FGS 2015: Onsite Registration Location and Hours

The Salt Palace Convention Center will be home to the FGS and RootsTech 2015 conferences February 11–14 in Salt Lake City. This special event offers a few unique situations that haven't been seen at previous FGS conferences starting with registration.

The registration area for both FGS and RootsTech attendees will be near the south entrance of the convention center (lower left on the map above) but the hours differ on Tuesday and Wednesday. 

Registration Hours:

Tuesday, February 10:
For FGS and Innovator Summit Attendees
2:00 p.m.–7:00 p.m.

Wednesday, February 11:
For FGS and Innovator Summit Attendees
7:00 a.m.–2:00 p.m.

For All Attendees
5:00 p.m.–8:00 p.m.

Thursday, February 12 through Saturday, February 14:
For All Attendees
7:00 a.m.–2:00 p.m.

FGS attendees are encouraged to pick up their registration packet on Tuesday. This is especially important for those planning to attend the Wednesday Focus on Societies Day Opening Session at 8:00 a.m. That session will be held in 355E, which is on the third level in the opposite end of the convention center from the registration area.

If you must wait until Wednesday morning to get your packet, allow ample time to get to the session. People movers will be available for those needing assistance but waiting may be necessary depending on demand.

Check back Monday, February 2, for details about badges and the conference center set-up.

You still have time to register for FGS 2015 or add luncheons and the Wednesday night FGS event. The deadline for online registration is 10:00 p.m. MST, Monday, February 9. Mail-in registrations must be postmarked no later than Wednesday, February 4.

FGSCruise2015: Featured Destination Victoria, British Columbia

Victoria, British Columbia

Wrapped around the southern tip of Vancouver Island, Victoria is a gentle blend of colonial England and contemporary Western Canada. Victoria is the capital city of British Columbia, and its grand Parliament Buildings, with 150 years of British history.



Victoria was originally founded in 1843 when the Hudson’s Bay Company established a trading post there.  By 1849, Vancouver Island had become a British Crown colony.  Today the city is part of British Columbia, with Victoria as the administrative capital and Vancouver (75 miles northwest on the mainland) being the industrial center.

Most of the attractions center near the harbor, although the walkable inner-city streets foster cordiality. The city is probably best known for its mild climate and active outdoor lifestyle, and Victoria is lauded as one of the most walkable Canadian cities.



Among the many attractions are the world-famous 50-acre Butchart Gardens.  The gracious Fairmont Empress Hotel dominates the Inner Harbour—originally built as a resort by the Canadian Pacific Railway, it has been restored and offers afternoon English tea.



The city also invites gourmet dining, fantastic shopping, nearby lighthouses and whale watching of the resident pod of orcas.  Other excursions include pub tours, horse-drawn trolleys, and a tour of Craigdarroch Castle.



The FGS 2015 Alaskan Cruise will offer a full genealogy conference during sea days that does not encroach on time to enjoy mainland excursions.  Register for the cruise at https://www.fgsconference.org/cruise/.

Legal and Tax Considerations for Your Genealogical Society

Is your society incorporated?  Did you know that most societies are not incorporated as a 501(c)(3) corporation, but are organized and incorporated under their individual state laws and merely qualify for tax-exempt status under the Internal Revenue Code?

If your society is not incorporated, is your President aware that they might be held personally responsible for every contract or agreement involving your society?

What does "not-for-profit" actually mean?  Did you know that it's totally okay for your society to make money?

Join guest Frederick E. Moss, JD, former Associate Dean and Professor of Law at Texas Wesleyan University School of Law, in this episode as he discusses these and other challenges your society may be facing, or may face in the future.

Listen to the archived broadcast of "Legal and Tax Considerations for Your Genealogical Society" on the blogtalkradio My Society channel by FGS, or you can listen below:

Check Out History Podcasts at Blog Talk Radio with mysociety on BlogTalkRadio

For more information, check out these articles from our Society Strategy Series:

Legalities of Establishing a Society
Five Steps to Organizing a Society
Incorporation and IRS Regulations

FGS 2015 Conference Syllabus is Available!

The FGS 2015 conference starts February 11, but registrants can download the syllabus today. 

If you've registered for the conference through the FGS website, log in to your account on FGSconference.org and click on the Download Syllabus button to access the syllabus.

If you added FGS through RootsTech and already created an FGS account, you can log in now to access the syllabus.

