VGS News & Events: 16 September 2018 through 22 September 2018

A slide from our first live monthly Monday Evening Webinar. Members can
view the webinar on our website in the "Members Only" section.

Reminders:

Wednesday: September 19, 2018

Brick Wall SIG Meeting

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

Wednesday: September 19, 2018

General Monthly Meeting

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

Presentation: "Creating Google Earth Tours"

Our Guest Speaker is Karen A. Fortin

Note date change for both meetings above...
Dues for 2019 will be collected if you want to avoid the January rush.
Registration will begin for the 2019 Annual Seminar...
Download a registration packet HERE...

Wednesday: September 19, 2018

Mid-Atlantic States SIG Meeting Cancelled

Thursday: September 20, 2018

New England Genealogy SIG Meeting

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

Friday: September 21, 2018

Scandinavian Genealogy SIG Meeting

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

Gen News & Announcements:

New Historical Records on FamilySearch: Week of August 28, 2018

FamilySearch
"Family looking for ancestors FamilySearch expands its free online archives this week with new records and images from Chile, France, Peru, and the United States – including California, Illinois, Louisiana, Missouri, Texas and Virginia."
Search now...

Powered by the World’s Largest Consumer DNA Network, Ancestry Unveils More Detailed and Precise Ethnicity Estimates Than Ever Before:

Ancestry
"Today, we announce that Ancestry will deliver ethnicity estimates with increased precision to its customers, through a new algorithm that analyzes longer segments of genetic information, marking an important evolution in the way we interpret DNA data."
Continue reading...

10 Tips to Making Your Family Reunion a Success:

FamilySearch
"Getting together with family is super fun, but family reunion planning can be overwhelming. Stop stressing and get ready to bond. These tips are sure to make your family reunion a success."  The holidays is a perfect opportunity...
Continue reading...

Nauvoo, Illinois: Walking in Your Ancestor’s Footsteps

FamilySearch
"Few places carry the historic and religious significance that permeates the city of Nauvoo, Illinois. Because the Mormon Pioneer Trail began in Nauvoo, many pioneer descendants can recall stories of their ancestors bravely leaving the city in the Winter of 1846. But Nauvoo has even more to offer than pioneer heritage."
Continue reading...

5 Things You Might Be Missing on Ancestry:

Amy Johnson Crow
"It's easy to focus on the searches and the results when we're using Ancestry. However, there are some features of the site that you might be overlooking — features that can make your research more productive."
Continue reading...

Another Person’s Family Tree is Not a Valid Source:

Family History Daily
"If you’re a family historian you most certainly have a family tree. And, if you’re like most people, you have chosen to host this tree online, or in a downloadable program that syncs with an online tree."
Continue reading...

Don’t Do Another Minute of Genealogy Research Until You Do This One Thing:

Family History Daily
"As interest in family history research continues to grow, more and more researchers are taking the time to educate themselves about genealogy best practices so they can grow an accurate family tree. Family historians are understanding the value of doing their own unique research, avoiding copying the trees of others, and taking more time to properly source their trees for the benefit of everyone.
But a surprising number are not taking the time to do the most important thing they can do for their research – back it up. "
Continue reading...

Tech:

People Think Their Passwords Are Too Awesome For Two Factor Authentication. They’re Wrong!

How-to-Geek
"Two factor authentication vastly improves your security, but hardly anyone uses it: only 10 percent of Google users enable the feature, for example. Why is that?"
Continue reading...

Education:

5 Ways To Tell If Your Genealogy Research Is Accurate:

Ancestral Findings
"There is a lot of guesswork and uncertainty in genealogy. People in the past may have put the wrong information on old records, either from genuinely not knowing, or from having something they wanted to hide."
Listen now... 8:31 minutes

Webinar(s):

Using Lists to Find Proof:

Legacy Family Tree Webinars
"Genealogists examine lists nearly every time we conduct research, whether it be in the form of censuses, tax lists, directories, petitions, and hundreds of others. The Genealogical Proof Standard requires reasonably exhaustive research, analysis and corroboration of evidence. This presentation will demonstrate how lists can be used to meet those standards, and offers methods and tips for  examining lists as a tool for proving the identity of our ancestors."
Tuesday, September 18, 2018 at 8:00 p.m.
Presenter: Cari Taplin, CG
Learn more or Register for this webinar...

