Looking for a Few Good Writers for FORUM

Are you interested in sharing your knowledge with the genealogy community? Why not write an article for FORUM? We are looking for research-related and society-related articles for upcoming issues.  We are open to other topics, but here is a list of working titles to get your thoughts flowing:

Research-Related Articles

• Roaming Among the Stones: ## Tips for Effective Cemetery Research
• Top ## Strategies for Researching Your Jewish Ancestors
• City Directories: More Than Just a List of Names
• How to Choose the Genealogy Database Program That’s Right for You
• Cousin Connection: Reaching Out to Distant Relatives
• DNA Research Strategies for Adoptees
• How to Plan an Unforgettable Family Reunion

Society-Related Articles

• Cloud Computing, Can Your Society Benefit?
• ## Unique Project Ideas for Your Society
• Is It Time to Bring Your Bylaws Into the 21st Century?
• Enhance Your Membership Benefits with Special Interest Groups (SIGs)
• ## Ways to Engage Your Long-Distance Members

Need more ideas?  Think about how you use certain programs/apps or products for genealogy, such as Evernote, spreadsheets, or scanners, and share your tips for success.  Or, what about sharing your specialized knowledge of underutilized resources such as state censuses, court records, legislative petitions, or territorial papers?  Are you well-acquainted with researching an ethnic group and can offer tips to others?  Are you a past or present society leader with words of wisdom to pass along to new society leaders?  The possibilities are endless!

If you are interested in writing an article (or two!) for FORUM, please contact me at forumeditor@fgs.org.  Deadlines for upcoming 2016 issues are:  January 15, March 15, and June 15. 

We are looking for an editor for the Reviews section, as well as additional book and product reviewers.  Those interested should contact me at forumeditor@fgs.org to discuss further.

Julie Cahill Tarr

FORUM Managing Editor

Getting Through the Changes in Our Genealogical Community

With Ancestry.com's announcement to discontinue its desktop software, "Family Tree Maker," we thought it would be fun to delve into the FGS FORUM archives and take a look back at what was happening around the Fall of 1990 and get a glimpse of how the genealogy community was then and how it has changed.

In the Fall of 1990, FGS had just wrapped up a successful FGS National Conference, "Windows to the Past," in Salt Lake City, UT. (FORUM, Vol. 02, No. 2, Summer 1990)

The expanded Historical and Genealogical Department of the Allen County Public Library in Fort Wayne, Indiana, had just opened the previous June. (FORUM, Vol. 02, No. 3, Fall 1990)

FGS was raising funds for the NARA Gift Fund which supported the filming of finding aids for the National Archives. At that time, microfiche of street indexes to 39 of the largest U.S. cities had been completed and distributed to all NARA branches; Galveston, Texas, passenger arrival records indexes had been completed and distributed to all NARA branches; and indexes to entries from Canada through several U.S. entry points had been completed and distributed to select NARA branches. (FORUM, Vol. 02, No. 3, Fall 1990)

The Family History Library had just launched their compact disc series of the International Genealogical Index (IGI) and the Family History Library Catalog, and the series was designed specifically for those with no computer experience. While not available for purchase, these were being made available at Family History Centers across the U.S. (FORUM, Vol. 02, No. 3, Fall 1990)

Volunteers were being sought for the Census Overland Emigrant Documents (COED) program to survey and record in a computer database historical information from all known overland journey west documents. (Learn more about the history of this program and what documents it covers.) (FORUM, Vol. 02, No. 3, Fall 1990)

The Midwest Historical and Genealogical Society's dreams had come true when they finally found a place of their own for their library collections of books, microfilm, and maps. The society had bought an old 2-story house in 1985 from the City of Wichita for $1 and remodeled it with over 10,000 volunteer hours. (FORUM, Vol. 02, No. 3, Fall 1990)

Before Ancestry.com was Ancestry.com, it was Ancestry Publishing with a "research club."  (FORUM, Vol. 02, No. 3, Fall 1990) (Learn more about their history.)

Macintosh Computer users could depend on (the) Sunrise (genealogical software) to organize their genealogical data. (FORUM, Vol. 02, No. 3, Fall 1990)

The "future of genealogical research" had arrived via the Automated Genealogical Research Systems (AGRS) from Automated Archives Incorporated promising to save genealogists years of research. (FORUM, Vol. 02, No. 3, Fall 1990)

The ground had been broken the previous May for a new archives building in Salem, Oregon, to be completed in 1991. (FORUM, Vol. 02, No. 3, Fall 1990)

A new chapter for the Afro-American Historical & Genealogical Society for New Jersey had been recently organized. (FORUM, Vol. 02, No. 3, Fall 1990)

John Philip Colletta, Ph.D., had just the year before published his incredibly valuable and now iconic book, They Came in Ships. (FORUM, Vol. 02, No. 3, Fall 1990)

Times have certainly changed especially with technology, haven't they?

And the best rule of thumb when it comes to archiving our hard work for future generations is to keep it in several places and not to rely on just one method or technology. That's the best guarantee for its longevity. We have to back up our work that is online and on our computers. Additionally, using our organized data and tech tools, we can create and then archive finished products of our research and share them with family and genealogical societies.

