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Monday, April 28
Technology SIG Meeting (Technology SIG)
10:00 am to 11:50 am SeaBreeze Recreation Center
Coordinators: Pamela Selinski & Vicci Turner
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Monday, April 28
FTM SIG Meeting (Family Tree Maker SIG)
1:00 pm to 3:00 pm ZOOM MEETING
REGULAR MONTHLY MEETING
SIG Coordinators: Karen Feeney & Bob Boerst
(Meeting link will be emailed to SIG members approximately 3-5 days prior to meeting date.)
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Thursday, May 1
Eastern European Genealogy SIG Meeting (Eastern European SIG)
1:00 pm to 2:50 pm Daytona Beach Room @ SeaBreeze Recreation Center
Coordinators: Carol Myers & Marie Musialek
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Friday, May 2
British SIG Monthly Meeting (British SIG)
9:30 am to 11:20 am Lake Miona Recreation Center, 1526 Buena Vista Blvd.
Topic: TBD
Coordinators: Pat Adams & Ruth Mason
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Monday, May 5
Jewish Genealogy SIG Meeting (Jewish Genealogy SIG)
10:00 am to 12:00 pm Eisenhower Recreation Center, 3560 Buena Vista Blvd.
Prior to the meeting date, SIG members will receive an email about the upcoming meeting.
Coordinators: Phil Goldsmith & Jerry Schwartz
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Monday, May 5
RootsMagic Special Interest Group Meeting (Roots Magic SIG)
2:30 pm to 4:20 pm SeaBreeze Recreation Center – Daytona Room, and on Zoom
Reminder: Bring your laptops
Coordinator: George Zitterell
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Monday, May 5
Bringing Your Ancestors to Life on WikiTree (VGS Live Webinar)
7:00 pm to 8:00 pm LIVE WEBINAR
Guest Speaker: Betsy Ko
Topic Info: Founded in 2008, WikiTree is a free single family tree focused on accuracy and collaboration. Its 1.1 million members have created upwards of 40 million profiles. Chances are that one of your ancestors is already on WikiTree! This presentation will start with an overview of WikiTree, its mission and our Honor Code that guides us. We'll cover the basics of how to create a profile and then go deeper into the many tools and apps that are available to members. Finally, we'll take a look at what makes the WikiTree community special, including projects, free space pages, challenges, and more.
Participants who would like to create a profile during this demonstration should sign-up for a WikiTree account and upgrade at least to the Family Member level (WikiTree is entirely free). Be sure to have the person's name, birth and death dates, birth and death locations, and one source. (For the source, it is recommended that you find the individual in a census on FamilySearch and then copy the citation straight from there.)
Presenter Info: Betsy Ko is a Chicago-based genealogist who has extensive research experience in the mid-Atlantic states, the Midwest, and England. Her ongoing genealogy education has included coursework through Boston University's online Genealogy Studies Program. What began as an engrossing hobby in 2015 has since grown into a professional endeavor with private client projects and a team position with WikiTree (a collaborative global family tree). Upon joining WikiTree's community in 2019, Betsy established herself as a community leader by hosting monthly Q&A sssions for new members, co-leading the Events Committee, co-hosting the Saturday Roundup Livecast, and driving other community engagement initiatives. She joined WikiTree's official team in August of 2024. In her new role, Betsy supports WikiTree project leaders in keeping the tree growing with high levels of accuracy and harmonious collaboration. When not on WikiTree, Betsy plays flute in the Northshore Concert Band and is an active music teacher.
Click HERE to register in advance to attend this webinar:
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.
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Wednesday, May 7
French Canadian Genealogy SIG Meeting (French-Canadian SIG)
9:00 am to 10:50 am La Hacienda Recreation Center
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Thursday, May 8
German Genealogy SIG Meeting (German SIG)
9:30 am to 11:50 am In-person @ Lake Miona Rec Center & via Zoom
Coordinators: Dianne Fedderson & Steven Buhrow
An email containing the Zoom link & info will be emailed to SIG members prior to the meeting date.
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Friday, May 9
Genetic Discoveries SIG Meeting (Genetic Discoveries SIG)
10:00 am to 11:50 am Rohan Recreation Center, Colony Cottage Room and via ZOOM
Coordinators: Sherry Bean, Bill Canavan & Marcella Zorn
Topic: Using Notes and Emojis to track DNA Testers and the Tester matches in BanyanDNA
An email containing the Zoom link & info will be emailed to SIG members prior to the meeting date.
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Monday, May 12
Italian Special Interest Group Meeting (Italian SIG)
1:00 pm to 2:20 pm Atlanta Room @ Savannah Recreation Center
Coordinators: Laura Wright & Paul Coia
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Tuesday, May 13
Preserving Family History SIG Meeting (Preserving Family History SIG)
2:30 pm to 4:00 pm Destin Room @ SeaBreeze Recreation Center
Topic: TBA
Presenter: TBA
Coordinators: Sharol Lewin & Nancy Schultz
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Wednesday, May 14
Irish Genealogy SIG Meeting (Irish SIG)
10:00 am to 11:50 am Osceola Room @ Chula Vista Recreation Center
Topic: TBA
Coordinators: Tom Voyles & Kendra Marasco
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Wednesday, May 14
ABCs of Genealogy SIG Meeting (ABCs of Genealogy SIG)
2:30 pm to 4:20 pm Neptune Beach Room @ SeaBreeze Recreation Center
The ABCs of Genealogy SIG is for VGS members with any level of experience in genealogical research. Sessions are geared to be easy to understand to get you started and keep you going as you discover more about your ancestors.
