2020 Dynamic Changes

I have pivoted in very positive ways. I am much more focused on my personal research. My attendance at ten local special interest groups allows me to spend more time with genealogy friends. Anything free is my first option for webinars. I am learning to reach out to find facilities that have someone who can do onsite research. My membership in local societies has greatly paid off. Sometimes I have to rethink how I can resolve questions when other facilities are closed. Who knew 2020 would bring such dynamic changes. Even my medical concerns are mostly handled by phone or online and I then I have more time for genealogy!

PowerPoint Presentations and Webinars

In 2002, right after graduating from BYU, I presented my first genealogy class on how to do Cemetery Research at our local Family History Center. Since that time my list of classes has grown to twenty, with presentations to about twenty four groups. For some groups I presented numerous times in the past eleven years and to a few only once. Usually the number of classes is one to two at a time, but there were a couple of all day seminars of three or four classes.  Most of the groups are here in Oregon, but some classes were in Washington and at BYU in Utah.

Online Webinar Presenters

After posting the article on the upcoming 2013 webinars, I thought it would be interesting to note who the presenters were for the past several years and upcoming year combined, as posted on the websites of the top three organizations. For the three combined organizations, Illinois State Genealogical Society (ISGS), Legacy Family Tree (LFT), and Southern California Genealogy Society (SCGS), there were a total of eighty-two speakers. SCGS has forty-four speakers from 2012-2013, with most speaking one time. Legacy Family Tree has forty-one speakers from 2010-2013, with many speaking multiple times. ISGS has 22 speakers from 2012-2013, with all speaking one time.

Webinars for 2013 A Great Educational Opportunity

Webinars are one of the best educational investments for genealogists, as most of them cost nothing to attend. For the 2013 calendar there are now over thirty four available for registration. They average three per month and there are certainly more to come.

The two hosting groups that have posted the upcoming webinars are Southern California Genealogical Society and Illinois Genealogical Society. For both of these groups if you miss the webinar you must be a member of their society to access the archived webinars. The annual membership is quite reasonable and offers additional benefits. One of my other favorite groups is the Legacy Family Tree group and their 2013 schedule is to be posted soon. With this group you may often view the webinar for a short time after it is presented, but to receive the accompanying handouts one must purchase the CD of that webinar.

SCGS Jamboree in Oregon 2012, My Notes

Last week Barry Elwell sent out an email notice about the webinar classes that were being made available by the Southern California Genealogical Society during the Jamboree on Saturday and Sunday, June 9 & 10. Using the link he provided I quickly signed up for all ten classes. When signing up I had no idea if it would be possible for me to view all of them. Then informing my family about attending genealogy classes online for the weekend I hoped they would understand my not being available during those time periods.