If you added FGS through RootsTech and have not yet created an FGS account, follow the instructions you will receive in the next few days to create your account. Those instructions will include a special link you must use.

The syllabus contains material for each lecture and an index to speakers, topics, and daily sessions.

Having the syllabus in advance gives you the opportunity to:

• use it to help you decide which sessions to attend,
• load it to your device(s) of choice to carry with you at the conference, and
• print any copies you'll want in hand during sessions.

If you need to print syllabus pages during the conference, visit the Cyber Cafe in the Expo Hall during their open hours Thursday through Saturday.

A printed version of the syllabus is also available for purchase in advance of the conference through your FGS account. The deadline for orders is today, January 26. CD copies of the syllabus are no longer provided at registration.

The conference early registration discount price of $159 ends at midnight MST, January 26. Register now. 

The Latest Issue of FORUM Is Now Available!

Read the latest issue of FGS FORUM.

Explore creative alternative sources for uncovering more about your World War I ancestor.

Millions of military personnel records were lost in the 1973 fire at the National Personnel Record Center in St. Louis making researching your World War I ancestors challenging, but not impossible. In "Private Nicholas J. Martin," FORUM contributor Joseph F. Martin illustrates creative alternatives you can consider when trying to uncover more information about your World War I ancestor.

Take a look at this clever tool that will help you lay out your research notes and get organized.

How do you keep all the twists and turns of your research in order? FGS Columnist Drew Smith, MLS, introduces an online tool to help you get everything in order and "mapped" out so you can view all your research notes and get organized in "Going Out of Your Mind (and Onto a Map)."

Fund your society projects with this innovative solution.

Many societies do not suffer from a lack of preservation project ideas, but from a lack of funding for those projects. In this latest issue, FORUM contributor Liz Fisher explores a possible solution for funding society projects — "Crowdfunding."

FORUM Table of Contents

3 From the Editor by Sue Zacharias

6 President's Message by D. Joshua Taylor, MA, MLS, FGS President

8 Crowdfunding by Liz Fisher

13 Preserving Your Online Content by Susan Zacharias

16 World War I Veteran: Private Nicholas J. Martin by Joseph F. Martin

25 Going Our of Your Mind (and On to a Map) by Drew Smith, MLS

29 Family Associations by Christine Rose, CG, CGL, FASG

31 The Guild of One-Name Studies by Marian Pierre-Louis

34 Make Your Genealogy Blog a Family Affair by Amy Coffin

38 Records Preservation and Access Committee (RPAC) by Linda McCleary

41 Book Reviews by Paul Milner

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 Archives in the sidebar, scroll down, and click on Vol.26, No.4, to read.) Don't forget to renew your membership in order to keep receiving your 2 complimentary issues of FORUM.

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.26, No.4, 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 receive 2 complimentary subscriptions to the FORUM as just one of the many benefits to membership. Read more about what else FGS offers its member societies.

Urgent! Indiana State Library Could Lose Its Genealogy Department

The following was received from the Indiana Genealogical Society:

Have you heard the news? The Indiana State Library in Indianapolis is in danger of having its entire genealogy department eliminated. Governor Pence's proposed budget (House Bill 1001) - which is currently being considered by the Indiana legislature - calls for a 24% cut in funding for the Indiana State Library, including the elimination of the library's entire genealogy department (please read Indiana State Librarian Jacob Speer'sfull report on the proposed budget cuts).

The cut would only save $400,000, but if enacted, it would be a devastating loss, not just to Indiana residents, but to all those across the country who utilize the library in their research. Did you know that the library's statistics show that almost half of all their interactions with the public concern genealogy? And those interactions are only going to increase as 2016 - the state's bicentennial celebration - gets closer.

WHAT TO DO: The proposed budget is just that - a proposal. Legislators can change the budget and adjust funding levels before it comes to a final vote. Members of the House Ways and Means Committee - chaired by Rep. Tim Brown - are the ones to contact first. E-mail or phone are recommended, as they will make the quickest impact:
Rep. Tim Brown, Committee Chair - fill out this contact form that's already designated to go to Rep. Brown. Or you can manually e-mail him at h41@iga.in.gov
House Ways and Means Committee - go to their committee pageand scroll down the left side to see the list of the Majority Members. Click on one of the photos to see their contact information.
Call the switchboard - 1-800-382-9841

If you're an Indiana resident, you can also contact your specific legislators before it comes to the full General Assembly for a vote - use the handy Find Your Legislator tool.

