VGS News & Events: 24 November through 30 November, 2019

Dr. Thomas Jones, CG, CGL was our guest speaker in November

Coming Events:

Monday: November 25, 2019

Technology SIG Meeting:

10:00 AM in the Destin Room at the Sea Breeze Recreation Center
Topic: "Auditing Genealogy software and Work flow ideas and a overview of Vivid-Pic software."

Tuesday: November 26, 2019

Midwest SIG Meeting:

2:00 PM in the Clearwater Room at the Sea Breeze Recreation Center

FSGS Fall Virtual Conference:

MASTER DNA-BASED DISCOVERY
BREAK DOWN BRICK WALLS
A one-of-a-kind opportunity! Learn from 5 top experts!
Join the Florida State Genealogical Society's Fall Virtual DNA Conference and advance your genealogy research skills without having to leave home.
All you need is an Internet connection and curiosity.
Ask the experts and put genetic genealogy to work for you!

December 7, 2019 - 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. 
Learn more...

Gen News and Announcements:

For the first time, New York adoptees will be able to access a certified copy of their birth certificate when they turn 18-years-old.

NYG&B
"For the first time, New York adoptees will be able to access a certified copy of their birth certificate when they turn 18-years-old.
This measure ensures that all adult adoptees will have the same unimpeded right to information about their birth and biological parents, removing the right of government agencies to restrict the type of data made available to them and any previous barriers to information about biological parents particularly in respect to medical history information."
Continue reading...

VGS Election Results

VGS
Elections for the office and Secretary and Treasurer were conducted at the monthly meeting held on November 20th at the Savannah Center.  Current Treasurer Ruth Wible will take over as Secretary and Donna Yambasky, our current Librarian, will assume the duties of Treasurer.  Their new duties will commence on January 1, 2020 and will run for two years.  The Board of Directors position of Librarian and Historian will be combined and Jan Reinhart has been named to fill that position by President Pat Adams.

Are Ancestry’s Hints Helping or Hurting Your Research? The Dos and Don’ts You Need to Know:

Family History Daily
"As powerful as this feature can be, it can also mislead the unwary researcher – causing confusion, incorrect assumptions and inaccurate trees. It is vital to learn how to use the Hints feature correctly, and with caution, to get the most from this powerful Ancestry tool."
Continue reading...

New Free Historical Records on FamilySearch: Week of 11 November 2019

FamilySearch
"FamilySearch.org added Chilean (1821-2015) and South African (1886-2010) cemetery records. More historical records added from American Samoa, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, England, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands, Peru, Portugal and the United States of America (including over 600,000 Charleston, South Carolina records (1732 - 1872) and Native American Census Rolls (1885-1940))."
Search now...

New Free Historical Records on FamilySearch: Week of 18 November 2019

FamilySearch

"FamilySearch.org added new, free, historical records this week from Benin, Brazil, England, France, Ireland, the Netherlands, Puerto Rico, South Africa and the United States including 2 million North Carolina birth, marriage, and death records (1800 to 2000)."

Search now...

Finding Your Ancestor’s Hometown Using Immigration Records:

FamilySearch

"Some people call this discovery “crossing the pond”—backtracking with an ancestor to the other side of an ocean—a genealogical feat that, quite frankly, isn’t easy to do.

So, is it possible? Absolutely!"

Continue reading...

Technology:

AirDrop Not Working? Here’s How to Fix It

How-To Geek
"AirDrop lets you send files, photos, and other data between iPhones, iPads, and Macs. Like all wireless tech, though, AirDrop can be temperamental. And getting devices to “see” each other can sometimes be a challenge. Here’s how to troubleshoot common AirDrop problems."
Continue reading...

Education:

Was the First Thanksgiving Actually Held in Florida? An Interesting Historical Analysis:

Ancestral Findings

"Did the Pilgrims really have the first American Thanksgiving, or does the honor belong to someone else? It all depends on how you look at it.  Join me today on the Ancestral Findings Podcast to learn more."