And this is why genealogical societies encourage us to publish our research in their quarterly journals.

This is why genealogical societies encourage us to use our research to apply for their heritage certificate programs (or encourage us to use the goal of obtaining one to motivate us to do our research well).

This is why genealogical societies provide monthly meetings for face-to-face interaction with those who share the same genealogy passion as us. Who knows what we might learn from the person sitting next to us at a meeting?

And this is also why genealogical societies strive to bring us top-notch speakers — via their seminars, conferences, and webinars — to keep us up-to-date on research methodologies as well as new and changing technology.

Genealogical societies empower us to successfully get through the changes in our genealogical community.

Find a FGS Member Society near you and/or in the area your ancestors lived.

2015 FGS Election Results

The Federation of Genealogical Societies (FGS) announces results of its recent election for FGS officers and directors. The election was conducted online October 23 – November 23, 2015, with all FGS delegates eligible to vote. Office terms for those elected will begin on January 1, 2016.

With the recent election results, FGS President D. Joshua Taylor says, "I am looking forward to welcoming these old and new faces to the FGS Leadership team. FGS would not be able to fulfill its mission without its terrific volunteers who give so much of their time and energy to the organization.”

Re-Elected FGS Board Members

The following officer and director were re-elected to their positions:

·       Ed Donakey (Utah) — Vice-President of Development

·       Janice A. Fritsch (Illinois) — Director

New FGS Board Members

The following officers and directors were newly elected to their positions:

·       Caroline M. Pointer* (Texas) — Vice-President of Membership

·       Shellee A. Moorehead (Rhode Island) — Treasurer

·       Richard L. Cassell (Washington) — Director

·       Mark Olsen (Utah) — Director

·       Cari A. Taplin CG^SM (Texas) — Director

*Pointer was first appointed to the FGS board as director in early 2013 to fill a vacant position; appointed Vice-President of Membership in mid-2015 to fill the vacant position; and elected Vice-President of Membership in this recent election.

Certified Genealogist and CG are proprietary service marks of the Board for Certification of Genealogists® used by the Board to identify its program of genealogical competency evaluation and used under license by the Board’s associates.

Hotel Reservations Open for FGS 2016 Conference

HOTEL RESERVATIONS OPEN FOR FGS 2016 CONFERENCE

Book Your Room Today!

Two Springfield, Illinois hotels are now taking reservations for The Federation of Genealogical Societies (FGS) 2016 Conference, “Time Travel: Centuries of Memories,” which will be held August 31 – September 3, 2016 at the Prairie Capital Convention Center.

The Wyndham Springfield City Centre (formerly the Hilton Springfield) and The President Abraham Lincoln Springfield (a DoubleTree hotel by Hilton) will offer reduced rates to attendees of the FGS 2016 Conference. Each hotel is conveniently located near the Prairie Capital Convention Center and each hotel will offer a courtesy bus from the Abraham Lincoln Capital Airport and Amtrak station.

Left: Wyndham Springfield City Center; Right: President Abraham Lincoln Springfield (a Doubletree Hotel by Hilton)

MAIN CONFERENCE HOTEL

Wyndham Springfield City Centre
700 E Adams St, Springfield, IL 62701
(217) 789-1530

The conference rate is $129/night, available from August 27 to September 6, 2016. Reserve your room by August 6, 2016 to receive the discounted rate. Visit www.fgsconference.org to reserve your room online. NOTE: For the Wyndham, phone reservations will be taken ONLY after January 1, 2016, while online reservations can be made now.

Sold Out! The President Abraham Lincoln Springfield
701 E Adams Street, Springfield, Illinois 62701
(217) 544-8800

The conference rate is $129/night, available from August 30 to September 4, 2016. Reserve your room by August 3, 2016 to receive the discounted rate. Visit www.fgsconference.org to reserve your room online. NOTE: The President Abraham Lincoln Springfield has a connected walkway to the Prairie Capital Convention Center.

Book Your FGS 2016 Conference Hotel Room NOW!

Rooms will be in high demand. Reserve yours now through the FGS conference website at www.fgsconference.org. Registration for the FGS 2016 Conference will open in late January 2016. For additional information about the FGS conference visit www.fgsconference.org.

Latest FORUM Issue Out: Freedmen's Bank Records, genealogy self-education & more!

While temps are dropping in many places before the holiday season begins in earnest, now is the perfect time to delve into this latest issue of FORUM. Stuffed like a Thanksgiving turkey, this issue is abundant with genealogy advice, how-tos, and tech tips that will leave you thankful you took a little "me time" to gobble it up.

Adding context to your ancestors' stories

"Freedmen's Bureau & Freedmen's Bank Records" can lend context to your ancestors' lives and narrative to their stories. Ted Bainbridge, PhD, takes an in-depth look at these records.

Worry-free goodies

In "Just 37 Words" Judy Russell, JD, CG, CGL, explains there are wonderful goodies you can use without worrying about copyright.

Continuing your genealogy education

Shannon Combs-Bennett gives Next Generation ways to continue your genealogy education in "Keeping Up with the Ancestors: Self-Education.

