VGS News & Events: 29 December through 4 January, 2020

Coming Events:

Thursday: January 2, 2020

Eastern European Genealogy SIG Meeting:

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

Friday: January 3, 2020

British Genealogy SIG Meeting

9:30 AM in the Courageous Room at the Lake Miona Recreation Center
Saturday: January 4, 2020
Jim Lannin Celebration of Life
1:00-4:00 PM at the Allamanda Recreation Center

Gen News and Announcements:

Celebrate Your DNA

DNAeXplained
"I ordered two items from Celebrate DNA to celebrate my own genetic heritage. I love wearing DNA-themed items. People ask questions and I get to explain how much fun DNA is and how critical to genealogy."
Continue reading...

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..

The New Jersey Death Index Is Online:

Reclaim the Records

"The New Jersey Death Index for 1901-2017 (with some gaps) is now online for free public use. The actual PDF’s of the image files are stored at the Internet Archive. Previously, only a few years of the death index were available, 1901-1903, and those were only available thanks to an earlier records request we made to the New Jersey State Archives."

Continue reading...

New Free Historical Records on FamilySearch: Week of 2 December 2019

FamilySearch
"FamilySearch.org added over 8 million new, free, historical records from WWII Draft Registration Cards (1940-1947) and Lincolnshire, England, Parish Registers (1538-1990). The military records are from California, Kansas, Montana, Oregon and Texas. More indexed records were added from Australia, Finland, France, Netherlands, Peru, Poland, Sweden, and the United States. "
Search now...

New Free Historical Records on FamilySearch: Week of 9 December 2019

FamilySearch

New, free, historical records were added to FamilySearch.org from American Samoa, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, England, France, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, New Zealand, Peru, Puerto Rico, South Africa, Venezuela and the United States. Over 800,000 records were added from the Cape Province of Africa (1895-1972.)

Search now...

New German Record Collections:

MyHeritage
"MyHeritage has just published two historical record collections from Germany: the Hesse Birth Index (1874–1911) and Hesse Marriage Index (1849–1931). These collections, totaling 8.5 million historical records, are now indexed and searchable on MyHeritage."
Continue reading...

Technology:

How Windows 7’s “Extended Security Updates” Will Work:

How-to Geek
"Windows 7 isn’t long for this world. On January 14, 2020, Microsoft ends “extended support” for Windows 7, and it will stop getting security updates. But there’s a way around it: Paying for “Extended Security Updates.”"
Continue reading...

Education:

The Biggest Genealogy Research Mistakes You Don't Want to Make:

Ancestral Findings
Let's start off the new year with better research techniques...
"Don't let your genealogy research be incorrect. Make sure your genealogy is as true as it can be. Join me on and I’ll talk about the three biggest genealogy mistakes and how to avoid them."
Continue reading... 5.31 minutes

Webinars:

The 2020 Webinar Series will begin soon...

VGS News & Events: 4 November 2018 through 10 November 2018

Did you remember to change your clock? Backup your data too!

Coming Events:

Monday: November 5, 2018

Jewish Genealogy SIG Meeting has been canceled
Monday: November 5, 2018

Roots Magic SIG Meeting:
2:30 PM in the New Smyrna Room at the Recreation Center

Tuesday: November 6, 2018

Adoption & Mystery KIN SIG Meeting

9:00 AM at the Lake Miona Recreation Center

Tuesday: November 6, 2018

Italian Genealogy SIG Meeting

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

Wednesday: November 7, 2018

French Canadian Genealogy SIG Meeting:

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

Thursday: November 8, 2018

German Genealogy SIG Meeting

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

Topic: "What Every  Genealogist Should Know About German and It's Impact on Surnames" —  Ken Weaver-President, Southwest Florida German Genealogical Society

Friday: November 9, 2018

Genetic Genealogy SIG Meeting Canceled

Saturday: November 10, 2018

22nd Annual Florida Family History Conference

You’re invited to the 22nd Annual Florida Family History Conference on Saturday, November 10th, 2018 from 9am – 4:00pm. We are one of the largest family history conferences on the East Coast of the United States! This east coast event brings world-class speakers from all over the country to help you find your family’s history! Our goal is to bring you the latest news on where to find information on your ancestors as well as big, new changes to Internet research sites.

Location: We are proudly holding the conference again at OLYMPIA HIGH SCHOOL at 4301 S. Apopka Vineland Road, Orlando, FL 32835.

Our Keynote Speaker again this year features Crista Cowan, Corporate Genealogist at Ancestry.com!!
Learn more including how to register, cost and bus info...

Gen News and Announcements:

3 Quick FamilySearch Tricks to Help You Find Elusive Ancestors:

Family History Daily
"While most people find FamilySearch's site pretty intuitive, there are a few buried elements that many overlook - ones that can have a huge impact on your research. It only takes a minute to try them out. Go see how they can help your research today!"
Continue reading...

New Free Historical Records on FamilySearch: Week of October 22, 2018

FamilySearch
"FamilySearch expands its free online archives this week with almost 2 million new searchable names from the 1915 Kansas State Census and nearly 1 million marriage records in the newly published Western States Marriage Index. New indexed records are also available from Chile, Colombia, France, French Polynesia, Germany, Italy, New Zealand, and Spain, and the United States (California, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Louisiana, Montana, North Dakota, and Ohio)."
Search now...