Listen now... 8.52 minutes

Webinars:

VGS News & Events: 17 November through 23 November, 2019

Coming Events:

Monday: November 18, 2019

Italian Genealogy SIG Meeting

1:00 PM in the Atlanta Room in the Savannah Center

Tuesday: November 19, 2019

Family Tree Maker Users SIG Meeting

1:00 PM in the Patriot Room at the Mulberry Grove Recreation Center
Topic: "I'm afraid to Upgrade!" + Your Questions Answered"

Wednesday: November 20, 2019

Brick Wall SIG Meeting

8:30 AM in the Atlanta Room in the Savannah Center

Wednesday: November 20, 2019

General Monthly Meeting

10:00 AM in the Atlanta Room in the Savannah Center

Topic: "Can a Complex Research Problem be Solved Solely Online?"

Wednesday: November 20, 2019

Afternoon Workshop

1:30 PM in the Atlanta Room in the Savannah Center
Topic: "Inferential Genealogy: Deducing Ancestors' Identities Indirectly"

Limited to 100 Members...
Register to attend this workshop in-person HERE...

Thursday: April 18, 2019

New England Genealogy SIG Meeting

Noon in the New Smyrna Room at the Sea Breeze Recreation Center

Our Live Monday Meeting on November 11 was a success.  The handout and video can be found online under "Members Only" > "Webinars & Meetings"

FSGS Fall Virtual Conference:

MASTER DNA-BASED DISCOVERY
BREAK DOWN BRICK WALLS
A one-of-a-kind opportunity! Learn from 5 top experts!
Join the Florida State Genealogical Society's Fall Virtual DNA Conference and advance your genealogy research skills without having to leave home.
All you need is an Internet connection and curiosity.
Ask the experts and put genetic genealogy to work for you!

December 7, 2019 - 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. 
Learn more...

Gen News and Announcements:

Register for Our Annual Seminar:

VGS

Blaine Bettinger, Ph.D., J.D., is a professional genealogist specializing in DNA evidence. He is the author of the long-running blog The Genetic Genealogist, and frequently gives presentations and webinars to educate others about the use of DNA to explore their ancestry.  He will be our guest speaker for our Annual Seminar on February 19, 2020.

Download more details here...

Your Privacy is our Top Priority:

Ancestry
"Your privacy is important to us. That’s why we want to share our position on a recent event where a Florida judge issued a search warrant to allow law enforcement to search all of GEDmatch, an open data personal genomics database."
Continue reading...

Powered By Cutting-Edge Machine Learning Technology, Ancestry® Debuts the World’s Largest, Searchable Online Obituary Collection, Providing Members with Even More Details about the Ancestors Who Shaped Their Past:

Ancestry
"We are proud to announce the launch of our new Newspapers.com Obituary Collection, as well as an upgrade to our U.S. Obituary Collection, adding to what is now the world’s largest, searchable digital archive of over 262 million worldwide obituaries and death announcements, containing almost 1 billion searchable family members."
Continue reading...

Navigating Newspaper Research:

Legacy News
"You know newspaper research is important to your family history. It can uncover everything from vital record information to the casual mention of your ancestor's daily life. So go research newspapers! But, is it really that easy?"
Continue reading...

Correct Mistakes on the FamilySearch Family Tree:

FamilySearch
"Our goal at FamilySearch is not only to connect individual families, but to connect the human family. In order to accomplish that goal, we need everyone’s help. For this reason, FamilySearch Family Tree is a shared tree, which means that it is open for users to contribute what information they have."
Continue reading...

Don't Toss Old Photos:

We Have Kids
"All too often, the descendants just toss out those pictures that are unlabeled. That's really sad to see family history dumped in the trash. Don't let that happen in your family. Label your own photos.
Now, if these are inherited photos and not labeled, you have a bit of work ahead. Whatever you do, don't toss those photos."
Continue reading...

Technology:

Is Your Old Router Still Getting Security Updates? 

How-To Geek
"Security researchers from Fortinet recently discovered security holes in some D-Link routers. Many of these routers are still sold online, but D-Link no longer manufactures them and won’t patch them. So how do you tell if your router is still supported?"
Continue reading...

