VGS News & Events: 27 May 2018 through 2 June 2018

VGS member Donna Koeppel,
preparing to scan a new Florida Pioneer Project document.

Coming Events:

No scheduled meetings this week!

The Family Tree Maker SIG Meeting on June 11th has been cancelled.

Wednesday, June 27

VGS General Monthly Meeting  (Monthly Meeting)

9:30 am to 12:00 pm

Savannah Regional Recreation Center

Presentation: "Filling Our Family Tree without Breaking the Bank"

A live webinar with Katherine R. Willson"

If you are not attending the meeting at the Savannah Center, you can view the webinar, online, from where ever you are located with an internet connection. You will need to register to attend...

Register HERE

Note the time change...

Gen News and Announcements:

Congratulations!

At the May General Meeting, a drawing was held from those who registered to receive a scholarship to attend the 2018 Federation of Genealogical Societies Annual Conference. The Conference will be held in Fort Wayne, Indiana in August. Each winner will receive $400.00 towards their expenses. The winners are: Michael Dailey, David Schillingburg, Gary Horton, Wayne Bryan and Stephen Kelly. There were also 5 alternates selected in the event that any of the winners are unable to attend. They are; David Dunlop, Terri Earhart, Rita Thompson, John Garrabrant, and Barbara Kelly.
Congratulations to all the winners.

VGS Member Survey Announced:

The VGS
Most of the National Genealogy Conferences are quite a distance from The Villages, but what if one could be held in Orlando?
To answer this question, we need your input. Please complete a short, 3 question, survey in order to get your feedback.  We need everyone to complete this survey. It will only take a few seconds to complete, so please do it right now by clicking HERE...

Wedding Traditions Fit for Royalty:

Ancestry
"We can credit the royal family for establishing some of the most common wedding traditions known to brides throughout the world, like white wedding dresses. We asked the Ancestry research team to uncover other traditions."
Continue reading...

Starting WWII Research: Tips from Jennifer Holik

Amy Johnson Crow
"World War II research can be challenging, even for people who have been doing genealogy research for some time. Here are some tips you can use to get started researching a US serviceman (or woman) from WWII."
Continue reading...

New Historical Records on FamilySearch: Week of May 21, 2018

FamilySearch
"Find your German ancestors on FamilySearch with 2 million new Baden, Germany Catholic Church records. You can also check out the new genealogical records added this week from Argentina, Benin, Austria, Bolivia, Brazil, England, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Ukraine, United States (Iowa, Louisiana, and Rhode Island) and Venezuela."
Search now...

How DNA Is 'Changing Everything' About Genealogy:

Desert News
"Although DNA testing for genealogy research first became available around 13 years ago, Julie Johnson, a genealogy specialist from the Brigham City area, said that it is just in the past few years that people have really become open to the idea of using DNA tests."
Continue reading...

Which DNA Testing Website Is Right For You?

Desert News
"The two DNA testing services with the largest databases are AncestryDNA and 23andMe. I did both. The process is super easy. Just buy the kit, register on the website, spit into a tube and mail it off. You'll then receive an email when your results are ready."
Continue reading...

Technology:

What is GDPR?

OUCH! Newsletter
"You may have heard of a new law called GDPR, or the General Data Protection Regulation. This law was developed by the European Union and takes effect 25 May 2018. It applies to any organization that handles the personal information of any resident in the European Union (EU), regardless of where in the world that organization is located. GDPR requires organizations to maintain the privacy and security of any EU resident’s personal information. To ensure compliance with GDPR, some key principles need to be understood and implemented."
Continue reading...

Top Tips to Securely Using Social Media:

OUCH! Newsletter
"Social media sites, such as Snapchat, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn, are amazing resources, allowing you to meet, interact, and share with people around the world. However, with all this power comes risks--not just for you, but your family, friends, and employer. In this newsletter, we cover the key steps to making the most of social media securely and safely."
Continue reading...

Education:

DNA: The Future of Unlocking Your True Family History

Ancestral Findings
"Are you interested in building a highly accurate family tree? Have you considered getting your DNA tested? If not, you really should. There are so many places to have it done, and each has its unique benefits. On today's episode of the Ancestral Findings Podcast, I'll show you why DNA is your key to breaking down brick walls and confirming relationships."
Listen now... 9.05 minutes

Webinars:

The Palatine Immigrants: Tracing and Locating 18th Century German Immigrants Online

Legacy Family Tree Webinars
"Discover how to track your Palatine ancestors who traveled from Germany to the colonies in the 1700s, using techniques that will assist you in determining their place of origin. Use migration patterns of their family and friends to help you in your research. Learn more about online sources of original records for this area that you can research from home."
Wednesday, May 30, 2018 at 2:00 p.m.
Presenter: Luana Darby, MLIS, AG
Learn more or Register for this webinar...