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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260423T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260423T203000
DTSTAMP:20260428T083626
CREATED:20260321T150314Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260321T150314Z
UID:41867-1776970800-1776976200@westmassgen.com
SUMMARY:WMGS April Training Session: Lineage Societies
DESCRIPTION:Thinking about joining a lineage society? You won’t want to miss our April training session! \nLineage societies help us connect with our heritage. Through societies\, we can honor\nancestors by preserving family histories and traditions. Societies can also offer access to valuable genealogical resources and a strong sense of community. \nAt this session\, WMGS member Philip Johnson will tell us more about lineage societies\, why they matter\, and what they offer to genealogists and history enthusiasts. \nHe’ll also outline the different types of societies and walk us through the typical\nmembership requirements and application processes.
URL:https://westmassgen.com/event/wmgs-april-training-session-lineage-societies/
CATEGORIES:WMGS Training Session
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260326T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260326T203000
DTSTAMP:20260428T083626
CREATED:20260205T195333Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260205T195333Z
UID:41797-1774551600-1774557000@westmassgen.com
SUMMARY:WMGS March 2026 Training Session: Introducing GenSocSoup!
DESCRIPTION:At our March training session\, we’ll tour Thomas MacEntee’s brand‑new GenSocSoup webinar channel\, now available in the Members Only area of our website. We’ll show you how it works and answer any questions about using the new platform. \nGenSocSoup is an exclusive\, subscription‑based learning platform — similar in style to YouTube — that provides 24/7 access to 15 on‑demand recorded webinars and\naccompanying handouts created by Thomas MacEntee. Tom will be creating four brand-new webinars over the next year as well. This subscription is offered only to societies with a secure members‑only website\, making it a valuable addition to our member  benefits. \nTom’s webinar collection spans a wide range of topics\, from basic genealogy skills to\nnew tools that can help us improve our research. Topics include research tips\,  technology\, organization strategies\, and more. \nDuring our session\, we’ll watch and discuss one of the featured webinars\, “Navigating  the Seven Cs of Genealogy\,” and talk about how using themes and resolutions can help guide our research throughout 2026 and beyond.
URL:https://westmassgen.com/event/wmgs-march-2026-training-session-introducing-gensocsoup/
LOCATION:Online
CATEGORIES:WMGS Training Session
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://westmassgen.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/MacEntee.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260219T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260219T203000
DTSTAMP:20260428T083626
CREATED:20260205T194733Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260205T194733Z
UID:41792-1771527600-1771533000@westmassgen.com
SUMMARY:WMGS February Training Session: Getting Ready for RootsTech2026 - Preview & Review
DESCRIPTION:RootsTech 2026 is being held in Salt Lake City\, UT\, on March 5-7\, 2026.  Did you know you can virtually attend online for FREE? \nJoin us on February 19\, at 7:00 p.m.\, to learn about RootsTech.  We’ll explore how to register\, how to watch recorded sessions from previous years\, and we’ll look at what is being offered at RootsTech 2026 – – the speakers\, keynote sessions\, classes\, exhibit halls\, etc. \nIf you haven’t attended RootsTech virtually in the past\, don’t miss this opportunity to see what it’s all about and what’s coming on March 5-7.
URL:https://westmassgen.com/event/wmgs-february-training-session-getting-ready-for-rootstech2026-preview-review/
LOCATION:Online
CATEGORIES:WMGS Training Session
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://westmassgen.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/RootsTech-Logo.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260122T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260122T203000
DTSTAMP:20260428T083626
CREATED:20251223T003339Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251223T003339Z
UID:41732-1769108400-1769113800@westmassgen.com
SUMMARY:WMGS January Training Session: Get Involved with WMGS!
DESCRIPTION:WMGS is seeking more volunteers to help keep our society thriving. There are many\nways to contribute and share new ideas. Routine tasks often require only a few hours\neach month\, while special projects offer opportunities for deeper involvement. Most tasks can be done from home\, and since all of our meetings are held on Zoom\, you can volunteer no matter where you live. \nWith all that in mind\, January’s training session will serve a dual purpose: \n\nReviewing our current volunteer needs and exploring ways members can contribute to our society’s ongoing success.\nOpening a conversation about the potential launch of a Genealogy Helpers\nprogram.\n\nAttending does not commit you to volunteering — it’s simply a chance to learn more. Our proposed Genealogy Helpers initiative would connect members to help each other. For example\, members might review research\, suggest next steps and resources\,\ncollaborate on a shared ancestor or location\, or guide those just beginning their family history research. \nYour input will be vital in shaping how such a program could work and what kinds of help would be most valuable. If you’ve participated in a similar program elsewhere\, we’d love to hear about your experiences.
