FGS Society Strategy Series Now Available to the Public

For Immediate Release
February 28, 2011

FGS SOCIETY STRATEGY SERIES NOW AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC

Genealogy Society Management Papers by Well-Known Authors

February 28, 2011 – Austin, TX. The Federation of Genealogical Societies (FGS) announces that a vast collection of its Society Strategy Series papers is now available—free to the public—at the FGS website (http://www.fgs.org/societystrategy/).

The Society Strategy Series is a collection of papers filled with suggestions and instructions for the management of genealogical societies, historical societies, and family associations. These papers have been expertly written by respected authors in the genealogy community to help you and your society grow and prosper.

Timely Topics by Well-Known Authors

Topics covered in the Society Strategy Series papers include:

• Series I: Strategies for Societies
• Series II: Strategies for Presidents
• Series III: Strategies for Vice-Presidents
• Series IV: Strategies for Treasurers
• Series V: Strategies for Secretaries
• Series VI: Strategies for Program Chairpersons
• Series VII: Strategies for Librarians
• Series VIII: Strategies for Editors

Most genealogists and genealogy society members will recognize the authors of the Society Strategy Series papers which include Jana Sloan Broglin, Karen Clifford, Betty Robertson Kaufman, Roberta “Bobbi” King, Gary Mokotoff, David Rencher, Curt Witcher, and the late Sandra H. Luebking and Marsha Hoffman Rising.

Newer Society Strategy Series topics are placed in the Members Only area of the FGS website for a period of one (1) year as a member benefit for FGS member societies. Additional new papers are being written and are planned for the coming year.

Helping Genealogy Societies Grow and Prosper

FGS is proud to make the Society Strategy Series available to the entire genealogical community as a means of helping societies become better at managing and growing their organizations.

FGS Announces Sandra H. Luebking Memorial

For Immediate Release
22 February 2011

FGS ANNOUNCES SANDRA H. LUEBKING MEMORIAL

Now Accepting Contributions to the War of 1812 Digitization Project

22 February 2011 – Austin, TX. The Federation of Genealogical Societies (FGS) announces the establishment of the Sandra H. Luebking Memorial as a way of remembering the work and achievements of an influential leader in the genealogy community, the late Sandra Hargreaves Luebking.

With Sandra’s passing on 17 February 2011, we lost a teacher, a mentor, a colleague and a dear friend who made numerous contributions to the field of genealogy and family history.

Those who wish to remember Sandra and to help improve access to genealogy research records can now contribute to the Sandra H. Luebking Memorial to help make War of 1812 pension files available to researchers. As an active member of the FGS family and as Editor of FORUM from 1990 to 2010, Sandra was a huge supporter of the Preserve the Pensions project (http://www.fgs.org/1812/). This project was one of her personal choices as a memorial should anyone choose to honor her after her passing.

The Preserve the Pensions project is a national fund-raising initiative to raise $3.7 million to digitize of the War of 1812 pension files. The digitization process will enable online access by historians and family researchers to the memories and biographies of those who fought to protect our nation’s independence.

The pension records for the War of 1812 consist of more than 7.2 million documents in 180,000 files. The National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) receives more than three thousand requests per year for War of 1812 pensions, placing them among the most requested sets of records. Digitizing these valuable records will preserve the originals by removing them from continued heavy use. It will also make the images of the records much more widely available. NARA reports these important historical records already have been conserved and readied for digitization, so scanning could start as soon as funds are received. With the cost for digitizing and saving a single page from a pension file being fifty cents, supporters will see progress from the earliest days of the fund-raising initiative.

To make a contribution as a memorial to Sandra H. Luebking, visit the Preserve the Pensions donation page (https://www.fgs.org/1812/donation.php). The names of donors will appear in FORUM and a notice will be sent to Sandra's family.

Memorial Service for Sandra Hargreaves Luebking

The family of Sandra Hargreaves Luebking, who passed away last Thursday, February 17, 2011, has announced the following plans for a memorial service:

Saturday, April 2, 2011
10:00 am
Chapel Hill Gardens West
Oakbrook Terrace, Illinois

Directions to the service can be found here.

