This and That, some time-limied

Here are some odds and ends coming across my desk.  The ones with time restrictions are first.

For DNA beginners, thisTuesday:  It’s a drive but I guarantee you will get a better intro than I have time to give you.  And you can combine with a trip to the Outlet Mall. The meeting will take place at 1 pm on Tuesday, January 9^th at the Stillaguamish Valley Genealogical Society Library, 6111 188^th Pl. NE, Arlington, WA. The presentation is free and open to the public and our general meeting will follow. We hope you will join us.

This month's presentation is entitled, "I've Had My DNA Tested, Now What?" and will be given by Mary Kathryn Kozy.  The lecture will briefly review what DNA testing is and what it can—and can’t—tell you. More specifically, we’ll be discussing autosomal DNA in this lecture and the tools available online from the testing companies, as well as third-party entities, to help you interpret your results. Mary has been researching her family history for over 35 years and in many localities. She has served in multiple positions in societies on the local & state level and currently serves on the board of the Jewish Genealogical Society of WA State & as an LDS Family History missionary. She holds bachelor’s degrees from UW in both Zoology and Information Technology & Systems and has completed three certificate programs with the National Institute for Genealogical Studies. She has also completed the ProGen program with an eye toward certification as a professional genealogist.

For inquiring minds and technically challenged:  This drive is only to Burlington.

Skagit Valley Genealogical Society, Burlington

http://skagitvalleygenealogy.org/calendars/ 

 Sat., Jan. 13 Oh, Where, Oh, Where, Has My Genealogy Data Gone? – George Ridgeway SVGS webmaster, George Ridgeway will share best practices for storing and organizing your valuable research data so you can easy retrieve it and share it with others.

From our own Sylvia:

I just opened GEDMATCH and got this message. You may want to pass it on to all. Sylvia

Dec. 24 ALERT! A company named Helix is attempting to sell an app called DNApassport and implying they are associated with GEDmatch. We have no knowledge of this company or their app. 

From Genie David R:

Last November, I ordered for a third party, an autosomal test from FTdna. Just received notification that processing has been delayed a couple of weeks. Clearly, they are having volume problems. I would not be surprised if the same happens to Ancestry, given the huge number of testers that signed on over Thanksgiving.

And I will close with some words from the wise, author unknown:

“Bite off more than you can chew, then chew it.

    Plan for more than you can do, then do it

Hitch your wagon to a star.

  Keep your seat and there you are.”