How to Save Money on DNA Testing: Get the Best Deal and Take Advantage of Free Reports:

Family History Daily
"DNA testing for genealogy is more common than ever, but it can also be expensive. Although we’ve seen prices drop quite a bit in recent years the cost is still too much for many to justify. If you’ve been holding off on testing your own DNA, or on expanding your testing to relatives whose information may help your research, the information in this article will help you overcome this cost-hurdle."
Continue reading...

Explaining Genealogic Germany – Some Notes On Civil Records"

Genealogists.com
"Most requests that reach me are dealing with the search for ancestors in the pre-civil record era but some are dealing with finding relatives during the time period the German Empire was existing or for finding relatives today."
Continue reading...

Familypedia: the Biggest Genealogy Site You Probably Never Heard Of:

Dick Eastman
"Are you familiar with Familypedia, a web site with 242,770 online articles about deceased individuals plus another 366,615 genealogy-related pages?"
Continue reading...

Some of Hawaii’s Most Important Documents Are Going To Be Available Online.

Hawaii News
"Behind a 6-inch-thick bank vault door and inside a locked safe are some of the rarest documents in Hawaii history. There, under the control of the state Archives, you’ll find Queen Liliuokalani’s handwritten song book, including “Aloha Oe”; a Hawaii customs form for the first men on the moon; and a contract with King Kamehameha the Great’s signature in 1818 — only an 'X' since Hawaiian was not yet a written language."
Continue reading...

Technology:

Does A Genealogist Need A Smartphone?

Genealogy's Star
"I am guessing that the title to this post is no longer a major issue with current statistics showing that 95% of people own some kind of cell phone and smartphone use in the United States is at 77% of the population. That means that about 3 out of every 4 people in the United States now own a smartphone. But are there some particular uses for smartphones for genealogy that make them a particularly desirable device?"
Continue reading...
Education:

Alternative Sources for Tracking Your Ancestors:

Ancestral Findings
"Do you feel like you've reached a point where you have no other resources to search for your ancestors? Don't forget about alternative sources. They may just have the clues you need to move forward.  Today you’ll learn how to use these sources."
Listen now...   5.07 minutes

Webinars:

Using Voting and Election Records to Find Your Ancestor:

Legacy Family Tree Webinars
"Our ancestors voted in local, state and federal government elections. Many of our local, state and national archives, libraries and genealogical societies have election and voting records that could help genealogists find their ancestors. These records could include the polling places where your ancestor voted and even your ancestor's signature."
Wednesday, November 7, 2018 at 2:00 p.m.
Presenter: Melissa Barker
Learn more or Register for this webinar...

VGS News & Events: 9 September 2018 through 15 September 2018

Reminders:

Monday: September 10, 2018

Family Tree Maker Users SIG Meeting

1:00 PM in the Patriot Room at the Mulberry Grove Recreation Center
Have a question about Family Tree Maker?  Attend this meeting to get your question answered.
Monday, September 10, 2018
(A VGS Live Webinar)

“Sources or Clues? Pitfalls of Using Published Genealogies and Online Trees.”

7:00 pm to 8:00 pm

Our first presentation in this new series , will be presented by Julie Miller, CG, CGL, FNGS. 

Her presentation is: “Sources or Clues? Pitfalls of Using Published Genealogies and Online Trees.”

Presentation description: Is it okay to use published genealogies and online trees in the search for our ancestors? Published genealogies and online trees are abundant, they are found in many places and in many different forms. But what happens when we just copy and use what is in published genealogies and online trees? This case study illustrates the confusion and the problems that may result if precautions are not taken.

Presenter bio: Julie Miller is a board-certified genealogist and genealogical lecturer who is a full-time professional researcher, speaker, and writer. She is the National Genealogical Society (NGS) Education Manager, was the conference chair of the 2010 and 2012 NGS conferences, and is an NGS fellow. Julie speaks on a wide variety of genealogy subjects both locally and nationally. Her articles have appeared in the NGSQ, NGS Magazine, and she was the genealogy columnist for the Broomfield Enterprise for ten years. Julie has been a volunteer at NARA-Denver for twenty years.

Please register for the webinar at:

https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/4171457348337485826

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.

Julie has given us permission to record her presentation. After the live broadcast, it will be available in the Members Only section of the VGS website for 90 days.

Tuesday: September 11, 2018

Preserving Family History SIG Meeting

2:30 PM in the Destin Room at the Sea Breeze Recreation Center
Topic: "Scraping Your Family History", presented by Peggy Best

Wednesday: September 12, 2018

Board of Directors Meeting

9:00 AM VGS Treasurer's Home

Wednesday: September 12, 2018

New to Genealogy SIG Meeting

2:30 PM in the Neptune Beach Room at the Sea Breeze Recreation Center

Thursday: September 13, 2018

German Genealogy SIG Meeting

9:30 AM in the Reliance Room at the Late Miona Recreation Center
Topic: "How the Hapsburgs & 30 Years War laid Foundation of Modern Europe" — Bernie Guenther

Friday: September 14, 2018

Genetic Genealogy SIG Meeting

10:00 AM in the Rhett Butler Room at the Savannah Center
Topic: “DNA Testing Basics”

Gen News & Announcements:

Findmypast Announces Free Weekend - 7th to 10th September 2018

FindMyPast
"6th September 2018 - Leading British & Irish family history website, Findmypast, has today announced that they will be opening up their archives and offering free access to billions of records from around the world. From 04:00 (EDT), on Friday September 7th until 18:59 (BST), on Monday September 10th more than 2.7 billion records ranging from censuses and parish registers to passenger lists and military service records will be completely free to search and explore."
More information...

