NEW PENSION IMAGES HAVE ARRIVED

PRESERVE THE PENSIONS ANNOUNCES NEW IMAGES AVAILABLE AT FOLD3.COM

Austin, Texas  – The Federation of Genealogical Societies (FGS) is pleased to announce new pension images available at our hosting partner, Fold3. As we detailed in August of this year, conservation had resumed and digitization would shortly follow on War of 1812 Pension files covering surnames M(Moore)-Q. This new release of images is the first installment on the promise made by FGS, National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) and Ancestry to complete the project we started and to which you all have so generously contributed. Additional images will follow as the Ancestry digitization team continues to refine their process and achieve full capacity in accord with NARA protocols.

The War of 1812 pensions are among the most frequently requested set of materials within NARA’s holdings, yet had never been microfilmed or digitized. Through a fundraising effort unprecedented in the genealogical community, more than 4,000 individuals, 115 genealogical and lineage societies, and industry leaders such as FamilySearch helped FGS secure the funds, matched by Ancestry, to preserve and share this invaluable genealogical resource. The images already captured, as well as those soon to be, are hosted at Fold3 and available for free at https://go.fold3.com/1812pensions/

 “The Federation remains grateful to our partners and our supporters for their commitment to this important project. We are as excited as our community to reach this milestone.” – Rorey Cathcart, FGS President

"Accelerating public access to our holdings is key to successfully meeting NARA's mission and we are extremely pleased to see this project contribute to that overarching goal." Pamela Wright, Chief Innovation Officer, NARA

 “We are excited to have images flowing to the Fold3 site again and look forward to completing the collection as quickly as NARA’s process will allow.” Brian Hansen, GM Fold3

The Federation is committed to seeing the entire collection conserved, digitized and freely online at the earliest possible date. We will continue work with our partners to complete the current project plan in a timely manner and to secure a project plan for the remaining portion of the War of 1812 Pension files.

Document Conservation Resumes for War of 1812 Pension Files

Message from the President

Today, the Federation of Genealogical Societies (FGS) announced the resumption of conservation of the War of 1812 Pension Files.

The Federation of Genealogical Societies (FGS) is pleased to announce National Archives staff have recently resumed document conservation of the War of 1812 Pension files covering surnames M(Moore)-Q. Document conservation is the essential first step in digitizing these files. Our digitization partner, Ancestry.com, has scheduled image capture of these newly conserved documents to begin the second week of September 2017. As capture resumes, new images will be added to Fold3.com on a rolling basis. The Federation and the dedicated volunteers of the Preserve the Pensions project have worked tirelessly for well over a year to negotiate a resolution to the work stoppage. This portion of the project plan is expected to be completed by third quarter 2018.

Many in our community have expressed frustration with the lack of new information on the status of the Preserve the Pensions project, ongoing negotiations and the safety of donated funds. As incoming President, I had an obligation to hold any response to those concerns until I could evaluate the history, speak candidly with the Preserve the Pensions team and meet with our partners. From the outside, and with perfect hindsight, it is easy to see a few opportunities missed to share more with you, our supporters. I stand behind the Preserve the Pensions team even so. They have worked incredibly hard to bring this unprecedented fundraising and preservation effort this far.

As frustrating as it may be to hear, FGS is limited in how much it can share with the community at large regarding ongoing negotiations with partners. As an organization, we most certainly may not reveal the internal discussions between our partners. That simple fact of business leaves you, our funding supporters, at times without satisfactory answers to your questions. While I will do everything in my power as FGS President to keep you apprised going forward, I will likely never satisfy your questions completely. With that in mind, and with the current project plan in place, I am able to share with you a very brief outline of events.

