VGS News & Events: 12 August 2018 through 18 August 2018

Meeting Reminders:

Monday: August 13, 2018

Family Tree Maker Users SIG Meeting

Has been cancelled... See you on September 10th

Coming Soon...

Wednesday, October 24

Fall Virtual Seminar On Immigration Records

9:00 am to 3:30 pm

Online Virtual Conference

This all-day seminar is offered free to our members as part of our celebration of the 25th anniversary of the Villages Genealogical Society.

PLEASE NOTE: There will be no in-person meeting this month. We will attend the presentations via our own computers or devices at whatever location is convenient for us. (That doesn’t mean you can’t get together with other genealogy buddies for a watch party at somebody’s house, though!)

You MUST register for the presentations in order to get the link to join the seminar on the 24th.
Registration is now open at:  Register HERE...

Download the event flyer here...

Gen News and Announcements:

Documenting Ourselves:

The Legal Genealogist
"And so, dutifully, we open up that pedigree chart or that relational database and we enter ourselves in box 1… and, in so many cases, immediately move on.
But wait a munute here..."
Continue reading...

New Historical Records for July 30, 2018

FamilySearch
"FamilySearch expands its free online archives this week with new records and images from France, United Kingdom, and the United States (Maryland, New Jersey, New York, and Washington)."
Search now...

Are You Making the Direct-Line Mistake in Your Family Tree?

Family History Daily
"One of the most common research mistakes that family historians make when building their tree (especially for the first time) is also one of the most limiting and potentially detrimental. We like to call it the Direct-Line Mistake, and its effect on your research outcomes is pretty huge."
Continue reading...

When The DNA Says Your Parents Are Related:

Kitty Cooper
"One of the first things I do when helping someone with their DNA results is to check if their parents are related. This can explain unusual patterns of matches, for example, all seemingly from one side."
Continue reading...

Explore the Past With These 3 Free Newspaper Archives:

Family History Daily
"We’ve gathered together a list of three of our favorite places to find free access to old newspapers. Each is worth checking out since they all have their own collections and dates of publication to offer (with some overlap). Of course, there are many good paid services that offer newspaper records as well but we have focused on including resources below that require no payment for access."
Continue reading...

An Endogamous Success Story:

Kitty Cooper
"It is difficult to solve adoption cases in endogamous communities because everyone will share the same 4th and 5th grandparents, often multiple times, so the methodology for finding a birth parent from 3rd and 4th cousin matches just does not work. You have to wait for a few second cousin or closer matches."
Continue reading...

The Massive Free Genealogy Resource You’ve Probably Never Heard Of:

Family History Daily
"What if I could show you a free online family history resource with over 13 million digitized books, magazines and other types of materials? Would you be interested? What about a continually growing service with free access and downloads to high-resolution scans, PDF documents and plain text? How much would this benefit your family research?"
Continue reading...

Technology:

Why Is My Internet So Slow?

How-to-Geek
"There are many reasons your Internet connection might appear slow. It could be a problem with your modem or router, Wi-Fi signal, signal strength on your cable line, devices on your network saturating your bandwidth, or even a slow DNS server. These troubleshooting steps will help you pin down the cause."
Continue reading...

Education:

DNA Ethnicity Results Aren't What You Think:

Family Historical Fanatics
"Four different DNA companies have four different ethnicity results? Why! Andy Lee's DNA hasn't changed. So what gives? Learn more in this video. Your results might be wrong."
Continue reading...

Webinars:

Everything you need to know about Genealogical Charts and Reports:

Legacy Family Tree Webinars
"Charts and reports are an excellent way to organize and share your discoveries. In this webinar, you will learn about the wide selection of charts and reports available, when to use each type, how to create them and more."
Tuesday, August 14, 2018 at 2:00 p.m.
Presenter: MyHeritage Webinars
Learn more or Register for this webinar...

Untangle the Web of German Websites:

Legacy Family Tree Webinars
"The internet is offering more and more quality information for Germanic researchers. This talk will focus on collections of free digitized German materials and indexes available on the internet. Most websites presented are based in Germany, so tips and tricks for navigating them will be included. This webinar will help you expand beyond church records for your German research."
Wednesday, August 15, 2018 at 2:00 p.m.
Presenter: Teresa Steinkamp McMillin, CG
Learn more or Register for this webinar...

