DNA Education Exploding

At our June meeting one of our discussion topics was “something you have done that really made a difference in your research”. 

Time and again members said “DNA”.  It certainly has made a huge difference by helping prove our existing research and connecting us with living relatives.  It has invaded genealogy methodology and become an accepted element in proving our work.

DNA education has exploded along with testing.  Here are three conferences coming up, all with top national speakers.

1.      At only $20 (early bird) for a full day in an online conference is the Family History Fanatics.

Family History Fanatics will be producing "A Summer of DNA" eConference on August 4th.  Speakers and topics will include:

Diahan Southard - Your Tree is Full, There is Still Room for DNA
Sam Williams - Ancestry DNA Tools
Michelle Leonard - Adoption and Unknown Parentage
Kitty Cooper - Segment Triangulation

The online sessions will begin at 9am Central Time on August 4th. A final panel discussion will end the day.  All registrants will be able to view the conference for 30 days.  Register and get your questions answered by some of the most popular genetic genealogy educators! Presentations are live, not pre-recorded, and you can ask questions throughout.

Price is only $19.99 until July 21st and then it will be $24.99.  Also, we will be having DNA kits and other stuff as door prizes that will be given away.  You don't have to be present to win, but you do have to register.

More information is available on the website: http://www.familyhistoryfanatics.com/summerdna

2.      At $45 prepaid Sylvia is going to the “land conference” and is looking for others to go along.

Unlock the Past in Seattle, the “land conference”
Seattle Public Library,
1000 4th Ave, Seattle, WA
Thursday, September 6, 2018

Have you heard of Unlock the Past Cruises, genealogy on the high seas? Their 14th conference cruise will be to Alaska, Sept 7-14, and sail out of Seattle. They have put together an all day, companion “land conference” for September 6. It will be held at the downtown Seattle Public Library and it is open to all – whether on the cruise, or not. Blaine Bettinger, Maurice Gleeson, Cyndi Ingle, and Wayne Shepheard will be the presenters.  You choose between the DNA stream or the Irish/General stream.

If you are interested, see their website :  https://www.utpinseattle.com/

3.     Lastly, CeCe Moore will give three talks at the Northwest Genealogy Conference on August 16 in Arlington. I wrote about this in my June 16 post at https://ferndalegenies.blogspot.com/ and all the details are here http://www.nwgc.org.  A single day registration is $75 in advance and $95 at the door.

Last Monday was a great day but Tuesday was not the best.

ATTENTION:  July 16 meeting is NOT CANCELLED; it’s HAPPENING.

Last Monday was our June Genies meeting and it was filled with great conversation. Peggy admitted that she checks for new DNA matches every morning. Wow! I check every three months, at the most. Cheryl told us that she makes family trees constantly: for family, for friends, for neighbors, and for strangers. Sometimes she reads an obituary and builds a tree. She’s amazing!

For some of us Monday involved sitting in traffic, missing the meeting, and being disappointed.  A produce truck turned over at the Slater Road exit and highway traffic was backed up for eight hours.  What a tangle that caused!  We missed you, Suzie, but your message got through.

As I said, Monday was great but Tuesday was not the best. In the morning I fell in the garden and hurt my wrist.  All day we went to doctors and got x-rays. The bad news is 4 to 6 weeks with a cast on my arm.  It could have been worse. So now I am happy to have my Dragon dictation software. I bet I will become an expert.

Meetings coming up: July 16: In my absence Cheryl has offered to host our meeting. Come along and help her set up. There will be no prepared talk but lots of conversation. Cheryl says she’s built over 400 trees and we know that she specializes in DNA and unknown parentage.  Another “don’t miss” gathering.

Our Genies meeting on August 20 follows right on the heels of the Northwest Genealogy Conference on August 15 – 18.  We will be reporting back on the most interesting and helpful things we learned.

As we talked last Monday, Linda B. pointed out that webinars can be a good substitute for conferences. There are so many new sources for webinars. You can put together your own conference. Linda B. and I just joined the Virtual Genealogical Society. The membership is $20 a year and they offer 3 webinars each month. Linda watched one about planning a research trip and I have one coming up on future trends in genealogy. On the Genies blog there is a tab at the top Favorite Webinars which is filled with ideas.

Two Ancestry DNA tips resurfaced at this meeting.  First, if you are contacting a DNA match, don’t use the green CONTACT button on the individual match page.  Click on the person’s username and go to their profile page.  Here you will find out more about them.  Use the orange CONTACT button.  The green button does not alert your match by email.  Use the orange, not the green.  Second tip:  On your DNA match list there is a blue dot to the left of the matches that you have not looked at.  There is also a filter at the top to display new matches only.  These will help you check new matches like Peggy.

More posts are in the queue and coming soon.  Guest bloggers are welcome to share family stories or tips.

Meanwhile enjoy your summer and happy hunting!

DNA sales, Genies Meeting Monday and NWGC conference

Fathers Day DNA sales!  https://dnabargains.com/dna-day-sales/ is always the best comprehensive list of sales.  Many sales will be ending May 17 on Fathers Day.  If you have had your eye on a DNA test for yourself or someone close to you, don’t delay!

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Genies meeting coming up Monday 6/18 and I can hardly wait to see you.  Doors open at 12:30 and the meeting starts at 1.  Rick is moving and you know what that means.  He’ll have raffle prizes.  Hint:  They are all alike and something we all use.  And fantastic giveaways too.  I hope I haven’t exaggerated.  If you have some giveaways, bring them along too.  If you have questions or challenges, this is the perfect time to pick our brains. 

The August 20 Genies Meeting will be right after we get back from the Northwest Genealogical Conference in Arlington, WA.  We’ll be sharing content from the most interesting sessions.

NWGC August 15-18.  How did we get so lucky!  No airports, no crowds with three days of speakers.  Each day a nationally known genealogist anchors the day with three talks. 

On Thursday it's CeCe Moore, one of the most active DNA researchers.  She’s really making the rounds talking about genetic genealogy crime-solving and the ethical debates underway.  She’s also the banquet speaker on Friday night.

On Friday at the conference is headliner Peggy Lauritzen, Miss Peggy to you Southern ladies.  I had the pleasure of listening to an hour-long interview with her this week over at Genealogy Guys where George and Drew do genealogy news podcasts and Drew does extended interviews with genealogists of note.  Miss Peggy is here:  http://genealogyguys.com/genealogy-connection-044-peggy-clemens-lauritzen-speaker

Don’t forget that the Wednesday afternoon beginners session is free to all.  A fresh new national speaker will be presenting.   A list of classes and registration is here:  http://www.nwgc.org  and we can answer any questions at our Genies meeting. 

You may think I’m going overboard about this conference but it is one-of-a-kind in its closeness to us and the expert education it offers.  This is how I learned all the different aspects of our genealogy hobby.   I keep coming back and this is my 5^th year.

See you Monday at the Ferndale Library, Judith

WGS meeting reminder: It's Monday 6/11

Whatcom Genealogical Society regular monthly meeting this Monday.  We’ve been talking about immigrants and here’s a timely professional speaker.  Hope to see you there!

Monday, June 11 Monthly Meeting– “Becoming America: A Study of Immigration” with Janice Lovelace. What conditions existed for your ancestors to leave their home countries and make a journey to a new place? What conditions existed to encourage settlement in the Americas, especially the United States?

Always 2^nd Monday at 2:00 pm at the Bellingham Elks Lodge, 710 Samish Way, Bellingham, WA. Park around back and enter on the lower level (unless you have a big truck or an RV).  Visitors welcome!  Contact:  360-733-8300