August Webinar: What's Your Education Plan?

The Federation of Genealogical Societies (FGS) is pleased to announce the August 2018 webinar, "Building an Education Plan for Your Society," presented by Cari A. Taplin.

Most genealogical societies foster education in the field of genealogy. Having an education program outside of the monthly meeting can build membership, develop volunteer relationships, and give greater educational opportunities to members. This lecture will share ideas on developing a strong education program for societies.

This webinar will be held on Thursday, August 16, 2018, at 7:00 p.m. Central Time, and will be recorded for viewing on the FGS website shortly after its conclusion. Please register in advance.

Please register in advance here. 

About the Speaker

Cari A. Taplin is related to Roy Rogers. Or at least that’s what her family told her. As a result, finding her true heritage has been her focus since the year 2000. She is a native of Wood County, Ohio, but migrated to Wyoming, Colorado, and now Pflugerville, Texas, near Austin. Cari holds the Certified Genealogist® credential and has served in a wide variety of volunteer and leadership positions for state, local, and national societies. She currently serves on the boards of the Association for Professional Genealogists and the Federation of Genealogical Societies. As the owner of GenealogyPANTS, she provides speaking, research, and consultation services. Cari focuses on Midwestern and Great Lakes states, and methodology. When she’s not working on her genealogy, she is a wife and mother of two teenagers.

Coming Up Next Month

Our September webinar will feature Patricia Stamm who will present “Using Classes and Research Trips to Expand Your Membership.” 

About the Webinar Series

Each month, the FGS Webinar Series features a new and interesting topic, ranging from recruitment and volunteer management to technology, publications, and working with your local tourism board.

Webinars are held on the 3rd Thursday of the month at 7:00 p.m. Central Time. The webinars are free to watch live, but advance registration is required. Regular updates will be shared via the FGS Voice blog, FGS Voice Newsletter, and social media.

Speakers interested in presenting topics should contact Jen Baldwin, Education Chair, at education@fgs.org.

Are you looking for a rewarding and beneficial way to volunteer? The Education Committee at FGS could use your expertise! Please contact us at education@fgs.org.

What can your society learn from the corporate world?

The September 2017 FGS webinar will feature Laurie Hermance-Moore, who will present "Borrowing Corporate Strategy Techniques for Your Society."

The webinar will address a variety of paths for a society to utilize the techniques of the corporate world. 

Many societies are at a crossroads: new competition from online genealogy sites and webinars, dwindling membership, and challenges in figuring out how to evolve activities. It’s time to stop and make a plan!

So why not borrow from the business world?

Marketing strategist and genealogist Laurie Hermance-Moore will show you techniques that are used by large companies to refine how they “go to market.” Learn how to align your society leadership to your vision for the future, your current mission, how you are positioning yourself against the competition, and identifying and prioritizing your target audiences.

Laurie has more than 15 years of experience in marketing, marketing research, strategic planning, and brand development. She provides coaching to professional genealogists and genealogy societies in marketing strategy, so they can craft their unique story, target their offerings to the right clients, and build their confidence in marketing.

The webinar will be held on September 21, 2017, at 7:00 p.m. Central Time, and will be recorded for viewing on the FGS website shortly after its conclusion. Please register in advance.

NEXT TIME: The topic for the October webinar will be “The Social Media Manager Role in Today's Society” presented by FGS Education Chair Jen Baldwin.

About the Webinar Series

Each month, the FGS Webinar Series will feature a new and interesting topic, ranging from recruitment and volunteer management to technology, publications, and working with your local tourism board.

Webinars are held on the 3rd Thursday of the month at 7:00 p.m. Central Time. Advance registration is required. Regular updates will be shared via the FGS Voice blog, FGS Voice Newsletter, and social media.

Speakers interested in presenting topics should contact Jen Baldwin, Education Chair, at education@fgs.org.

Are you looking for a rewarding and beneficial way to volunteer? The Education Committee at FGS could use your expertise. Please contact Jen Baldwin at education@fgs.org.

