November Potpourri

I’m just back from a cool and foggy trip to Oregon.  Just like here, right?  No special seminars through the holidays but lots of people buying DNA kits and testing their relatives at holiday dinners. Our Genie meetings continue straight through Christmas but some others take a month or two off.

In my last post Cheryl and I offered a DNA work group on Friday, November 9.  I hope I didn’t scare you away.  We still have openings and would like to know if you want to come. 

Whatcom Genealogical Society has a unique topic on Monday, November 12.  Guests

Elizabeth Joffrion from WWU Center for Pacific Northwest Studies and Jannette Gomes from the Washington State Archives will give a presentation on what is available for genealogists at their facilities.  The meeting is at 2:00 at the Elks Lodge at 710 Samish Way.

On Monday, November 19 at our Ferndale Genies meeting we will continue with our conversational format, talking and working on whatever interests you. 

Bargains, bargains, bargains.  The holiday DNA discounted prices have already begun.  Some as much as half price.  Best source continually updated is https://dnabargains.com/dna-day-sales/ and partner site http://www.genealogybargains.com for all things genealogy.  Host Thomas MacEntee keeps updated on published deals and also negotiates special prices only found on his sites.  Also gives away short reports filled with tips.  You can sign up for emails there.

Over at The DNA Geek blog she has a nice summary of current prices and dates of the DNA sales plus a prediction of prices and deals through the holidays based on past experience.  https://thednageek.com/23andme-november-sale/.  Remember: Past performance is not an indicator of future outcomes.

MyHeritage is on fire.  I am not changing my recommendation to start testing with AncestryDNA, but I have to tell you that MyHeritage is on fire.  This weekend they hosted their own conference in Oslo with American and European speakers.  They announced their development plans and they are coming forward as a very innovative player in the DNA field.  They announced a partnership that will enable them to take DNA off old family envelopes and stamps.  We have never heard this before.  Also “theory of family relativity” where they will scan their “big tree” and offer multiple theories about where a match fits into your tree.  In the future they will offer “ancestor DNA reconstruction” which involves building a DNA kit for your ancestor.   A good place to see details about the announcements is on Roberta Estes’ blog https://dna-explained.com/.  She is there on the ground.

Note:  A reminder that transferring your raw DNA to MyHeritage must be done this month if you want to be grandfathered into free access to their current and future DNA tools.  There are some drawbacks like unwanted emails but the future is bright there.  You can get help at the Genies meeting and it must be done before December 1.

Free access to military records on Ancestry.com for Veterans Day.  Go to https://www.ancestry.com/cs/honor.  Don’t be misled where it says “free until Monday”.  At the bottom it says free until November 12.

If you want a good cry, don’t miss Long Lost Family on TLC and here:  https://www.tlc.com/tv-shows/long-lost-family/.  I watched Episode 2 recently.  OMG!  A young male adoptee found his family but then discovered that his mom had been adopted too and they didn’t know about her.  What a reunion that turned out to be!  And the other story with it was just as emotional.

I am really enjoying our talks at the Genies meetings.  I hope to see you there soon.