Topic: TBA
Coordinators: Carol LaSalle & Cheryl Richardson
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Thursday, May 15
Northeastern Genealogy SIG Meeting (Northeastern Genealogy SIG)
12:00 pm to 1:30 pm SeaBreeze Recreation Center, New Smyrna Room
Topic: TBA
Coordinator: Joanne Schmidt
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Friday, May 16
Scandinavian Genealogy SIG Meeting (Scandinavian SIG)
11:00 am to 12:30 pm SeaBreeze Recreation Center, New Smyrna Beach Room
Topic: TBA
Coordinators: Per Andersson & Kris Petersen-Gauthier
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Monday, May 19
Best Practices SIG Meeting (Best Practices SIG)
1:00 pm to 3:00 pm Online Zoom Meeting
Coordinators: Annette Burke-Lyttle & Pat Adams
Topic: Vital Records, Census Records, and Substitutes
The SIG accepts new members throughout the year, but those who join after January 2023 should be prepared to catch up on the chapters that have already been studied. Visit our SIG webpage for more details.
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Tuesday, May 20
Let's Talk Genealogy: Members Only Event (VGS Special Events)
10:00 am ZOOM MEETING
We are looking for all levels of VGS members. Come and share with us about your latest research successes or about a research challenge you're facing. Perhaps you have general genealogy questions including places to research or how others organize their information. Share your knowledge and ideas to help keep us all moving forward.
Register to attend this Zoom session – Click HERE
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.
** If you are not a VGS member but would like to be, click HERE.
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Tuesday, May 27
FTM SIG Meeting (Family Tree Maker SIG)
1:00 pm to 3:00 pm ZOOM MEETING
REGULAR MONTHLY MEETING
SIG Coordinators: Karen Feeney & Bob Boerst
(Meeting link will be emailed to SIG members approximately 3-5 days prior to meeting date.)
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Tuesday, May 27
Midwest SIG Meeting (Midwest SIG)
2:00 pm to 3:50 pm SeaBreeze Recreation Center, Clearwater Room
Topic: Member Help Session. Let's help each other with our research roadblocks!
Coordinators: Lynn Hall & Karen Pickelsimer
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Wednesday, May 28
Brick Wall Solutions SIG Meeting (Brick Wall SIG)
8:30 am to 9:30 am In-person @ Savannah Rec Center
Topic: TBD
Coordinators: Nancy Oster Heydt, Mark Mullinax, & Beverly Hulett
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Wednesday, May 28
VGS General Monthly Meeting (VGS Monthly Meeting)
10:00 am Savannah Recreation Center or Online via Zoom
Guest Speaker: Pat Adams
Topic Info: From Cradle to Grave: Using Newspapers to Enhance Your Ancestor's Story
Genealogists traditionally turn to vital records and censuses when telling their ancestors' stories. However, using newspapers allows us to provide a more complete story of their lives. Newspapers offer a look at historical, social, and economic times that affected our families and enhance vital records by filling in the gaps. Probing the life of Ebba Berglund will show the benefits of using newspapers in genealogical research.
Speaker's Bio: Pat Adams has been a resident of The Villages since 2004 and a member of the VGS since 2007. She served 6 years as president of the VGS and 5 years as vice-president and program chair. She is also co-coordinator of the British Special Interest Group. Pat has attended the Salt Lake Institute of Genealogy (SLIG), the Genealogical Research Institute of Pittsburgh (GRIP), the Institute of Genealogy and Historical Research (IGHR) in Georgia and various national and state conferences. In addition to the VGS, Pat is also a member of several local, state and national genealogical societies. Researching her Scottish, Irish, and Swedish heritage has been an ongoing project for over 20 years. Through Ancestry she has discovered cousin connections on both her maternal and paternal lines which have led to breakthroughs as well as new discoveries to pursue. Her greatest breakthrough was discovering the gravesite of her long-lost maternal grandfather in 2016 and an actual photograph of him in 2023. Pat continues to work to seek out connections and uncover more of her ancestral story.
There are two ways to attend: in-person at the Savannah Recreation Center or online via Zoom. If you want to attend in person, simply come to the Savannah Recreation Center at 10:00 a.m. on May 28th. If you want to attend online via Zoom, you will need to register in advance by clicking this LINK.
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.
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Monday, June 2
Jewish Genealogy SIG Meeting (Jewish Genealogy SIG)
10:00 am to 12:00 pm Eisenhower Recreation Center, 3560 Buena Vista Blvd.
Prior to the meeting date, SIG members will receive an email about the upcoming meeting.