National Archives Virtual Genealogy Fair 2018:

National Archives
October 24, 2018 - Save the date!
Sixth Annual Virtual Genealogy Fair
"Every year, the National Archives hosts a virtual Genealogy Fair via live webcast on YouTube. The sessions offer family history research tools on Federal records for all skill levels. Thousands of family historians participate in the live event.
As a virtual attendee, you can:

• Watch the entire day on YouTube.
• Join us – from wherever and whenever.
• Participate with the presenters and other family historians during the live event.
• Watch individual sessions and download the materials at your convenience -- live or after the event.
• Attend free of charge and registration!

Learn more...

A Genetic Study Using 23andMe Data Finds Link Between Schizophrenia and Cannabis Use:

Gizmodo
"There’s evidence of a connection between cannabis use and schizophrenia, but it’s unclear whether the drug leads to the disorder, or vice versa. A new study published Monday, which relies partly on genetic data from 23andMe volunteers, might offer a little clarity on that link. It found that people genetically at risk of schizophrenia are also more likely to start smoking pot, suggesting the disorder itself might cause cannabis use in some people."
Continue reading...

New Historical Records at FamilySearch, August 20, 2018

FamilySearch
"FamilySearch expands its free online archives this week with new records and images from the Dominican Republic, France, Honduras, Iceland, New Zealand, Portugal, Russia, Ukraine, Wales, and the United States (Delaware, Georgia, North Dakota, and Ohio.)"
Search now...

9 Places to Find Information About Your Ancestor's Death:

FindMyPast
"In genealogy it's often best to work backwards starting with the most recent events moving to the more distant. If you've hit a brick wall with one of your ancestors, here are nine places to find information about your ancestor's death to assist with your research."
Continue reading...

Family Tree Magazine’s 101 Best Websites 2018

Genealogy Gems
"Each year, Family Tree Magazine’s team of genealogy experts scour the web for the best of the best websites where you can discover family history information. Then they compile it in a handy list, organized by category for easy research reference.
This year, there are 16 categories and you’ll find Genealogy Gems in the “Best Genealogy News Websites & Blogs” category."
Continue reading...

6m Free British Family Notices Now Online:

Genealogy Gems
"Nearly 6 million British family notices are now free to explore online! Find your ancestors from England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales in more new and updated records, too: newspaper articles, British almanacs and directories, clandestine marriages, Liverpool Catholic and Warwickshire Church of England records, military collections (especially WWI) and Scotland death notices."
Continue reading...

German Place Names: Find Your Ancestors’ Hometown With This Free Online Tool:

Genealogy Gems
"German Place Names have changed dramatically over time, so it can be challenging to identify your German ancestors’ place of origin. This free online tool helps family historians navigate changes in German place names, jurisdictions, and boundaries."
Continue reading...

Tech:

What is a DMG File (And How Do I Use One)?

How-to-Geek
"DMG files are containers for apps in macOS. You open them, drag the app to your Applications folder, and then eject them, saving you the hassle of the dreaded “Install Wizard” of most Windows apps. So if all they are is a folder for an app, why do we use them instead of just downloading the app itself?"
Continue reading...

Education:

What are Some of the Best Genealogy Magazines Out There?

Ancestral Findings
"Do you read genealogical magazines? If not, you should. They are invaluable resources for learning new skills, connecting with other researchers of your family lines, and discovering historical secrets that will tell you more about your ancestors and how they lived. Today on the Ancestral Findings Podcast I’ll give you seven best ones you should have on your reading list."
Listen now...  8:28 minutes

Webinar(s):

Examining Migration & Researching Migrants in the British Isles:

Legacy Family Tree Webinars
"In this presentation we shall examine the reasons for migration and focus on the individual migration groups coming to the British Isles. The United Kingdom is in an interesting position in that it sits within Europe and yet also has been a focal point of Empire, some of which influenced migrants. We shall also explore some of the research opportunities for each of those migration groups."
Wednesday, September 12, 2018 at 8:00 p.m.
Presenter: Julie Goucher
Learn more or Register for this webinar...

Slave Narratives: Telling the Story of Slavery and Families:

Legacy Family Tree Webinars
"The WPA Federal Writers' Project (FWP) of the late 1930's provides us with more than 2,300 first person accounts of former slaves. The slave narratives, with their autobiographical accounts, can provide insight into the institution, rich context, and clues for family research. But how can we use this rich resource? Can they be relied upon? Some of the questions we will discuss are: What is the  history of the slave narratives?Before, during, and after the Civil War. When were they taken? Who were the interviewers? What are the limitations of the narratives? Where can I find the narratives? Offline and Online. How can they be used for research? Names of family members, names of plantations, owners, and their family members; birth, marriage and death information for individuals; context for daily life in particular places."
Friday, September 14, 2018 at 2:00 p.m.
Presenter: Ann Staley, CG, CGL
Learn more or Register for this webinar...

VGS News & Events: 17 June 2018 through 23 June 2018

Barb & Scrib Kelly working on the Florida Pioneer Project
Learn more about the project HERE...

