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Monday, May 11
FTM SIG Meeting (Family Tree Maker SIG)
10:00 am to 11:50 am Colony Cottage Recreational Center, 510 Colony Blvd.
REGULAR MONTHLY MEETING -- IN-PERSON ONLY
Bring your laptop!
SIG Coordinator: John DeAngelo
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Monday, May 11
Italian Special Interest Group Meeting (Italian SIG)
1:00 pm to 2:20 pm Atlanta Room @ Savannah Recreation Center
Coordinators: Laura Wright & Paul Coia
Topic: TBA
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Tuesday, May 12
Preserving Family History SIG Meeting (Preserving Family History SIG)
2:30 pm to 4:00 pm SeaBreeze Recreation Center
Topic: Special programs with open discussion on preserving your family history for future generations.
Coordinators: Sharol Lewin & Nancy Schultz
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Wednesday, May 13
Irish Genealogy SIG Meeting (Irish SIG)
10:00 am to 11:50 am Osceola Room @ Chula Vista Recreation Center
Topic: TBA
Coordinators: Tom Voyles, Kendra Marasco & Kevin Hennessy
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Wednesday, May 13
ABCs of Genealogy SIG Meeting (ABCs of Genealogy SIG)
2:30 pm to 4:20 pm Neptune Beach Room @ SeaBreeze Recreation Center
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 get you started and keep you going as you discover more about your ancestors.
Topic: TBA
Coordinators: Diane Clemmons & Tonya Gaddie
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Thursday, May 14
German Genealogy SIG Meeting (German SIG)
9:30 am to 11:50 am In-person @ Lake Miona Rec Center & via Zoom
Coordinators: Dianne Fedderson & Steven Buhrow
An email containing the Zoom link & info will be emailed to SIG members prior to the meeting date.
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Monday, May 18
Best Practices SIG Meeting (Best Practices SIG)
1:00 pm to 3:00 pm Online Zoom Meeting
Coordinators: Annette Burke-Lyttle & Pat Adams
Topic: Collaborative Research – The Advantage of Another Set of Eyes
The SIG accepts new members throughout the year, but those who join after January 2023 should be prepared to catch up on the chapters that have already been studied. Visit our SIG webpage for more details.
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Tuesday, May 19
Let's Talk Genealogy: Members Only Event (VGS Special Events)
10:00 am ZOOM MEETING
We are looking for all levels of VGS members. Come and share with us about your latest research successes or about a research challenge you're facing. Perhaps you have general genealogy questions including places to research or how others organize their information. Share your knowledge and ideas to help keep us all moving forward.
To attend this Zoom session – Click HERE.
** If you are not a VGS member but would like to be, click HERE.
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Thursday, May 21
Northeastern Genealogy SIG Meeting (Northeastern Genealogy SIG)
12:00 pm to 1:30 pm SeaBreeze Recreation Center, New Smyrna Room
Topic: TBA
Coordinator: Joanne Schmidt
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Tuesday, May 26
Midwest SIG Meeting (Midwest SIG)
2:00 pm to 3:50 pm SeaBreeze Recreation Center, Clearwater Room
Topic: We will conclude our last meeting of the season with an informal get-together to discuss possible topics for the 2026-2027 season as well as to get input from members on a variety of issues.
Coordinators: Darrell Coppock & Karen Pickelsimer
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Wednesday, May 27
Brick Wall Solutions SIG Meeting (Brick Wall SIG)
8:30 am to 9:30 am In-person @ Lake Miona Rec Center
Topic: TBD
Coordinators: Mark Mullinax & Beverly Hulett
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Wednesday, May 27
VGS General Monthly Meeting (VGS Monthly Meeting)
10:00 am Lake Miona Recreation Center or Online via Zoom
Guest Speaker: Karen Fortin
Topic Info: Bringing Your Ancestors to Life: Going Beyond the Facts
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 Bachelor's degree in history and a Master's degree in library and information science from the University of South Florida. She worked a 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 2014-2017. Karen began providing genealogy and history presentations in 2016 and has lectured at various genealogical societies and public libraries, and for other interested organizations. One of her goals is to help people explore historical periods, places, and events so that they can better understand their ancestors and the world in which they lived.
There are two ways to attend: in-person at the Lake Miona Recreation Center or online via Zoom. If you want to attend in person, simply come to the Lake Miona Recreation Center at 10:00 a.m. on May 27th. If you want to attend online via Zoom, you will need to register in advance by clicking this LINK.
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.
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Monday, June 1
Jewish Genealogy SIG Meeting (Jewish Genealogy SIG)
10:00 am to 12:00 pm Eisenhower Recreation Center, 3560 Buena Vista Blvd.
Prior to the meeting date, SIG members will receive an email about the upcoming meeting.
Coordinators: Phil Goldsmith & Jerry Schwartz
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Monday, June 15
Best Practices SIG Meeting (Best Practices SIG)
1:00 pm to 3:00 pm Online Zoom Meeting
Coordinators: Annette Burke-Lyttle & Pat Adams
Topic: TBA
The SIG accepts new members throughout the year, but those who join after January 2023 should be prepared to catch up on the chapters that have already been studied. Visit our SIG webpage for more details.
