Latest FORUM Issue Is Out: Planning a Washington, D.C. research trip, meet the Next Generation, & more!

Dive in to FGS FORUM!

Rain or shine, it's time to kick back with this latest issue of FORUM which is bursting with helpful research hints, volunteer opportunities, society project ideas, and technology help for both today's researcher and today's genealogical society. Dive in!

Go Prepared

With so many repositories and libraries located in Washington, D.C., having some kind of research plan and knowing what to expect and what will be expected of you before you go is imperative. Easily get prepared with these insider tips from expert Darcie Hind Posz, CG, in "Planning a Research Trip to Washington, D.C.

Does a genealogical society hold the key to solving your research challenges? 

Or are you looking to find a project you can volunteer for to help give back to the genealogy community? Don't miss new FORUM column, "Spotlight on Member Projects" by FGS Vice-President of Membership Caroline Pointer. The column reveals what activities FGS Member Societies are involved in throughout the genealogy community and features great cemetery, indexing, digitization, and fundraising projects in the works as well as other types of activities. Plus, society leaders will enjoy being inspired to try a new type of project or activity for their own society!

Meet the Next Generation

What do they like? What do they not like? What do they expect? What makes them tick? How do they research? How do they volunteer? In her new column, Shannon Combs-Bennett begins this all-important dialogue that will unveil incredible insight into this huge demographic with takeaways for societies and their leadership which will help them understand how to reach — and even meet — the next generation where they are. Plus, she'll be sharing advice with the next generation of genealogists on how to get involved and to help them along with their research.

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

Table of Contents

3......From the Editors

6......President's Message

8......Planning a Research Trip to Washington, D.C. by Darcie Hind Posz, CG

15.....10 Reasons to Use Wordpress for Your Society Website by Taneya Koonce

23.....Global Family Reunion, A Success by Randy Whited

26.....A Look Back at the FGS 2015 Conference by Linda McCauley

30.....FGS Regional Conference: New York State Family History Conference

33.....Spotlight on Member Projects: Indexing Projects, New Databases, and More by Caroline Pointer

37.....Next Generation: Who Are the NextGen of Genealogy? by Shannon Combs-Bennett

40.....Records Preservation and Access: Genealogists' Declaration of Rights, Preservation Projects, and More by Linda McCleary, MLS

42.....Reviews

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. 1, 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 Marshals Its Hundreds of Member Societies to Help Global Family Reunion Fight Alzheimer's

The Federation of Genealogical Societies and the Global Family Reunion Join Forces for the Largest Family Reunion in History

As genealogists and family historians, visiting and interviewing family members is one of the first steps we do when we begin to discover our family history. In fact, capturing our families' stories is an integral part of the research process. For many, it can even be the paramount reason for beginning the search in the first place.

Many times, family historians are left to lament the fact they didn't start sooner...didn't capture those stories...didn't ask...didn't try to find answers and stories...until it was too late.

Moreover, it can be absolutely devastating when the reason we cannot learn the family stories from those who came before us is because of a disease like Alzheimer's, which robs people of their minds...their stories...their self-identity...their lives.

And best-selling author and three-time TED talk speaker A.J. Jacobs along with, well, the world is planning the Global Family Reunion to show how everyone is connected and to show how finding how everyone is connected can be a powerful thing. Powerful enough to fight Alzheimer's.

Because of the amazing advances in technology, the Internet, genealogy, and DNA research, we can find out how we are all connected to each other. According to Jacobs in his most recent TED talk, finding how we are related gives us, "...an unprecedented history of the human race..." and a sense of "interconnectedness." Watch his less than 10 minutes inspiring TED talk below:





The plans for the Global Family Reunion on June 6, 2015 in New York are well under way to include presentations by celebrities, genealogists, and famous scientists, music, comedy, games, interactive exhibits, and food. (You can't really have a family reunion without the food, right?)

Plus, FGS is joining forces with Global Family Reunion to facilitate the organization of branch parties at genealogical societies across the United States and around the world to bring the live-streamed event to the branch parties. It will be a global event of epic proportions.

But there's just one essential element missing. And that's you. Using the tools available on the Global Family Reunion website, find out today how you are connected to the rest of the world, and then share it with everyone...your whole family! How are you connected? How are you a cousin?

Because, after all, we are cousins in this one big Human Family coming together for our family reunion in order to fight Alzheimer's. Together, we can save our family members...and our family stories.

Genealogical Societies: Interested in organizing a Global Family Reunion branch party to live-stream this epic event and take part in connecting the world to fight Alzheimer's? Contact Randy Whited at info@fgs.org

Media: For a full press release with more information, please visit our Media Center.