And that's not all. Take a peek inside:

Table of Contents

3 ...... From the Editors

6 ...... President's Message: Capturing the Energy by D. Joshua Taylor

8 ...... Freedman's Bureau & Freedmen's Bank Records by Ted Bainbridge

18 ...... Build a Digital Library with Scribd by Denise Barrett Olson

24 ...... Join Us for the FGS 2016 Conference by Thomas MacEntee

28 ...... Considerations for Conducting a Family History Writing Contest by Jill Morelli

32 ...... FGS Experiences New Frontiers in Genealogical Cruising to Alaska by Deena Coutant

38 ...... How to Index Genealogical Records at Home by Ted Bainbridge, PhD

41 ...... Spotlight on Member Projects, Surname Project, Webinars, 'Human Scanners' & More by Caroline Pointer

45 ...... Ethics and Standards, Just 37 Words by Judy Russell, JD, CG, CGL

49 ...... Next Generation, Keeping Up With the Ancestors: Self-Education by Shannon Combs-Bennett

52 ...... Records Preservation and Access, New Records Online, Opened Adoption Records & More by Linda McCleary, MLS

How to access FORUM:

Current FGS Member Societies: Sign-in now to start reading immediately or download it to read on your desktop or mobile device. (After signing in, click on FGS FORUM – Latest Issue in the sidebar.) Don't forget to renew your membership in order for your society's leadership to continue to access FORUM and its archives.

Current FGS FORUM subscribers (individuals): sign-in now to start reading immediately or download it to read on your desktop or mobile device. (After signing in, scroll down and click on Vol. 27, No. 2, to read.)

Who can subscribe to FORUM? Anyone. You don't have to be a member of a genealogical society in order to subscribe.

Not already a subscriber? You can subscribe today to FGS FORUM and start reading immediately or download it to read on your desktop or mobile device. No need to be a member of a genealogical society.

Genealogical Societies: If you are not a member society of the Federation of Genealogical Societies, become one today and let your society's leadership begin accessing FORUM and its 25+ year archives which is just one of the many benefits of FGS membership. Read more about how else FGS empowers Member Society Leaders to manage successful societies.

Reader Poll: Genealogy Facebook Groups

About how many genealogy-related Facebook
groups are you a member of?

Reader Poll

About how many genealogy-related Facebook Groups are you a member of?

Answer here.

(Please participate even if you are not a member of a genealogy-related Facebook Group or even if you are not on Facebook at all.)

Results will be in the next issue of The Voice e-newsletter. Not a subscriber? Subscribe now.

Reserve your exclusive space in FGS Society Showcase at Rootstech

Reserve your exclusive spot now!

At Rootstech 2016, the FGS booth will be enhanced giving FGS Member Organizations an opportunity to have exclusive space to meet with the thousands of attendees at this very popular conference for a very affordable price.

Last year, when FGS 2015 Annual Conference was combined with Rootstech, we encouraged Member Societies to send us flyers about their societies to give your society incredible exposure to thousands of attendees for free.

And since it was very popular, we are going to do that again for Rootstech 2016.

But in addition to that, we are now going to provide additional space for your society to meet and greet attendees within the FGS Booth in the Expo Hall for only $25 per Member Society. This will be space for your organization's representatives to have a chance to meet with attendees and talk about how your society can benefit them and their research.

If your society is interested in having exclusive space in the FGS Society Showcase booth in the Rootstech 2016 Expo Hall, please contact Membership@fgs.org to reserve your spot. Don't hesitate as these exclusive spaces will go quickly. 

If your society's leadership or representatives will not be at Rootstech for 2016, we will be providing space for your organization's flyers for free again. If you missed this opportunity last time, do not hesitate to send them now to give attendees an opportunity to see what your society has to offer them. To participate and for more information, please email Membership@fgs.org.

FGS Members and delegates should look for an email this week with all the details for participating. You don't want to miss this incredible opportunity to reach thousands of potential new members.

If your organization is not a FGS Member, join now to take advantage of this great publicity opportunity as well as to start accessing the suite of benefits an FGS Membership offers today's society.

Exclusive FGS Member Discount on First Definitive Textbook for New York Genealogy

Exclusive limited time offer for FGS Member Organizations!

UPDATE: Extended through December 6th!

FGS is pleased to announce an exclusive limited time offer to FGS Member Organizations.

During the month of November only, members of FGS member societies may purchase the NYG&B’s monumental book, the New York Family History Research Guide and Gazetteer, at a substantial discount. The NYG&B is offering a $20 FGS discount off the retail price of $85. 

This is the first time the NYG&B has extended a book discount to anyone outside the NYG&B membership. The FGS affiliation will enable book buyers to save a total of $20 on their book purchase during November.

And the NYG&B will donate $5 on every FGS-related purchase to Preserve the Pensions, which will be matched dollar for dollar by  FGS and matched again by Ancestry.com. So, your organization's members will save $20 on the book and they will turn the NYG&B $5 donation into $20!