Sharecropping or Tenant Farming? The System and Its Records

Florida State Genealogical Society
16 Aug 2018 – Margo Fariss Brewer
Note: Margo will be our November guest speaker

• Webinar Abstract: Was your ancestor a farmer without land? Maybe he was a sharecropper or tenant farmer. Learn how this system worked and where the records are.
• Presenter: Margo Fariss Brewer is an active lecturer, consultant, instructor and the co-leader of genealogy research trips to the Family History Library in Salt Lake City which she finds strengthens her research and teaching skills. Her genealogy courses include beginning through advanced methodology, writing your family history narrative so it will be read, a genealogy computer lab and DNA testing for genealogy; her courses are offered through Duke University's OSHER Lifelong Learning Institute where she has been on the faculty since 2004. Her lecture specialties include methodology, writing an enjoyable family history narrative with historical context, using DNA in genealogy, historical occupations, and military and land records; she focuses on records within the United States. Margo is a member of the Association of Professional Genealogists, Genealogical Speakers Guild (president), National Genealogical Society (2016 Conference vice-chair), Virginia Genealogical Society and several other local and state genealogical societies.
• Website: http://www.genealogist4u.com
• Registration: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/5255796808953191681

VGS News & Events: 1 October 2017 through 7 October 2017

October Is Family History Month:

September 2017 Tech SIG Meeting
Note: This was taken with and iPhone using the new iOS 11 software.
I had to convert this file before I could use it. See why under Technology in this post.

Coming Events:

Monday: October 2, 2017
Jewish Genealogy SIG Meeting:
10:00 AM in the MacArthur Room at the Eisenhower Recreation Center

Topic: "My Sephardic Links" Herb Siegel

Wednesday: October 4, 2017

French Canadian Genealogy SIG Meeting:

9:00 AM in the Julio Iglesias Room at the La Hacienda Recreation Center

Thursday: October 5, 2017

Eastern European Genealogy SIG Meeting:

1:00 PM in the Daytona Room at the Sea Breeze Recreation Center

Friday: October 6, 2017

British Genealogy SIG Meeting

9:30 AM in the Courageous Room at the Lake Miona Recreation Center

VGS Announces Western Caribbean Cruise

January 5 - 12, 2019
Aboard the Norwegian Cruise Line "EPIC"
More info and to Download the Cruise Info Packet HERE...

Latest News & Announcements:

Shared cM Project 2017 Update Combined Chart:

DNAeXplained
"The original goal of Blaine Bettinger’s Shared cM Project was to document the actual shared ranges of centiMorgans found in various relationships between testers in genetic genealogy. Previously, all we had were academically calculated models which didn’t accurately really reflect the data that genetic genealogists were seeing."
Continue reading...

Maine Irish fundraise to bring Ancestry DNA tests to Galway:

IrishCentral
"The Maine Irish are funding DNA testing for locals in Carna, Co. Galway, in attempts to link  900-plus members of the Maine Gaeltacht Project with their Irish heritage and ancestry."
Continue reading...

New England Genealogy: Tips from David Lambert:

Amy Johnson Crow
"New England genealogy research is different than that in other areas of the United States. I recently spoke with David Allen Lambert, Chief Genealogist of the New England Historic Genealogical Society for his tips on getting started."
Continue reading...

Family Tree DNA Sale, MyHeritage Transfers and Hurricane Fundraiser:

DNAeXplained
"As many of you know, the owners of Family Tree DNA, a Houston company, have committed a percentage of their sales during the month of September for donation to hurricane Harvey disaster relief efforts. A daily running total is displayed at the top of their page."
Continue reading...

Recording Your Research in Easy Steps:

Genealogists.com
"Recording family history research is probably the one area that many beginners think little about. They may add a tree online with companies such as Ancestry etc., but there is so much more you can do to keep your research organised."
Continue reading...

How to Conduct Successful Google Searches:

Genealogists.com
"The first thing fledgling genealogists do if they have disposable income is to subscribe to any or many of the fee-based databases for genealogical research.  It makes sense.  These are the companies that collect, index, and disseminate information we so passionately want.  But is this the wisest path for amateur or professional genealogists?"
Continue reading...

WHO WAS SHE? A DNA TEST ONLY OPENED NEW MYSTERIES.

The Washington Post
"Five years ago, Alice Collins Plebuch made a decision that would alter her future — or really, her past.
She sent away for a “just-for-fun DNA test."
Continue reading...
Editor's Note: If you are interested in DNA and/or adoption, this is a must read.

PBS’ Finding Your Roots Returns October 3 at 8/7c:

Ancestry
"A brand new season of PBS’ hit show Finding Your Roots, hosted by Henry Louis Gates, Jr., premieres on Tuesday, October 3 at 8/7c.
This star studded season features some of our favorite comedians, journalists, and A-list celebrities. Catch the season teaser HERE:"
Continue reading...

