Membership Renewal Time is Here!

Spring has come and it is time to remind everyone that MoCoGenSo memberships will expire soon, and it is time to renew. The dues will remain the same at $20.00 for individuals and $25.00 for families (add $7.50 for paper copy).

An important way to learn more about your ancestors and their lives is to join a genealogy society that focuses on the area in which your ancestors lived. Genealogy societies conduct research and preserve information about a specific area, and most publish some sort of newsletter, journal, or other periodical. The articles offer insight into the area and the people, and can provide help in conducting your research in an area. There are genealogy societies at the national, state, county, parish, province, and other levels. Annual membership fees are reasonable and the benefits are considerable.

The Monterey County Genealogy Society is one of these organizations right here in your own back yard. It serves its members in many ways. The board of directors is made up of members just like you.

Remember our society is only as strong as our membership, and those who get involved.

OUR MEMBERSHIP YEAR RUNS FROM APRIL 1 TO MARCH 31 OF THE FOLLOWING YEAR. For renewing members, you can renew using the membership form in your recently received newsletter. New or renewing members can download and print a copy of the Membership Application by clicking here. There will always be copies of this form at our monthly meetings.

Join me by staying with MoCoGenSo and getting the E-Newsletter.

Thank you for being a supporter!

Monthly Meeting – March 5, 2020 – “Beginning Genealogy” by Shelley McFadden

Genealogy is a curiosity for most, a hobby for many and an obsession for some. Some people have very specific reasons for tracing their family tree, others just jump into family history research without giving it much thought. Knowing why people research their ancestors can be a source of inspiration & support for genealogists. This can be particularly important when the inevitable roadblocks & brick walls become a factor. Some of the reasons people research their family tree are the following: Validate Family Stories; Famous People; Historical Event; Trace Medical Conditions; Trace a Family Inheritance; Trace Land Ownership; Trace a Family Portrait; Find Birth Parents; Proof of Paternity; Religious Tenet; Community History; Historic Studies; Heritage Societies; Preserve a Close Relative’s Legacy; Preserving Family Traditions; Preserving Family Culture; Resolving Family Trees in Bibles; Understanding Family Letters/Diaries; Understand a Namesake; Settle Ownership of a Heirloom; Reconnect with Family; Family Legacy. Genealogy is a fascinating & compelling activity that demands the same kind of persistence & deductive reasoning as detective work. Tracing ancestors is really about solving a series of mysteries. Except in this case, the mystery is you.

Shelley McFadden holds a Bachelor in Fine Arts from the University of Hawaii and is a retired RN from CHOMP. She has worked for over 40 years on her family genealogy. Her focus Pennsylvania, Maryland, Delaware, North and South Carolina, New York, Ohio & New England. She is serving as President for Monterey County Genealogy Society & is currently serving as 1st Vice President- Programs Chair. She is a member of the DAR Commodore Sloat Chapter, & Associate member of the Aloha Chapter. A Charter member of the Colonial Dames in Hawaii. She specializes in Newspaper Research.

Doors open at 6:15 pm, the meeting starts at 7:00 pm. We’ll see you at the Family History Center, 1024 Noche Buena, Seaside, CA., left rear of building.

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” The future’s already here – it’s just not very evenly distributed.” – William Gibson

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Monthly Calendar – March 2020

FaceBook

The Monterey County Genealogy Society now has a seat at the Facebook table!  New postings here (including this one) will magically appear in our Facebook page.  The purpose of this media hookup is to connect to folks who only use Facebook and don’t use email much.

Anyone with a Facebook account can see our page by searching for “Monterey County Genealogy Society” or “mocogenso”.

If you see us now in Facebook, great. You should not ignore this website though.  We have static pages here that contain valuable information (links, meeting handouts and schedule, hints, etc) that never appear in the posts.

Thanks to Jackie Allison for all her work in setting up the Facebook system. And thanks to Theresa Henderson for volunteering to support the site in the future.  I prefer to stay grounded here in the blog-o-sphere.

Now you know why the previous post appeared twice, it was a test! 🙂

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“The future’s already here — it’s just not very evenly distributed.” – William Gibson

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RootsTech 2020

RootsTech 2020 is ready to start!

The conference will start Wednesday, running Feb. 26 to Feb. 29 in Salt Lake City, Utah, and promises to be bigger and better than ever!

RootsTech organizers have posted information on how to view some sessions free (called live streaming) at www.rootstech.org/salt-lake/live-stream-schedule for those of us unable to attend.  (Remember that times shown are Mountain Time Zone.)

They will also record some classes, for viewing later. But those 30 classes are pay-for-view this year.

There will be something for everyone!

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”If you save a tree in the forest, but don’t send out a press release about it, did you save it at all?” – Hadley Freeman

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New Basic Genealogy Support Group Starting Up

Come join us, and learn to be a better family genealogist. Bring your questions or problems about your family tree, specific software or websites. We will solve it together.

Some people have very specific reasons for tracing their family tree. Others jump into family history research without giving it much thought, some want to include their family & children in the process. Knowing why people research their ancestors can be a source of inspiration and support for genealogists. This can be particularly important when the inevitable roadblocks and brick walls become a factor. What motivates the broader genealogy community is also helpful in understanding the future direction of ancestral research.

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“Success is where preparation met opportunity.” – Neil Armstrong

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DNA Discusssions – Feb 5, 2020

23andMe CEO Anne Wojcicki (pronounced “Woh-JIS-key”) announced last week that the company is laying off 14% of its staff amid an industry-wide decline in sales of consumer DNA tests that has driven several companies in the industry toward other endeavors.

23andMe, like FTDNA, do not charge an annual “maintenance” fee. Ancestry and MyHeritage do charge big annuals fees. Given that the Pentagon has come out against at-home DNA testing (could it be that people in high places have something to hide?) and given that ethnicity reports haven’t been all that accurate, what does the future hold for those of us who have already tested? Tune in next week for the rest of the story. 🙂

Meanwhile, our very own DNA Discussion group had already decided to concentrate on 23andMe during the next session. Join us Wednesday, February 5th as Terry Jackson shares some of his experiences at 23andMe.

If you have tested with 23andMe or are considering it, we meet at 12 noon at the FHC in the Library. We would like to hear from you, too.

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” The Internet is making smart people smarter and dumb people dumber.” – Kevin Drum

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