FGS 2015: What Did You Do When You Were A Kid? or Strategies for Gathering Family Stories

Have you ever realized the stories told about all the trouble you caused as a kid may become a foundation or strategy for gathering family stories. When stories are shared there is more productive storytelling, so building the story to share is an important part of getting a story back from listeners.

This FGS conference luncheon on Friday, February 13, sponsored by the Board for Certification of Genealogists (BCG) will be presented by J.Mark Lowe, CG, FUGA. Come prepared to hear some stories, and listen for keys to open future doors to your families stories.

"I’m not sure how I got the Hook into genealogy – cemeteries, Courthouse research or the great story," Lowe said, "but I know that all genealogists love finding great stories about their family."

J. Mark Lowe is a full-time professional researcher and educator, teaching at SLIG, IGHR, or at your local society. Mark also researches for clients including Who Do You Think You Are?, African American Lives, or the Biography Channel’s UneXplained.

Purchase a luncheon ticket by logging in to your FGS account on the conference website and selecting Add More Items. 

The BCG is an independent organization not affiliated with, or part of, any group. It is a certifying body not a membership society and a nationally and internationally recognized organization.

The BCG booth provides materials that are helpful for success in the certification process and actual portfolios for public viewing. The website contains skill-building articles, exercises, and a free download of The BCG Application Guide. BCG is the author of the book Genealogy Standards which is meant for all practitioners and not just those seeking certification.

The Board's mission is to foster public confidence in genealogy as a respected branch of history by promoting an attainable, uniform standard of competence and ethics among genealogical practitioners; and by publicly recognizing persons who meet that standard.

If you haven't registered for the conference yet, don't forget the early registration deadline has been extended to Monday, January 26.

Summaries submitted by J. Mark Lowe, CG, FUGA, and the Board for Certification of Genealogists (BCG).

FGS 2015 Early Registration Discount Extended!

The early registration discount for the FGS 2015 Conference has been extended to midnight MST, Monday, January 26. 

That means you have three extra days to take advantage of the low registration price of $159. This discount will save you $30 on the regular online registration or $80 on the onsite registration price! 

The FGS conference is coming up February 11–14 in Salt Lake City, Utah. Wednesday, February 11 features sessions for society leaders and members designed to give you new ideas and inspiration for helping your favorite society grow and prosper. Sessions on Thursday, February 12 through Saturday, February 14 focus on genealogy and family history researchers. Learning about records, methods, and best practices will help you solve those tough research problems.

Visit the FGS 2015 Conference website for details about sessions, speakers, luncheons, special events, and more. 

Register by Monday to take advantage of this low price. 

If you are already registered, you still have time to add luncheons and the Wednesday night opening event. Simply log in to your FGS account to add more items. 

Tan Le to Open FGS and RootsTech 2015

Technologist and entrepreneur Tan Le will be the opening keynote speaker for FGS and RootsTech 2015 on Thursday, February 12. She will share her personal heroic immigrant story as she fled Vietnam with her mother and sister at a very young age.

The Vietnamese refugee was named Young Australian of the Year and recognized by Fast Company as one of the most influential women in technology and by Forbes as one of the 50 names you need to know. “I consider it a privilege any time I can share my experiences with others who have personal trials but desire to rise above them as my mother and grandmother inspired me to do,” Le said of her opportunity to speak at the conference.


 

Don't forget that the early registration discount for FGS 2015 ends on Friday, January, 23. If you are already registered, you still have time to add on luncheons and the Wednesday night social event. Log in and select "ADD MORE ITEMS." 

FGSCruise2015: Featured Speaker Elizabeth Shown Mills

Strategies are the key to solving most genealogical dilemmas. Sure, we love to find new records, more records, unique records. But the reality is that really tough problems aren’t solved by a lucky find and, even when we find a record that makes an assertion about an identity or kinship, it might be wrong.

Elizabeth Shown Mills

What we need most are strategies for testing assertions. We need strategies for teasing out the identities of wives and mothers when no record gives us her name. We need strategies for proving name changes when illegitimacies, informal adoptions, and other “off-record” situations create a broken limb on a family tree.

