January 31st, 2010
Friday Evening – Presentation and Dessert
The Friday Night event this year will be a presentation of “Michelle Obama’s Roots” by Megan Smolenyak Smolenyak.
Megan shares how and why she researched the First Lady’s ancestry and what she discovered along the way. The talk highlights Mrs. Obama’s multi-cultural, seriously Southern (11 states), and Great Migration heritage, including the story of Dolphus T. Shields and his mother, Melvina McGruder, that was featured on the front page of the New York Times.
Saturday – 4 Sessions and Lunch
Saturday will be 4 sessions with our Speaker.
We’re looking for input from prospective attendees about what topics they’d like to hear on Saturday. Please fill out the poll so we can gauge the interest in Megan’s topics. The list of Megan’s topics can be seen here.
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We will take the popularity of different topics as a guide when planning the 4 sessions.
Attendees will be able to choose to attend either Friday evening, or Saturday, or a “Combo Meal” of both at a reduced price.
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December 6th, 2009
Yesterday’s Western Michigan Genealogical Society Board meeting accepted my proposal that the speaker at the 2010 Got Ancestors?! seminar be Megan Smolenyak Smolenyak.
Mark your calendars for Friday evening 5 November 2010 and Saturday 6 November 2010.
We’re looking forward to hosting Megan on her first speaking engagement in Michigan. A list of her talks can be found here http://www.honoringourancestors.com/programs.html
This event is still in very early planning stages, details will be posted here as they become available.
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November 19th, 2009
The Genealogy Guys have published the Podcast recorded at the Got Ancestors?! Seminar.
Check it out here http://GenealogyGuys.com/
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November 8th, 2009
We had a GREAT selection of Door Prizes available and the winners were selected by computer drawing during the lunch break. Winners got to choose from all of the remaining prizes at the time of their drawing. The Winners in order, and the prize they chose is listed below:
- Charlyn Bailey - Megan Smolenyak Smolenyak and Ann Turner. Trace Your Roots with DNA – Using Genetic Tests to Explore Your Family Tree. USA: Rodale, 2004. Donated by WMGS.
- Lori Fox - Mills, Shown Elizabeth. Evidence Explained – Citing History Sources from Artifacts to Cyberspace. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing, 2007. Donated by WMGS.
- Joanne Harvey – Tote bag donated by Shirley DeBoer
- Janet McFarland Idema – a 1 year World Deluxe Membership to Ancestry.com. Donated by Ancestry.com
- John Nelson - Loretto Dennis Szucs and Matthew Wright. Finding Answers in US Census Records. Provo: ancestrypublishing, 2001. Donated by Ancestry.com
- Susan Rabick - A 1 year membership in footnote.com. “History for the People —Discover. Discuss. Connect. Share.” Donated by footnote.com
- Alan Landheer - A $25 Gift Certificate to the Western Michigan Genealogical Society Sales Table. Donated by WMGS
- Laura Schmidt - Family Tree Maker 2010, including a free 2 week trial to Ancestry.com. Donated by Ancestry.com
- Nancy Keith – Gift Certificate to Michiana History Publications. Donated by Michiana History Publications
- David Lee Smith - Myra Vanderpool Gormley, CG and Tana Pedersen Lord. The Official Guide to rootsweb.com Provo: ancestrypublishing, 2007. Donated by Ancestry.com
- Nancy Sautebein – a package of novelties from Fun Stuff for Genealogists. Donated by FunStuffForGenealogists.com.
- Linda Hagen – Roberta H Schirado. Images of America Rockford. Acadia Publishing. Donated by Bobbi Schirado.
- Dian Thomas – Gift Certificate to Michiana History Publications. Donated by Michiana History Publications
- Bobbe Horton - a $30 voucher off the cost of any DNA test performed by FamilyTreeDNA. Donated by FamilyTreeDNA.com
- Megan Heyl -a package of novelties from Fun Stuff for Genealogists. Donated by FunStuffForGenealogists.com.
- Gayla Endahl - a package of novelties from Fun Stuff for Genealogists. Donated by FunStuffForGenealogists.com.
- Karen Blumenshire- a package of novelties from Fun Stuff for Genealogists. Donated by FunStuffForGenealogists.com.
- Rebecca Smith- a package of novelties from Fun Stuff for Genealogists. Donated by FunStuffForGenealogists.com.
Linda Lowery from Hamilton, Ontario, Canada won the “Long Distance Award” – a $20 Speedway Gift Card.
Congratulations to all the Winners.
Many Thanks to all of the donors!!!!!
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November 7th, 2009
Some pictures taken by Roger Moffat during the Saturday “Got Ancestors – Guydes to Genealogical Research” Seminar at the Prince Conference Center at Calvin College. A great seminar venue.
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November 6th, 2009
A few pictures from a very successful and enjoyable banquet and awards ceremony held this evening.
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November 5th, 2009
Just a quick reminder on times…
The Banquet starts at 6:30 PM on Friday night (6 November) with punch and nuts. The dining will start at 7:00 PM.
Registration for the Seminar starts at 8:45 AM on Saturday (& November), with the first sessions starting at 9:30 AM.
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November 4th, 2009
We’re now very close to the weekend – the celebration of WMGS’ 55th Birthday.
It’s not too late yet to register for the Seminar on Saturday, and the Anniversary Banquet and Awards Ceremony on Friday night.
If you want to come to the Banquet we must know by Thursday afternoon, so please use the “Register Online” form if you’re going to come on Friday.
For Saturday there’s no cut-off time we must adhere to – we can handle a limited number of walk-ins on the day even and still be able to provide lunch.
If you do register on Thursday or Friday, it’s now too late to mail a cheque, so please either pay by PayPal, or bring your cheque to the Seminar. If you’re going to bring your cheque on Saturday, please let me know by eMail that you will be doing this.
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October 27th, 2009
The UPS delivery today turned up another package from Ancestry.com.
So in addition to the 1 year World Deluxe Membership to Ancestry.com we also now have
- Family Tree Maker 2010, including a free 2 week trial to Ancestry.com
- a copy of The Official Guide to rootsweb.com by Myra Vanderpool Gormley, CG and Tana Pedersen Lord published 2007
- a copy of Finding Answers in US Census Records by Loretto Dennis Szucs and Matthew Wright.
THANK YOU Ancestry.com!!!
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October 26th, 2009
We’re happy to be having 2 vendors from South Bend, Indiana with us :
In addition Wanda, Lisa and Jan of the Western Michigan Genealogical Society Sales Table will be present with their wares.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints will have a table, with computer showing FamilySearch Indexing, and maybe New Family Search
Grand Rapids Public Library will have a table and display of the range of historical items contained in the Grand Rapids Public Library’s collection.
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