In Memoriam: Sandra Hargreaves Luebking

IN MEMORIAM: SANDRA HARGREAVES LUEBKING

Noted Genealogist and Former FGS FORUM Editor Passes

17 February 2011 – Austin, TX. The Federation of Genealogical Societies (FGS) is deeply saddened to announce the passing of Sandra Hargreaves Luebking, noted genealogist and one of the genealogy community’s best leaders who died on Thursday, 17 February 2011 at Lemont, Illinois, surrounded by her family. Funeral arrangements are still pending at this time.

A nationally known author, editor, instructor, lecturer, and researcher, Sandra was the editor of the FGS FORUM for over 22 years. Known for her radiant smile and helpful ways, almost everyone who was a member of or worked with a genealogical society, or attended a conference knew Sandra. In nearly three decades as a professional genealogist, she presented over one thousand lectures.

Beginning in 1979, Sandra taught annually at Samford University's Institute of Genealogy and Historical Research (IGHR) and twice accompanied their British Research tour. From 1990 to 2007 she was Course I Coordinator for IGHR. From 1994 until its close in 2005, Sandra was Intermediate Studies Coordinator for the Genealogical Institute of Mid-America (at the University of Illinois, sponsored by the Illinois State Genealogical Society). With Loretto Dennis Szucs, Sandra co-edited three award-winning books, including two editions of The Source: A Guidebook to American Genealogy; and The Archives: A Guide to the National Archives Field Branches. Sandra also wrote two chapters for Professional Genealogy (Elizabeth Shown Mills, editor) titled “Genealogical Education” and “Fee Setting.”

Helping thousands of people to find their Chicago/Cook County roots, Sandra conducted research projects for the Smithsonian Institute, numerous publishers and attorneys, and an international clientele from Australia, England, Finland, Germany and Sweden. She was a past trustee for the Association of Professional Genealogists (APG) and a volunteer research assistant at the National Archives—Great Lakes Region.

Sandra’s honors included the Professional Achievement Award from the APG (2008); the Rabbi Malcolm H. Stern Humanitarian Award from FGS (2008); lecturer for the Richard Slatten Lecture Series by the Friends of the Virginia State Archives (2003) and, lecturer for the Willard Heiss Memorial Lecture at the 79th Annual Indiana History Conference (Indiana Historical Society) (1999). She was a Fellow of the Utah Genealogical Association (1996) and was named Outstanding IGHR Alumni by Samford University in 1995.

FGS/ISGS 2011 Conference Publicity Contest

For Immediate Release
February 14, 2011

FGS/ISGS 2011 CONFERENCE PUBLICITY CONTEST

FGS Member Societies Can Enter to Win a Free FGS 2012 Registration

February 14, 2011 – Austin, TX. The Federation of Genealogical Societies (FGS) announces the FGS/ISGS 2011 Conference Publicity Contest for its member societies. The FGS/ISGS 2011 Conference will be held 7-10 September 2011 in beautiful Springfield, Illinois. This year’s conference theme is “Pathways to the Heartland,” and the local host is the Illinois State Genealogical Society (ISGS).

As in past years, FGS member societies can help publicize the FGS/ISGS 2011 conference through their newsletters, websites and other publications and also be eligible to win a registration for the FGS 2012 Conference in Birmingham, Alabama.

At the FGS 2011 Media Center (http://www.fgs.org/2011conference/media) visitors can find resources including graphics, banner ads, articles and more for use in their society newsletters or publications as well as their websites and blogs. These items can also be obtained by sending a request to fgs2011@gmail.com.

Contest Details

To enter, FGS member societies can use the convenient Contest Entry Form (http://fgs2011media.weebly.com/contest-entry-form.html) for each publication appearance for each qualifying article or ad. All Contest entries must be submitted by 12:00 am on 15 August 2011 to be eligible for the drawing. The winner will be announced at the FGS/ISGS Conference in Springfield, IL on Wednesday, 7 September 2011 during the Focus on Societies Luncheon. The Contest winner information will be posted on the FGS website (http://www.fgs.org), FGS Voice blog (http://voice.fgs.org) and newsletter, and in the FGS FORUM along with a link to the member society's website.

FGS/ISGS 2011 Conference

The FGS/ISGS 2011 Conference offers an exciting opportunity for anyone interested in researching their family history. Over 165 educational sessions and 13 luncheons are designed to balance the needs of genealogists at all levels, exploring a variety of records, strategies, and other tools available to those interested in researching their family history.

