The
Montgomery County Genealogical Society in Maryland is a venue for individuals to share their interests and projects and to learn new techniques. The society meets the fourth Wednesday of the month (except November when we meet the third Wednesday due to Thanksgiving) from 7:30-9:00 p.m., September-November and January-May. New members are welcome. Read HERE for details.
Two Other Opportunities to Learn About Genetic Genealogy
The East Coast Genetic Genealogy Conference is being held on October 6-8, 2023 in-person at the Maritime Conference Center near Baltimore. A hybrid option is also available and all registrants receive access to recordings of all lectures. For information and to register got to https://ecggc.org
Genetic Genealogy Basics is an online course being offered by Howard Community College On Wednesdays Oct 11 - Nov 1 from 7-9pm. The cost is $99. This course will teach you about DNA, available tests, how to use your DNA results to find family and how to use DNA in your genealogical research. To register go here and select the Genetic Genealogy Basics course.
Genealogy Special Interest Groups
The Washington DC FamilySearch Center in Kensington hosts the following interest groups. If interested in one of these groups, send an email to wdchfc@gmail.com for more information:
African-American Research: Focus on all aspects of African-American research. Frank Jenkins, leader.
Group meets alternating Mondays 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. on Zoom or at the FamilySearch Center
Beginning Genealogy: For anyone who wants to learn or review techniques and resources. Every week during the year, members benefit from a lecture on an area of genealogy research – starting with the basics and moving into more advanced topics. The lectures are taped for those who cannot attend live. There is time before and after the lecture for the group to talk about discoveries and problems. The series begins on July 11, 2023, but you can join anytime throughout the year.
Group meets every Tuesday from 10:30-12:00 on Zoom. Lorraine Minor is the leader.
DNA, Beginning: Focus on how to use DNA for genealogy research.
Group meets the 3rd Thursday at 7:00 p.m. on Zoom. Andy Hochreiter is the leader.
DNA, Advanced: Focus on advanced methodologies and tools.
Group meets on 2nd Wednesday evening, 7:00 p.m. on Zoom. Jim Bartlett is the leader.
Irish: Focus on research in Ireland and those with Irish roots.
Group meets the 3rd Wednesday at 7:00 p.m. on Zoom. Cindy Finelli is the leader.
Eastern European: Focus on research and resources in Czech Republic, Poland, Slovakia, Hungary, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Slovenia, Ukraine, and Belarus. Lecture and computer research assistance.
Group meets monthly on the 3rd Saturday at 1:00 p.m. on Zoom. Mary Ann Evan is the leader.
Metro DC RootsMagic Users: RootsMagic is a popular genealogical software which makes researching, organizing and sharing family history easy. This group explores its many features to maximize usage.
Group meets the 1st & 2nd Saturdays of each month at 9:30 a.m. on Zoom. Gary Petranek is the leader.
NGS Apologizes
"We'll never get right with each other until we get our history right," Christy Coleman, exececutive director of the Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation, said at the opening of the National Genealogical Society Conference on June 1, just before the the society's board apologized for decades of racism and exclusion. NGS issued a
report along with its apology. "All of us are responsible for addressing any current perceptions of exclusion our past behavior caused," said Andre Kearns,
chair of the society's Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Committee.
Research Resources
Members of the MCGS board have been compiling a list of resources to help anyone exploring their ancestry. Available under the tab "Research Resources" on the left, a new page includes profiles of early settlers in Montgomery County. We will continue to expand this list of biographies over time. Have something to add? Please let us know at info@mocogensoc.org.
Board Members Reelected
Thank you to all who voted! Four members of the board of directors of Montgomery County Genealogical Society have been reelected: Cheryl Peirce as treasurer, Christina Lyons as second vice president-communications, and Lori Kelman and Sue Reeb as directors.
For more information about these officers, click on the "About Us" tab on the left.
Program Planning
The board of directors for the Montgomery County Genealogical Society is always brainstorming ideas for the coming year, and are lining up speakers. Have an idea for a topic, event, or speaker? Please message us at info@mocogensoc.org.
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