Since its highly anticipated publication in January 2015, the New York Family History Research Guide and Gazetteer has gathered numerous accolades and quickly sold out its first print run. The comprehensive, 856-page book has become the de facto textbook for New York genealogical research. Henry Hoff, editor of the New England Historical and Genealogical Register, declared "This is a volume that every library and New York researcher should have, and indeed must have."

The discount will be valid in the NYG&B online store at NewYorkFamilyHistory.org and on phone and mail orders; the discount is not valid at Amazon.com. The discount applies to books purchased at the non-member retail price of $85 and may not be combined  with other discounts. Discount ends 30 November 2015.

Leaders of FGS Member Organizations, log-in to the Members-only Area of the FGS Website and click on "Partner Benefits" for the discount code, a downloadable PDF flyer to send to your membership, and the full details of this exclusive limited time offer.

Is your organization not a member of FGS? Join now to start accessing the suite of benefits an FGS Membership offers today's society. 

Membership Renewal Time Is a Great Opportunity to Support the Preserve the Pensions Project

Societies typically have Membership Renewals distributed to their current members during the last quarter of the year. The renewal time is a perfect opportunity to support the preservation of the War of 1812 pension files. 

Simply add a separate line to your society's renewal form and when the donations start rolling in, forward them on to the Preserve the Pensions project at www.preservethepensions.org. 

Societies can create their own text, or pick from the ideas we have created for societies to use on their membership renewal forms:

• Donate to the War of 1812 Preserve the Pensions Project: ($25, $35, $45, or any amount of your choice) $_______________
• Contribution to Preserve the Pension ($25, $35, $45) $________________ 
• I am adding a contribution to help Preserve the War of 1812 Pension Files $_______________

Any amount helps!

Fran Jensen

FGS Preserve the Pensions Committee

Voting Is Now Open for the FGS 2015 Election

Cast your vote now, delegates!

All FGS delegate and FGS member society representatives are eligible and encouraged to vote for the 2015 slate of FGS officers.

The Federation of Genealogical Societies has compiled another outstanding list of candidates for election to the FGS Board and Executive Committee: http://www.fgs.org/cpage.php?pt=118. 

After clicking on "Cast Your Vote" at the bottom of the list of nominees, you will be asked to log in with your society's username and password.

If you need any assistance in locating that information, please contact the FGS Office at office@fgs.org.

Voting will remain open until 23 November 2015 at 11:59 PM ET. 

Come Visit FGS in Florida and Texas in November for Genealogy Roadshow

FGS Volunteer Diana Ritchie at the taping in St. Louis in 2014

FGS is excited to be a part of the taping of the popular PBS show Genealogy Roadshow. Explore your family history and learn how genealogical societies can help you find your family history. Join us November 1st in Miami and November 22nd in Houston!


Miami, Florida — Sunday, November 1, 2015

Location:
History Miami Museum
101 West Flagler St.
Miami, Florida 33130

Time: 9:00 AM - 6:00 PM (Lines form at 8:00 AM)

FGS Volunteer Diane Boumenot at the taping in Providence in 2015 (Photo Credit: Maureen Taylor)

Houston, Texas — Sunday, November 22, 2015

Location:
Julia Ideson Building (@ Houston Public Library)
550 McKinney St.
Houston, Texas 77002

Time: 9:00 AM - 6:00 PM (Lines form on Lamar St. at 8:00 AM)

PBS Genealogy Roadshow

ISGS Announces 2016 Webinar Schedule

ISGS 2016 Webinar Schedule

The Illinois State Genealogical Society (ISGS)  has announced their 2016 FREE monthly webinar lineup which is is made possible by ISGS webinar donation fund contributors and FamilySearch.

Get on top of your genealogy education by registering now for the topics you are interested in. The ISGS webinars are live lectures/presentations that you can attend via a computer with an internet connection, are held as a live broadcast on the second Tuesday of each month at 8:00 PM Central. The live broadcast of each webinars is FREE to the public. ISGS members who are unable to attend the live broadcast are able to access recordings of all past webinars through the Members Section of the ISGS website, to watch at their convenience. Join ISGS today to gain access.

ISGS 2016 Webinar Schedule

January 12 – Organizing Your Genealogy Research Process
Presenter: Drew Smith
Registration: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/8573458780274373378

February 9 – Reconstructing Black Community Life Through Benevolent Societies
Presenter: Angela Walton-Raji
Registration: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/8291948619192469250

March 8 – Researching in Archives & Libraries: Do’s and Don'ts
Presenter: Melissa Barker
Registration: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/1846416843611494402

April 12 – Letters, Ledgers, and Lodge Books: Finding Ancestors with Ethnic Resources
Presenter: Lisa A. Alzo, M.F.A.
Registration: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/3470676992813425922

May 10 – Polish Immigration to America - When, Where, Why and How
Presenter: Stephen Szabados
Registration: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/9172454023411073281

June 14 – Using Social Media to Break Through Brick Walls
Presenter: Amie Tenant
Registration: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/7540625935675352321

July 12 – Special Delivery: Using US Postmaster Documents in Family History Research
Presenter: Jean Hibben, CG
Registration: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/2607347059774722305