25 Simple Research Hacks Every Genealogist Should Know

Legacy Family Tree Webinars
"Whether you are searching online databases, trying to obtain information from an uncooperative cousin, or need to streamline your research workflow, this webinar will outline 25 simple hacks you can use to get more genealogy done in less time!"
Wednesday, September 19, 2018 at 2:00 p.m.
Presenter: Lisa Alzo
Learn more or Register for this webinar...

FSGS Poolside Webinar:  But, It's All On The Internet

Florida State Genealogical Society
"The internet is a wonderful tool for researching our ancestors. But, it should not replace some of the tried-and-true methods for discovering our ancestors."
Thursday, September 20, 2018 at 8:00 p.m.
Presenter: Peggy Clemens Lauritzen, AG
Learn more or Register for this webinar...

VGS Latest News and Tips: June 9, 2017

Reminders:

Today: June 9, 2017

Genetic Genealogy SIG Meeting

10:00 AM in the Rhett Butler Room at the Savannah Center

Topic: "DNA News"

Gen News:

Father shares life changing discovery made possible with AncestryDNA:

AncestryDNA
"Barry is a veteran genealogist who took an AncestryDNA test to help confirm his decades worth of research. However, an average research day turned into a life‑changing event when he discovered a parent‑child match.  It was more than three decades ago that Barry drove his pregnant friend to the hospital."
Continue reading...

Comparison of My Autosomal DNA Ethnicity Estimates:

Genea-Musings
"I added the MyHeritageDNA to my autosomal DNA ethnicity estimate list today.  Here are the updated results:" (7 DNA Databases)
Continue reading...

The Key to Family Reunion Success:

FamilySearch
"Planning a successful family reunion can be overwhelming—you can almost imagine yourself drowning in all the details and decisions. Before you get too distressed, it makes sense to ask: what will make your family reunion successful? Although everyone has a different picture of the ideal event in their mind, most would agree that a successful reunion brings family together and allows them to reconnect, share stories and experiences, and strengthen their understanding and love of their heritage."
Continue reading...

Tech:

How to Make Your Car Smarter with an OBD-II Adapter:

How-to-Geek
"While you’re still waiting on your refrigerator or your microwave to be as smart as your phone, the car in your garage is already ahead of the curve. If you own a vehicle made after 1996, you can connect to it with a simple device called an OBD-II adapter and find out your fuel efficiency, diagnose check engine lights, and gather a ton of other useful data.
Continue reading...

How to Manage Startup Applications in Windows 8 or 10:

How-to-Geek
"Many apps include a component that starts along with Windows. These startup apps can be useful, but they can also slow boot time and use up system resources. Here’s how to get them under control."
Continue reading...

Education:

Who Are The Black Dutch?

Ancestral Findings
"Were you told you have Black Dutch ancestry, but don't know what it means? It means a lot of different things. Here is what you need to know about these people."
Listen now... 6.45 minutes

Today's Webinar Reminder:

The Increasing Need for Foreign Language Indexing:

Legacy Family Tree Webinars
"The need to make searchable records available worldwide continues to grow. While new technologies are making things easier there is still a big need for indexing records in languages other than English. Can you read a foreign language or are you willing to learn a few key words? If so, join the cause at familysearch.org/indexing."
Today, June 9, 2017 at 2:00 p.m.
Presenter: Devin Ashby
Learn more or Register for this webinar...

VGS Latest News & Tips: 10 November 2016

Today: November 10, 2016

German Genealogy SIG Meeting

9:30 AM in the Reliance Room at the Late Miona Recreation Center

Topic: Member stories of "Big Breakthroughs" or "Climbing Brickwalls"

How to Speed Up, Disable, or Rebuild the Windows Search Index:

How-to-Geek
"Windows Search makes searching for files on your PC a lot faster, but if you find that things slow down when Windows indexes files or that Search isn’t working as expected, there are a few steps you can take."
Continue reading...

Reunited: After 30+ Year Search for Two Sisters from Queens, New York:

Ancestry
"This member success story below was shared with us by Sean S. of Massachusetts. After a family reunion on my mother’s side in 1994, my interest in researching further on my father’s side began. Sure, I knew going back to my grandparents and a few of their siblings; two brothers married a pair of sisters..."
Continue reading...