A security incident at the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) facility in St. Louis led to a work stoppage of digitization projects for security review. This incident was unrelated to the Preserve the Pensions project in Washington D.C., however, our project was impacted.  The Federal bureaucracy is a slow-moving beast, as many of us have experienced outside of genealogy.   The completed review led to new security and project protocols. These protocols imposed new cost, space, and completion date constraints on the project. Neither conservation nor digitization could resume without a renegotiated project plan. These negotiations were difficult and time-consuming as each partner fought for their organization’s priorities. Ultimately, each partner compromised where they could to bring this important preservation project back online. The negotiations, however, are not over. The project plan above is a test of both the new project protocols and the compromises each of us made. It is a proof of concept. As this new project plan is put into practice, NARA, Ancestry.com, and FGS will continue to work together to evaluate the process with an eye towards negotiating the project plan for the final phase of conservation and digitization of surnames R-Z.

I can assure you, the funds you have so generously contributed to this effort are secure. In accordance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP), funds donated for a specific purpose must be separate from general operating funds. Your donations were deposited into a restricted fund. Any monies FGS provided for matching campaigns were moved from our operating capital into this restricted fund. Digitization and other project expenses were spent from the restricted fund.

While the total value of the project was originally projected to be $3.456 million, FGS was responsible for raising only half that amount - $1.728 million - due to the very generous match by Ancestry.com. This valuation was based on a projected 7.2 million pages in the War of 1812 Pensions collection at a total cost of $0.48 per page image. The new project plan has added to the total cost of the Preserve the Pensions project.  However, the number of images for the first half of the collection was less than originally expected.  We anticipate this trend will continue in the second half of the collection. Therefore, FGS stands by its decision to close community fundraising for the project.

On behalf of the board of the Federation and the dedicated volunteers of the Preserve the Pensions team, I have heard and acknowledge your concerns. Your support of this project has been both overwhelming and inspirational. As a first of its kind effort to crowdfund preservation of a genealogically-valuable collection, there was no roadmap. The Preserve the Pensions team is dedicated to seeing this project through until the very last page of the very last pension is online. We will evaluate the successes and shortcomings of the project as implemented before proceeding to a new project. In the meantime, we will work to regain your trust by being as forthcoming as the realities of these sensitive negotiations will allow.

FGS remains grateful to the community for your contributions; this project would not have been successful without the energy of all of you behind us. I welcome your questions or concerns at president@fgs.org.

--Rorey Cathcart, FGS President

PRESERVE THE PENSIONS ANNOUNCES RESUMPTION OF DOCUMENT CONSERVATION AT NATIONAL ARCHIVES

DIGITIZATION SOON TO FOLLOW

The Federation of Genealogical Societies (FGS) is pleased to announce National Archives staff have recently resumed document conservation of the War of 1812 Pension files covering surnames M(Moore)-Q. Document conservation is the essential first step in digitizing these files. Our digitization partner, Ancestry.com, has scheduled image capture of these newly conserved documents to begin the second week of September 2017. As capture resumes, new images will be added to Fold3.com on a rolling basis. The Federation and the dedicated volunteers of the Preserve the Pensions project have worked tirelessly for well over a year to negotiate a resolution to the work stoppage. This portion of the project plan is expected to be completed by third quarter 2018.

The War of 1812 pensions are among the most frequently requested set of materials within the holdings of the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), yet had never been microfilmed or digitized. Through a fundraising effort unprecedented in the genealogical community, more than 4,000 individuals, 115 genealogical and lineage societies, and industry leaders such as FamilySearch helped FGS secure the funds, matched by Ancestry.com, to preserve and share this invaluable genealogical resource. The images already captured, as well as those soon to be, are hosted at Fold3.com for free, forever.

 “We are grateful to our partners Ancestry.com and NARA for their support and willingness to continue working with us towards this successful outcome. We appreciate their recognition of the unique nature of this project and the community who worked so hard to fund it.” – Rorey Cathcart, FGS President

The Federation is committed to seeing the entire collection conserved, digitized and freely online at the earliest possible date. We will continue work with our partners to secure a timeline for the remaining portion of the War of 1812 Pension files.

With Historic Gift and Community Support, the Fundraising for the Preserve the Pensions Is Officially Completed!