August 9 – Misbegotten Children; Tracing the Family Lines of the Illegitimate
Presenter: Peggy Clemens Lauritzen, AG
Registration: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/1406973931847993857

September 13 – Butcher, Baker, Candlestick Maker: Using Occupational Records
Presenter: Amy Johnson Crow, CG
Registration: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/5222129746649412097

October 11 – Midwestern Gems: Back Issues of Genealogical, Historical and Sociological Journals
Presenter: Paula Stuart-Warren, CG, FMGS, FUGS
Registration: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/4021548811025038081

November 8 – Principles of Effective Evidence Analysis
Presenter: George G. Morgan
Registration: Stay tuned!**
** GoToWebinar only allows scheduling less than one year in advance. Check back afterNovember 8, 2015, for the registration link.

December 13 – Without the Hint - There is No Story
Presenter: Bernice Alexander Bennett
Registration: Stay tuned!**
** GoToWebinar only allows scheduling less than one year in advance. Check back afterDecember 13, 2015 for the registration link.

Additional Webinar Information

• All webinars take place at 8:00 PM Central time.
• For additional information on the ISGS Webinar Series, visit the ISGS Webinars page athttp://ilgensoc.org/cpage.php?pt=227.

Illinois State Genealogical Society

Latest FORUM Issue Out: Pinterest & genealogy, ethics & standards and more!

It's starting to cool down in many places in North America now that fall is almost here. Before the big holiday rush, take some time to put your feet up and relax with this latest issue of FORUM. Jam packed with creative research ideas, tech tips for genealogy, and copyright help (from The Legal Genealogist, no less), you will not want to stop reading it!

Pin it!

Pinterest is a visual bookmarking site with a social media component. Learn how individuals and societies can use it for genealogy in Lisa Lisson's "Pinterest & Genealogy, A Great Combination!"

Apply for it!

Contributor Heather Wilkinson Rojo takes you through the application process for joining "The General Society of Mayflower Descendants."

Get it right!

FORUM welcomes Judy G. Russell, JD, CG, CGL, and her new column Ethics and Standards. In this issue, she explains "Copyright and Ethical Violations Concerning Lectures" for societies, speakers, and everyone attending genealogy presentations.

And that's not all. Take a peek inside:

Table of Contents

3 ......  From the Editors

6 ......  President's Message: 'Above All, Try Something' by D. Joshua Taylor

8 ......  Pinterest and Genealogy, A Great Combination: 4 Unique Methods for Using Pinterest in Your Genealogy Research by Lisa Lisson

14 ...... The General Society of Mayflower Descendants by Heather Wilkinson Rojo

20 ...... 2015 FGS Award Recipients by Caroline M. Pointer

25 ...... Run a Matching Campaign & Help Preserve the Pensions by David E. Rencher, AG, CG, FIGRS, FUGA

28 ...... Spotlight on Member Projects: Preservation Projects, Special Interest Groups, New Websites, & More by Caroline M. Pointer

33 ...... Ethics & Standards: Copyright and Ethical Violations Concerning Lectures by Judy G. Russell, JD, CG, CGL

26 ...... Next Generation: Networking Tips by Shannon Combs-Bennett

38 ...... Records Preservation & Access: Connecticut Land Records Available Online, Fires Destroy Historical Records & More by Linda McCleary, MLS

How to access FORUM:

Current FGS Member Societies: Sign-in now to start reading immediately or download it to read on your desktop or mobile device. (After signing in, click on FGS FORUM – Latest Issue in the sidebar.) Don't forget to renew your membership in order for your society's leadership to continue to access FORUM and its archives.

Current FGS FORUM subscribers (individuals): sign-in now to start reading immediately or download it to read on your desktop or mobile device. (After signing in, scroll down and click on Vol. 27, No. 2, to read.)

Who can subscribe to FORUM? Anyone. You don't have to be a member of a genealogical society in order to subscribe.

Not already a subscriber? You can subscribe today to the FGS FORUM and start reading immediately or download it to read on your desktop or mobile device.

Genealogical Societies: If you are not a member society of the Federation of Genealogical Societies, become one today and let your society's leadership begin accessing FORUM and its 25+ year archives which is just one of the many benefits of FGS membership. Read more about how else FGS empowers Member Society Leaders to manage successful societies.

FGS Awards Presented at the New York State Family History Conference

The Federation of Genealogical Societies presents awards to deserving individuals and organizations in the fields of family history and history in general.

These awards serves multiple purposes:

• To recognize the society or individual that has made a significant contribution benefiting the genealogical community.
• To thank the society or individual for the time and effort they have given.
• To illustrate and serve as examples of the types of projects and activities which are being done.

FGS especially likes to recognize:

Member society exceptional projects that demonstrate longevity and advancements
Member society volunteer accomplishments
Current and past FGS Officers and the Board of Directors
And the fantastic FGS Conference Committees

This past weekend in Syracuse, New York at the New York State Family History Conference, four awards were presented. FGS President, D. Joshua Taylor made the presentations:

Western New York Genealogical Society
The FGS Award of Merit is presented to this FGS Member Society in recognition of meritorious service to the genealogical community with its 30 years of publishing the WNYGS Journal including many unpublished records covering Western New York and bringing county level records to light.