Coming Events:

Wednesday: June 20, 2018

Board of Directors Meeting

9:00 AM at the Pinellas Library

The June 27th Monthly Meeting will feature a live webinar: 

If you are unable to attend in person, you can register to attend online. 

Presentation: "Filling Out Your Family Tree Without Breaking the Bank."Presenter:  Katherine R. Willson

When: June 27, 2018 9:30 AM EDT. 
Location: The Savannah Center

There are many paid subscription sites for online genealogy, but there are many more sites providing the same and/or similar information at no cost! Discover 75+ sources for tracing your family tree without “breaking the bank."

Register HERE...

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.  If you are attending in person, you do not need to register.

Gen News and Announcements:

Remembering World War I:

FamilySearch
"Discover the part your ancestor played in the war to end all wars, preserve their legacy, find out how it lives on in you."
Continue reading...

German Genealogy Guide: Free Records, Research Tips and Resources to Help You Find Your Ancestors

Family History Daily
"If you have German ancestors, chances are you’ve encountered some challenges trying to track them down. Changes in jurisdiction and borders, lack of central record keeping, foreign language websites and Old German script are just a few areas that trip up many family historians. This guide will help you overcome these hurdles and discover free resources."
Continue reading...

Cybersecurity Wake-up Call:

The Legal Genealogist
"Ninety two million genealogists got another wake-up call yesterday about computer security with a big dollop of bad news eased by a bit of not so bad news."
Continue reading...

MyHeritage Statement About a Cybersecurity Incident:

MyHeritage
"On June 4, 2018 at approximately 1:00 pm EST, MyHeritage’s Chief Information Security Officer received a message from a security researcher that he had found a file named myheritage containing email addresses and hashed passwords, on a private server outside of MyHeritage."
Continue reading...

New Historical Records Added in May 2018:

My Heritage
"We’ve reached a new huge milestone — we now have over 9 billion historical records in MyHeritage SuperSearch™! After achieving our huge milestone of over 8 billion historical records, we have added another one billion records in less than 10 months."
Continue reading...

MyHeritage is Adding Free DNA Matching:

My Heritage
"One of the most exciting frontiers in family history research is DNA and today’s announcement reflects a major step by MyHeritage in this important area."
Continue reading...

Introducing Our New HTML Tree on Geni:

Geni
"We’re proud to announce a long awaited improvement for Geni users – our new HTML tree is now available on all tablet and mobile devices!"
Continue reading...

15 Interesting Facts About DNA:

Geni
"In honor of the 15 year anniversary of the completion of the Human Genome Project, here are 15 interesting facts about DNA:"
Continue reading...

Technology:

How To Use Reading View In Microsoft Edge:

How-to-Geek
"The Reading View in Microsoft Edge removes ads and unnecessary images, simplifying pages for reading. It’s great for reading long articles, where you don’t want all that clutter distracting you."
Continue reading...

Education:

Drawing Those Hesitant Relatives into Your Family Tree Research:

Ancestral Findings
"Are your relatives reluctant to help with your quest for family history information? Join me today on the Ancestral Findings Podcast and I’ll give you some great tips to get them on board the search train today!"
Listen now...  5.27 minutes

Webinars:

You Need a Search Strategy: Maximizing Your Results with Online Genealogical Databases

Legacy Family Tree Webinars
"In the past 20 years, online search systems, databases, and image collections have revolutionized family history and genealogical research making our work faster, easier, and more convenient. However, these databases are not without limitations and quirks. This webinar will discuss some limitations we face and present strategies for more effective searches across a spectrum of websites and online services."
Tuesday, June 19, 2018 at 2:00 p.m.
Presenter: Mike Mansfield
Learn more or Register for this webinar...

Using Maps in Genealogical Research:

Legacy Family Tree Webinars
"Every ancestor, at every moment, occupied a specific, physical location. Maps decode and amplify the significance of those locations by providing context and background information. This heavily illustrated lecture shows examples of the map types best-suited to genealogy, and the syllabus provides links to quality online sources for those maps."
Tuesday, June 19, 2018 at 8:00 p.m.
Presenter: Sara A. Scribner, CG
Learn more or Register for this webinar...

Freedmen’s Bureau Records – Invaluable to ALL Southern Research!
Florida State Genealogical Society

• Webinar Abstract: We overlook records that we think pertain to only one group of people. The Freedmen’s Bureau records cover more than freed slaves – they include ex-soldiers, impoverished widows, small children, and destitute parents. They include ration, school, court, marriage, military, and more records, along with incredibly personal correspondence regarding loved ones.
• Presenter: Diane L Richard is the Principal of Mosaic Research and Project Management (MosaicRPM), www.mosaicrpm.com. She has M.E. and M.B.A. degrees from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI). She has been doing genealogy research since 1987 and since 2004 professionally focused on the records of North Carolina, other Southern States and migration paths to the Mississippi River. She has researched NC roots for the popular TV show Who Do You Think You Are? and appeared on the Bryan Cranston episode. Since 2006 she has authored almost 300 articles on genealogy topics for such publications as Internet Genealogy, Your Genealogy Today (was Family Chronicle), NCGS Journal, and local WCGS publications (newsletters and journal). Since 2010 she has been the editor of Upfront with NGS, the blog of the National Genealogical Society and published over 1900 posts. She is currently editor of the North Carolina Genealogical Society (NCGS) journal and Wake Treasures, the journal of the Wake County Genealogical Society.
• Website: www.mosaicrpm.com
• Thursday, June 21, 2018 at 8:00 p.m.
• Registration: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/2315885235210294785

VGS News & Events: 24 December 2017 through 30 December 2017

Happy Holidays

Coming Events:

VGS Members can attend any of these events...
Monday: December 25, 2017

Technology SIG Meeting as been canceled.