For gallant and distinguished conduct: remembering Nurse Constance Cundell:

Ancestry:
"AncestryProGenealogist, Simon Pearce, reflects on the contributions of those who served and returned from the war by telling the story of Nurse Constance Cundell, awarded for gallant and distinguished conduct in her field. 2016 marks the halfway point in the First World War centenary commemorations..."

Continue reading...

Iowa, World War II Bonus Case Files for Beneficiaries, 1947-1959:

Ancestry
"In May 1947, the Iowa Legislature approved bonus payments of up to $500 for men and women who served on active duty in the U.S. armed forces between 16 September 1940 and 2 September 1945. To qualify, applicants had to be legal residents of Iowa for at least the six months prior to their service. Bonus applications were either filled out by veterans or their beneficiaries. If the claim was filed by a beneficiary, the beneficiary was also required to provide documentation that they were the next of kin of the deceased and were entitled to his or her bonus."
Search Database...

How to Stop Your Mouse from Waking Up Your Windows PC

How-to-Geek
"If a slight bump to your desk is enough to wake up your sleeping PC, it’s likely your mouse doing the waking. Here’s how to prevent that from happening."
Continue reading...

This Day In History: 10 November

1647: All Dutch-held areas of New York are returned to English control by the treaty of Westminster.
1775: U.S. Marine Corps founded.
1971: Two women are tarred and feathered in Belfast for dating British soldiers, while in Londonderry, Northern Ireland a Catholic girl is also tarred and feathered for her intention of marrying a British soldier.
1882 Birthday: Frances Perkins, first woman cabinet member–Secretary of Labor.
State Timelines:

Even though it is hard to tell what made people move or disappear, these are just a few possibilities.

Iowa:
1851: Sioux cession removed Native Americans from land
1857: Economic depression & bank failures
1862: Homestead Act increased settlement

VGS Reminders: 17 - 21 October, 2016

Panorama image from the VGS 2016 Expo

Tuesday: October 18, 2016

Italian Genealogy SIG Meeting

1:00 PM in the Atlanta Room in the Savannah Center
Topic: Back to Basics - Census and Helpful Tips

Wednesday: October 19, 2016

Mid-Atlantic States SIG Meeting

9:30 AM in the Defender Room at the Lake Miona Recreation Center
Topic: Virginia Genealogy Research

Wednesday: October 19, 2016

New to Genealogy SIG Meeting

2:30 PM in the Chateaugay Room at the Chatham Recreation Center
Topic: Choosing & Using Genealogy Software

Thursday: October 20, 2016

New England Genealogy SIG Meeting

Noon in the New Smyrna Room at the Sea Breeze Recreation Center
Topic: Webinar: "Get What You Came For" by Tom Kemp

Friday: October 21, 2016

Scandinavian Genealogy SIG Meeting

10:00 AM in the Clearwater Room Sea Breeze Recreation Center
Topic: This month will be an open discussion. Bring your questions to help you get started with your Scandinavian research.

Strengthening Family Bonds Through Virtual Reunions:
FamilySearch
"Not all of us are lucky enough to have our family members reside in one area. Sometimes they’re states or even continents away! With so many miles, responsibilities, and factors separating us, it’s often difficult to gather together as a family."
Continue reading...

I Lost My Photos on My Phone!!” Here’s What You Need to Do:
Genealogy Gems: Lisa Louise Cooke
"Using your mobile device for genealogy is a great idea, but with that convenience takes some additional know-how. Back-up your mobile device images in a few simple steps and you’ll never say, “I lost my photos on my phone!”
Continue reading...

Popular Halloween Costumes Your Family Members Actually Wore (1950s – 1970s):
Crestleaf
"Halloween is just around the corner! And while the usual witches, ghosts and cat costumes will certainly make their rounds, you may want to think outside the box and borrow some costume ideas from your relatives who grew up in the 50s, 60s or 70s. And if you celebrated Halloween during any of those decades, you could always revive one of your old costumes to make a unique splash at your next Halloween gathering."
Continue reading...

How to Connect to Windows Remote Desktop from Your iPhone or iPad:

How-to-Geek
"You can’t run Windows apps on your iPad or iPhone, but if you have a Pro or Enterpise edition of Windows, you can remotely access your PC using Windows Remote Desktop. Here’s how to get it set up."
Continue reading...