The Genealogy Guys
The FGS Award of Merit is presented to The Genealogy Guys, George G. Morgan and Drew Smith, in recognition of meritorious service to the genealogical community upon the 10th Anniversary of their podcast , "The Genealogy Guys."

Central New York Genealogical Society
The FGS Award of Merit is presented to this society for service to the genealogical community by publishing its journal, Tree Talks, since 1961. This journal is mostly transcriptions of original documents that are obscure or hard to locate. These records are arranged by county in each issue CNYGS now offers “County Packets” which include all previously published materials arranged by the county of your choice

New York Genealogical & Biographical Society
An Award of Merit is presented to this FGS Member Society in recognition of distinguished work in family history for the 2015 publication of the 856 page New York Family History Research Guide and Gazetteer in which more than 100 experts reviewed and contributed content about local and regional resources and key topics in New York family history. The New York Times said of this publication “This volume doubles as an overdue handbook for serious researchers (and an 840-page doorstop), but it also provides an enlightening and eclectic chronological tour of four centuries of New York benchmarks and record-keeping.”

Congratulations to these recipients. Do you know a deserving individual or organization? Please nominate deserving organizations and volunteers at www.fgs.org. Share your organization’s successes widely as FGS publicizes information on award winners. Recognize your outstanding volunteers.

The FGS Awards Committee is chaired by Paula Stuart-Warren of Minnesota and committee members are Amy Coffin of Texas and Cyndi Ingle of Washington.

Awards are surprises unless you want recipients notified ahead of time. Award categories and the online nomination form are found at www.fgs.org.

2015 Webinar Series: Lisa Louise Cooke and the Power of Video

As part of our new partnership with Genealogy Gems, September's webinar will presented by Lisa Louise Cooke. Video is an incredibly powerful marketing tool societies can incorporate into their website, social channels and even as a presentation tool. Join Lisa for this one time only public event. After September 22nd, the webinar will be available in the Members Only section of the website. Not yet an FGS member? Why not join now!

Please register for the Utilize the Power of Video for Your Society's Programming and Marketing Efforts on September 22, 2015 at 8:00 PM EDT at

https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/7962007169056417026

Lisa Louise Cooke, producer of Genealogy Gems, shares her tips and tricks on using video to enhance your society marketing strategy.

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.

Brought to you by GoToWebinar®
Webinars Made Easy®

FGS and Genealogy Gems Team Up to Bring New FGS Membership Benefit

FGS Members Will Gain Access to an Affordable Solution for Programming Directors: Genealogy Gems for Societies

NEW Member Benefit!

Today we are proud to announce our partnership with Genealogy Gems which will bring a convenient solution to society programming directors — Genealogy Gems for Societies — a national-level programming package that provides an even more affordable benefit to FGS Members.

Watch an example of just one of the types of videos available with the Genealogy Gems for Societies subscription:

This exciting new benefit provides a 25% discount on a complete 1-year package of Genealogy Gems for Societies subscription as well as a 10% discount for each FGS Member Society's member on Lisa’s best-selling book, The Genealogist’s Google Toolbox, Second Edition. FGS Members can access this exciting new benefit by logging in to the Members-only Area on FGS.org for their exclusive 25% off discount code.

"FGS is excited to be partnering with Genealogy Gems,” says D. Joshua Taylor, FGS President. “The opportunity to provide educational benefits for our member societies enriches the entire genealogical community as societies adapt and grow to meet the needs of today's members. This partnership offers FGS members access to a wide range of resources for their members and we look forward to working with Lisa Louise Cooke."

Providing societies a cost-effective way to deliver quality family history video presentations at regular meetings by internationally renowned speaker Lisa Louise Cooke takes the headache out of programming.

Lisa Louise Cooke

"Having served on the program committee of my local genealogy society in the past, I completely understand the challenges they face,” says Lisa Louise Cooke, founder and owner of Genealogy Gems. “There are a limited number of quality speakers in any given geographical area, and it can be expensive to bring in speakers from out of town. We created Genealogy Gems for Societies to help solve that challenge. We're excited to partner with FGS because they see the value in this service and we share the same commitment to supporting local societies. This is a new concept in genealogy programming, and we are here to help you every step of the way."

Additionally, Lisa will be presenting a live webinar as part of the 2015 FGS Webinar Series for societies later this month. The webinar — Utilize the Power of Video for Your Society’s Programming and Marketing Efforts — will be recorded and available afterwards to FGS Members only. Stay tuned right here to The Voice blog for further details on how to register for it. 

If your society is not a member, join FGS today to start accessing the suite of benefits an FGS Membership offers today’s society.