Session sponsors include FamilySearch (offering extensive Focus on Societies, Migration and Immigration, and Technology tracks), Ancestry.com, the National Archives and Records Administration, Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library, New England Historic Genealogical Society, Association of Professional Genealogists, Board for Certification of Genealogists, and others. In addition, the Genealogical Speakers Guild and ICAPGen will present their own tracks of sessions by their members.

Early-bird registration for the FGS/ISGS 2011 Conference is now available through 1 July 2011. (http://www.fgs.org/2011conference/registration/).

About the Federation of Genealogical Societies (FGS)

The Federation of Genealogical Societies (FGS) was founded in 1976 and represents the members of hundreds of genealogical societies. FGS links the genealogical community by helping genealogical societies strengthen and grow through resources available online, FGS Forum magazine (filled with articles pertaining to society management and genealogical news), and Society Strategy Series papers, covering topics about effectively operating a genealogical society. FGS also links the genealogical community through its annual conference -- four days of excellent lectures, including one full day devoted to society management topics. To learn more visit http://www.fgs.org.

About the Illinois State Genealogical Society (ISGS)

The Illinois State Genealogical Society (ISGS) was organized in October of the Sesquicentennial Year, 1968, and is a non-profit, educational organization. ISGS was established for the following purposes:

• To stimulate an interest in the people who contributed to the establishment and development of the State of Illinois.
• To seek, preserve, and make available data pertaining to individuals, families, and groups who lived in Illinois and to events which took place therein.
• To inform people of the value of, and need for, preserving family and local history for posterity.
• To encourage the formation of local genealogical societies and to coordinate and disseminate information.

The ISGS genealogical collection is located in the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library in Springfield and an administrative office is maintained in the Illinois State Archives. For more information visit http://www.ilgensoc.org.

2012 FGS Conference - Call for Papers

FGS 2012 CONFERENCE - CALL FOR PAPERS

Deadline for Submissions is 1 June 2011

The Federation of Genealogical Societies (FGS) announces a Call for Papers for the FGS 2012 Conference to be held 29 August – 1 September 2012 in Birmingham, Alabama. The deadline for submission of papers is Wednesday, 1 June 2011.

The annual FGS conference will be held beginning Wednesday, 29 August through Saturday, 1 September 2012 at the Birmingham Convention Center, Birmingham, Alabama. The Sheraton Hotel, conveniently located adjacent to the convention center will be the host hotel. The conference will be held in conjunction with the Alabama Genealogical Society as the local host society. Outstanding nearby research facilities and attractions will enhance the conference experience.

The program committee is accepting a wide range of lecture proposals from interested scholars and researchers for potential presentations at the conference. The format of this conference begins with an all-day “Focus on Societies” program for genealogical society officers, board members, volunteers and other interested parties. This is followed by a three-day genealogical conference in which a variety of topics will be considered, but priority will be given to the following:

• Fundamental
• Basic genealogical instruction
• Methodology and problem solving techniques
• Burned courthouse research
• Domain Expertise
• International and Ethnic research, particularly German, English, Welsh, Irish, Scots-Irish, French, Italian, Swiss, Slavic African- American, Native American and Jewish
• Military
• Immigration
• Internet resources
• Genetics and family medical history
• Focus on Society Management
• Regional Interests
• Five civilized tribes
• Trail of Tears -- 1832
• Southern migration
• Early territorial research

Proposals for paid workshops will also be considered. Presentations may be co-presented or as part of a panel discussion if the topic seems appropriate for this method of presentation.

Speakers receive an honorarium, travel compensation, and conference registration as well as per diem and hotel nights based on the number of lectures presented. Each speaker is limited to presenting a maximum of four lectures, but may submit more proposals for consideration. Additional details about the financial package are available here (http://fgs.org/conferences/speakerpolicy.php).

Presentations will be one-hour long, which includes a ten-minute question/answer period. Interested speakers should submit their proposals by 1 June 2011. The following information should be included:

• Title of presentation with a detailed but concise, one-page outline
• Brochure summary (150 Characters for description)
• Audience skill level (Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced)
• Audio-Visual requirements (LCD projectors are not provided)
• Format of presentation (PowerPoint, overhead projection, other)
• Biographical data and resume of past lectures within the last three years. Those that have not presented at a regional or national conference before are encouraged to submit recording of a recent presentation.