Today at our annual conference, we announced the receipt of a historic $500,000 anonymous contribution to the War of 1812 Preserve the Pensions fundraising project. The unprecedented donation, which came from outside of the genealogical community, will be matched by Ancestry.com, and in total will provide $1 million to the project. Those funds, along with crowdsourced funds from the genealogical community have provided more than $3 million dollars to the project. With these donations, we are able to officially announce the completion of fundraising for “Preserve the Pensions,” the landmark community fundraising project.

The largest fundraising effort ever initiated for a single genealogical record set, Preserve the Pensions involved donations from more than 4,000 individuals and 115 genealogical and lineage societies. Each donation was generously matched by Ancestry.com.

“We are humbled and grateful for the generosity of the genealogical community and those outside of our community who are dedicated to the preservation of records, thank you!” noted D. Joshua Taylor, FGS President. “This historic gift, in-tandem with the thousands of contributions from individual genealogists and societies, illustrates the incredible power of the genealogical community - together we can make a difference.”

The War of 1812 pensions, among the most frequently requested set of materials within the holdings of the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), had never been microfilmed or digitized. Now, with fundraising complete for the project, and with ongoing cooperation from the project’s partners and major supporters, NARA, Ancestry, Fold3, and FamilySearch, these important documents will be made available free, forever to the general public. The project, set out to raise more than $3 million in 2010, an unprecedented amount for the genealogical community.

“It’s gratifying to see the fundraising portion of this project completed after five years, and now we look forward to ensuring these important records are preserved,” said Ancestry President and CEO Tim Sullivan. “This is a fantastic moment for FGS, the genealogical community, and future generations who will benefit from the perseveration of these rich pension records. We want to thank the more than 4,000 individuals who have contributed and are thrilled to play a matching role in this campaign.”

We were the driving force behind the Civil War Soldiers and Sailors project alongside the National Parks Service. Since 2010, we have been actively involved in Preserve the Pensions, an effort to raise more than $3 million to digitize and make freely available the pension files from the War of 1812.

With Historic Gift and Community Support, the Fundraising for the Preserve the Pensions Is Officially Completed!

Today at our annual conference, we announced the receipt of a historic $500,000 anonymous contribution to the War of 1812 Preserve the Pensions fundraising project. The unprecedented donation, which came from outside of the genealogical community, will be matched by Ancestry.com, and in total will provide $1 million to the project. Those funds, along with crowdsourced funds from the genealogical community have provided more than $3 million dollars to the project. With these donations, we are able to officially announce the completion of fundraising for “Preserve the Pensions,” the landmark community fundraising project.

The largest fundraising effort ever initiated for a single genealogical record set, Preserve the Pensions involved donations from more than 4,000 individuals and 115 genealogical and lineage societies. Each donation was generously matched by Ancestry.com.

“We are humbled and grateful for the generosity of the genealogical community and those outside of our community who are dedicated to the preservation of records, thank you!” noted D. Joshua Taylor, FGS President. “This historic gift, in-tandem with the thousands of contributions from individual genealogists and societies, illustrates the incredible power of the genealogical community - together we can make a difference.”

The War of 1812 pensions, among the most frequently requested set of materials within the holdings of the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), had never been microfilmed or digitized. Now, with fundraising complete for the project, and with ongoing cooperation from the project’s partners and major supporters, NARA, Ancestry, Fold3, and FamilySearch, these important documents will be made available free, forever to the general public. The project, set out to raise more than $3 million in 2010, an unprecedented amount for the genealogical community.

“It’s gratifying to see the fundraising portion of this project completed after five years, and now we look forward to ensuring these important records are preserved,” said Ancestry President and CEO Tim Sullivan. “This is a fantastic moment for FGS, the genealogical community, and future generations who will benefit from the perseveration of these rich pension records. We want to thank the more than 4,000 individuals who have contributed and are thrilled to play a matching role in this campaign.”

