Genealogy Study Group

07/02/2025

Hello everyone!

I am sending the shoutout for this weekend’s GSG Meeting a day early. I know several of you have plans for the 4th of July, so I wanted to get this out to you before you start your grill and lighting sparklers.

Saturday - 5 July 2025
Herrick Library North Branch
11:00am - 1:00pm

Feel free to bring your beverage and snacks!

The community room is air conditioned so you may want a lightweight wrap to keep you warm.

We look forward to seeing you on Saturday! Enjoy the fireworks, family and friends!

The PDF is 6 pages long, so bring it with you so you can take notes during the presentation!

Happy Hunting!
Megan

05/04/2025

Hello and Happy Tiptoeing to you all!

Due to the Tulip Time Festival - our May meeting has been cancelled.
The group voted unanimously to not to try to navigate traveling to any meeting with the tourists and the parade events taking place that day.

Our next meeting will be on June 7th IN PERSON.
Herrick Northside Branch
11:00am

Enjoy the festivities and we will see you soon!

Megan

04/10/2025

Hello and Happy SPRING to everyone!

The last time we met we were dealing with cold temps and snow / rain and gloomy skies. This time we are dealing with cold temps, and snow / rain and gloomy skies. But rest assured TULIP TIME is 3 weeks away!!!

So while we will continue to stay home and stay warm, you can join us on Saturday, 12 April 2025 for the April GSG Meeting!

Time: 11:00am – 1:00pm
Place: ZOOM

The waiting room will open about 5-10 minutes before class begins, and I will be sending out the ZOOM link shortly.

Now that the grass is turning green and we are all anxious to get outside and walk around – we will be discussing GOING GRAVIN’ – in other words, visiting cemeteries and burial grounds in search of our ancestors or those final resting places of the rich and famous!

Have any of you made some special trips or discovered a burial of a well known person? Think about it… and we will share this on Saturday!

There is a 3 page handout that will be emailed separately. It can be copied for your folder of handouts, or just pulled up on your screen to read and review. You will want to have a notebook to add to the list of items in the handout. Each person’s kit will be a little different, so take the notes that would work best for you on your upcoming headstone hunt!

Looking forward to seeing everyone, and since it is going to be slightly gloomy out, get comfy and grab your beverage and snack of choice!

See you soon,
Megan

03/07/2025

Take advantage of the RootsTech special offer!

In celebration of RootsTech, ISBGFH is offering a special on an annual membership--new members only. Check out this item in our store:
https://isbgfh.com/product/individual-membership-rootstech-special/

01/09/2025

JANURARY 2025 GSG SHOUTOUT

Hello Everyone!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

We’ve got quite a bit of information in this shoutout, so please don’t miss it!

GSG 2025 starts this SATURDAY!!!
Time: 11:00am - 1:00pm
Place: ZOOM

The waiting room will open about 5-10 minutes before the class begins… so don’t panic!
I will be sending out the ZOOM link shortly, so keep an eye out for it!

As we are starting a new year and new calendar, I must also update many items too!

1. Shout out Emails
If you no longer with to received information about the GSG group, please let me know and I will remove you from the mailing list. If you wish to rejoin, just let me know and I can add you back on, otherwise I will keep you on the monthly mailing list.

2. Membership Data List
My membership data list consists of:
First Name, Last Name, Phone, Email, Street address, City/State/Zip, and Birthdate

If you have a “winter” address - please let me know what that is too.
I do not share this information with anyone, so know this info is for my files.
IF you have a home and cell number, feel free to include both or just one… your choice.

3. Surname List
A few years ago we started a Surname list. This is a place that you can find / search for surnames of others in the group and hope that there is some “relative” relationships. In the next few days, I will be emailing everyone their list - please review and update! You are more than welcome to “add” to the list, and please add to the end of the list. I will then have “my digital dude” alphabetize the names and we can post them on the GSG website. Nobody will know who posted the names. If you wish to contact (for example I would have HEYL) in my list…. get ahold of me, and I will contact the person who has HEYL and ask to connect the two parties together. The fiddly bits will take a bit of time, but once it is up and running, it will be easy peasy.

4. Presentations
If anyone has any ideas for future presentations or would like to do a presentation for GSG, please let me know.

5. Library of Michigan Card (LoM)
If you do not have a Library of Michigan Card yet, Please take a few moments and get one online. You will not receive a physical card, but an email from them with your “card number” on it. KEEP THAT EMAIL and log down your card number someplace where you can find it. Having this card gives you access to the databases and items that the LoM offer, for FREE! When you visit the LoM in Lansing, you will need your card number to check out items (if you choose to), and get extra access to items throughout the facility.

There have been some rumors that this opportunity to get your card online is not going to be available for very long, so don’t miss this opportunity. (Just think of all the digitized newspapers they have that you can have access to without a subscription to a Newspaper Site online!)

If you visit the LoM, you will need your drivers license or ID and they can get you a physical library card.
Follow this link and fill out the form below.