Wednesday: February 28, 2018

Our Annual All-Day Seminar

9:00 AM in the La Hacienda Recreation Center
Download the Registration Packet HERE...

Gen News & Announcements:

New Historic Records on FamilySearch: Week of December 11, 2017

FamilySearch
"Good news if your ancestry is from Colombia and Peru! More than one million historic records and one million images from each country were added on FamilySearch this week. Many more records from Brazil, Delaware, Denmark, England, France, Illinois, Michigan, Texas, Ukraine and the United States were also published."
Search now...

Bringing Clarity and Simplicity – Updates to Ancestry Terms and Privacy Statement:

Ancestry
"Maintaining our customers’ trust is a non-stop, 24/7 job for everyone at Ancestry. That approach is baked into how we build and market our products, how we make decisions as a business and, of course, how we think about, protect and respect the data you share with us. In that spirit, today I am happy to share some news about adjustments to our Terms and Conditions and Privacy Statements, and additional changes to our Privacy Center, that should make understanding these complex legal documents a little easier."
Continue reading...

FamilySearch Free Sign-in Offers Greater Subscriber Experiences and Benefits:

FamilySearch
In case you missed this previous post, beginning on December 13, 2017, patrons visiting FamilySearch.org will see a prompt to register for a free FamilySearch account or sign in to their existing account to continue enjoying all the free expanded benefits FamilySearch has to offer. What this actually means is if an image is available and you want to see or download that image you will need an account and you must be logged-in.
Continue reading...

How Important Is High Resolution For Scanning And Photography?

Genealogy's Star
"Are you tempted to join the megapixel race? Are you concerned about the resolution of your digitization efforts for photos, paper records, and other genealogically important documents? Do you use the megapixel count of a camera or smartphone as a factor in your purchase decisions? These issues and more concern anyone trying to digitize records or take photographs. Genealogists and photographers share some of the same concerns."
Continue reading...

Can’t Find Your Ancestor? Genealogy Experts Suggest These 6 Tips:

Family Tree Magazine
"Got a frustrating ancestry research problem? Follow these six timeless tips from genealogy experts to work through brick walls and build your family tree.
Continue reading...

Big Updates At Ancestry For Canadian And German Vital Records:

Lisa Louise Cooke
"Big records updates at the Genealogy Giant website Ancestry.com! Brand new collections of birth, marriage, death, and census records for Canada were added this week, along with a Remembrance Book for the 100th anniversary of the Halifax explosion. Additionally, new vital records are now available for Germany."
Continue reading...

Running RootsMagic on a Mac with High Sierra:

RootsMagic
"Some users have reported that after they updated their Mac OS to High Sierra, that RootsMagic stopped working and generate a cryptic error message that says something like:
CrossOver is unable to initialize a critical component.
Failed to importc xutils module into Python. See console for errors. The program will now exit.
You may need to reinstall RootsMagic!
Learn How... Video 9.43 minutes

Technology:

What’s the Best Way to Back Up My Computer?

How-to-Geek
"Everyone loses data at some point in their lives. Your computer’s hard drive could fail tomorrow, ransomware could hold your files hostage, or a software bug could delete your important files. If you’re not regularly backing up your computer, you could lose those files forever."
Continue reading...

How to Use All of Windows 10’s Backup and Recovery Tools:

How-to-Geek
"Windows 10 includes several different types of backup and recovery tools. And we’re going to take a look at all of them."
Continue reading...

Education:

How to Get the Most Out of a Trip to Your Ancestral Homeland:

Ancestral Findings...
"Have you ever considered going to your ancestral homeland to continue your family history research? You should. Today, I’ll talk about… why, and how to plan the perfect trip."
Listen HERE...  7.53 minutes

Webinars:

Problems and Pitfalls of a Reasonably Shallow Search:

Legacy Family Tree Webinars
"Through examples the problems with not conducting an exhaustive search will be highlighted. Assumptions, misinterpretations, and not digging deep enough into original records will all be showcased as to how they can mislead research, sometimes for years. Encouraging the audience to follow the principles of a reasonably exhaustive search should give them incentive to make it a part of their usual research habits. They will also learn particular pitfalls to watch for."
Wednesday, December 27, 2017 at 2:00 p.m.
Presenter: Elissa Scalise Powell, CG, CGL
Learn more or Register for this webinar...

The 2018 list of Webinars will be published shortly.

VGS News & Events: 30 July - 5 August 2017

Reminders:

Thursday: August 3, 2017

Eastern European Genealogy SIG Meeting:

1:00 PM in the Daytona Room at the Sea Breeze Recreation Center
Gen News & Announcements:

Our Daily Blog Goes Weekly: Re-posted from yesterday...

The Editor
Recently I conducted a poll to gather information about continuing our blog in the current format on a daily basis. Being an all volunteer organization, it requires a lot of time and research to continue a blog in a daily format. Also our blog was not as popular as we had hoped when it began in January of 2015.
Some survey results...
We had 76 people respond to the survey. Of those 76 responses...
87% said that they have learn great things from the blog and that it should continue.
83% responded that a weekly blog post would work for them.
Therefore, effective tomorrow, Saturday July 29th will be our first weekly post. For those who receive it by email you will continue receiving it in that format. For those who go to our website, you will find it exactly in the same place on our website.
Thank you to all who support the VGS Blog.

