Welcome to the Minnesota Genealogical Society’s Events Blog. We’ll be using our blog to keep you up to date on what’s going on at MGS .
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Early Bird Registration Opens for Central and Eastern European Genealogy Conference
Early Bird registration is now open for the Central and Eastern European Genealogy Conference April 27-28 at Inver Hills Community College in Inver Grove Heights, Minnesota. The conference will take place in IHCC’s beautiful Fine Arts Building.
The fun begins with a dessert social and lecture from featured speaker John Philip Colletta, Ph.D, at 6 p.m. Friday. Colletta will speak on ”Discovering the REAL Stories of Your Immigrant Ancestors” at 7:30. In addition to his expertise in immigration and naturalization records, John Colletta is noted for his ability to teach us how to find and portray the telling details that bring our ancestors to life. “Discovering the REAL Stories” shows how to do that with three case studies: a German family, a French-German family from Lorraine, and an Irish family. John says, “Every immigrant’s story is unique. To understand the drama of your own ancestor’s story–including his or her personality and character and motives–you must examine 1) leaving the homeland; 2) the voyage; 3) arriving in America; 4) impact of the immigrant on American society; and 5) impact of American society on the immigrant.” Cost for the Friday evening program is $20.
Saturday brings a full day of conference activities, including two more lectures from John Colletta (” U.S. Passenger Arrival Records, 1820-1930s: Sources and Strategies for Challenging Cases” and “The County Courthouse: Your ‘Trunk in the Attic.’”); fifteen breakout sessions focusing on German, Czech and Slovak, Polish, Romanian, and general topics; a lunchtime Ask the Genealogists Q&A session from the Northland Chapter of the Association of Professional Genealogists; a vendor/exhibit hall; and a Silent Auction. And don’t forget the door prizes! Cost for Saturday’s conference, including lunch, is $50 through April 14.
Combination registration for Friday evening and Saturday is available for the special Early Bird price of only $55 through March 17.
Click here to register now.
Conference sponsors are the Czechoslovak Genealogical Society International, the Germanic Genealogy Society, the Minnesota Genealogical Society, the Polish Genealogical Society of Minnesota, the Pommern Regional Group of Minnesota, and the Romanian Genealogy Society.
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Central and Eastern European Genealogy Conference April 27 and 28
MGS is working with the Czechoslovak Genealogical Society International, the Germanic Genealogy Society, the Polish Genealogical Society of Minnesota, the Pommern Regional Group of Minnesota, and the Romanian Genealogy Society to bring you a regional genealogy conference focusing on central and eastern Europe.
The conference will take place Friday April 27 and Saturday April 28 at Inver Hills Community College in Inver Grove Heights, Minnesota and will bring you three lectures from family history expert John Philip Colletta, author of They Came in Ships, Finding Italian Roots, and Only a Few Bones. In addition to Colletta’s lectures, the conference offers five tracks of presentations focusing on German/Pommern, Czech and Slovak, Polish, and Romanian research, as well as researching maps and gazetteers and using DNA to solve genealogical problems.
The Northland Chapter of the Association of Professional Genealogists will conduct a lunchtime Ask the Genealogists session, and we will have a full complement of vendors and exhibitors. There will be door prizes and a Silent Auction too! Mark your calendars now, and watch for Early Bird registration opening soon.
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Library Open House Saturday February 18
Spread the word! MGS is holding open house in the library Saturday February 18. That means admission is FREE to non-members.
If you have neighbors, coworkers, family members, or friends who have been “meaning to start that family history project,” this is their chance to check out our 30,000 volume collection of books, periodicals, and microfilm at no cost. It’s a great chance for guests to meet others who share their interest in family history and learn about the benefits of MGS membership.
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Getting Ready for North Star 2012
MGS is gearing up for the 5th annual North Star Genealogy Conference October 5-6. Upper Midwest genealogists will gather at Colonial Church in Edina, Minnesota, to hear D. Joshua Taylor and twelve to sixteen breakout speakers. The conference focus is “New Approaches and Old Sources.”
Known to many genealogists from his appearances with Sarah Jessica Parker and Ashley Judd on NBC’s popular Who Do You Think You Are series, Josh is the new Business Development Manager–North America for brightsolid, the company behind FindMyPast and Scotland’s People. As a young teen, Josh discovered his passion for genealogical and historical research. Not yet 30, today he is a nationally known researcher, speaker, and author who promotes and explores the convergence of history and genealogy. He is known for his expertise in colonial and early American genealogy, researcg technology, and genealogical society development and management. Before joining brightsolid, Josh was Director of Education and Programs at the New England Historic Genealogical Society, the nation’s oldest genealogical organization.