August webinar to discuss the Nominating Committee

In the August, 2017 FGS webinar, we will invite David Rencher, CG, CGL, to present on "The Nominating Committee."

In order to maintain a healthy organization, we must all put great value in this piece of the society puzzle. David Rencher will provide an in-depth look at the role of this important committee in your genealogy society, and its impact on the organization’s longevity.

All of the issues and challenges facing your society may be solved with a successful nominating committee. This program will help you to learn to assess your own needs and find qualified candidates to grow your society – you need more than warm bodies!

The webinar will be conducted on August 17, 2017 at 7:00pm Central time. Please register in advance. The webinar will be recorded and will be available for viewing on the FGS website shortly after its conclusion. September's topic will be Borrowing Corporate Strategy Techniques for Your Society - this is a must-see presentation! 

Each month, the FGS Webinar Series will feature a new and interesting topic, ranging from recruitment and volunteer management to technology, publications, and working with your local tourism board. 

Registration will be necessary, and regular updates will be shared via the FGS Voice blog, FGS Voice Newsletter, and social media. Webinars will occur every 3^rd Thursday of the month.

Speakers interested in presenting topics should contact Jen Baldwin, Education Chair, at education@fgs.org.

Are you looking for a rewarding and beneficial way to volunteer? The Education Committee at FGS could use your expertise. Please contact Jen Baldwin at education@fgs.org

Update: Did you miss the live webinar?  You can watch the recording here.

2016 FGS Conference Registration Is Now Open!

Register now for #FGS2016 "Time Travel: Centuries of Memories" in Springfield, IL.

Online registration is now open for the 2016 FGS National Conference, “Time Travel: Centuries of Memories” to be held August 31 — September 3, 2016, in Springfield, IL, and locally hosted by the Illinois State Genealogical Society. Register by July 1, 2016, for the early-bird discount at http://www.FGSConference.org.

Celebrating 40 years since the founding of FGS, each day of the conference is full of sessions aimed at strengthening attendees’ research skills no matter what level or area of interest they may have.

“Returning to our Illinois roots for the FGS 2016 Conference to celebrate our 40^th Anniversary in the state where FGS began is a dream come true,” says D. Joshua Taylor, FGS President. “With a solid educational program and a tremendous line-up of social events, this conference is not to be missed!”

Conference Highlights

• Conference Sessions: With over 160 sessions, 72 expert speakers from around the world, 10 luncheons with speakers, 7 workshops, and 2 interactive seminars, learning opportunities abound in the FGS 2016 Program. With strong daily tracks covering the U.S. Midwest (regional track), the United Kingdom (British Isles and Commonwealth track), and continental European research (ethnic track), attendees of all skill levels will learn a multitude of ways to uncover more about their family history.
• Exhibit Hall: The large exhibit hall will feature the latest software, books, maps, databases and gadgets on the market for genealogists and family historians, as well as information about genealogical organizations. Located in the special Society Showcase area, representatives of FGS Member Societies will be on hand to demonstrate how their society can help attendees with their family history.
• Special Events: With built-in networking opportunities, registrants can meet like-minded genealogists and family historians at FGS special events including “Farms & Families: Across the Decades” on Wednesday evening sponsored by FamilySearch and co-hosted by the Illinois State Genealogical Society and the Illinois State Historical Society; the “Meet & Greet” sponsored by Ancestry.com on Thursday evening; and the FGS 40th Anniversary Gala on Friday evening.
• Focus on Societies: On Wednesday, August 31, 2016, sessions are jam‐packed with ideas and tools to help societies promote themselves, develop projects, increase membership, and leverage technology. The day kicks off with a plenary session that explores the opportunities and challenges facing societies today and showcases ways to facilitate the changes needed for societies to succeed and thrive.
• Librarians’ Day: On Tuesday, August 30, 2016, ProQuest will sponsor a pre‐conference full‐day of sessions designed for librarians, archivists, and other information professionals serving family history researchers.