Education:

Resource Guide to Canadian Genealogy:

AncestralFindings
"Do you have Canadian ancestors you wish to research? Are you wondering where to start? On today’s episode, I’ll give you five of my favorite websites for doing Canadian genealogy online."
Listen Now... 8.25 minutes 

Webinars:

A la Karte: Borders, Maps and Gazetteers for German Genealogists

Legacy Family Tree
"The borders of German-speaking lands in Europe followed a non-linear pattern that is at first difficult to unpack. Learn about the gamut of on- and off-line tools to overcome this difficulty."
Wednesday, November 20, 2019 at 2:00 p.m. Eastern
Presenter: James M. Beidler
Learn more or Register for this webinar...

No Will? No Problem!

Legacy Family Tree
"Anything handled by a court of law is lengthy, and that is good for genealogical research. Documents containing information about a death date, relationships, personal and/or real property, and place of residence are common in intestate files. Learn about the court process from first petition to final discharge, and picture what home was like for an ancestor."
Friday, November 22, 2019 at 2:00 p.m. Eastern
Presenter: Sharon Monson
Learn more or Register for this webinar...

VGS Latest News & Tips: 19 May 2016

Today: Thursday: May 19, 2016

New England Genealogy SIG Meeting

Noon in the New Smyrna Room at the Sea Breeze Recreation Center

Tomorrow: Friday: May 20, 2016

Scandinavian Genealogy SIG Meeting

10:00 AM in the Clearwater Room Sea Breeze Recreation Center

Using Free Third-Party Tools to Analyze Your Autosomal DNA:

Blaine Bettinger ph D., J.D.
The Genetic Genealogist

May FSGS Webinar
"Although DNA testing companies provide their own analysis of test results, there are free third-party tools that allow test-takers to learn even more about their genomic heritage, including admixture calculators and the identification of genetic cousins. Together we’ll explore some of these tools and learn how to separate the wheat from the chaff."
Join us for this informative presentation.
Tonight: Thursday, May 19, 2016
8:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. ET
You must pre-register to attend:
Register HERE...
There is no fee to attend. You will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.

Yes, You CAN Download Your Tree From Ancestry.com – Here’s How
Family History Daily
"We see this question quite a bit so we thought we’d quickly show you how you can easily download a GEDCOM from Ancestry that you can use as a backup, or to import in to virtually any family tree program or family history tree website."
Continue reading...

Fascinating Interactive Map Shows Immigration to the US from 1830 Onwards:

Family History Daily

"A new interactive map from Metrocosm has visualized immigration to the US in a whole new way. This fascinating tool is a great way to gather a quick view of where US immigrants where coming from between the years 1830 and 2013.

The helpful map will automatically play through each year on its own — highlighting top countries of immigration with bright colors and animated dots — or you may use the scroll bar to select a year of interest yourself.

Continue reading this article...

Go directly to the Map...

Is Your Ancestor on Lost Faces?
Olive Tree Genealogy
"Have you ever wished you had a photo of a long ago ancestor? Wouldn't it be great to find out what great-grandpa Bert or great-grandma Olive looked like?
Continue reading...

What Is the Microsoft .NET Framework, and Why Is It Installed on My PC?
How-to-Geek
"If you’ve been using Windows for very long at all, you’ve probably heard of Microsoft’s .NET, probably because an application asked you to install it, or you noticed it in your list of installed programs. Unless you’re a developer, you don’t need a lot of knowledge to make use of it. You just need it to work. But, since we geeks like knowing things, join us as we explore just what .NET is and why so many applications need it."
Continue reading...

This Day In History: 19 May
1780: Near total darkness descends on New England at noon. No explanation is found.
1921: Congress sharply curbs immigration, setting a national quota system.
1964: U.S. diplomats find at least 40 microphones planted in the American embassy in Moscow.
1895 Birthday: Johns Hopkins, merchant and philanthropist.

VGS Latest News & Tips: 21 April 2016

Today: Thursday: April 21, 2016

New England Genealogy SIG Meeting

12:00 p.m. in the New Smyrna Room at the Sea Breeze Recreation Center

AncestryDNA Alert:
Judy Russell, The Legal Genealogist
"There are changes coming soon — possibly very very soon — to the matching system at AncestryDNA that may make some of the folks who’ve tested there lose some bits and pieces of information they have now."
Continue reading...