Citrus County Genealogical Society Meeting:

CCGS
"The Citrus County Genealogical Society will meet October 10 at 10:00 AM at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 3474 W. Southern St., Lecanto. The presentation will be “Exploring Ancestry Academy on Ancestry.com. The Academy offers 116 short videos of a few minutes on a variety of topics. We will view a few of them. Also there are 44 nationally known genealogy instructors who present longer video classes. We will view one of these. Guests are welcome to attend. For information go to www.citrusgenealogy.com or call Mary Ann Machonkin at 382-5515"

Technology:

iOS 11's New Image Format Might Pose Problems For PC Users:

The Verge
"Apple is launching iOS 11 today, which means millions of iPhone users are about to upgrade their device’s software. Every iOS update comes with a host of changes, but some are not immediately obvious. Apple upgraded millions of iOS devices to a new modern file system earlier this year, and today it’s starting to roll out a new image file format with iOS 11 that could be troublesome to Windows users."
Continue reading...

Family Tree Maker Update:

MacKiev Software
1. A full German language edition of FTM 2017 is underway.
2. It's been two months since the official release of FTM 2017 and we're finishing up a free update (version 23.1) for release in the next three weeks or so.
3. October 1st is the last day to upgrade to FTM 2017 for a 50% discount if you haven't already. Now is the time to make your move — upgrade from ANY previous edition for just $39.95 (vs. $79.95 regular price).

Education:

The Secrets of the 1840 Census, Revealed:

Ancestral Findings
"Have you explored the 1840 U.S. federal census in your genealogy research? If not, you should. Here is a list of amazing family history information it contains."
Continue reading... 4.34 minutes

Upcoming Webinars:

No Easy Button: Using “Immersion Genealogy” to Understand Your Ancestors:

Legacy Family Tree Webinars
"Learn how to go beyond the same old research strategies through “immersion genealogy” to further understand your ancestors’ lives."
Wednesday, October 4, 2017 at 2:00 p.m.
Presenter: Lisa Alzo M.F.A
Learn more or Register for this webinar...

October 6th is Family History Day at Legacy Family Tree Webinars:
You can attend as many as you want...

Sweden's Multiple Naming Systems and How They Changed in the 1800s:

Legacy Family Tree Webinars
"This lecture will demonstrate the complexity of names and potential pitfalls regarding names in one particular culture—Sweden. It will raise awareness about personal names and present a broadly applicable strategy for getting names right in genealogical work. Presented live at the Family History Library in Salt Lake City and sponsored by the Board for Certification of Genealogy."
Friday, October 6, 2017 at 11:00 a.m.
Presenter: Martha Garrett, CG
Learn more or Register for this webinar...

Past Conflict Repatriation: The Role of Genealogists and Methodology in Fulfilling Our Nation’s Promise:

Legacy Family Tree Webinars
"Learn about the repatriation program and the techniques genealogists use to locate family members and DNA reference samples for missing service members from past conflicts. Presented live at the Family History Library in Salt Lake City and sponsored by the Board for Certification of Genealogy."
Friday, October 6, 2017 at 12:15 p.m.
Presenter: Jeanne Bloom, CG
Learn more or Register for this webinar...

Reasonably Exhaustive Research of African American Families That Came Out of Slavery:

Legacy Family Tree Webinars
"The first component of the Genealogical Proof Standard is the conduct of reasonably exhaustive research. This lecture will highlight the sources and strategies available to meet this requirement in the case of African American ancestors who were enslaved."
Friday, October 6, 2017 at 1:30 p.m.
Presenter: LaBrenda Garrett-Nelson, JD, LLM, CG
Learn more or Register for this webinar...

Using Timelines for Correlation and Analysis:

Legacy Family Tree Webinars
"Timelines are one of many tools a genealogist can use to display evidence in the determination of proof arguments. This lecture explores the strategic aspect of the use of timelines and their relationship to the Genealogical Proof Standard, analysis and correlation."
Friday, October 6, 2017 at 3:30 p.m.
Presenter: Jill Morelli, CG
Learn more or Register for this webinar...

Land, Licenses, Love Gone Wrong, and Other Assorted Courthouse Records:

Legacy Family Tree Webinars
"This lecture explores the rich resources found within courthouse walls and examines how these records can add to the genealogical search. Presented live at the Family History Library in Salt Lake City and sponsored by the Board for Certification of Genealogy."
Friday, October 6, 2017 at 4:45 p.m.
Presenter: Ann Staley, CG, CGL
Learn more or Register for this webinar...

Systematically Using Autosomal DNA Test Results to Help Break Through Genealogical Brick Walls:

Legacy Family Tree Webinars
"A case study set in the early 1800s demonstrates methodology for using autosomal DNA test results to help solve longstanding genealogical problems. Presented live at the Family History Library in Salt Lake City and sponsored by the Board for Certification of Genealogy."
Friday, October 6, 2017 at 6:00 p.m.
Presenter: Tom Jones, Ph.D, CG, CGL
Learn more or Register for this webinar...