Activities November 2019

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Needpix.com 

This is the time of year when we think about the sacrifices our ancestors made coming to a new land seeking a better life for themselves and their unknown descendants.  Many of them braved perilous voyages over rough seas in tiny ships seeking religious freedom.  One hundred and fifty years later, their grandsons fought in the Revolutionary War for the right of self-government.  As genealogists, we have the privilege of gathering their stories and preserving them for our descendants.  I hope you will share their stories as you gather with your family this month. 

On October 5, Katie Hanzeli, Marilyn Schunke and I attended the Seattle Genealogical Society’s Fall Seminar featuring Dr. Thomas W. Jones.  The topic of the Seminar was “Creating Credible Conclusions While Circumnavigating Walls”, learning how to forge innovative paths around research brick walls with confidence and ethics.  Learning from Dr. Jones is like drinking from a firehose.  Sunday, I attended an additional session, “Developing Research Questions and Hypotheses; Planning Reasonably Exhaustive Research”.  Two important takeaways from that session were 1. Never ignore the first page, and 2. Always turn the page.  I have learned in my own research that frequently the missing family member is on the previous or next page.  How lucky we are to have learning resources like this available within driving distance. 

The Family Tree Maker Users Group will meet Saturday, November 2, from 10:15 – 11:45 at the Auburn Public Library.  The long-awaited update has been released, so this should be an interesting meeting.  Immediately following the meeting, the Seminar Committee will meet for lunch at Trotters Restaurant in Auburn. 

Tuesday, November 5, the SKCGS Board of Directors will meet at 6:30 pm, at the Valley Regional Fire Department, 1101 D St NE, Auburn.  Note the change in time.  Preceding the meeting Valorie Zimmerman will present a workshop on using Google Drive.


Photo courtesy Barbara Mattoon

A Veterans Day Memorial Observance will be held Saturday, November 9, at 3:00 PM, at the Saar Pioneer Cemetery.  Several Civil War Veterans are buried there.  In the past, SKCGS has done a great deal of work restoring the cemetery and producing a book about it.  SKCGS member Karen Bouton, has organized this observance for several years.  Please turn out and support her.  In recent years, some of our members have assisted Boy Scouts and members of the Kent United Methodist Church with maintenance tasks.  Park in the WinCo Foods parking lot and walk around the corner.  Rubber boots are advised.
Publicdomainpictures.net

DNA Week at SKCGS!  Monday, November 11, the Genetic Genealogy Group/DNA will meet from 1 -3 pm, at WAPI, 28815 Pacific Hwy S., Suite 7A, Federal Way.  They will be learning to work with DNA Painter.  You might want to watch the YouTube video with Jonny Perl, the developer of DNA Painter if you are not familiar with it. 

Saturday, November 16, Herb McDaniel will present “DNA Testing to Validate Your Family Tree”, at the SKCGS General Meeting. We’ll meet from 9:30 -noon in the Theatre on the second floor of Wesley Lea Hill, 32049 109th Pl SE, Auburn.

Monday, November 18, the Technology User Group will meet from 1 – 3 pm at WAPI.  Topic: “Santa Claus is Coming to Town!”  Share gift ideas for your favorite Techie (or yourself).


Needpix.com


Thursday, November 28, HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

Barbara Mattoon
SKCGS President



[1] Photo courtesy Barbara Mattoon
[2] Publicdomainpictures.net
[3] Needpix.com

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