April FSGS Poolside Chat:  
"When you create a personal timeline of an ancestor’s life, it is easy to see facts, relationships, and stories emerge that were never before apparent. Learn how to create a timeline and the many uses for them in genealogy research and analysis."
Join us for this informative webinar.
Tonight: Thursday, April 21, 2016
8:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. ET
Register here...

Make a Pie Chart of your Ancestors’ Home Countries with Grandma’s Pie:
TheFamilyLocket
"Grandma’s Pie is a FamilySearch.org Certified App. It was developed at Brigham Young University by the Family History Technology lab. "
Continue reading...

Succession Science: Are Fingerprint Patterns Inherited?
Scientific American
"Have you ever seen a child who looked just like his or her father when the latter was younger? We can often tell that two people are related because they have several similar physical traits, such as facial features or hair color. This is because children receive half of their DNA (genetic blueprints) from each parent. But what about something small, such as fingerprints?"
Continue reading...

Concepts – Y DNA Matching and Connecting with your Paternal Ancestor:
DNAeXplained
Recently, I received this question.
“I do not quite understand how the profiles can be identified specifically to an ancestor since that person is not among us to provide DNA material for “testing” and comparison.”
Continue reading...

How to Install Extensions in Microsoft Edge:
How-to-Geek
"The Microsoft Edge web browser will finally support browser extensions in Windows 10’s “Anniversary Update”, coming this summer. If you’re using an Insider Preview build of Windows 10, you can install extensions in Edge now."
Continue reading...

This Day In History: 21 April
1649: The Maryland Toleration Act is passed, allowing all people freedom of worship.
1836: General Sam Houston defeats Santa Anna at the Battle of San Jacinto. Texas wins independence from Mexico.
1862: Congress establishes the U.S. Mint.
1926: Elizabeth II, Queen of England.

VGS Latest News & Tips: 20 August 2015

Tomorrow: Friday, August 21, 2015

Scandinavian Genealogy SIG Meeting

10:00 AM in the Clearwater Room Sea Breeze Recreation Center.

7 Reasons Why You Can’t Find Your Ancestors Online:
Crestleaf
"Researching your family’s history has become increasingly easier thanks to the power of the internet. Whether you’ve opted to search online census records, library collections, or Flickr for old family photos, you’ve likely found some ancestors along the way. But what if you continue to painstakingly search online for an ancestor, and are repeatedly unsuccessful?"
Continue reading...

Tonight: Florida State Genealogical Society Aug 20 Webinar - "Where You Are Depends on When You Are: Resources for Finding American Ancestors in Time&Space"
"Political boundaries change over time, and sometimes dramatically so. Our ancestors may never have moved, yet these boundaries could have shifted around them, causing them to live in multiple different jurisdictions even though they were born and died in the same house."
Join us for this informative presentation
Thursday, August 20, 2015
8:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. ET
Guest Speaker: KC Reid
KC Reid is a professional genealogist specializing in tracking American ancestral lines to the immigrant ancestors and creating narratives that reflect the lives and times of those ancestors.
You must pre-register to attend:
There is no fee to attend. You will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.
Register here...

CWGC Releases 600,000 Records of WW2 Casulties:
irish genealogy news
"To mark VJ Day* (15 August) the Commonwealth War Graves Commission has released some 600,000 records of Irish, British and Commonwealth casualties from the Second World War, together with records for most other nationals commemorated at CWGC sites: this includes the records for German soldiers."
Continue reading...

Genealogy: Symbolism on U.S. Military Headstones:
Barry J. Elwell
"The United States Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) maintains many cemeteries specifically devoted to veterans. Most have various rules regarding what must take place in order to be interred there. The VA only permits graphics on Government-furnished headstones or markers that are approved emblems of belief, the Civil War Union Shield, the Civil War Confederate Southern Cross of Honor, and the Medal of Honor insignia. The following is an overview of the symbolism of U.S. veteran graves:"
Continue reading...