This “Genealogy” Site is Openly Sharing Your Personal Details Online: Here’s How to Remove Them:

Family History Daily
Here at Family History Daily we have spent a great deal of time researching free genealogy sites. While large paid websites can offer a wealth of information to family history researchers, there is a growing selection of no-cost genealogy databases available online that provide just as much value. These sites, which are generally made available through the work of dedicated organizations, local governments, and volunteers provide a staggering amount of data that would be nearly impossible to access otherwise.
Continue reading...

History in Living Color:

MyHeritage
A new trend has emerged — people are taking old black and white photos and meticulously adding color to them. In some cases, the colorized photos look so modern, you’d guess that they’re from our times, instead of being decades old.
Continue reading...

New York Online Genealogy Records:

FamilySearch
"A Guide to New York Online Genealogy Records for researching ancestry, family history and genealogy: birth, marriage, death, census, church, military, immigration, and naturalization records. This chart shows links to statewide collections."
Continue reading and search NY Records FREE...

Online Germany Genealogy Records by State:

FamilySearch
"Links to German online genealogy records by state currently available on FamilySearch.org"
Continue reading and search German  Records FREE...

Review: GreetingStory™ Cards from PassItDown™

GenealogyBargain
"Once a card is completed and given back to the family historian, the Pass It Down platform is used to preserve and share the family story. I found the website intuitive and easy-to-use. I had to create an account, agree to a basic Terms and Services, and then I could customize my profile with a photo and bio."
Continue reading...

Creating a Family Health History:

OwnYourHealth
"A family health history is a record of health information, such as illnesses and conditions, present in your family. Usually, your doctor will want to know of any health concerns in your immediate family (birth mother, birth father, full and half siblings) and extended family (grandparents, aunts and uncles), but you should note any condition or illness of any family member if you think it could be helpful for your doctor to get a well-rounded picture of your health."
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Citrus County Genealogical Society August Meeting:

CCGS
The Citrus County Genealogical Society will meet August 8 at 10:00 AM at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 3474 W. Southern St., Lecanto. The topic is “Cemetery Transcriptions and Headstone Cleaning.” The program will be presented by Nigel Rudolph, Public Archaeology Coordinator, Florida Public Archaeology Network, Central Regional Center, USF Department of Anthropology. Guests are welcome to attend, For information go to www.citrusgenealogy.com or call Mary Ann Machonkin at 382-5515

Program Note:

Finding Your Roots with Henry Louis Gates, Jr. returns to PBS with a new season on October 3rd to explore the fascinating family trees of popular figures including Ana Navarro, Bernie Sanders, Garrison Keillor, Mary Steenburgen, Scarlett Johansson, Ted Danson, William H. Macy, and others!

Tech:

RootsMagic Essentials:

RootsMagic
"RootsMagic Essentials is a free genealogy program that contains many core features from the award-winning RootsMagic family tree software. Downloading RootsMagic Essentials is absolutely free and is the easiest way to start tracing your family tree!"
Learn more and/or download the software...

Editor's Note: The full version sync's directly to ancestry.com

"RootsMagic’s TreeShare for Ancestry will let you move data between your RootsMagic files on your computers and your personal Ancestry online trees. You can transfer people, events, notes, source citations, and even pictures between the two systems."

Education:

Why I Love Genealogy (And You Should, Too!)

Ancestral Findings
"Genealogy is the most wonderful of pastimes. I love it, and you should, too. There are endless reasons why. Genealogy is one of the fastest growing hobbies in the western world, as more and more people discover the exhilarating and slightly addictive nature of ancestor hunting. It’s like an ongoing mystery with clues you have to discover and then put together to come to conclusions about your family’s past."
Listen now...  12.22 minutes

Upcoming Webinars:

Tracing Your West Country Ancestors:

Legacy Family Tree Webinars
"Introducing the identity of ‘The West Country’, its geography and history over the centuries, this class guides the family historian through the wealth of historical records available both online and in archives and libraries to add the ‘flesh to the bones’ of the names of ancestors on your family trees, including some fascinating details that can be uncovered about the places they lived, their occupations and the distinctive features, identity and character of the West Country. Case studies of some notable individuals from the counties are provided as well as some records of those individuals who never hit the headlines."
Wednesday, August 2, 2017 at 2:00 p.m.
Presenter: Kirsty Gray
Learn more or Register for this webinar...

Free Family History Library Classes and Webinars for August 2017:

FamilySearch
"The Family History Library in Salt Lake City, Utah, has announced its free family history classes and webinars for August 2017. There are 22 of them. Participants can attend in person or online. Many of the August classes teach how to research records in Great Britain, China, and Prussian Poland, to understand DNA, and to use documents and photos to preserve memories. Some classes are also in Spanish. See the full schedule below. Mark your calendars for events you want to join so you don't forget." This is the only post on these webinars.
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VGS Latest News and Tips: May 22, 2017

Reminders:

Today: May 22, 2017

Technology SIG Meeting:

10:00 AM in the Destin Room at the Sea Breeze Recreation Center
The topics will be "Protecting your Computer' followed by a discussion on where is your "Gold Standard genealogy file."

