The Florida Genealogical Society's 2021 Annual Fall Seminar will take place via zoom on October 2, 2021.  Everyone is welcome! The event- DNA-All Day with Blaine Bettinger will have 4 sessions.  Please go to our website fgstampa.org for schedule and full details. The presentations are as follows:

1. Using Y-DNA and mtDNA to Explore Your Ancestry-Y-DNA and mtDNA testing and have helped genealogists break through thousands of stubborn brick walls. Learn about the unique inheritance of Y-DNA and mtDNA in your family, how these tests can be used to explore your ancient ancestry, and how the results can identify your relatives both close and distant.
2. Using Autosomal DNA for the 18th and 19th Century Mysteries-Even though our 18th and 19th century ancestors have been dead for decades, their DNA still survives in their descendants. Learn how to use autosomal DNA to attack and potentially solve genealogical mysteries and brick walls for ancestors who were born or lived in the 1800’s, 1700’s, and beyond.
3. What If? Learning About DNA Through Case Studies- Case studies are a powerful way to educate. In this lecture, attendees will see a series of case studies reflecting some of the most common and interesting DNA scenarios about which seminar attendees all over the country frequently ask. However, rather than simply being a disjointed collection of case studies, the presentation will provide themes such as the need to understand and utilize many different company tools and third-party tools, to think logically and creatively, and to avoid confirmation bias.
4. Evaluating a Genealogical Conclusion Including DNA-Someone tells you that they’ve proven their connection to a genealogical ancestor using DNA, but have they really proven it? Did they avoid the known pitfalls? Together we will discuss the most common pitfalls when using DNA evidence and propose the minimum requirements for a genealogical proof comprising DNA.

OUR SPEAKER Blaine Bettinger

Blaine Bettinger, Ph.D., J.D., is a professional genealogist specializing in DNA evidence. In 2007 he started The Genetic Genealogist (www.thegeneticgenealogist.com), one of the earliest blogs on the topic. Blaine is the author of The Family Tree Guide to DNA Testing and Genetic Genealogy, and co-author with Debbie Parker Wayne of the award-winning Genetic Genealogy in Practice, the world’s first genetic genealogy workbook. He also co-authored “Genetics for Genealogy” with Judy Russell in 2018’s Professional Genealogy: Preparation, Practice & Standards (ProGen PPS) (Elizabeth Shown Mills, Author and Editor).

Blaine is or has been an instructor for genetic genealogy courses at the Institute of Genealogy and Historical Research (IGHR), Salt Lake Institute of Genealogy (SLIG), Genealogical Research Institute of Pittsburgh (GRIP), and Virtual Institute of Genealogical Research. Blaine is a graduate of ProGen Study Group 21, a trustee for the New York Genealogical and Biographical Society’s Board of Trustees, and a board member for the Association of Professional Genealogists.

We look forward to seeing you!

CCGS Society Management Workshops are held every other year, usually in Denver, Colorado. This year's keynote speaker will be Josh Taylor and the theme will be "Your Society Now and into the Future." After the keynote, there will be four sessions of five "rooms" with programs and discussion groups including workshops for Boards consisting of best practices, recruiting, community relationships and more. Workshops for Committee chairs will focus on membership, educational classes, society newsletters, websites, Facebook and using the Council's Speakers Bureau. Administration workshops will cover Bylaws, procedures Manuals, Zoom hybrid meetings, Cybersecurity, Branding your society, Copyright Issues and how the Colorado chapter of APG can help your society. For more details see https://cocouncil.org/smw-workshops.html

Thomas MacEntee will present:

• Smarter Search Strategies for Genealogy
• Turning Genealogy Clues into Genealogy To Do's
• Brick Wall Breakthroughs

Bucks County Genealogical Society hosts its 15th Annual Bucks County ANCESTRY FAIR: "Solving Genealogical Mysteries with the Photo Detective" featuring Maureen Taylor. 

In a day-long virtual symposium, Maureen will present an overview of using photographs to augment genealogical research and how to ensure your photographs—both paper and digital—are well organized and safely preserved for future generations to enjoy.