How to Configure a POP3 Email Account in Windows 10:
How-to-Geek
"Even though most of the included Windows 10 apps have already garnered their fair share of negative press, some of the core pieces of the puzzle like the Mail and Calendar apps have proven themselves as worthy additions to the overall lineup. We’ve already shown you how to get your Gmail account working in the Mail app, however, if you run your own email server or rent one from another independent provider, setting up a POP3 email account can be a bit more complicated than a standard configuration."
Continue reading...

August 20: This Day In History
1619: The first group of twenty Africans is brought to Jamestown, Virginia.
1794: American General "Mad Anthony" Wayne defeats the Ohio Indians at the Battle of Fallen Timbers in the Northwest territory, ending Indian resistance in the area.
1913: 700 feet above Buc, France, parachutist Adolphe Pegond becomes the first person to jump from an airplane and land safely.
1833 Birthday: Benjamin Harrison, 23rd President of the United States and grandson of President William Henry Harrison.

VGS News & Tips: 18 Jun 2015

Facts, Photos and Fair Use: Copyright Law for Genealogists:
June FSGS Poolside Chat: 
"Judy Russell, JD, CG will be providing information about copyright laws and how they apply to what we, as genealogists, do. Materials and records created by others are the bread-and-butter of genealogy. But whether copyright law allows use of old photographs, reports and articles can be murky at best. Understanding what is and isn’t copyrighted and what genealogists can and can’t use is the key to staying out of trouble and to protecting our own work. "
Today: Thursday, 18 Jun 2015: 8:00 to 9:00 p.m.
Read more and Register...

Yamnaya, Light Skinned, Brown Eyed….Ancestors???
DNAeXplained:
"Late last fall, I reported that scientists had discovered a European ghost population.  This group of people then referred to as the ANE, Ancient Northern Europeans, was a previously unknown population from the north that had mixed into the known European populations, the Hunter-Gatherers and the farmers from the Middle East, the Neolithic."
Read more...

It’s your family story. Reinvented.
The new Ancestry.com
"Learn about the exciting changes on our site—and get started using them."
Read more...
The above is the new ad for Ancestry.com and I have read many comments about their new website update. However, most have been on the negative side. I'd like to hear from you and your experience with the new website and update. Tell me your experience...

Did you know that Google Maps will warn you if your destination will be closed before you get there?
Here's what's new...

• Receive a warning when you are about to navigate to a place that is closed at time of arrival.
• Searching for 'my events' now also shows car rental reservations from your Gmail account, in addition to your flights and hotels.
• Bug Fixes's

This Day In History:
1914: E. G. Marshall, an American actor, was born; he died in 1998.
1815: The Battle of Waterloo, near Waterloo in present day Belgium, results in the defeat of Napoleon Bonaparte by the Duke of Wellington and Gebhard Leberecht von Blucher.
1429: French forces under the leadership of Joan of Arc defeat the main English army under Sir John Fastolf at the Battle of Patay. This turns the tide of the Hundred Years W

VGS News & Tips: 17 Jun 2015

Reminder: Board of Directors Meeting Today at 1:30 p.m.

The Battle of Bunker Hill: June 17, 1775:
Fold3
"On June 17, 1775, American colonists clashed with the British in the Battle of Bunker Hill, the first major battle of the American Revolution."
Read more...

5 Simple Ways to Organize Your Digital Family Photos:
Crestleaf
Tips & Tools to Get Digitized Family Pictures Organized
Read more...

Facts, Photos and Fair Use: Copyright Law for Genealogists:
June FSGS Poolside Chat:
"Judy Russell, JD, CG will be providing information about copyright laws and how they apply to what we, as genealogists, do. Materials and records created by others are the bread-and-butter of genealogy. But whether copyright law allows use of old photographs, reports and articles can be murky at best. Understanding what is and isn’t copyrighted and what genealogists can and can’t use is the key to staying out of trouble and to protecting our own work. "
Tomorrow: Thursday, 18 Jun 2015: 8:00 to 9:00 p.m.
Read more and Register...