Societies, Libraries, Archives, Genealogy Vendors Needed for PBS' Genealogy Roadshow Season 3

This just in from PBS' Genealogy Roadshow, Season 3:

 SEASON 3 OF  GENEALOGY ROADSHOW WILL BE TRAVELING TO THE FOLLOWING CITIES:

 Boston MA,    Providence RI,    Ft. Lauderdale/Miami FL,

Houston TX,     Los Angeles CA  and    Albuquerque, NM

Josh Taylor, Kenyatta Berry, Mary Tedesco, the PBS Network and the show’s producers invite Local & National Genealogy Associations, Vendors and Genealogist to participate in our Genealogy Roadshow.

–       

The Genealogy Roadshow is looking for Local & National Genealogical Associations, Societies, Genealogy Vendors and Local Genealogist to be part of our show by exhibiting your products and services at our events. Come and get your message out to the public! We are offering free tables and space along with immeasurable exposure!

The Genealogy Roadshow tapings provides you a unique opportunity to expand your database and increase your clientele. Bring with you any products for sale or display books, software, online services, or promotional information.

Season 3 of PBS’ GENEALOGY ROADSHOW is underway and will premiere nationally in summer of 2016. GENEALOGY ROADSHOW is part detective story and part emotional journey. After participants are chosen, genealogy, history and DNA experts will use family heirlooms, letters, pictures, historical documents and other clues to hunt down more information. These answers will be revealed on camera before a local audience, in a historic building relevant to each city. 

The dates are as follows: 

Boston MA – Faneuil Hall - Saturday October 3^rd

Providence, RI – Providence Public Library- Sunday October 4^th

Ft. Lauderdale / Miami, FL – Location TBD – Sunday November 1^st

Houston, TX – Location TDB – Sunday November 22nd

Los Angeles, CA – Location TBD – Saturday December 5^th

Albuquerque, NM – Location TBD – Saturday December 12^th

Please note a commitment is required for each day from 8:00 AM to 6:30 PM. The people staffing the tables may work in shifts. Set up is at 8:00 AM and close at 6:30 PM or until taping is finished. Space is limited so reserve your spot now.

For more information please contact Lisa Hope at Lisabhope@yahoo.com.

We look forward to hearing from you.

First of the Month Reminder: Update Your Society's Contact Information

Has your society had a recent change in leadership? Don't miss out on your FGS Member Benefits because of the change in leadership. Sign-on today to make sure all of your society contact information is correct.

At the same time, enhance your society's listing by adding social media links; updates about regular meetings; and any other information a potential society member might need to know about your organization.

Remember, every month thousands of people from around the world access the FGS Membership Network looking for information about their ancestors in a society, library, or archive in the areas their ancestors may have lived.

Here's how to sign-on:

1. Go to: http://fgs.org/members.php
2. Enter your user name and password.
3. Update your society's contact information.
4. Need help with the updating? Download the Guide to Maintaining Your Profile located under the FGS Members-Only Files behind the membership wall.

Forgotten your sign-on information? Here's how to recover that:

Click on the ? (question mark) on the member sign-on page and follow the directions to have your password reset.

OR

Send a quick email to membership@fgs.org.

While you're there behind the wall updating and enhancing your society's contact information, don't forget to have a look at our society management tools and benefits we provide members such as:

• Partner Benefits;
• Expert reviews of a member society's bylaws, website, and/or website; 
• Informative Reach Out Series, downloadable PDFs which provide helpful advice to societies for local/regional outreach;
• Access to all archived FGS webinars;
• And more! Sign-on now to access tools and services to help you manage your society effectively so your society can spend more time on its purpose and goals.

Is your society or organization not a member? We can help with that too. Join today.

Caroline M. Pointer

Vice-President of Membership

Share Your Knowledge: Write for FGS FORUM

A message from FGS FORUM managing editor, Julie Cahill Tarr:

As we put the finishing touches on the Summer 2015 issue of FORUM (due out in mid-September), planning is underway for upcoming issues. We are looking for genealogy-related and society-related articles. Below is a list of working titles of topics we’d like to cover in future issues.

Genealogy-Related Articles

• How to Choose the Genealogy Database Program That’s Right for You 
• Cousin Connection: Reaching Out to Distant Relatives 
• ## Tips for Finding Your African American Roots 
• DNA Research Strategies for Adoptees 
• How to Plan an Unforgettable Family Reunion 
• Best Tools for Creating Interactive Family Histories 

Society-Related Articles

• Cloud Computing, Can Your Society Benefit? 
• ## Unique Project Ideas for Your Society 
• Is It Time to Bring Your Bylaws Into the 21st Century? 
• Enhance Your Membership Benefits with Special Interest Groups (SIGs) 
• ## Ways to Engage Your Long-Distance Members 
• Take Advantage of Discounted Technology Products with TechSoup 

If you are interested in writing about any of these topics, or if you have other article ideas, please contact me at forumeditor@fgs.org. FORUM accepts original, unpublished materials. Deadlines for upcoming issues are: September 15, November 15, and January 15.

In addition to articles, we also have a need for book and product reviewers. Those interested in being a reviewer should contact me at forumeditor@fgs.org to discuss further.

Julie Cahill Tarr

FORUM Managing Editor

Vision Statements: what are they and why genealogical societies need them

Jack Welch, Chairman of General Electric said, "Good business leaders create a vision, articulate the vision, passionately own the vision, and relentlessly drive it to completion."

