The Villages Genealogical Society

Upcoming Monthly Program
 
May Monthly Meeting (in-person & via Zoom)
Wednesday, May 27, 2026 / 10:00 a.m. – Lake Miona Rec Center
Speaker:  Karen Fortin
 
Karen FortinTopic: Bringing Your Ancestors to Life: Going Beyond the Facts
 
Topic Info:  Using a case study approach, this presentation will explore how you can use traditional resources such as vital records, census records, land records, newspapers, and more to uncover the lives, experiences, and even personalities of our ancestors.
 
Speaker's Bio:
Karen Fortin received a BS in history and a Master's in library and information science from the University of South Florida. She worked at the Barbara S. Ponce Public Library in Pinellas Park, FL for 30 years before deciding to focus on genealogical research. Karen's passion for history and research led her to an interest in Genealogy. She began volunteering with the Pinellas Genealogy Society in Largo, FL in 2012, and was the society's president from 2015-2017.
 
For more details about this event and the speaker, visit our Coming Events listing.
 
 
 
 
 

 
 
Admission to in-person meetings of The Villages Genealogy Society
is limited to VGS members and paid guests.
You must be a resident of The Villages, FL for membership.
 
 
 
Upcoming Events
May 11, 2026
10:00 am to 11:50 am
FTM SIG Meeting
  REGULAR MONTHLY MEETING -- IN-PERSON ONLY Bring your laptop!   Visit our website page for more details about this SIG. SIG Coordinator:  John DeAngelo     ...
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May 11, 2026
1:00 pm to 2:20 pm
Italian Special Interest Group Meeting
Coordinators: Laura Wright & Paul Coia   Topic:  TBA      
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May 12, 2026
2:30 pm to 4:00 pm
Preserving Family History SIG Meeting
  Topic: Special programs with open discussion on preserving your family history for future generations.   ​ Coordinators:  Sharol Lewin & Nancy Schultz  
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May 13, 2026
10:00 am to 11:50 am
Irish Genealogy SIG Meeting
  Topic:  TBA Coordinators:  Tom Voyles, Kendra Marasco & Kevin Hennessy  
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May 13, 2026
2:30 pm to 4:20 pm
ABCs of Genealogy SIG Meeting
The ABCs of Genealogy SIG is for VGS members with any level of experience in genealogical research. Sessions are geared to be easy to understand to ...
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Facts and Tips
There are 13 eastern public land states east of the Mississippi River: Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Louisiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Mississippi, Ohio and Wisconsin.
[Land Records]
Death Records can be the least accurate records depending upon the knowledge of the person reporting the information about the deceased.
[Vital Records]
Female lines are as important as male lines. One-half of your ancestors are female! They can be more difficult to locate since most changed their names when married. Always record females using their maiden names.
[Basic Genealogy]
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