An Update to Apple Watch Already?
About Technology
"OK, truth be told, it's not that there's a new version of the Apple Watch, it's that there's an update coming to the software that runs the watch. And it's going to add a whole bunch of goodies."
Read more...

This Day In History:
1944: Iceland declares independence from Denmark and becomes a republic.
1910: Red Foley, American singer-songwriter, guitarist, and actor is born; he died in 1968.
1898: The United States Navy Hospital Corps is established.

VGS Latest News & Tips: 19 Mar 2015

Meeting Reminder - Tomorrow, March 20:

Scandinavian Genealogy SIG Meeting

10:00 AM in the Clearwater Room Sea Breeze Recreation Center.

Passion for Genealogy Leads to New Hobby: In addition to your own genealogy research many genealogists pursue other genealogical activities. It may be indexing for familysearch.org or ancestry.com or adding information to findagrave.com or billiongraves.com. In this story from the Stone County Leader, Lori Freeze writes: "Renee Carr of the Rushing community has found a new angle to pursue her passion for genealogy research – returning abandoned or misplaced photographs to the families of those pictured.
Read more...

Get Started with Indexing: Indexing is the process of entering information from historical records into an online, searchable database. Familysearch.org is always looking for volunteers. You can put in as much or as little time you have available. An hour a week can add many records during a short period of time. You need to download a free indexing program, register for a new account if you don't already have one and select a project. There are many indexing resources to help you get started with indexing historical records.
Read more to get started...

Attacking Brick Walls Using Technology & Traditional Methods:
March FSGS Poolside Chat Webinar:
Inevitably there are brick walls in genealogy. These situations take extra time, effort and money to solve; giving up isn't the answer. Unusual and little known resources can make all the difference. We will use step-by-step processes using various substitutes and thinking out of the box to facilitate assistance in breaking through difficult brick walls.

Thursday, March 19, 2015

8:00pm - 9:00pm ET

Pre-Registration Required
You must pre-register to attend:
There is no fee to attend. You will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.
Register here...

Access to ArkivDigital is free over the weekend 21-22 March 2015: You will need to register and download some software to your computer. The steps are easy to follow. During the installation you will be asked some questions. You must respond to them "in a positive way" and when installation is complete, you will have an icon on your desktop called “ArkivDigital online”. Double-click the icon to start the program.
Read more...

Windows 10 will be a free upgrade for Windows 7 and Windows 8 users: It’s official, folks: Windows 10 will be a free upgrade for existing Windows users—as long as you claim it quickly.
Read more...

VGS Latest News & Tips: 18 Mar 2015

The VGS Board of Directors Meet Today:

Meeting Reminder - Tomorrow, March 19:

New England Genealogy SIG Meeting

Noon in the New Smyrna Room at the Sea Breeze Recreation Center.

How Would You Like to (Finally!) Understand Autosomal DNA? 

For the next two Saturdays, March 21st and 28th, Judy G. Russell will be spending some quality time with genetic genealogists! Her new course entitled “(Finally!) Understanding Autosomal DNA” is a four session course designed to educate genealogists on all the ins and outs of autosomal DNA.
Read for more info, cost and registration...

What was the Number-One song on the day you were born? This could be interesting information to add to your or someone's else genealogy. Or, how about when you turn 16 or 21 or any other important event in your life... What was the Number-One song then?
Find out here...

23andMe Plans to Move Beyond Genetic Testing to Making Drugs:  Arielle Duhaime-Ross writes about ambitious goals, but no diseases or drug targets in sight. Instead of focusing on screening people for various diseases, the company plans to make therapeutic agents that will target these diseases and possibly cure them.
Read more...

Attacking Brick Walls Using Technology & Traditional Methods:
March FSGS Poolside Chat Webinar:
Inevitably there are brick walls in genealogy. These situations take extra time, effort and money to solve; giving up isn't the answer. Unusual and little known resources can make all the difference. We will use step-by-step processes using various substitutes and thinking out of the box to facilitate assistance in breaking through difficult brick walls.

Thursday, March 19, 2015

8:00pm - 9:00pm ET

Pre-Registration Required
You must pre-register to attend:
There is no fee to attend. You will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.
Register here...