In 1999, FGS and the National Park Service were the driving forces behind the Civil War Soldiers and Sailors database

We were the driving force behind the Civil War Soldiers and Sailors project alongside the National Parks Service. Since 2010, we have been actively involved in Preserve the Pensions, an effort to raise more than $3 million to digitize and make freely available the pension files from the War of 1812.

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

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.

1812 Society Matching Campaign Challenge

You've been challenged!

We are challenging each member society of FGS to a society matching campaign! We are asking each of you, as an FGS member society, to engage in at least a $500 matching program to raise funds for the 1812 Preserve the Pensions!

If each society will raise at least $500, we would be able to raise $600,000 in 2015 toward our goal of $800,000 to complete the project. The FGS Board has just approved a $25,000 matching amount.

So, the first societies to let us know that you have committed to do a matching campaign, will have your donations matched by FGS as well as Ancestry. Email us your commitment.

These are some suggestions:

• You can play the YouTube video with Josh Taylor, entitled Preserve the Pensions and Societies, at the beginning of your society meeting, and collect funds at each meeting. (Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5hRXzI57Cwo  

• Plan a meeting with the program entirely devoted to the War of 1812 and Preserve the Pensions project! There is an 1812 Powerpoint which you can present at your meeting. But there are four videos on YouTube where FGS officers talk about the War of 1812 Preserve the Pensions.
• A helpful way for societies to raise funds is to establish a society “seed fund” which can then match individual donations turned into your society. A seed fund could be created by holding an event, such as a yard or garage sale just to raise that seed money.

What suggestion do you have? Your society help is needed to raise the funds so that we can make the Preserve the Pensions a reality and reach our goal!!

Elaine Hasleton

Preserve the War of 1812 Pensions Volunteer

For more information about the Preserve the Pensions Project or to donate, please visit PreservethePensions.org.

Come Visit the FGS Booth #1109 in the Expo Hall

Click image for a larger view.

If you are attending FGS 2015 or Rootstech this week, come visit the FGS booth #1109 in the Expo Hall!

• FGS will be in booth #1109. Come talk about how societies can help you with your family history in the all new Society Showcase and get a FREE small gift while supplies last*. 
• Help preserve history. Donate to the Preserve the Pensions in booth #1115 (right next to FGS).
• Sign the Genealogists' Declaration of Rights in booth #1115 (same booth as Preserve the Pensions).
• Purchase FGS session recordings Fleetwood Recordings in booth #1218 (right next to Preserve the Pensions).

*Different LIMITED-SUPPLY FREE gift each day in the FGS booth #1109 after you visit the FGS Society Showcase:

• Thursday - Keep healthy this week & research on with the FGS Hand Sanitizer.
• Friday - Keep that screen clean so you can find your ancestors with the FGS Screen Cloth.
• Saturday - All that stuff you bought in the Expo Hall? Carry it around with our FGS Drawstring Sportpack.

Societies: Here's a Great Program Idea

Briscoe Center for American History (Credit: Caroline M. Pointer)

While compiling information on what's happening this month, I was struck by two things: 1) American Archives Month was set up to teach the public about the importance of maintaining historical records and 2) Many of the announcements regarding Family History Month events are posted online only a day before or, in many cases, the same day as the event.

The reason I mention the purpose of American Archives Month, is that it clearly shows the communication disconnect between the resource repositories we use as researchers and us. You don't have to go very far to find a campaign that shows just how generous family historians and genealogists are when they are called to preserve history: The Preserve the Pensions campaign exploded during what was to be a simple event at FGS2014 and turned into an enormous, and dare I say incredibly entertaining, success. Just read what Judy G. Russell, The Legal Genealogist, said about her experience; you can't help but smile about the effort and the outcome. While money is very important, there are so very many aspects that play into the success of a repository.

The professional archives world is working to educate us and there's plenty of education to have. There are lots of Archives that run programs for the public to help us understand what it takes to be the stewards of the materials we use. The communication disconnect happens when we don't take advantage of those programs and the repositories, or those who oversee the repositories, believe that there's no interest in the educational process or the materials.

