WESTERN MICHIGAN GENEALOGICAL SOCIETY ONLINE!

MEMBERSHIP MEETINGS

We meet at 1:30PM in the Ryerson Auditorium of the Grand Rapids Public Library on the first Saturday of the month, September through June. Should the first Saturday fall on a holiday weekend, another day will be scheduled. The June meeting is often times changed to the 2nd Saturday. Unless a special program, each meeting has a one-hour lecture on a genealogy related subject by a knowledgeable speaker. Books and charts are sold at our meetings and a "Hospitality Hour" follows. All meetings are free and open to the public. 

REMINDER: parking is free at the library on Saturdays. Just make sure you get the ticket stamped at either the Library's information desk or the genealogy desk.

MONTHLY MEETINGS

March 6th

Catholic Cemeteries in GR

Rose Mary Schuessler, Family Service Director

Could you have relatives who are buried in a Catholic Cemetery? Rose Mary Schuessler, Family Services Director, has personal experience with finding people in local and out of state Catholic cemeteries. She will share her personal experiences with us and present tips on finding our ancestors in Catholic cemeteries.

Mini-Class on Family Tree Maker at 12:15 p.m. to 1:15 p.m.

April 3rd

Going Off on a Tangent

A demonstration of the rewards gleaned from trivial pursuits presented by Gail M. Snow. Read about her book project from the Grand Rapids Press.

The presentation will display:

• Discoveries made while doing research for the book, “Remarkable Ramona Park”
• Resources used for research, particularly old newspapers
• Techniques for locating and compiling information
• The intersection of genealogical and historical research

As of late, it is my project of writing a book about Reeds Lake and Ramona Park that defines me. While I do have another life, the book consumes most of my thoughts if not my time. I would have to call myself an accidental author. My background is anything but that of a writer. I am, rather, a mathematician by nature, teacher by profession, information systems programmer by necessity and a prisoner to genealogy by lack of resistance.

For fifteen years of my life I lived in the Flint area and Warren Ohio, and for the rest of my 67 years, I’ve been in Grand Rapids. I grew up near the corner of Hall and Giddings and attended the old Ottawa Hills school. A year at Kalamazoo College and three years at Michigan State University prepared me for my long 5-year career as a High School teacher of Math and German in Grand Blanc.

I retired from that when my two sons were born, and remained at home with them until I was divorced and moved back to GR. The next 25 years were spent at Rapistan where I met my husband Chuck Snow and from whence I retired in 2004. We now live out in Ada Township amongst deer and raccoons.
I have been involved in genealogical research since 1997 and am essentially self-taught. I am an internet junky and can easily lose myself completely in ferreting out the answer to someone’s sticky family mystery.

May 1st

Mothers, Daughters, Wives and Sisters

Speaker: Shirley M. De Boer CG

You don’t have to go through a brick wall; perhaps you can go over it, around it or under it! This presentation will include varied techniques used in female research and essential organization that produces results. Case studies of given names, maiden names and married names will be discussed and illustrated using both traditional and Internet methodology.

June 12th

To be announced.

September 11th

To be announced.

October 2nd

To be announced.

November 6th

To be announced.

December 4th

To be announced.

Introduction to Genealogy

BEGINNER CLASSES!!!!!

Just beginning your family history or returning after a break from searching? We have just the classes for you!

Saturday, April 10, 2010
Grand Rapids Public Library, VanderVeen Room on the 4th Floor

Our next Beginner’s Class will teach you where to look after family records to complete your generation charts and family group sheets. It will also include a brief discussion on citing online sources.

RESEARCH TRIPS

Allen County Public Library

We are planning another trip to Fort Wayne in April 21 & 22.
Details and Registration Form

 

FAMILY HISTORY WRITERS WORKSHOPS

The Dominican Center on the corner of East Fulton and Lakeside Drive is the location for 2008 WMGS Writers Group workshops. We normally meet 1:30 (new time) to 4:45 p.m. the third Tuesday of each month.

We help and support each other's desire to write about our families with a kind eye and lots of humor. Everyone is welcome

It is requested to call Sister Michael Ellen Carling at 616-643-0206 if you wish to attend. Please park in the Dominican Center parking lot which is off Lakeside Drive. Go to the main entrance under the large portico and then go up the steps. The receptionist will direct you to the room.

Everyone is welcome to bring their latest writing project rather than the suggested topic for the meeting. Having a topic helps some of us jog our memories and prods us into making sure we actually write between meetings.

The group provides constructive feedback and everyone benefits.

For more details, look here...

MORE EDUCATION OPPORTUNITIES

OTHER ACTIVITIES AT MONTHLY MEETINGS

Refreshments:   Many WMGS members are great cooks!  They share homemade cookies and other goodies with us during our social time!  Social time for gene-people is as must!  Who else wants to listen to how you found G-G-G Grandpa except another WMGS member?   If you can bring cookies, contact Sue Carpenter, our Hospitality Chairperson.

WMGS Book Sales:  WMGS stocks quite a large number of new  books and materials for your inspection.  We feel that most people want to browse through genealogy books before they purchase. Valuable genealogy materials are  difficult to find in the normal bookstores.  Got ideas?  Want to help?  Let us know!   Watch for our Christmas Special in December!