The Genealogy Search

On Saturday, Feb. 7, 2009, the Arizona State Genealogical Society will be hosting Geoff Rasmussen from Millennia Legacy Software.  Legacy is my favorite genealogical software.  I am looking forward to Geoff the Legacy Guru teaching some special aspects of the software.  This class will be aimed to the intermediate or advanced user.  I am looking forward to some ah ha moments as a learn some new tricks.  Legacy offers a free version of it's software without all the bells and whistles.  Anyway I am counting on Geoff to make me a junior guru so that I can just whip through the program and get those relatives under control and firmly planted in my family tree.  I am happy with finally completing the first seven lessons of the NGS American Genealogy Course, especially proud that I made myself get the last few  in the mail today.  On to lesson eight!

Two items of note about the Arizona State Genealogical Society, One - I am now the President of the Society and two - once again our website has been revamped.  Please check it out at www.azsgs.org.  We now have member forums and many other updates that I'm sure everyone will enjoy. I have been sneaking in my own genealogy in between work and society business.  I have found a few leads and  a few dead ends.  My main objective now is trying to organize my research for a road trip to Illinois in the summer.  I will be inhaling dust at the Piatt and Fayette archives and libraries searching for my elusive ancestors.

I decided to go ahead and sign up for the American Genealogy Course through the National Genealogy Society. I decided to go with the grading option. The course includes detailed instruction on genealogical subjects, evidence analysis, source citation examples and explanations, bibliographies and reference lists, strategies for conducting genealogical research onthe Internet, in libraries, and in archives, new detailed instructions on newspaper research, censuses, vital records, migrations, and writing short biographies on ancestors, self-correcting exams, samples of the assignments showing how they should be completed, and online mail list for advice and research help. I can't wait for it to arrive!