We look forward to seeing everyone on Saturday! The temps are low but the excitement is high!
See you then!
Megan and Jim

12/13/2024

Reminder: There will be NO GSG MEETING on 14 December 2024. We do not meet in December. Wishing everyone a very happy holiday season and we will see you on Zoom on 11 January 2025!
Best Wishes!
Megan and Jim

11/07/2024

NOVEMBER SHOUTOUT

Hello Everyone!
Here is your reminder that the GSG meeting is this Saturday!

Saturday – 9 November 2024
Time: 11:00am – 1:00pm Eastern
Place: Zoom from your room

This Saturday we have a presentation by Elizabeth Shown Mills: In a Rut? 7 ways to jumpstart your research.

There is a handout for this presentation = 5 pages total.

The theme this year is what is available at various facilities and online that will help you in your research. As we head into the winter season, you all might need to look over the work you have done and see what might help you have more successful searches. Take a look at things differently, and put some new techniques to use while it is freezing cold outside and you can research from a warm inside place!

So grab your beverage and breakfast (or lunch) of choice and join us!!

Grab your notepad and print out the PDFs!

I will be sending out the Zoom link shortly.

There is no meeting in December, our next meeting will be January 11, 2025!

See you Saturday!
Megan (and Jim)

10/08/2024

OCTOBER MEETING NOTICE
Due to unforeseen circumstances, I will not be able to teach this month from Salt Lake City. Please check your inbox for the email. I look forward to zooming with everyone in November. See you all soon and thanks for understanding.

07/12/2024

Hello Everyone!

Here is your reminder that the GSG meeting is this Saturday!

Saturday – 13 July 2024

Time: 11:00am – 1:00pm

Place:

Herrick District Library North Branch - Holland, MI

155 Riley St, Holland, MI 49424

Library phone: 616-738-4360

This Saturday we have a presentation by our very own Michele Hoogewind.

Her topic: The Family History Guide

There is 2 handouts for this presentation = 4 pages total, I will attach it to the email.

The theme this year is what is available at various facilities and online that will help you in your research. If you haven’t heard of or used Family History Guide, you are likely missing so much information on your ancestors!

So grab your beverage and breakfast (or lunch) of choice and join us in person!!

Grab your notepad and print out the PDFs!

See you Saturday!

Megan (and Jim)

06/07/2024

Hello Everyone!

Here is your reminder that the GSG meeting is this Saturday!

Saturday – 8 June 2024

Time: 11:00am – 1:00pm

Place:

Herrick District Library North Branch - Holland, MI

155 Riley St, Holland, MI 49424

Library phone: 616-738-4360

This Saturday we have a presentation by Lisa Louise Cooke.

Her topic: How to Navigate the FamilySearch Wiki

There is a 5 page handout for this presentation, I will attach it to the email.

The theme this year is what is available at various facilities and online that will help you in your research. If you haven’t heard of or used FamilySearch Wiki, you are likely missing so much information on your ancestors, you’re not going to know how you didn’t use this before now! This should be your FIRST STOP in researching your ancestors!

So grab your beverage and breakfast (or lunch) of choice and join us in person!!

Grab your notepad and print out the PDF!

See you tomorrow!

Megan (and Jim)

05/17/2024

Hello Everyone!
Here is your reminder that the GSG meeting is this Saturday!

Saturday - 18 May 2024
Time: 11:00am - 1:00pm
Place: Zoom from anywhere!

This Saturday we have a presentation by Sunny Jane Morton.
Her topic: PERSI 2.000: The New Periodical Source Index for Everyone

There is a 3 page handout for this presentation, I will attach it to the email.

This is one presentation you will not want to miss. The theme this year is what is available at various facilities and online that will help you in your research. If you haven't heard of or used PERSI, you are likely missing so much information on your ancestors, you're not going to know how you didn't use this before now!

So grab your beverage and breakfast of choice and join us a few minutes before 11:00am on Saturday!

Watch for the Zoom link to join us shortly.
Grab your notepad and print out the PDF!

See you soon!
Megan (and Jim)

04/11/2024

Hello Everyone!

Here is your reminder that the GSG meeting is this Saturday!

Saturday - 13 April 2024
Time: 11:00am - 1:00pm
Place: Zoom from anywhere!

This Saturday we have a special guest speaker... Allison Singleton!
Her topic: Effective Use of the Allen County Public Library Genealogy Center

There is a 6 page handout for this presentation. Watch for the email with the PDF link.

This is one presentation you will not want to miss. Since Fort Wayne Indiana from Holland Michigan is just a 3 hour drive, it is the 2nd largest genealogical library in the country! Allison will be explaining it all to you so you can start making your plans to take a trip there!

After Allison gives her presentation, there will be a Q&A session with her. Then following that will be our updated opening slideshow announcements.

So grab your beverage and breakfast of choice and join us a few minutes before 11:00am on Saturday!

Watch for the Zoom link to join us shortly.
Grab your notepad and print out the PDF!

See you soon!
Megan (and Jim)