Proposals should be submitted electronically to 2012proposals@fgs.org, or send two copies to:

Federation of Genealogical Societies
FGS/AGS 2012 Program Chair
PO Box 200940
Austin, TX 78720-0940 USA

The invitations to speakers will be mailed no later than 1 September 2011 and the deadline for syllabus materials for presenters is 31 May 2012.

If necessary, questions may be directed to Dean J. Hunter, AG at 2012proposals@fgs.org.

Ohio Genealogical Society 2012 Conference - Call for Lecture Proposals

History and Genealogy: Finding Clues to Ancestral Lives
12-14 April 2012
Intercontinental Hotel, 9801 Carnegie Ave, Cleveland, Ohio

The Ohio Genealogical Society is accepting lecture proposals for their 2012 Annual Conference at the Intercontinental Hotel, Cleveland, Ohio, 12-14 April, 2012. Deadline for submissions is 30 June 2011. Lectures will be one hour long, including a ten-minute question-and-answer period. Submissions for workshops, especially for Thursday, will be considered. A major new factor in 2012 is that the Conference will be expanding to 3 full days instead of our usual 2½ days.

In 2012, OGS will be celebrating the War of 1812 and Civil War Anniversaries. Therefore we are specifically looking for topics relating to these conflicts and connected genealogical research. In addition, proposals are being sought in a variety of areas regarding using history to find clues about our ancestors but also to write family histories. Other topics of interest are beginning genealogy, Ohio-specific topics, states associated with Ohio (especially New England, New York and Pennsylvania for northeast Ohio), methodology, technology, ethnic topics (especially Eastern European/20th Century), writing/publishing, immigration, preservation, etc. In addition, we are seeking proposals on military resources, business/industrial records, fraternal and service organizations, and proof standards. Previous speakers are encouraged to submit new or new to the Ohio conference proposals.

Proposals should include the following information:
• Lecture title and concise outline of content
• Short summary (50 words or less) for the program brochure
• Audience level (beginning, intermediate, advanced, all)
• Audio-visual requirements
• Speaker’s full name and contact information, including postal address, e-mail address, telephone and fax numbers
• Speaker’s brief biographical data
• Speaker’s resume of recent lecture experience

Speakers who have not lectured at a state, regional, or national conference are encouraged to submit an audio or video tape of a recent lecture.

Speakers will receive an honorarium, travel expenses, hotel, per diem, and complimentary conference registration. Please note that OGS does not provide computers or LCD projectors to speakers for presentations at the conference. Speakers will be required to submit syllabus material in appropriate format and length and by the stated deadline.

Interested individuals may submit up to 10 proposals. They can be submitted electronically to 2012Program@ogs.org. Subject line: 2012 Conference Proposal. Those speakers using the postal service need to send two copies of each proposal to: 2012 OGS Conference Program Chairs, The Ohio Genealogical Society, 611 SR 97W, Bellville, OH 44813.

Diane VanSkiver Gagel (dvgagel@aol.com) and Jana Sloan Broglin (jana@janabroglin.com), Program Co-chairs, 2012 OGS Conference.

NEW! FGS/ISGS 2011 Media Center

The FGS/ISGS 2011 Conference Publicity Committee is pleased to announce the opening of the FGS/ISGS 2011 Media Center - A Virtual Press Kit.

What is a press kit? Traditionally, a press kit would be mailed to media outlets such as newspapers, magazines, television and radio stations weeks or even months ahead of the event in hopes of securing publicity for the event.

Well the FGS/ISGS 2011 Conference has decided to create a virtual press kit to better serve not just the media outlets, but its members societies and the genealogy community at large. The Media Center is a green, efficient and cost-effective way of providing a "self service" press kit.

Over the next few weeks you'll see us adding more ads, more articles and even videos to be used in publicizing Pathways to the Heartland.

And stay tuned for tomorrow's exciting announcement related to the Media Center and the FGS/ISGS 2011 Conference!

