Sep 26th meeting: Catching up and "How to Interview a living relative"

We had a great chance to catch up after the summertime fun.  There were some great proposals on what sessions should be presented in the Fall DIRT meetings.  Then we started with our topic of "How to Interview a living relative".  The presentation can be accessed using this link: Click here.

Additional resources can be accessed by clicking on the links below:
1) How to interview tips: Click here
2) Genealogy Facts questionnaire: Click here
3) Interview questions outline - to be edited for your interview: Click here
4) What to bring list: Click here
I also have interview questions for each decade: depression, 1940s, 1950s, 1960s if you send me a request.

Sep 5 & 19th, 2018 Meeting:

We focused upon how to merge Family Tree information from FamilySearch.org into Family Tree Maker and how to get source documents from FamilySearch into Family Tree Maker.  The process of downloading documents/images onto the computer, then copying them into Family Tree Maker and linking with the respective family members.  Each participant practiced several times.  We will review this at the next evening meeting and cover Ancestry.com and web searches.  For a copy of the presentation, click here (however most of the session was online, real time demonstration).

Block your calendar: October 13, 8:30 AM - 2:30 PM

Take advantage of this one day Genealogy seminar "Family Discovery Day" to be hosted by the Family History Center.

Where: Family History Center, 1519 Sam Rittenberg Blvd, Charleston, SC 29407

I will send more information later on how to register for this event.

Jul 13 DIRT Meeting - Interpreting AncestryDNA results.

We had a good review of the "Interpreting AncestryDNA results material" and answered questions during this session.  For materials, use links below:

- Interpreting AncestryDNA results presentation: click here
- Interpreting AncestryDNA handout: click here

June 27 Meeting focused on Migration. 

The presentation: click here
The handout: click here

May 9 DIRT Meeting

We had a great time with everyone using their computers to use USGS maps on Google Earth Pro and then overlaying their own images (jpg file) of a map/chart/plat onto Google Earth Pro.  It was an interesting new way to be able to find where our ancestors lived. 

For a copy of the presentation: Click here, and the handout: Click here.

We heard some great success stories of members using Worldcat to find a book, then ordering it through Inter library loan and also using Facebook groups to reach out to others, (example given was the use of the Irish DNA registry).  Lets keep sharing and having fun.

Denise Doyon brought to my attention a new "Virtual Genealogical Society" which just started.  They do not have any content yet, however they do have a full list of programs becoming available starting in June 2018.  It is a minimum dues of $20 for 1 year.  Their website is: http://virtualgensoc.com/.
I have joined and will let you know how it goes.

May 2, 2018 Meeting

Great participation and hands-on using Family Tree Maker.  During this session we focused on three areas of Family Tree Maker:

(1) Creating Custom Reports
(2) Using Filters for indexing and reports
(3) Media

During the session everyone used their own computers and FTM to create a custom fact and then to use the Filtering feature of FTM to customize their index view. 

The power of using FTM is awesome and most of us are not aware of all the features available to us after we have inputted our data, merged data from Ancestry or FamilySearch, or copied someone else's family tree chart.  No matter how the data was entered, FTM has many ways in which you can now use it for (1) Location based research, (3) Event based research or (3) Descendant research.