Vision Statements v. Mission Statements

Mission statements and vision statements do different jobs. A mission statement is a short statement of the purpose of an organization. It guides the actions, gives the overall goal and directs decision making. Vision statements also define an organization's purpose, but they focus on the goals and aspirations of the organization. Both mission and vision statements are designed to be educational and inspiring. However, a mission statement changes to reflect current thinking, but the vision may stay the same throughout the life of the organization. Vision statements explain to others what your organization wants to be.

What is a Vision Statement?

A Vision Statement:

• Defines the desired future state of what an organization wants to achieve over time (goal)
• Provides guidance and inspiration as to what an organization is focused on achieving in five, ten, or more years (future)
• Draws people to a common work (unites)
• Inspires others to action (motivates)
• Written succinctly in an inspirational manner that makes it easy for all to remember and repeat
• Provides a basis for developing other aspects of strategies and action plans (direction)

Leaders may change, but a clearly established Vision encourages people to focus on what's important and better understand organization-wide change and alignment of resources.

How to Create a Vision Statement

Step 1: Find the "Human Value" in Your Work

First, identify your organization's mission. Next, find the "human value" in that mission. For example, how does your organization improve people's lives? How does what you do make the world a better place? Keep in mind that human values are the foundation of ethics and guidelines used in daily life.

Step 2: Refine Into Values

Then determine what you and other members value the most about how your organization will achieve this mission. Condense these into values your organization has (or should have). If you have a hard time identifying your organization's values, talk to your members. What values do they think the organization stands for? Some attributes may include: honesty, trustworthiness, diligence, discipline, fairness.

Step 3: Combine Your Mission and Values

Combine your mission and values and polish words until you have an inspiring statement that will energize people — inside and outside your organization. It should be broad and timeless. It should tell others why the people in your organization do what they do.

Key Points

Mission and vision statements are succinct, inspirational statements that clearly communicate the direction and values of an organization. These statements can powerfully explain your intentions and motivate your organization to realize a motivating vision of the future. Not having a clearly defined Vision and Mission limits occasions for the organization's success and is a disservice to members and volunteers. If an organization wants engaged and productive members, it should make sure members and volunteers know how their work contributes to accomplishing the Mission and ultimately how it contributes to the Vision of the organization.

The lack of or poorly written Vision and Mission statements are lost opportunities for:

• Attracting/engaging/retaining talent
• Building organizational culture
• Increasing productivity

Examples of Vision Statements

Examples of effective Vision statements include:

Alzheimer's Association: "Our Vision is a world without Alzheimer's disease."

Microsoft: "Empower people through great software anytime, anyplace, and on any device."

Summary

It's never too late for an organization to define its Vision and Mission. Some even reinvent themselves through the strategic planning process, beginning with these two core elements. Regardless of how an organization creates an effective Vision and Mission statement, it is important that they be entrenched into the culture through clear and consistent communications from the highest levels of an organization. Developing effective vision and mission statements are two of the most important tasks your organization will ever do because almost everything else you do will be affected by these statements.

Cherie Bush

FGS Director

Exciting Week for Society Management

Today we are engaging in a little housekeeping to keep you abreast of this week’s happenings in our Society Management offerings. You’ll see a few changes at FGS.org as our older webinars move behind the member wall.  This week sees two events for your pleasure: a new webinar and a #genchat. We hope you’ll make time in your busy schedules to join us as much as you can.

July Webinar

Our moderator for the July Webinar, “Wordpress for Societies: No Blogging Required,” suffered technical difficulties during the original airing that left most attendees disappointed. This webinar has been re-recorded and is now available at http://www.fgs.org/cpage.php?pt=30. It will be available until September 10^th after which it will be accessible in the Member’s Only section. All previously archived webinar content has been moved to Member's Only at this time.

August Webinar

The 2015 Webinar Series continues with Paula Stuart-Warren presenting “Your Society Can’t Afford to Do A Seminar? Here’s How!” Wednesday August 22^nd at 8pm EDT. Paula is a staple on the lecture circuit presenting at conferences and institutes alike. She’ll bring her years of experience in society management positions and conference chairing to bear on a question important to societies of all sizes.  I hope you’ll join us.

Please register for Your Society Can’t Afford to Do A Seminar? Here’s How! on Aug 12, 2015 8:00 PM EDT at:

https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/1496354329360558594

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.

#genchat Friday

Did you miss July’s Society Focus #genchat on Creative Programming? Head over to twitter and search the hashtag. The community was quite vocal in what they’d like to see out of their societies in terms of programming options. 

This Friday, August 14, Jen Baldwin will be encouraging genealogists to “Get Local” to advance their research. FGS will be there too sharing how local societies are essential to a genealogist’s success. No matter how far technology takes us, it will never fully take the place of societies. Join us to share with the community how your societies contributes to genealogical research through preservation, education and camaraderie.

Learn more about how to join us for #genchat events http://www.genealogygenchat.com/how-it-works.html

We'll be back to blogging educational content for those who can't join our virtual events this month with posts on "Micro-volunteering" and "How to Market Your Society."