For the afternoon session, registrants will be invited to submit some of their most intriguing family photos along with questions they may have about them. In an edition of her popular Photo Detective Road Show, Maureen will select some of the submissions and interpret them during a fascinating afternoon session. 

For more information, visit www.ancestryfair.org or email publicity@bucksgen.org.

Family history and genealogy enthusiasts from across the Upper Midwest will converge 1-2 October for the 14th annual North Star Genealogy Conference being held virtually in Minnesota.

The conference theme, "Link to the Past, Path to the Future" focuses on the rewards of researching family history and passing it forward to future generations. Sponsored by the Minnesota Genealogical Society, the conference features presentations by D. Joshua Taylor, plus 23 how-to classes on topics such as DNA, fraternity organizations, new online tools, and breaking down brick walls.

The conference, which is open to the general public, features two other special events. A special "pre-conference", which will highlight getting a head start on the 1950s census and the annual MGS Awards Banquet. Complete program information is available at www.mngs.org. Registration is now open.

Join us September 25, 2021 as the Capital District genealogical Society celebrates its 40th Anniversary with a special event in place of our monthly meeting. The Society will hold its first virtual Conference! Set your day aside to join us at what promises to be a fun educational day.

Interested in DNA? Have you received a genealogy DNA kit and want to understand what it means? How can you make the best use of those matches? We’re offering two sessions by Fred Voss who will help us by sharing some case studies and techniques.

Are you looking to take that first step into the genealogy world? Have so many challenges and sorting of surnames tangling your efforts? Let Tom Jones share his knowledge as only he can. Perhaps you’re an avid genealogist who wants to publish your own family history. Did you uncover a “sensitive” piece of history and struggle with how to present if you do? Tom will also provide a talk about dealing with those “sensitive” findings.

Have a photograph you love, but don't know when or where it was taken? Maureen Taylor The Photo Detective" will join us for a session that includes an opportunity for a few attendees to have their photos scrutinized.

Registration is open our website. To register you must have a free account with CDGS, but do not have to be a member of CDGS. www.CapitalDistrictGenealogicalSociety.org

Saturday, Sept. 25, 2021 the Texas Czech Genealogical Society (TCGS) will celebrate its “20th Anniversary: Upward to New Heights”, commemorates the founding of The Texas Czech Genealogical Society (TCGS), with the following ‘in person’ events:

“Czech Songs in Texas”  Presentation and Music by Frances Barton; “What are the Benefits of Using familysearch.org?”  by Kim Marble; “Cadastral Maps: What are they? How to use the maps”  by Helmuth Schneider; and “Family Sausage Making”  by Walter Vajdak and John Gantt.  There will also be a Silent Auction, Czech Gift Shop, Photos and Displays and the most useful Library/Book Room, including Genealogy Research books, maps, surname lists, ship lists, over 105,00 Czech Research files and much more – with librarians to assist.

Morning Refreshments (coffee, juice, kolache) and Lunch (Pork Loin or Roasted Chicken Breast in Cream Sauce) provided.

REGISTRATION: (includes a catered lunch)
Detailed information and registration forms are on the Texas Czech Genealogical Society (TCGS) website: http://www.txczgs.org  under "Events”.
Early Bird Registration – Postmarked on or before, Saturday, September 7, 2021
    TCGS Members - $45.00 Non-Members - $50.00
Registration - Postmarked September 7, 2021 - September 24, 2021
    TCGS Members - $50.00 Non-Members - $55.00
Registration at door - $60.00 (ALL – Members and Non-Members)

NOTE: Your registration fee includes everything listed, including both the morning refreshments and lunch. We encourage those attending to wear a mask and to have been fully vaccinated.

If deemed necessary to cancel the event because of the spread of the virus, all registration fees received WILL BE refunded.

To register by credit card go to: squareup.com/store/TXCZGS/item/registration.
If paying by check made payable to TCGS, fill out the registration form and mail to:
Susan Crutchfield, 507 West St, Sealy, Texas 77474.
For further information, Susan can be reached at: scrutch3@att.net

Membership in TCGS is NOT REQUIRED to attend this event.