In five sessions this week, I will teach you enough strategies to see you through a lifetime of successful research:

• Finding Females: Wives, Mothers, Daughters, Sisters & Paramours 
• Okay, I Got the Neighbors: Now What do I Do with Them?
• Margaret’s Baby’s Father & the Lessons He Taught Me: Illegitimacy, Name Changes & More
• Smith & Jones: Problem-Solving with Families of Common Name
• Using Evidence Creatively: How to Spot Clues and Demand Answers from Run-of-the Mill Records

--Elizabeth Shown Mills


Elizabeth Shown Mills, CG, CGL, FASG, FNGS, FUGA is a historical researcher and writer who has spent her life studying American culture and the relationships between people. A popular lecturer and author, she has represented genealogy in the media on three continents—including ABC, BBC, CNN, PBS, and featured roles in BBC’s 20th Anniversary and 30th Anniversary specials on Alex Haley’s Roots. She has been widely cited as “The person who has had the most impact on family history in the post-Roots era.”

Across her career, Elizabeth spent sixteen years as editor of the peer-reviewed National Genealogical Society Quarterly, blogged for the New York Times, and been interviewed by Time, Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, and other major print media. She served as president of both the American Society of Genealogists and the Board for Certification of Genealogists, and created the groundbreaking Advanced Research Methodology track at Samford University Institute of Genealogy & Historical Research.

As an educator and writer, Elizabeth focuses on research methodology and social history. She is the author, editor, or translator of fourteen books and over 500 journal and magazine articles. Of all her publications, her favorite work is her 2004 reality-based historical novel, Isle of Canes. As a genealogist, she is best known for two essential reference works: Professional Genealogy: A Manual for Researchers, Writers, Editors, Lecturers & Librarians and Evidence Explained: Citing History Sources from Artifacts to Cyberspace.

The FGS 2015 Alaskan Cruise will offer a full genealogy conference during sea days that does not encroach on time to enjoy mainland excursions.  Register for the cruise at https://www.fgsconference.org/cruise/.

Kickstarter Funding for Your Genealogy Society Project

Still trying to figure out how to find the funds to implement all of your society's new projects?

Have you considered crowdfunding?  Guests Kathleen Brandt (of a3Genealogy) and Maureen Taylor (the "Photo Detective") have each started Kickstarter projects and discuss the finer points of applying for and promoting your project.

This approach serves multiple purposes:

• it allows your society to implement projects without digging into (and usually depleting) the operating account;
• it's a great way to let the community (local, regional, virtual, etc.) know what projects your society is working on;
• it's a great way to get your society's name out there - which could increase your membership (making future funding even easier!)

Think about it.  It's much easier to get a couple of bucks from a thousand people than it is to get $100 from 20 people.  Right?

This type of funding reaches more people faster, and allows more societies and other organizations to raise funds for projects to preserve local, state, regional, or even national history that might otherwise never see the light of day.

Listen to the archived broadcast of "Kickstarter Funding for Your Genealogy Society Project" on the blogtalkradio My Society channel by FGS, or you can listen below:

Check Out History Podcasts at Blog Talk Radio with mysociety on BlogTalkRadio

For more information, check out these articles from our Society Strategy Series:

• Projects for Fundraising
• A First Families Project
• Creating Society Archives
• A Society Project: GPS Locating Cemeteries - Making Cemeteries Easy to Find

FGS 2015: Holly Golightly Was a Nice Jewish Girl: Our Ancestors Reinvented

Ever wonder if there was more to your family history than meets the eye? Poor immigrants not only shed their old world clothing and names, but reinvented their personalities. Hear the magical tale of two foster-home beauties who became teenage muses to Truman Capote, the Roaring Twenties rags-to-riches saga of their Ziegfeld Follies mother, and how innovative genealogical methodology solved the mystery of the “real” Holly Golightly 56 years after her creation.

This FGS conference luncheon on Friday, February 13, sponsored by the New York Genealogical and Biographical Society (NYG&B), will be presented by Pamela Weisberger. 

Pamela Weisberger is the 1^st vice-president of the Jewish Genealogical Society

of Los Angeles, president of Gesher Galicia, and co-chair of the 2010 IAJGS Conference. A professional genealogist, writer, and international lecturer, she specializes in Eastern European archival and historical newspaper research and created the Galician Archival Records Project.

The NYG&B is a membership organization, welcoming people who are curious about researching New York family history. The NYG&B focuses on three areas: publications, educational programming, and online resources (extensive eLibrary and Research Aids). Their two quarterly journals, the NYG&B Record and the New York Researcher, are benefits of membership. Recently, the Society published its authoritative, landmark new guide to New York research, the New York Family Research Guide and Gazetteer.