This Day In History: 15 October
1863: For the second time, the Confederate submarine H L Hunley sinks during a practice dive in Charleston Harbor, this time drowning its inventor along with seven crew members.
1878: Thomas A. Edison founds the Edison Electric Light Co.
2008: Dow Jones Industrial Average plummets 733.08 points, the second-largest percentage drop in the Dow’s history.
1917 Death: Mata Hari, a Paris dancer, is executed by the French after being convicted of passing military secrets to the Germans.

State Timelines:
Even though it is hard to tell what made people move or disappear, these are just a few possibilities.
Florida:
1896:Regular rail service began from Jacksonville to Miami
1912: Railroad to Key West opened
1920: Economic depression

VGS Latest News & Tips: 25 July 2016

Windows 10 Survival Guide for Genealogists:
Legacy Family Tree
Did you miss the webinar on Windows 10 survival?
It's available online for free until July 29, 2016
"The Windows 10 operating system is not so much a choice as it is an inevitability. As Microsoft continues to remove support from Windows 8 and earlier versions, you should get on board the Windows 10 upgrade train now! Learn the new features of Windows 10, how it will impact how you research genealogy, and more. You’ll also learn which default Windows 10 settings to change as well as how to fix common “annoyances” experienced by most users."
Watch webinar...

WARNING!
Fake Urgent Chrome Update making rounds, do not open Chrome-update.bat file:
Techdows
"Many Chrome users reported on twitter, Google product forums and on reddit that while they’re browsing certain sites they’ve suddenly seen a new window opened labelled with Urgent Chrome Update having download now button (definite scam, don’t click on the download button or any ware in that window) and immediately a batch file was downloaded to computer with name Chrome-update, be aware! This can happen to you."
Continue reading...
Eastern European SIG News:
VGS SIG News
The Eastern European SIG has received a confirmation from the Recreation Department that they have been assigned a new room for their meetings. They will now be held on at the Sea Breeze Rec Center in the Daytona Beach Room. This will provide them with the necessary WiFi connection necessary to broadcast webinars etc. at our meetings. They still have the same dates and times: the First Thursday of each month at 1:00 pm to 2:50 PM starting in September.

No Right To Sharing:
Judy G. Russell, The Legal Genealogist
"Reader Ruth is offended when people post things on the internet and don’t make it easy for others to use them:"
Continue reading...

Use Google Books to Get Free Copies of Pages of Family History Library Books:

FamilySearch

"Earlier this year, FamilySearch announced a free lookup service for genealogy books and microfilm available at the renowned Family History Library in Salt Lake City. The response was overwhelming, 1000s of people contacted us to take advantage of this free service. Another way to utilize this service is to start with limited preview Google Books and get us to scan the entire page and email it to you for free.

Continue reading... OR View Map...

New Interactive Map Lets You Discover Scottish Clans:
Border Telegraph
"HAVE you ever asked yourself which clan ruled your area?
Or have you wondered if you descended from them?"
Continue reading...

Fitzgerald Family Reunion Celebrates 50th Anniversary:
Ancestry
"This is a guest post by Patricia (Patty) Fitzgerald Adriance. Fifty consecutive years of the Fitzgerald family reunion! We knew what an incredible achievement this was so we asked Patty to share some lessons learned about hosting the reunions, plus, tips on how she gets the younger generations of her family excited about their family history."
Continue reading...

How to Log Out in Windows 8 and 10:
How-to-Geek
"It may seem rudimentary, but if you’re new to Windows–or just upgrading from Windows 7–the simple option to sign out of your account is a bit hidden in Windows 8 and 10. And even we geeks can be baffled at times, especially when Microsoft decides to hide common features away in new places. You can still sign out of Windows from the Start menu; it’s just not part of the Power options any more."
Continue reading...

This Day In History: 25 July
326:Emperor Constantine refuses to carry out traditional pagan sacrifices.
1587: Hideyoshi bans Christianity in Japan and orders all Christians to leave.
1850: Gold is discovered in the Rogue River in Oregon, extending the quest for gold up the Pacific coast.
1902 Birthday: Eric Hoffer, American longshoreman and philosopher (The True Believer, Before the Sabbath)

State Timelines:
Even though it is hard to tell what made people move or disappear, these are just a few possibilities.
South Carolina
1671: Dutch from New York arrive in Charleston
1675-1750: New England ships winter along the SC coast
1680: French settled in Charleston