Registration begins at 8:00 AM; Program begins at 9:00 AM at the
Caldwell Civic Center
103 Highway 21 W.
Caldwell, TX 77836

Saturday, September 25, 2021

Texas Czech Genealogical Society (TCGS) “20^th Anniversary Celebration: Upward to New Heights,” commemorating the founding of The Texas Czech Genealogical Society, with ‘in person’ events beginning at 9:00 AM at the Caldwell, Civic and Visitors Center, Caldwell, Tx.  Detailed information and registration form attached and on the TCGS website: http://www.txczgs.org under "Events”.

 In-pereson events include:
“Czech Songs in Texas”  Presentation and Music by Frances Barton; “What are the Benefits of Using familysearch.org?”  by Kim Marble; “Cadastral Maps: What are they? How to use the maps”  by Helmuth Schneider; and “Family Sausage Making”  by Walter Vajdak and John Gantt. 

There will also be a Silent Auction, Czech Gift Shop, Photos and Displays and the most useful Library/Book Room, including Genealogy Research books, maps, surname lists, over 105,00 Czech Research files and much more – with librarians to assist.

Morning Refreshments (coffee, juice, kolache) and Lunch (Pork Loin or Roasted Chicken Breast in Cream Sauce) provided.

REGISTRATION: (includes a catered lunch)

Detailed information and registration forms are on the Texas Czech Genealogical Society (TCGS) website: http://www.txczgs.org  under "Events”.

Early Bird Registration – Postmarked on or before, Saturday, September 7, 2021
    TCGS Members - $45.00 Non-Members - $50.00

Registration - Postmarked September 7, 2021 - September 24, 2021
    TCGS Members - $50.00 Non-Members - $55.00

Registration at door - $60.00 (ALL – Members and Non-Members)

NOTE: Your registration fee includes everything listed, including both the morning refreshments and lunch. We encourage those attending to wear a mask and to have been fully vaccinated.

If deemed necessary to cancel the event because of the spread of the virus, all registration fees received WILL BE refunded.

To register by credit card go to: squareup.com/store/TXCZGS/item/registration

If paying by check made payable to TCGS, fill out the registration form and mail to:
Susan Crutchfield, 507 West St, Sealy, Texas 77474.
For further information, Susan can be reached at: scrutch3@att.net

Membership in TCGS is NOT REQUIRED to attend this event.

Registration begins at 8:00 AM; Program begins at 9:00 AM
Caldwell Civic Center
103 Highway 21 W.
Caldwell, TX 77836

Join us online for Fox Valley Genealogical Society's 27th Fall Conference PATH to AMERICA: Immigration Records & Roadshow on Saturday, September 25, 2021 (9am - 3pm CDT) featuring Rich Venezia - 

3 Lecture Topics and a Roadshow:

1. Ship Manifests: An In-Depth Look
2. Naturalization Know-How: The Laws and Records of U. S. Citizenship
3. Alien Registrations in America
4. Immigration Records Roadshow - Are you confused about when your grandma became a citizen? Have you been looking for a ship manifest for years, to no avail? Submit your immigration record challenge by July 31, 2021 for Rich Venezia to research. If selected*, Rich will feature your challenge in the Immigration Records Roadshow session! After registering for the conference, you will receive a link to the Roadshow Application to submit a research challenge if you would like. Please allow sufficient time to gather information and prepare your application. 

Cost: $25 Members, $35 Non-Members - REGISTER ONLINE by September 23, 2021

A recording will be available to registrants for a limited time after the conference. Closed captioning available. Door prize drawings throughout the day.

*Note: Only conference registrants are eligible to submit an Immigration Records Roadshow Application so please complete your conference registration first. Research cases will be selected at the speaker’s discretion. Not all submissions will be selected for the Immigration Records Roadshow session.

Explore the various tools provided by Ancestry.com to assist in analyzing and evaluating DNA matches. It will cover the more common tools, as well as a few that are lesser known and under-utilized.