Purchase a luncheon ticket by logging in to your FGS account on the conference website and selecting Add More Items. If you haven't registered for the conference yet, don't forget the early registration deadline is Friday, January 23.

Summaries submitted by Pamela Weisberger and New York Genealogical and Biographical Society.

FGSCruise2015: Destination Tracy Arm Fjord

Nestled between 3,000-foot-high granite walls, the narrow, twisting slice of ocean called Tracy Arm Fjord weaves through the Tongass National Forest for roughly 35 miles. The shoreline is spotted with waterfalls created by melting snowcaps and trees sprouting at odd angles from rocky outcroppings.



Tracy Arm, a classic fjord, has it all: snow-capped peaks, shear rock palisades, rainbows and tidewater glaciers. Some of the rock formations are shiny smooth from years of glacier wear, plunging almost vertically into the water that is a thousand feet deep.



Drift among icebergs and waterfalls that cascade thousands of feet for the most close-up view of Sawyer Glacier. Watch for bergs shearing off the snout of the glacier, creating dramatic waves that travel for miles.



You'll see incredible mountains and emerald green water, and be able to watch for whales, bear, eagles, mountain goats, and seals. These are the sights you don’t want to miss!

The FGS 2015 Alaskan Cruise will offer a full genealogy conference during sea days that does not encroach on time to enjoy mainland excursions. Register for the cruise at https://www.fgsconference.org/cruise/.

Web-based Fundraising Opportunities

Learn ways to afford all those new projects!

It's a new year. You've installed a new board. You've had your roundtable discussions and your society is armed with plenty of new ideas ... but no financial resources to make them happen. What now?

Guest Mark Olsen explains some ways your society can raise money—both actively and passively—so your society can afford to tackle all those new projects!

If your society has an internet presence, there are many genealogy vendors who offer affiliate links that you can put on your website or blog and earn money when people click on your link.  Some vendors also provide discount offers on their services that can only be obtained through your society.

These are excellent options, especially for the smaller society that wants to avoid increasing membership dues.

Listen to the archived broadcast of "Web-based Fundraising Opportunities" on the blogtalkradio My Society channel by FGS, or you can listen below:

Check Out History Podcasts at Blog Talk Radio with mysociety on BlogTalkRadio

For more information, check out these articles from our Society Strategy Series:

• Projects for Fundraising
• Society Web Sites: Plain and Simple
• Incorporation and IRS Regulations
• Bookkeeping 101 for Genealogical Societies

FGS 2015: A Look at the Conference App

The FGS 2015 Conference in Salt Lake City starts in less than a month. February 11 to be exact. If you haven't registered yet, you still have time to save money. The early registration discount ends January 23.

Once you are registered, download the FGS app to have everything about the conference available at your fingertips. The FGS app is a mobile version of both FGS.org and FGSconference.org  available for iOS and Android devices.

The conference functions are accessible from the FGS 2015 Conference logo. 

Log in to your FGS account on the conference website to Plan Your Sessions. The sessions you select will then display under MY SCHEDULE in the app after you log in on the app. 

Select MAPS when you need to know where you are or where you are going. A map of the Salt Palace Convention Center is already loaded. A map of the Expo Hall is coming soon. 

View the full FGS program by day and time under SESSIONS. Room assignments will be added to the app as soon as they are available. View the RootsTech program through their app and website. 

Register before the early discount deadline on January 23.

*Screenshots made from an Android tablet.

FGS Distinguished Service Award: Kay Crockette Stone

FGS Distinguished Service Award: Kay Crockette Stone

Another of the deserving genealogists that FGS honored in 2014 is Kay Crockette Stone from Florida. Kay is a member of the FGS member society, Imperial Polk [FL] Genealogical Society. She has been a member for almost 30 years and is the appointed cemetery committee chair.

For more than 20 years she worked with the cemetery committee to survey, transcribe, and publish nine volumes about the county cemeteries. Nine!

She has been one of the most diligent and relentless persons about details and accuracy as she entered all the tombstone transcriptions, checked, and rechecked for accuracy.

Do you know someone that serves your society as a volunteer extraordinaire? Why not honor them with an international award for their work. Please visit the FGS website to nominate these members or others. Visit http://fgs.org/ and click on Awards for the details of each award category and the nomination form. Awards will be presented at various times during 2015 but if you are interested in a nomination for an award to be presented at the next FGS conference, the submissions must be received soon.