The irony in this situation is that many genealogy societies struggle to get people to attend their meetings and/or educational sessions. It's a battle between getting people to join the Society, getting them to invest their time in being active members and finding ways to keep the members you have engaged, right?

Why not kill two birds with one stone? Contact a local repository and ask about bringing your group to see the collection that they have. This provides the opportunity for the local repository to do something they want to do (educate the public), allows your Society to do something you want to do (engage your members) and does something that many researchers would like to do (see an archives and understand what value it has for them and their research). Additionally, you could ask the archivist at the repository if they would be willing to come to your meeting to present to your group. Both of these options help to open the communication between those who care for the primary materials we need and us.

Family History Month continues with lots of programs going on across the United States. But, those programs may not have the attendance you'd like if the notices aren't posted with enough advance notice for people to get there. Why not try posting your event, with appropriate permissions of course, to local Facebook and Google+ groups? If you are a FGS Member Society, enter your event on our Upcoming Event Calendar. Announce them on Twitter with the hashtag for your location, or out on listservs for other groups, like history, historic preservation, etc. Don't forget the home schooling groups; they're a great way to get the next generation interested in joining your society!

Sponsor a Celebrity Walker in the Preserve the Pension Fun Walk at #FGS2014

Which celebrity will you sponsor?

Thank you Judy Russell. Your promotion of the Preserve the Pensions Fun Walk and the generous offers of sponsorship you have received have inspired us.

We are changing things up!

Instead of a group walk, we have four sponsored walkers for you to choose from: Judy Russell of The Legal Genealogist, D. Joshua Taylor and Kenyatta Berry on behalf of Genealogy Roadshow and Ed Donakey of Family Search.

These four walkers will be competing for your sponsorship to see which of them can raise the most funds for the Preserve The Pensions campaign.

And while we hope those of you who intended to walk will get out and enjoy all that San Antonio has to offer, we ask that you commit to sponsoring one of our celebrity walkers instead.

Judy, Josh, Kenyatta and Ed will walk Saturday morning August 30^th at 6:30am. (That’s right Judy, you’ll still have to get up early, that hasn’t changed!)

If you happen to be up at what Judy lovingly calls “oh dark thirty” I hope you’ll consider seeing them off from their starting point at the front of the Henry B Gonzales Convention Center.

Every dollar raised in support of our walkers goes directly to the Preserve The Pensions fund.  Every dollar is matched first by FGS, then again by Ancestry. Every $25.00 sponsorship becomes a $100.00 contribution to the preservation of this incredibly important collection of War of 1812 pensions.

Now all you have to decide is which of these four amazing individuals will get your support!

Details: 

Show attendees, please stop by the Preserve The Pensions booth 506, 508.

Donate $25.00 to sponsor your favorite walker and pick up your T-Shirt.  (Shirts available while they last.)

For those not attending the show, please visit our donate page at https://www.preservethepensions.org/donate

You’ll see a section marked “Honor and Tribute” where you can select the walker you’d like to sponsor. After the convention we’ll coordinate with you on T-shirt size and shipping.

Preserve the Pensions: Try a Matching-Funds Campaign

Preserve the War of 1812 Pensions

An excellent way for a genealogical society to raise funds for the Preserve the Pensions Campaign is to create a matching-donor program within your own society. Instead of just raising funds to donate to PTP, take those funds and use them as a “starter or seed fund.” This is the money that you can use to match funds which are donated. The following are suggestions that can help you and your society:

• Create a seed-fund by holding a money-raising event, such as a bake sale or a garage sale.

• Add a box on your society membership renewal card. An additional $1.00 sent in at the time of a renewal is something most people can afford. You’d be surprised to see how the dollars add up.

• Sponsor a walk. Perhaps designate a destination which has historic value, particularly if it’s an 1812 site, in your locality. You could have T-shirts or other mementos made just for the event. This activity will be done at our FGS 2014 Conference in San Antonio!