North Star Conference activities begin the morning of Friday October 5 with a workshop conducted by Josh Taylor “Developing a Genealogical Toolkit” for experienced researchers.The conference itself opens Friday afternoon with Josh presenting his first plenary session “Online Sources for Colonial America,” followed by two rounds of breakout sessions. After the last conference session, the Northland Chapter of the Association of Professional Genealogists will moderate an Ask the Genealogists session, followed by MGS’ annual reception and awards banquet.
Saturday the conference continues with two more sessions from Josh, “Bridging the Gap: 1780-1830″ and “Engaging the Next Generation,” plus more rounds of breakouts.
Conference plans include book sales, vendors and exhibitors, and a silent auction. Keep watching this blog and www.mngs.org for details.
MGS is now accepting proposals for North Star Conference breakout sessions. If you are interested in being a presenter, check out the Call for Papers at http://www.mngs.org/calendar.htm#northstar. Proposals are due March 1.
Are you artistic? Do you have artistic friends or family members? MGS wants your help in creating a logo for the North Star conference. Logo designs should harmonize with the new MGS logo adapted last year. Submit your North Star Logo Competition entry in GIF or TIF format to NorthStarLogo@gmail.com by March 31. If your design is selected, you will receive free admission to both days of the conference!
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Genealogy Topics at MHS February 18–Tom Rice on Naturalization
Most of our ancestors came from somewhere else and applied for U.S. citizenship–somewhere, somehow. Naturalization records are wonderful sources of genealogical information, but they can be hard to find.
Join board-certified genealogist Tom Rice at the Minnesota History Center Saturday February 18 for a look at “Naturalization–the Process, the Records, the Law.” Learn the provisions of the U.S. laws in force when your ancestor became naturalized, the steps your ancestors followed to gain citizenship, and the best strategies for finding their naturalization records.
Program starts at 10 a.m. and concludes at 12:30. Register at http://shop.mnhs.org/category.cfm?Category=114
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Got Photos? Attend MGS’ First Photography for Genealogists Class Sunday February 5
Do you take photos of gravestones? Ancestral homes? Documents? Reunion groups? Are your photos as good as you would like?
If you answered yes to the first four questions and no to the fifth–or if you’re a complete newcomer to taking genealogical photos, join ace photographers Bergetta F. Monroe and Tom Peters Sunday afternoon from 1:30 to 3:30 at MGS. Bergetta and Tom invite you to bring your questions, your old photos, and your camera. You can even bring your camera manual!
Don’t miss this class. Cost: $25 for MGS members/$30 for non-members. Click here to register.
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Party with MGS Friday February 3–Celebrate Who Do You Think You Are Season Three
Join fellow MGS members Friday evening at MGS for the premiere of Who Do You Think You Are season three! The festivities start at 6 with a potluck. We’ll watch the show together from 7 to 8. Members of the Northland Chapter, Association of Professional Genealogists will facilitate a discussion of what we saw after the show.
Episode 1 features Martin Sheen. NBC’s advance publicity says, “The award-winning actor discovers a family history filled with social activism as he journeys through Ireland and Spain.” You can watch a trailer for the episode here.
Bring a dish to share and a friend or family member. This event is free.
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Genealogy Computer Lab Cancelled
The Genealogy Computer Lab scheduled for January 28 at MGS has been cancelled. Watch this blog and the Classes page at www.mngs.org for MGS’ winter/spring class schedules.
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Genealogy Computer Lab Coming January 28
Join instructor Cathi Weber Saturday January 28 from 10 to 12 for a Genealogy Computer Lab. Bring your laptop, hook up to the MGS Library and Research Center’s Wifi, and let Cathi help with your computer research conundrums.
What can you find on Ancestry Library Edition? What is Cyndi’s List? Bring your genealogy questions. Practice exploring Internet resources on your own computer with Cathi at your side as you follow the clues in your own family tree.
Cost: $20 for MGS members/$25 for non-members. Register on the Classes and Events tab.
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Save the Dates–Spring Conference April 27 and 28 with John Philip Colletta!
The Minnesota Genealogical Society, in partnership with
The Czechoslovak Genealogical Society International
The Germanic Genealogy Society
The Polish Genealogical Society of Minnesota
The Pommern Regional Group of Minnesota
The Romanian Genealogical Society,
proudly announces the Central and Eastern European Genealogy Conference. The conference will be held in Inver Hills Community College’s sparkling Fine Arts Center in Inver Grove Heights, just off 52 south of 494. Plenty of parking, easy to get to, lots of room.
The featured speaker is John Philip Colletta, author of They Came in Ships: a Guide to Finding Your Immigrant Ancestor’s Arrival Record and Only a Few Bones: a True Account of the Rolling Fork Tragedy and Its Aftermath. John will deliver a lecture Friday April 27 at our reception, and two plenary lectures Saturday April 28.
The conference will include five breakout tracks featuring topics in German, Pomeranian, Czechoslovak, Polish, and Romanian research; DNA; and more! Don’t forget to visit our exhibit hall and sign up for door prizes! Watch for program details coming soon. Registration opens in February.
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