Platinum sponsors include leading family history companies Ancestry.com and FamilySearch. Other participating and supporting organizations include Findmypast, Internet Genealogy, Your Genealogy, Lexmark, Eneclann, Illinois State Genealogical Society, Illinois State Archives, Illinois State Historical Society, and more. Please visit the conference website for a complete listing of all sponsors and partners.

Also visit the conference website at http://www.FGSConference.org for additional details including links to conference hotels, research opportunities, and more. Keep up with conference news and announcements right here on the FGS Voice blog at http://voice.fgs.org/ and by subscribing to the FGS Voice Newsletter at http://fgs.org/cpage.php?pt=71.

We can't wait to see you in Springfield! Register now.

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.

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

FGSCruise2015: Last Call…All Aboard!

The FGS Alaskan Cruise cabin block is only guaranteed available through May 15. If you want to sail on a floating genealogy conference with four of the best national speakers in the industry, don’t delay in booking your cabin now.

The cruise sets sail on August 28, departing from Seattle.  After a full day of cruising, the ship will reach the Alaska Inside Passage on August 30 for a morning of sightseeing aboard the ship. In the afternoon the ship will be in port at Juneau for over 8 hours, and on August 31, the old gold-rush town of Skagway can be explored.  On September 1 the ship will pass through the picturesque Tracy Arm Fjord and Sawyer Glacier.  After a full day at sea, the ship will arrive in Victoria, British Columbia on September 3 for a day of on-shore activities, before returning to Seattle on September 4.



The genealogy conference will take place during times when the ship is at sea.  Over 20 educational presentations will be given by featured speakers Elizabeth Shown Mills, David Rencher, Judy Russell and Josh Taylor.  On-board social activities, exclusive group excursions, and private dinner seating will make this a personal experience with plenty of time to get to know the speakers and fellow cruise mates.

This cruise will be an experience that you’ll never forget!  Check off Alaska from your bucket list while enhancing your genealogical knowledge in the process.

To book your cabin, visit the FGS Cruise Conference web page for all the details, or contact Susan Smith of Cruises Inc. at 866-713-9662 or ssmith@cruisesinc.com.

FGSCruise2015: Cabin-Booking Contests

FGS is sponsoring its first ever floating genealogical conference with the FGS 2015 Alaskan Cruise, August 28 to September 4, 2015.  The cruise will offer the perfect combination of sightseeing and excursions, coupled with genealogical education during sea days by four of the most respected genealogical speakers:

FGS is running two contests for all cruise attendees who have (or will) book their cabins by May 1.

Contest 1
All attendees who have booked their cabins by May 1 will be included in a drawing for a free conference registration (a $195 value).  The drawing will take place on May 1, the day conference registration is scheduled to open.

Contest 2
Twelve cruise-goers will win private consultations with the conference speakers to be scheduled during the cruise.  The sooner you book your cabin, the more chances you have to win!  The first two lucky winners are Denise O. and Selden G.  Winners will be contacted in the summer with more details about scheduling the consultations.

FGS has a block of cabins with the best rates guaranteed through May 1. Reserve your cabin by contacting Susan Smith at Cruises Inc. 

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.

FGSCruise2015: Featured Destination Seattle

The FGS 2015 Alaskan Cruise sails from the port of Seattle on August 28 at 4:00pm. But just because Seattle is the starting and ending point for the cruise, doesn’t mean that cruise-goers can’t arrive a few days early or stay a few days after the cruise to explore Seattle and the surrounding areas.



Seattle is known as the Emerald City because of its omnipresent evergreens.  Its Washington Park Arboretum with Japanese gardens houses over 5,000 plants from around the world.  Seattle is often characterized by its rainy climate, but it also offers the Olympic and Cascade mountain ranges.