APG Announces New Webmaster

WESTMINSTER, Colo., February 4, 2011—The Association of Professional Genealogists (http://www.apgen.org) announced today that Carla Cegielski has joined the organization as webmaster and email group listmaster. Cegielski brings 13 years of experience in designing and maintaining websites. She has designed more than 100 websites, including pages for USGenWeb and for the Great Lakes Chapter of APG.

“The APG website is a go-to source for anyone seeking the services of a professional genealogist. APG also hosts two very active email lists, one for members only and another with public access,” said Laura Prescott, president of the Association of Professional Genealogists. “We welcome Carla and her expertise to improve the effectiveness of APG’s online resources.”

Cegielski has 30 years’ experience in a variety of technology, library and information systems fields. Currently, she serves as an adjunct faculty member of Bryan and Stratton College in Eastlake, Ohio. She holds an M.L.S. from Simmons College in Boston and a B.A. from the University of Pittsburgh.

FGS/ISGS 2011 Conference Registration Now Open

“Pathways to the Heartland” - A Conference for the Nation’s Genealogists


February 2, 2011 – Austin, TX. Registration for the 2011 Federation of Genealogical Societies Conference, scheduled for 7-10 September 2011 in beautiful Springfield, Illinois, is now open. This year’s conference theme is “Pathways to the Heartland,” and the local host is the Illinois State Genealogical Society.

This year's conference offers an exciting opportunity for anyone interested in researching their family history. Over 165 educational sessions and 13 luncheons are designed to balance the needs of genealogists at all levels, exploring a variety of records, strategies, and other tools available to those interested in researching their family history.

Session sponsors include FamilySearch (offering extensive Focus on Societies, Migration and Immigration, and Technology tracks), Ancestry.com, the National Archives and Records Administration, Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library, New England Historic Genealogical Society, Association of Professional Genealogists, Board for Certification of Genealogists, and others. In addition, the Genealogical Speakers Guild and ICAPGen will present their own tracks of sessions by their members that you won’t want to miss.

Conference Highlights

• Librarians Day: On Tuesday, September 6, 2011, ProQuest is sponsoring a full day of free sessions designed for librarians, archivists, and other information professionals serving family history researchers. The cost is $10.00 which includes lunch.

• Focus on Societies: On Wednesday, September 7, 2011, all new programs and focus group sessions to help improve the operations and effectiveness for genealogical societies’ officers, as well as their members and volunteers.

• Conference Sessions: A wide variety of genealogy-related lectures and workshops for all experience levels.  Topics include Mid-Western research, migration and immigration, military, strategies and techniques, technology, and writing.

• Special Events: Include An Old Fashioned Prairie Social, the FGS 35th Anniversary Celebration, and Spotlight on Societies—all providing an excellent environment to meet and network with others interested in family history and genealogy. This exciting week of genealogy closes with a Farewell Brunch on Sunday.

• Exhibit Hall: Filled with a wide array of vendors and organizations, and a special Spotlight on Societies area will showcase local and regional genealogical and historical societies.

There are more activities and research opportunities too numerous to list. However, you can learn all about the 2011 FGS Conference and register for this exciting four-day event at http://www.fgs.org/2011conference. Be sure to also visit or subscribe to the FGS Conference Blog at http://www.fgsconferenceblog.org for more information and travel advice.  We look forward to seeing you in Springfield in September!

Learn More and Stay Connected

• Subscribe to Conference eUpdates: 2011Conference@fgs.org (place “Subscribe” in Subject line)

• Visit the Conference News Blog: http://www.fgsconferenceblog.org

• Follow the Conference on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/fgs2011 and on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/fgs2011

• Discover Springfield: http://www.visit-springfieldillinois.com

About the Federation of Genealogical Societies (FGS)

The Federation of Genealogical Societies (FGS) was founded in 1976 and represents the members of hundreds of genealogical societies. FGS links the genealogical community by helping genealogical societies strengthen and grow through resources available online, FGS Forum magazine (filled with articles pertaining to society management and genealogical news), and Society Strategy Series papers, covering topics about effectively operating a genealogical society. FGS also links the genealogical community through its annual conference -- four days of excellent lectures, including one full day devoted to society management topics. To learn more visit http://www.fgs.org.

© 2011, copyright Illinois State Genealogical Society