As you may know, the next conference will be held 11-14 February 2015 in Salt Lake City in conjunction with RootsTech. Details are on the FGS website and everyone is welcome! Register now.

5 Reads Friday: Free research guides, 220-year-old artifacts, free webinars, & more!

Here is our quick round up of genealogy news that trended this week on social media — a little bit of this, a little bit of that. Get in the know for the weekend with these 5 reads from FGS:

Top Seven Free Canadian Genealogy Sites by Elizabeth LaPointe on the Genealogy Canada blog - If you have Canadian roots and need some guidance in where to research online, you'll want to check out Elizabeth's list.

Need some help with your family history research? Check out these FREE research guide downloads from the Minnesota Genealogical Society.

Find out what Massachusetts officials found when they opened up the 220-year-old time capsule. (NBCNews.com)

What will you be learning in 2015...for free? The Southern California Genealogical Society (SCGS) recently released their 2015 webinar lineup Grow What You Know. 

Family History TV Show Turns Up Surprise for St. Louis Woman — Listen to FGS President D. Joshua Taylor on St. Louis Public Radio discuss researching your family history and what we can all expect from season two of PBS' Genealogy Roadshow which premiers next Tuesday evening on your local PBS station.

FGS Award of Merit: Shirley Sturdevant, Ontario, Canada

FGS Award of Merit: Shirley Sturdevant, Ontario, Canada

Another of the deserving 2014 FGS Award winners was Shirley Sturdevant from Ontario, Canada. Shirley won the Award of Merit. She is a member of the FGS Member Society, Ontario Genealogical Society. She almost single-handedly guided the Society through a complete restructuring process with a Governance Review Committee and has been key in implementing many of its key strategies with the ad hoc Governance Task Force.

Shirley revitalized many of the committees that had slowly dissolved (Awards, Nominations, Policy Procedure & Bylaws committees). She has also overseen the utilization of many new electronic media and the establishment of the Technical Services & Innovation Committee and Webinar Committee. She & her committee personally interviewed all applicants for the new Board structure and put together an innovative & thriving Board for the future.

Congratulations, Shirley Sturdevant!

This is just one example of how wonderful volunteers can assist a society in thriving. Does your society have some of these giving volunteers? Please visit the FGS website to nominate these members or others. Visit http://fgs.org/ and click on Awards for the details of each award category and the nomination form. Awards will be presented at various times during 2015 but if you are interested in a nomination for an award to be presented at the next FGS conference, the deadline is 1 January 2015. The next conference will be held 11-14 February 2015 in Salt Lake City in conjunction with RootsTech. Details are on the FGS website and everyone is welcome! Register now. [An inside note: we can accept awards nominations for a few more days if you want the award to be considered for presentation at the February conference.]

FGSCruise2015: Featured Speaker Judy Russell

The 2015 FGS Alaskan Cruise, August 28-September 4, is going to be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. A genealogy cruise is like getting the best of everything:

• A sightseeing vacation (Alaska! The inner passage…glaciers…whales…eagles!)
• A learning experience beyond compare (Elizabeth Shown Mills, David Rencher, D. Joshua Taylor and me, up close and personal, with a wide variety of topics to choose from)
• A chance to mingle with like-minded folks (who are guaranteed not to roll their eyes when you start talking about genealogy) -- all wrapped up in one package. 

Throw in the food, the entertainment, plenty to keep the non-genealogist spouse or travel companion busy and happy, and it simply doesn't get much better than that.



We'll be able to take a careful look at court records at all levels -- federal, state and county -- and how to make use of them in family history. We'll have lots of time to do some hands-on work with those records, and even learn about some of the judges who created them:  the justices of the peace.  And I'm particularly looking forward to the chance to help cruisers really understand autosomal DNA testing and how useful it can be in breaking down brick walls.

Hope to see you onboard in 2015!