Gen News:

10 Genealogy Facebook Groups You Need to Join:

My Kith N Kin
"Here is a list of nine top Facebook groups for genealogy and family history and why I love them. [Note: This list is not in any order]"
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A Listing of FREE German Ancestry - Genealogy Resources:

Deutsch Ahnenreihe
"Discover your German family history and start your family tree. Find resources for many regions and access genealogy records including census,  land and  cemetery records. This website is dedicated to making German ancestry research as free as possible."
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The Temples Of England:

Judy G. Russell, The Legal Genealogist  
 “In reviewing documentation on a William Marbury (1524-1581), Anne Hutchinson’s paternal grandfather, he was said to have been admitted to the ‘Middle Temple’ in 1551,” he wrote. “The definition of Middle Temple as contained in Wikipedia does not fully clarify the term for me. Is it simply an English legal society?”
Um… no.
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Tech:

How to Modify Text Size in the Safari Browser"

Lifewire
"How to Modify Text Size in the Safari BrowserHow to Modify Text Size in the Safari Browser"
Continue reading...How to Modify Text Size in the Safari Browser"
Lifewire
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How to Customize Google Calendar’s Notifications on the Web:

How-to-Geek
"Google Calendar is undoubtedly a powerful tool for managing everything from appointments to schedules to reminders (and everything in between). As good as it is by default, there are things you can do to make its notification system even better."
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Education:

5 Substitutions for the 1890 Census:

Ancestral Findings
"Most of the 1890 U.S. Federal Census was destroyed in a fire in the 1930’s. This leaves a large, annoying 20-year gap in census records for genealogists. On today’s episode of the, I’ll give you five substitutions that you can use for the 1890 census."
Listen now... 6.13 minutes

VGS Latest News & Tips: 25 April 2017

Reminders:

Tomorrow: April 26, 2017

Brick Wall SIG Meeting

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

Tomorrow: April 26, 2017

General Monthly Meeting

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

Presentation: Dennis Michael Drummond "So, You Think You Want to Write a Book"

Gen News:

Today Is National DNA Day: 

"National DNA Day is a unique day when students, teachers and the public can learn more about genetics and genomics! The day commemorates the completion of the Human Genome Project in April 2003, and the discovery of DNA's double helix in 1953."
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Tampa Deli Owner, Adopted At Birth, Discovers Five Siblings At Age 53:

Tampa Bay Times
"Jimmy Nichols walked into his new downtown deli and looked through the lunchtime crowd to find his wife Sally behind the counter. She caught his look, flashed a smile, and tears welled in their eyes."
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German DNA Research Project:

LivingDNA
"Living DNA and Germany’s largest genealogy society Verein für Computergenealogie e.V. (CompGen), are working with the world's leading academics, scientists and genealogists and seeking your help."
Continue reading...

Tech:

How to Enable Mac Screen Sharing:

Lifewire
"Screen sharing is the process of allowing users at a remote computer to see what is happening on your Mac's screen. Mac screen sharing also allows you to remotely view and take control of another Mac's screen."
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7 Ways To Free Up Disk Space on Your OS X Mac:

How-to-Geek
"It’s 2017, shouldn’t we stop worrying about disk space? Nope, not at all! A modern MacBook might have a solid-state drive with just 128 GB of space, which means you’ll be seeing the dreaded “Your startup disk is almost full” error sooner rather than later. It’s very important to keep your hard drive nice and clean."
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Education:

3 Ways to Make the Most Out of Your Census Research:

Ancestral Findings
"Have you used the census in your genealogy? Even if you have, go back & look at it again. It has a lot to reveal. In today’s episode, we’ll talk about the three ways to get the most out of it."
Listen now... 6:44 minutes

VGS Reminders: 10 - 14 April 2017

Reminders:

Monday: April 10, 2017

Family Tree Maker Users SIG Meeting

1:00 PM in the Patriot Room at the Mulberry Grove Recreation Center

Tuesday: April 11, 2017

Genealogy Writers SIG Meeting

2:30 PM in the Churchill Downs Room in the Pimlico Recreation Center

Wednesday: April 12, 2017

Irish Genealogy SIG Meeting

10:00 AM in the Osceola Room at the Chula Vista Recreation Center

Thursday: April 13, 2017

German Genealogy SIG Meeting

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

Presenter: Dale Heins "Genealogical Data Entry Standards and Citing Your Sources"

Friday: April 14, 2017

Genetic Genealogy SIG Meeting

10:00 AM in the Ricardo Montalban Room at La Hacienda Regional Recreation Center

Presentation: "DNA Show & Tell"

Note meeting location change for this month...

Gen News:

How to Decode a WWII US Army Serial Number:

Amy Johnson Crow
"The U.S. Army began issuing serial numbers to help avoid mixing the records of people with the same name. (A genealogist’s dream come true!)  When we dig a little deeper into the number itself, we can learn a bit about the person."
Continue reading...

20 Tips For Deciphering Old German Handwriting:

SK Translations
"Researching your German ancestors? If so, I bet you have come across that spidery German handwriting, so beautiful yet elusive to our 21st-century eyes. But it doesn’t have to be so difficult."
Continue reading...

Recently Added and Updated Collections on Ancestry:

Ancestry
12 New Collections and 16 Collections Updated during February and March 2017.
Continue reading...
Editor's Note: This listed almost changes by the day.

