Archive for the ‘2009’ Category

Podcast Published

Thursday, November 19th, 2009

The Genealogy Guys have published the Podcast recorded at the Got Ancestors?! Seminar.

Check it out here http://GenealogyGuys.com/

2009 Door Prize Winners

Sunday, 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:

  1. 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.
  2. Lori Fox – Mills, Shown Elizabeth. Evidence Explained – Citing History Sources from Artifacts to Cyberspace. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing, 2007. Donated by WMGS.
  3. Joanne Harvey – Tote bag donated by Shirley DeBoer
  4. Janet McFarland Idema – a 1 year World Deluxe Membership to Ancestry.com. Donated by Ancestry.com
  5. John Nelson – Loretto Dennis Szucs and Matthew Wright. Finding Answers in US Census Records. Provo: ancestrypublishing, 2001. Donated by Ancestry.com
  6. Susan Rabick – A 1 year membership in footnote.com. “History for the People —Discover. Discuss. Connect. Share.” Donated by footnote.com
  7. Alan Landheer – A $25 Gift Certificate to the Western Michigan Genealogical Society Sales Table. Donated by WMGS
  8. Laura Schmidt – Family Tree Maker 2010, including a free 2 week trial to Ancestry.com. Donated by Ancestry.com
  9. Nancy Keith – Gift Certificate to Michiana History Publications. Donated by Michiana History Publications
  10. David Lee Smith – Myra Vanderpool Gormley, CG and Tana Pedersen Lord. The Official Guide to rootsweb.com Provo: ancestrypublishing, 2007. Donated by Ancestry.com
  11. Nancy Sautebein – a package of novelties from Fun Stuff for Genealogists. Donated by FunStuffForGenealogists.com.
  12. Linda Hagen – Roberta H Schirado. Images of America Rockford. Acadia Publishing. Donated by Bobbi Schirado.
  13. Dian Thomas – Gift Certificate to Michiana History Publications. Donated by Michiana History Publications
  14. Bobbe Horton – a $30 voucher off the cost of any DNA test performed by FamilyTreeDNA. Donated by FamilyTreeDNA.com
  15. Megan Heyl -a package of novelties from Fun Stuff for Genealogists. Donated by FunStuffForGenealogists.com.
  16. Gayla Endahl – a package of novelties from Fun Stuff for Genealogists. Donated by FunStuffForGenealogists.com.
  17. Karen Blumenshire- a package of novelties from Fun Stuff for Genealogists. Donated by FunStuffForGenealogists.com.
  18. 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!!!!!

Saturday Seminar

Saturday, 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.

Friday Night Banquet

Friday, November 6th, 2009

A few pictures from a very successful and enjoyable banquet and awards ceremony held this evening.

Note the Times…

Thursday, 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.

It’s Nearly Time…

Wednesday, 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.

More Door Prizes

Tuesday, 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!!!

Vendors

Monday, 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.

Door Prizes Update

Monday, October 26th, 2009

Added more Door Prizes to the list today:

  • a copy of Evidence Explained – Citing History Sources from Artifacts to Cyberspace by Elizabeth Shown Mills – provided by Western Michigan Genealogical Society
  • a copy of Trace Your Roots with DNA – Using Genetic Tests to Explore Your Family Tree. Megan Smolenyak Smolenyak and Ann Turner – provided by Western Michigan Genealogical Society
  • a $25 Gift Certificate to be used at the Western Michigan Genealogical Society Sales Table – provided by the WMGS Sales Table
  • Door prizes from Fun Stuff for Genealogists – provided by Bev of  Fun Stuff for Genealogists
  • A Door Prize from Michiana History Publications – provided by John of  Michiana History Publications

You won’t win if you’re not there, so if you haven’t already registered, increase your odds dramatically by registering for the Seminar today.

Door Prizes

Sunday, October 25th, 2009

An update to the list of Door Prizes that some lucky attendees at the Seminar will win…

We have

This list will be updated as more items are finalised.

THANK YOU to the above companies for their generosity in making these Door Prizes availalbe.