" presentation added a setting to a family history, "Beyond Words" provided a wardrobe to our ancestors' bare bones after the flesh was added. Four areas were covered: "The Closet: Hardware and Software," "The Clothes: The Four Principles of Design," "The Cosmetics: Fonts and Attributes," and "The Accessories: Charts, Maps & Illustrations." These were followed by a list of resources for helping create a beautifully clothed family history publication.

What was your favorite part of this seminar, and what did you learn? Please leave your comments below.

The next general meeting will be held Saturday, November 1st in the first floor meeting rooms of the downtown branch of the Spokane Public Library (906 W. Main). A Problem-Solving Panel will be available to help members and non-members alike with suggestions for breaking down your brick walls. To receive expert help with your research challenges, submit them to Pat Bayonne-Johnson by October 15th. This meeting is FREE to the general public. Coffee, Cookies, and Conversation begin at 12:30, followed by the business session at 1:00. The main event will begin at 1:30. Paid parking is available in the library basement accessed on Spokane Falls Blvd. and across Lincoln St. in River Park Square. A skywalk to the second floor of the library is accessible from River Park Square.

Margie Beldin to Be the Featured Speaker at the Northeast Washington Genealogical Society Fall 2008 Seminar

The Northeast Washington Genealogical Society proudly presents their 2008 Fall Seminar with Margie Beldin on Saturday, October 18th from 8:30 AM to 4:00 PM in the basement of the Colville Public Library (195 S. Oak). "Exploring Your Genealogical Horizons" is the topic of the day, with the following four classes:

* Church Records of the United States
* City Directories and Their Genealogical Value
* Research Outlines, Guidance and the New Family Search Wiki
* Learning from the Pros

Special pricing for members ($25) and non-members ($27) will end on October 10th. Registration for $30 will be at the door beginning at 8:00 AM Saturday morning. The price includes lunch,handouts, door prizes and lots of freebies. If you would like to take advantage of the lowered price, mail your checks payable to NeWGS, c/o Colville Public Library, 195 S. Oak, Colville, WA 99114.

This event is co-sponsored by the Colville Public Library and the Stevens County Rural Library District.