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DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260902T180000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260902T193000
DTSTAMP:20260721T000551Z
CREATED:20260721T000500Z
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SUMMARY:WMGS September Monthly Meeting: Orphan Trains and the Children Who Rode Them
DESCRIPTION:Do you have children in your family lines who seem to have vanished or who turn up in unexpected places\, such as in the Midwest or western part of our country? \nThe orphan train movement (1854-1929) relocated over 200\,000 children to foster homes across the country\, in hopes of providing them with better lives. Historians estimate that only about one-third of the children placed on orphan trains had no living parents. Who were these children and why were they sent away from their families? \nTo kick off our 2026-2027 membership year\, genealogist Karen Fortin will present “Orphan Trains and the Children Who Rode Them.” \nThe story of the orphan trains\, which relocated children from the eastern cities to rural farmlands\, has become a part of American popular culture. Karen’s presentation  explores the facts behind the legends\, follows a group of children “placed-out” in 1880\, and provides information on resources available to learn more about the orphan trains and their riders.
URL:https://westmassgen.com/event/wmgs-september-monthly-meeting-orphan-trains-and-the-children-who-rode-them/
LOCATION:Online
CATEGORIES:WMGS Monthly Meeting
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://westmassgen.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Karen-Fortin.jpg
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DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20261007T180000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20261007T200000
DTSTAMP:20260927T211704Z
CREATED:20260927T205005Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260927T211704Z
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SUMMARY:WMGS October Monthly Meeting: ChatGPT for Genealogists
DESCRIPTION:At our October monthly meeting\, Robert Cameron Weir will return to WMGS to present “ChatGPT for Genealogists.” Rob will explore how ChatGPT can become a powerful ally in your genealogical research. After a quick introduction to how this AI tool works\, Rob will dive into a series of hands-on examples that showcase the full range of its capabilities. ChatGPT can tackle an impressive variety of tasks\, such as suggesting source material\, interpreting images\, and translating records. \nJoin us to see how AI can revolutionize your research\, save you time\, and reveal new insights in unexpected ways. \nRobert Cameron Weir is a genealogical researcher\, educator\, and author who specializes in New England genealogy. He is a member of the Association for Professional Genealogists and is the Publications Director for the New Hampshire Society of Genealogists. He’s also the author of the new book ChatGPT for Genealogists: From First Prompts to Advanced Workflows. \nWe hope you’ll join us on Wednesday\, October 7 at 6 p.m. ET on Zoom. Members will receive an email to register for the Zoom link. \n(This presentation will be archived in the Members Only section of our website for\n90 days.)
URL:https://westmassgen.com/event/wmgs-october-monthly-meeting-chatgpt-for-genealogists/
LOCATION:Online
CATEGORIES:WMGS Monthly Meeting
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://westmassgen.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Robert-Cameron-Weir.jpg
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20261104T180000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20261104T193000
DTSTAMP:20261025T160239Z
CREATED:20261025T160239Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20261025T160239Z
UID:42075-1793815200-1793820600@westmassgen.com
SUMMARY:WMGS November Monthly Meeting: “No OMPF? No Problem!”
DESCRIPTION:Researching military records in November is a meaningful way to connect personal  family history with our ancestors who served our country. It’s a quiet\, powerful act that says: Your service still matters\, and we still remember you. \nOn November 4\, we welcome Sara Cochran back to WMGS to guide us in researching our military ancestors who served during the 20th century. This presentation carries special significance\, as many of us may be exploring the stories of relatives we personally knew. \nIn 1973\, a fire destroyed millions of Official Military Personnel Files (OMPF). This is\none reason why researching 20th-century veterans is especially difficult. Sara’s  presentation on “No OMPF? No Problem!” will look at other ways to find the stories of the World War I\, World War II\, Korean War\, and peacetime veterans in our families.
URL:https://westmassgen.com/event/wmgs-november-monthly-meeting-no-ompf-no-problem/
LOCATION:Online
CATEGORIES:WMGS Monthly Meeting
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://westmassgen.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Sarah-Cochran.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20261202T180000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20261202T193000
DTSTAMP:20261025T160432Z
CREATED:20261025T160432Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20261025T160432Z
UID:42077-1796234400-1796239800@westmassgen.com
SUMMARY:WMGS December Monthly Meeting: DNA - Just Beyond the Basics - Adding to Your Solid Foundation
DESCRIPTION:Curious — or confused — about your DNA test results? Maybe you don’t recognize many of the names in your match list\, you’re wondering why you don’t share DNA with\nsomeone you expected to\, or you’ve noticed your siblings’ results look surprisingly different. And what exactly do terms like endogamy\, pedigree collapse\, and consanguinity mean for your research? \nJoin us at our December 2 monthly meeting as genealogist Peggy Jude presents “DNA – Just Beyond the Basics – Adding to Your Solid Foundation.” Peggy will discuss how the effective use of DNA can further your genealogical research. Building on the basics\, this session covers working with your match list\, determining relationships\, prioritizing matches\, using advanced tools\, and understanding the impact of endogamy and pedigree collapse.
URL:https://westmassgen.com/event/wmgs-december-monthly-meeting-dna-just-beyond-the-basics-adding-to-your-solid-foundation/
LOCATION:Online
CATEGORIES:WMGS Monthly Meeting
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