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Tuesday, June 16
Let's Talk Genealogy: Members Only Event (VGS Special Events)
10:00 am ZOOM MEETING
We are looking for all levels of VGS members. Come and share with us about your latest research successes or about a research challenge you're facing. Perhaps you have general genealogy questions including places to research or how others organize their information. Share your knowledge and ideas to help keep us all moving forward.
To attend this Zoom session – Click HERE.
** If you are not a VGS member but would like to be, click HERE.
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Wednesday, June 24
VGS General Monthly Meeting (VGS Monthly Meeting)
10:00 am Zoom Only Mtg
Guest Speaker: Michael John Neill
Topic Info: Full-Text Searching at FamilySearch
We will discuss effective search techniques for utilizing the full-text search functionality at GamilySearch. Additional, we will look at creating a search methodology and process and seeing how to determine what records are probably being included in the full text search.
Speaker's Bio: Michael John Neill has been actively engaged in genealogical research for over thirty years. He writes the popular "Genealogy Tip of the Day" which is hosted on the Genealogy Tip of the Day website. Michael has led research trips to the FamilySearch Library and to the Allen County Public Library in Ft. Wayne, Indiana. He gives lectures on a variety of genealogical topics and concentrates on research in the Midwestern and upper Southern regions of the United States and several countries in Western Europe. Michael is a former community college mathematics instructor and has a master's degree in mathematics.
There is a Zoom only meeting and you will need to register in advance by clicking this LINK.
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.
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Monday, July 20
Best Practices SIG Meeting (Best Practices SIG)
1:00 pm to 3:00 pm Online Zoom Meeting
Coordinators: Annette Burke-Lyttle & Pat Adams
Topic: AI for Genealogy
The SIG accepts new members throughout the year, but those who join after January 2023 should be prepared to catch up on the chapters that have already been studied. Visit our SIG webpage for more details.
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Tuesday, July 21
Let's Talk Genealogy: Members Only Event (VGS Special Events)
10:00 am ZOOM MEETING
We are looking for all levels of VGS members. Come and share with us about your latest research successes or about a research challenge you're facing. Perhaps you have general genealogy questions including places to research or how others organize their information. Share your knowledge and ideas to help keep us all moving forward.
To attend this Zoom session – Click HERE.
** If you are not a VGS member but would like to be, click HERE.
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Wednesday, July 22
VGS General Monthly Meeting (VGS Monthly Meeting)
10:00 am Zoom Only Mtg
Guest Speaker: Kathryn Lake Hogan
Topic Info: Find Your American Ancestor in Canada
Think your ancestors were never in Canada? Think again. Many Americans and immigrants crossed the border in search of land, work, refuge, or military service. Learn how to trace births, marriages, deaths, and migrations in Canada, and discover records that reveal overlooked chapters in your family's history.
Even if your family never mentioned Canada, your ancestors may have crossed the border for reasons you've never imagined. This presentation explores the various circumstances that brought Americans and immigrants to Canada, including entry through Canadian ports, land acquisition, and migrations enroute to the United States. Others experienced life events in Canada, such as births, marriages, or deaths, or came seeking employment, visiting relatives, or escaping poverty and persecution. Canada was also a refuge for freedom seekers via the Underground Railroad and a place where Americans enlisted during the world wars. Discover records and strategies to uncover these overlooked stories.
Explore the many reasons why American and immigrant ancestors may have been in Canada, even if family stories suggest otherwise. Beginning with immigration records, many newcomers to the United States first arrived through Canadian ports of entry before travelling south. Land records provide another important avenue, as generous Canadian land policies attracted settlers from across the border. Migration patterns reveal how ancestors frequently travelled through Canada enroute to American destinations, leaving behind valuable clues. Discover vital events such as births, marriages, and deaths that may have occurred in Canada, as well as employment opportunities and family visits that led to temporary cross-border stays. For others, Canada offered refuge from poverty, persecution, or enslavement, with the Underground Railroad bringing freedom seekers to Canadian soil. Finally, military service records demonstrate how thousands of Americans enlisted in Canadian forces during the world wars. Strategies for identifying records, interpreting evidence, and uncovering surprising connections will be discussed.
Speaker's Bio: Hailing from Southwestern Ontario, Kathryn Lake Hogan is a professional genealogist, educator, and speaker specializing in Canadian family history. She's the founder of Looking4Ancestors and is known for making genealogy approachable, engaging, and dare we say, fun! Kathryn teaches on a variety of topics, including Loyalist ancestry, immigration, and migration patterns. She has presented for major organizatios such as Roots Tech, Legacy Family Tree Webinars, the Salt Lake Institute of Genealogy (SLIG), and the GRIP Genealogy Institute. Her articles have been featured in Family Tree Magazine and the APG Quarterly. She has held leadership roles with Ontario Ancestors and the United Empire Loyalists' Association of Canada. When she's not researching or teaching, you might find her in the gym as a beginner powerlifter.
There is a Zoom only meeting and you will need to register in advance by clicking this LINK.
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.
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Monday, August 3
Jewish Genealogy SIG Meeting (Jewish Genealogy SIG)
10:00 am to 12:00 pm Eisenhower Recreation Center, 3560 Buena Vista Blvd.
Prior to the meeting date, SIG members will receive an email about the upcoming meeting.
Coordinators: Phil Goldsmith & Jerry Schwartz
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