Coordinators: Phil Goldsmith & Jerry Schwartz
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Thursday, June 5
Eastern European Genealogy SIG Meeting (Eastern European SIG)
1:00 pm to 2:50 pm Daytona Beach Room @ SeaBreeze Recreation Center
Coordinators: Carol Myers & Marie Musialek
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Thursday, June 12
German Genealogy SIG Meeting (German SIG)
9:30 am to 11:50 am In-person @ Lake Miona Rec Center & via Zoom
Coordinators: Dianne Fedderson & Steven Buhrow
An email containing the Zoom link & info will be emailed to SIG members prior to the meeting date.
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Friday, June 13
Genetic Discoveries SIG Meeting (Genetic Discoveries SIG)
10:00 am to 11:50 am Rohan Recreation Center, Colony Cottage Room and via ZOOM
Coordinators: Sherry Bean, Bill Canavan & Marcella Zorn
Topic: Using Ancestry Pro tools and BanyanDNA to verify your Family Tree
An email containing the Zoom link & info will be emailed to SIG members prior to the meeting date.
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Monday, June 16
Best Practices SIG Meeting (Best Practices SIG)
1:00 pm to 3:00 pm Online Zoom Meeting
Coordinators: Annette Burke-Lyttle & Pat Adams
Topic: Federal and County Land Records
The SIG accepts new members throughout the year, but those who join after January 2023 should be prepared to catch up on the chapters that have already been studied. Visit our SIG webpage for more details.
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Tuesday, June 17
Let's Talk Genealogy: Members Only Event (VGS Special Events)
10:00 am ZOOM MEETING
We are looking for all levels of VGS members. Come and share with us about your latest research successes or about a research challenge you're facing. Perhaps you have general genealogy questions including places to research or how others organize their information. Share your knowledge and ideas to help keep us all moving forward.
Register to attend this Zoom session – Click HERE
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.
** If you are not a VGS member but would like to be, click HERE.
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Wednesday, June 25
VGS General Monthly Meeting (VGS Monthly Meeting)
10:00 am Online via Zoom
Guest Speaker: Daniel Horowitz
Topic Info: What's New at MyHeritage
MyHeritage is at the forefront of innovation in genealogy and is constantly introducing new and exciting features to help users take their research to the next level. In this session, Daniel will give a detailed walkthrough of the latest and greatest from MyHeritage and show you how to make the most of these features. On the way, he'll give you a peek behind the scenes at how they were developed.
Speaker's Bio: Dedicated to Genealogy since 1986, Daniel was the teacher and the study guide editor of the family history project "Searching for My Roots" in Venezuela for 15 years. He is involved in several crowdsource digitization and transcription projects, and holds a board-level position at The Israel Genealogy Research Association (IGRA). Since 2006 Daniel has been working at MyHeritage liaising with genealogy societies, bloggers, and media, as well as lecturing, and attending conferences around the world..
To attend this ZOOM only meeting you will need to register in advance by clicking this LINK.
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.
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Thursday, July 10
German Genealogy SIG Meeting (German SIG)
9:30 am to 11:50 am In-person @ Lake Miona Rec Center & via Zoom
Coordinators: Dianne Fedderson & Steven Buhrow
An email containing the Zoom link & info will be emailed to SIG members prior to the meeting date.
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Friday, July 11
Genetic Discoveries SIG Meeting (Genetic Discoveries SIG)
10:00 am to 11:50 am Rohan Recreation Center, Colony Cottage Room and via ZOOM
Coordinators: Sherry Bean, Bill Canavan & Marcella Zorn
Topic: Creating an Ancestral Map of Your Chromosomes with DNA Painter
An email containing the Zoom link & info will be emailed to SIG members prior to the meeting date.
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Monday, July 21
Best Practices SIG Meeting (Best Practices SIG)
1:00 pm to 3:00 pm Online Zoom Meeting
Coordinators: Annette Burke-Lyttle & Pat Adams
Topic: Church and Cemetery Records
The SIG accepts new members throughout the year, but those who join after January 2023 should be prepared to catch up on the chapters that have already been studied. Visit our SIG webpage for more details.
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Wednesday, July 23
VGS General Monthly Meeting (VGS Monthly Meeting)
10:00 am Online via Zoom only
Guest Speaker: David Ryan
Topic: Why Can't I Find My Irish Ancestors?
Irish family history research has a well-deserved reputation for being difficult. Often it can seem nearly impossible. Where do you go to research once you have exhausted the typical sources? It is very easy to overlook the fact that there is so much material that isn't online. From land records, probate indexes and many other collections, there are a lot of overlooked resources that might help with your research. This presentation will look at some of the most common barriers we encounter when researching our Irish ancestors and offer some potential solutions.
Speaker's Bio:
David Ryan is a genealogist, speaker and oral historian based in Cork city, Ireland. He has worked as a professional genealogist for the past decade. David recently completed a Masters in Public History and Cultural Heritage at the University of Limerick. He has also served on the Executive Board of the Association of Professional Genealogists since 2022.
This is a ZOOM meeting only: to attend online via Zoom, you will need to register in advance by clicking this LINK.
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.
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