Cancellations and Online Education

Hello, Everyone, 

We have cancellations for the Whatcom society meeting on Monday and the Skagit society meeting next Saturday.  I am also cancelling the Genies meeting scheduled for March 16.  If everyone stays home from non-essential meetings, this might contain the virus and keep the coronavirus from spreading.  Most people leading meetings are erring on the side of caution and safety.  For us there are plenty of opportunities online in the meantime.

Is there a holiday coming up?  St. Patrick’s Day!  Free Irish records to celebrate.

MyHeritage has free Irish records through March 22 along with free trials and 50% off subscriptions here:  https://mailchi.mp/abundantgenealogy/myh-freeaccess-irish-mar2020?e=cb7c45b1c4

Ancestry has free Irish records through March 17 along with a free PDF download Finding Your Irish Immigrant Ancestors here:  https://mailchi.mp/abundantgenealogy/ancestry-free-irish-records-2020?e=cb7c45b1c4

RootsTech video archives from 2020 back to 2015 are here:  https://www.rootstech.org/video-archive.

Looking forward, the WGS Spring Seminar is bringing my personal favorite Diana Elder for a “Research Like a Pro” Seminar. It’s a full day on March 28.  Early bird prices are past.

Seminar Flyer

Seminar Registration

For the first time we have The 24-Hour Genealogy Webinar Marathon: March 12-13, 2020.  Family Tree Webinars announces:

Join us in making history as we embark on The 24-Hour Genealogy Webinar Marathon, where you will learn how to trace your ancestors from the world's top genealogists and educators. From advanced Googling to DNA, from The Great Lakes to Australia and Germany, there's something for everyone... in every time zone. And thanks to FamilyTreeWebinars.com and MyHeritage, the entire event is free! Pop in for a session or two, or stick around for the full 24 hours — it's completely up to you. There will even be time for Q&A and door prizes. If you can't join us in real time, we've got you covered: all recordings will be available absolutely free for a week. Beyond that, you can watch them anytime with a webinar membership to FamilyTreeWebinars.com.

The link to the 24 classes and speakers is here:  https://familytreewebinars.com/webinar_details.php?webinar_id=1436

NwGC 2020 in Arlington OPEN FOR REGISTRATION

Don’t miss the fun! The Northwest Genealogy Conference which will be held August 12 (Free Beginning Day) Wednesday thru Saturday Aug. 15 is now open for registration. Get the “Early Bird” discount by registering before April 15th….Our keynote speakers this year will be Thomas MacEntee, Anna Swayne and Kathy Kaldis. We will have 15 speakers and more than 40 sessions. Follow our blog each week with more information…check http://www.nwgc.org … If you are a member, remember to log in as a member to register and receive the discount and select your meals….

There were many announcements of new features at RootsTech.  Here are some articles provided by Randy Seavers who blogs at Genea-Musings.

1)  News Articles:

*  Ancestry® Announces Digitization of All 36 Million Available US Draft Cards, Answering More Members’ Questions About Family History

*  Ancestry® Announces Significant Content Additions and Improved Family History Research Tools at RootsTech, Empowering More Discoveries

*  MyHeritage Adds Huge Collection of Historical U.S. City Directories

*  Introducing Fan View for Family Trees [MyHeritage]

*  Findmypast’s Archive is the Fastest Growing on the Market

*  Findmypast Introduces New Look Brand

*  Findmypast’s Newspaper Archive Goes Global

*  Explore British & Irish roots through your Findmypast Family Tree

*  Where Am I From? New FamilySearch Discovery Activity Is a Fun Way to Explore Heritage

*  Genealogy Guys and Vivid-Pix Announce Unsung Heroes Awards at RootsTech 2020

*  RootsTech Returns to London in 2020, Opens Early Registration

*  Cutbacks by Ancestry, 23andMe Signal a Shakeout for DNA Industry

*  Society of Genealogists and FamilySearch Partnership to Digitize the SoG’s Collection of Compiled Family Histories