Tech:

How to Add Extra Storage to Your Phone or Tablet with a Mobile Drive:

How-to-Geek
"You’ve been taking photos and videos, downloading documents, and installing apps like there’s no tomorrow. All of a sudden you realize you’re running out of room on your phone. What do you do?"
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Disable WPAD in Windows to Stay Safe on Public Wi-Fi Networks:

How-to-Geek
"Web Proxy Auto-Discovery (WPAD) gives organizations a way to automatically configure a proxy server on your system. Windows enables this setting by default. Here’s why that’s a problem."
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Education:

Genealogical Adventures in Town Halls:

Ancestral Findings
"If you're not using town halls in your genealogical research, you are missing out on some excellent and hard to find information. Here's why you should use them and what you may find there. "
Lesson now... 4.54 minutes

Webinars:

Your Whiteboard in the Cloud: Trello for Genealogists:

Legacy Family Tree
"Learn how Trello—a free project management tool—can help you streamline your genealogy projects, tackle your "to-do" lists, and improve your workflow."
Wednesday: April 12, 2017 at 8:00 p.m.
Lisa Also: Presenter
Learn more and/or register

Complete Photo Restoration in 4 Easy Steps:

Legacy Family Tree
"Learn how to scan, restore and print a photo like the pros from beginning to end in four basic steps. Audience members are encouraged to send photos from which Eric will choose one to use during this demonstration. Includes scanning and restoration."
Friday: April 14, 2017 at 2:00 p.m.
Eric Basir: Presenter
Learn more and/or register

VGS Reminders: 13 - 17 February 2017

January 2017 General Meeting - New Member Registration
Thanks to our Volunteers we can't do it without you!

Reminders:

Monday: February 13, 2017

Family Tree Maker Uses SIG Meeting

1:00 PM in the Patriot Room at the Mulberry Grove Recreation Center

Tuesday: February 14, 2017

Genealogy Writers SIG Meeting

2:30 PM in the Churchill Downs Room in the Pimlico Recreation Center
Topic: "How to Interview Your Relatives" with guest speaker Bob Boerst, VGS Newsletter Editor and former Human Resources executive.

Wednesday: February 15, 2017

Mid-Atlantic States SIG Meeting

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

Wednesday: February 15, 2017

New to Genealogy SIG Meeting

2:30 PM in the Chateaugay Room at the Chatham Recreation Center
Topic: "Getting Started on Your Genealogy" 

Thursday: February 16, 2017

New England Genealogy SIG Meeting

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

Friday: February 17, 2017

Scandinavian Genealogy SIG Meeting

10:00 AM in the Clearwater Room Sea Breeze Recreation Center
Topic: "Arkivverket - The Norwegian Online Digital Archive."

Gen News:

Black History Month 2017 – Access Black History Records:

Fold3
In recognition of Black History Month, Fold3 want to remind you to access all publications in its Black History Collection.
Whether you're searching for your ancestors or looking for primary documents to help with other research, the Black History collection gives you access to more than a million documents, records, and photos that help to capture the African-American experience during five eras of American history: Slavery, The Civil War, Reconstruction & Jim Crow Laws, World War I & II, and the Civil Rights Movement
All the titles in our Black History collection contain valuable insight into the history of African-Americans in the United States, but titles that are especially rich in information include:
• Danish West Indies – Slavery and Emancipation 
• Suppression of Slave Trade and Colonization (1854-72)
• Amistad – Federal and Supreme Court records 
• American Colonization Society
• Board of Commissioners – Emancipation of Slaves in DC 
• Court Slave Records for DC
• South Carolina Estate Inventories and Bills of Sale, 1732-1872 
• "Colored Troops" 
• And more!

Understanding What Is Meant By 2nd Cousin Once Removed And Similar!

Family Tree Tips
"A lot of people and myself included when they start researching don’t know the actual meaning of relationships like “Second Cousin Once Removed” or “Third Cousin Twice Removed” and only know the simple stuff like great grandfather, great great grandmother etc."
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What Does Your German Surname Say About You?

Ancestry
"German-Americans are the largest single ethnic group in the U.S. If you are one of 46 million Americans with German ancestry, your surname could yield some interesting clues to your family history."
Continue reading...

Tech:

How to Get Notifications for Only the Emails You Care About in Gmail:

How-to-Geek
"Email is a powerful tool that we all use, but it can also be exceedingly annoying to get notifications for every single message that hits your inbox. With Gmail, however, there are a variety of ways to keep things silent, yet still immediately know about the messages that are important to you."
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The Best Cheaper Alternatives to Photoshop:

How-to-Geek
"Adobe Photoshop is the professional image editor. It’s name is now a verb for image editing (which is something that Adobe absolutely hates). Photoshop though, isn’t the only editor in town. Over the last few years, new image editing apps have come along that are almost as good as Photoshop, for a fraction of the price. Let’s have a look at some of them."
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Education:
Webinars:
Legacy Family Tree

Be Your Own Digital Archivist: Preserve Your Research
Cyndi Ingle
Wednesday, Feb 15, 2017
Register HERE...

Weaving DNA Test Results into a Proof Argument:
Karen Stanbary, CG
Tuesday, Feb 21, 2017
Register HERE...

Finding Missing Persons With DNA Testing:
Diahan Southard
Wednesday, Feb 22, 2017
Register HERE...