--Judy Russell

Judy will be delivering four lectures during the cruise:

• Beyond X and Y: The Promise and Pitfalls of Autosomal DNA Testing
• Order in the Court: Hands-on with Court Records (2-part workshop)
• Making a Federal Case Out of It 
• The Gentlemen Judges: Justices of the Peace

The Legal Genealogist Judy G. Russell is a genealogist with a law degree. She writes, teaches and lectures on a wide variety of genealogical topics, ranging from using court records in family history to understanding DNA testing. A Colorado native with roots deep in the American south on her mother’s side and entirely in Germany on her father’s side, she is a member of the Association of Professional Genealogists, the National Genealogical Society and numerous state and regional genealogical societies. She attended the National Institute on Genealogical Research (NIGR) at the National Archives in Washington, D.C., and was a Walter Lee Sheppard Jr. prizewinner in Advanced Methodology and Evidence Analysis at the Institute of Genealogy & Historical Research (IGHR) at Samford University. Now on the faculty of IGHR as well as the Salt Lake Institute of Genealogy and the Genealogical Research Institute of Pittsburgh, she is a member of the Board of Trustees of the Board for Certification of Genealogists, from which she holds credentials as a Certified Genealogist℠ and Certified Genealogical Lecturer℠. She has written for the National Genealogical Society Quarterly, the National Genealogical Society Magazine and BCG’s OnBoard newsletter. Her blog, chosen as one of the American Bar Association’s top 100 in 2013, appears at The Legal Genealogist website http://www.legalgenealogist.com.

The FGS 2015 Alaskan Cruise will offer a full genealogy conference during sea days that does not encroach on time to enjoy mainland excursions.  Register for the cruise at https://www.fgsconference.org/cruise/.

Crafting an Effective Member Survey

We've talked about analyzing your society to begin implementing changes to programs, publications, bylaws, etc.  But it's usually not a good idea to change things just for the sake of change ... so how do you know what changes need to be made?

You ask.

Surveys don't have to be limited to your current members. You can use the internet and social media to your advantage and be able to reach specific demographics all over the planet, depending on the purpose of your survey.

Have any idea whether you'll use structured questions or open-ended questions? Do you know the best time to conduct a survey? What tools are the best for surveys? Guests Paula Hinkel and Taneya Koonce share their expertise on every aspect of designing, implementing, and analyzing a survey to provide the most "bang for your buck."

Listen to the archived broadcast of "Crafting an Effective Member Survey" on the blogtalkradio My Society channel by FGS, or you can listen below:

Check Out History Podcasts at Blog Talk Radio with mysociety on BlogTalkRadio

For more information, check out this article from our Society Strategy Series:

• Now That You've Attracted Those Members, Keep Them!

FGS 2015 Early Registration Ends January 23

The deadline for early registration for the FGS 2015 Conference is January 23! Register now and join the nation’s genealogists in Salt Lake City February 11-14.

It’s not too late to experience this once-in-a-lifetime genealogy event, when the Federation of Genealogical Societies (FGS) teams up with RootsTech at the Salt Palace Convention Center. Attendees will enjoy a shared expo hall, keynote sessions, and activities, and FGS sessions focused on methodology, records, ethnic research, migration and more. Take advantage of the $159 early registration price before it’s too late. The price increases to $189 after 1/23. 

If you’ve already registered, you can still log in and add any of the sponsored luncheons or special events.

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2014 FGS David S. Vogels, Jr. Award

FGS’ David S. Vogels, Jr., Award is given to an individual in recognition of outstanding career contributions to FGS. Former FGS President, David S. Vogels (1980s), personified such contributions to FGS. At the FGS conference, instead of beginning with the winner’s name, the presentation began with the reasons why this specific person was being presented with this award. This is the text that was given that day:

Where to begin to describe the current winner This person had made immense and dedicated contributions to FGS over many years and has been a devoted conference and event planner with innovative ideas. In addition, has played key roles in FGS leadership, often stepping in when major help and time commitments. Vacations and family events have been arranged around FGS needs whenever possible

As a past president of FGS, this person made many trips related to conference planning for FGS. As of that isn’t enough for a key volunteer, this person also parked her car in the driveway to provide a space in their garage for storing many FGS conference materials. Then she volunteered to handle the voluminous FGS mail, email, phone calls, mailings, and other office duties for several years.

Among the other FGS responsibilities of this person

• Past member, FGS Board of Directors
• Past President, FGS
• Has been active with several FGS member societies
• Continues to be active with FGS

Plus she is always smiling!

In case you didn’t already guess, the person to whom these statements applied is Pat Oxley of Texas. Pat has had a health challenge this past year and there weren’t many dry eyes in the hall as she came forward to accept this award from Josh Taylor, the current FGS President. Once again, congratulations on this well-deserved award, Pat.

Learn more about the lineup of FGS awards for which someone in your organization might be eligible at http://fgs.org/  Then fill out the nomination form for an individual or organization and submit it online.