• Does your society already sponsor a fund-raising event each year? Tap into that event and designate some of those funds to be used as a starter fund. 

Remember that starter-funds can match individual donations, which can be matched again by the Stern-NARA fund for a limited time. From there, Ancestry.com matches those funds, which quadruples the donation. Funds need to be raised for the pension records that desperately need to be preserved. 

Please share your matching funds ideas with us at office@fgs.org and on the 1812 Preserve the Pensions Facebook Page.

Visit PreservethePensions.org for more information about the War of 1812 Pension Digitization Project, which is a Community Digitization Project sponsored by the Federation of Genealogical Societies, the National Archives Records Administration, fold3.com, Ancestry.com, and Family Search, and supported by generous genealogical organization donors as well as individual donors.

FGS 2013: Ancestry.com Giveaway To Benefit Preserve the Pensions

If you are attending FGS 2013 in Ft. Wayne this week, please stop by the FGS booth in the Exhibit Hall starting on Thursday, August 22, 2013 to make a donation to be eligible to win one of these great prize packages sponsored by Ancestry.com. Ancestry is a Platinum Sponsor for the FGS 2013 conference and all proceeds go to benefit the Preserve the Pensions project.

Ancestry.com Gift Bag 1:

• Canvas tablet bag with Ancestry logo (approximately $25 value)
• 1 DNA kit ( approximately $99 value)
• 1-year Newspapers.com subscription (approximately $79.95 value)
• 1-year fold3 subscription (approximately $79.95 value)
• Along with Ancestry stylus pen, flash drive, mouse pad, frame and luggage tags.

Ancestry.com Gift Bag 2:

• Canvas laptop bag (approximately $35 value)
• 1-year annual subscription to Ancestry.com World Explorer (approximately $299 value)
• Along with Ancestry stylus pen, flash drive, mouse pad, frame and luggage tag.

Donations can may be made at the FGS booth in the Exhibit Hall on Thursday and Friday to be eligible for these prizes. The winners will be announced Friday evening, August 23, 2013, at the Allen County Library Social Event (donors do not need to be present in order to win).

FGS 2014 Conference Donation Package To Benefit Preserve the Pensions Project

Over $1000 Prize Package To Be Awarded at FGS 2013 Conference

15 August 2013 – Austin, TX. The Federation of Genealogical Societies 2014 Conference Committee announces an exciting fundraising effort to benefit the Preserve the Pensions project: the 2014 Conference Donation Package. This amazing prize package consists of the following items:

• One (1) full conference registration for the FGS 2014 Conference in San Antonio, Texas, August 27-30, 2014.
• Four (4) nights at the Marriott River Walk Hotel (during the FGS 2014 Conference), donated by the Marriott Hotel San Antonio.
• Riders On the Orphan Train by Alison Moore (FGS 2014 keynote speaker).
• Rider On the Orphan Train Music CD by Alison Moore and Phil Lancaster (FGS 2014 keynote speakers).
• First Families of Texas, donated by the Texas State Genealogical Society.
• Our Heritage Recipes, donated by the San Antonio Genealogical and Historical Society.
• Texas water bottle and mug, Texas salsa and barbecue sauce, tortilla warmer, stone mortar and pestle, and San Antonio Classic Dessert cookbook all in a San Antonio bag donated by the San Antonio Convention and Visitors Bureau.

The total value of this package is approximately $1,000. Attendees at the upcoming FGS 2013 Conference in Fort Wayne, Indiana can enter the drawing by making any of the following donations:

• 1 ticket - $5 donation
• 5 tickets - $20 donation
• 12 tickets - $50 donation
• 25 tickets - $100 donation
• 55 tickets - $250 donation
• 110 tickets - $500 donation
• 225 tickets - $1000 donation

Donations may be made at the FGS booth in the Exhibit Hall. The FGS 2014 Donation Package winner will be announced Friday evening, August 23, 2013, at the Allen County Library Social Event (donors do not need to be present in order to win).