The city is a charming and welcoming metropolis with a small-town feel and laid-back attitude.  Seattle offers one-of-a-kind architecture and a unique urban sophistication. The modern architecture such as the newly designed downtown library create a visual contrast with the turn-of-the-century buildings such as the Historic State Building in Pioneer Square.



Pike Place Market is the oldest continuously operating farmers market in the United States for over 100 years and accommodates millions of visitors a year. Sample freshly-baked goods or watch the salmon flying as the market workers put on a show.



And of course, there's Seattle's most famous landmark, the Space Needle, created for the 1962 World's Fair, which changed the city's skyline forever.  Dinner at the SkyCity restaurant atop the Space Needle offers a 360-degree-view of the city in a 47-minute rotation.

Other tourist attractions include the Pacific Science Center, EMP Museum (formerly Experience Music Project | Science Fiction Museum), Seattle Aquarium, Chihuly Garden and Glass galleries, and Woodland Park Zoo.  These attractions, and more, can be visited with discounted rates with a Seattle CityPass.



The cruise disembarks the morning of Friday, September 4, and with Monday, September 7 coinciding with the Labor Day holiday, you’ll have plenty of time to take an extended weekend to fully explore all Seattle has to offer!

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/.

FGSCruise2015: On the Ship

So, you’ve never been on a cruise and you’re wondering what it’s all about.  Yep, I had to drag my husband on his first cruise, and now we’ve taken over forty in twenty years, so how bad can it be?  You want to come on the FGS cruise but wonder if your spouse will be bored.  Hmmm.

First of all, it’s really hard to use the word “cruise” and “bored” in the same sentence.  When you wake up in the morning you’re either “at sea”, a great place to be, or in “port” – another great place.  Let’s pretend that today we’re at sea.

Is your spouse or you an exercise person? If so, there is usually a stretch class on the deck.  If not, head to the gym and jump on the machine of your choice, or go to one of the many pools and swim a few laps.  If you’re a walker, you can walk miles on the Promenade deck, or you can jog on the jogging track.  No excuses!

Exercise is not your way to start the day?  You could have breakfast ordered from room service (no extra charge, but a small tip is nice.)  You can sit on your balcony and sip your coffee.  Or, if you want to find your genealogy friends, head up to the Windjammer for a breakfast buffet that will blow you away.  You can even get a “made to order” omelet, or just stick to your fruit and yogurt.  NAH!  Go for the gold – eggs, bacon, waffles, coffee, juice – you know what I mean.  You came on this cruise to be waited on!  Okay, go to the dining room for breakfast and that will happen!  (Meanwhile your room steward is making your bed, cleaning your bathroom, and he’ll be back later in the evening to check on things again.)

In the morning show, the cruise director will tell you all about the ports.  You both can find out what you’ll see and what you can buy.  This is always a fun event to attend.  If you prefer, there is a card room where you can beat your friends at the game of your choice.  They have games on the ship, but I like to bring a few of my own.  Anyone for Five Crowns or Sequence?  How about Canasta or Scrabble?  If you like Trivia, there are three or four trivia games a day on the ship and they give very exotic prizes – like key chains and highlighters – but hey, it’s fun.  Get together your team of six or just go to the game and join someone needing more team members.  It’s a great way to make friends.

You might catch a movie or if you’re into the slots or other gambling, the casino is open when we’re at sea.  This applies to the gift shops, too--we have to be in international waters for them to be open, so they are not open when we’re in port.  SHOPPING – yes, there is shopping!  Have fun!

The spa!  AHHHHHH!  Need I say more?  It’s rather pricey, but oh-so-decadent.

On Port day you’ll be able to see all the beautiful stops in Alaska and how lucky we are to stop in Victoria!  We will soon tell you more about our private excursions we are putting together just for our group.



But wait – you’re going to genealogy lectures while we’re at sea.  I’m sure your spouse will be very bored.  Be sure to bring him or her a good book! :)

--Pat Oxley, Cruise Coordinator

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/.