URL:https://westmassgen.com/event/wmgs-january-training-session-get-involved-with-wmgs/
LOCATION:Online
CATEGORIES:WMGS Training Session
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://westmassgen.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/2025-WMGS-website-banner.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20251120T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20251120T203000
DTSTAMP:20260428T083626
CREATED:20251022T131708Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251022T131708Z
UID:41655-1763665200-1763670600@westmassgen.com
SUMMARY:WMGS November Training Session - Tech Talk with Dave: Mapping Your Ancestors' Migration
DESCRIPTION:It’s time for another Tech Talk With Dave! In November\, Dave Lapierre will present “Mapping Your Ancestors’ Migration.” This session will expand on the mini-presentation he gave at our September 25 training session. \nDave will show us how to: \n\nUse Google My Maps to create a map with various pinned locations from an\nancestor’s migration\nConnect the various pinned locations\nSave and export a KMZ file from Google My Maps\nImport the KMZ file into Google Earth / Google Earth Pro\nPlay the “tour” in Google Earth / Google Earth Pro\n\nDave will also provide a step-by-step handout with all the directions\, so that we can  map our own ancestors’ migrations and journeys.
URL:https://westmassgen.com/event/wmgs-november-training-session-tech-talk-with-dave-mapping-your-ancestors-migration/
LOCATION:Online
CATEGORIES:WMGS Training Session
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://westmassgen.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/DavidLapierre.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20251016T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20251016T203000
DTSTAMP:20260428T083626
CREATED:20250926T135335Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250926T135335Z
UID:41625-1760641200-1760646600@westmassgen.com
SUMMARY:WMGS October Training Session: Write Your Family History Using Traditional and AI Strategies
DESCRIPTION:How might traditional and AI tools be used to write a family history? In our October training\, WMGS board member John Putnam will give a hands-on workshop on the strategies he uses. (You may remember John from his well-received July 2025\npresentation\, when he shared his family’s journeys through the hilltowns of Western Massachusetts.) \nStarting with his template for developing stories\, John will explain his step-by-step process for writing a family history. We’ll learn more about: \n\nUsing AI tools to find more detailed information that is period- and locale\nspecific to our ancestors.\nIncorporating basic genealogical material with this additional research.\nUsing AI to draft reports or revise them for tone\, grammar\, and spelling.\n\nJohn encourages us to identify an ancestor living between 1800 and 1950\, so we can\nfollow along in real time. He’ll also ask volunteers to share their research findings. This is a great opportunity to get some direct feedback!
URL:https://westmassgen.com/event/wmgs-october-training-session-write-your-family-history-using-traditional-and-ai-strategies/
LOCATION:Online
CATEGORIES:WMGS Training Session
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://westmassgen.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/John-Putnam.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20250925T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20250925T203000
DTSTAMP:20260428T083626
CREATED:20250818T195040Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250818T195201Z
UID:41579-1758826800-1758832200@westmassgen.com
SUMMARY:WMGS Next-Gen Genealogy: Tools to Transform Your Research
DESCRIPTION:Genealogy is evolving at a remarkable pace\, with exciting new technologies transforming how we discover our ancestors and preserve their stories. \nAt our September training session\, we’ll offer a trio of mini-presentations showcasing cutting edge resources our hosts have been exploring. Each presentation will last 15 to 20 minutes. \nWe’ll cover: \n\nGoogle Maps & Google Earth\nDiscover your ancestors’ homes\, explore geographic migration routes\, and gain\ninsights on your family journeys.\nAI Platforms\nDiscover how tools like ChatGPT\, Copilot\, Gemini\, and Perplexity can assist with everything from formulating research questions to organizing and writing about your discoveries.\nFamilySearch Labs\nLearn about FamilySearch’s experimental labs\, including full-text search techniques\, AI-powered Help Center searches\, and the Ask a Help Chatbot feature. We’ll also explore where to find digitized books and archived videos from past RootsTech conferences.\n\nThere’s a lot happening in genealogy these days\, and it’s a great time to take your research to the next level. Join us on Thursday\, September 25 at 7 p.m. as we explore a few of them!
URL:https://westmassgen.com/event/wmgs-next-gen-genealogy-tools-to-transform-your-research/
LOCATION:Online
CATEGORIES:WMGS Training Session
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://westmassgen.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Ned-Gen-Genealogy.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20250619T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20250619T203000
DTSTAMP:20260428T083626
CREATED:20250519T194840Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250519T194920Z
UID:41480-1750359600-1750365000@westmassgen.com
SUMMARY:WMGS June Training Session: Enriching Your Ancestor's Story Using Occupational Records\, An Introduction
DESCRIPTION:At our June 19 training session\, Diane Romanowsky will present “Enriching Your Ancestor’s Story Using Occupational Records\, An Introduction.” \nOccupational records are helpful in genealogy as they provide insights into an ancestor’s daily life\, socioeconomic status\, possible education\, and skills. An ancestor’s occupation often shaped their lifestyle\, finances\, and even where they lived. \nYour ancestor’s occupation can tell you so much about their day-to-day life. In this presentation\, you will: \n\nLearn how occupational information can advance your research.\nLearn how to find your ancestor’s occupation(s).\nLearn sources of occupational information and records.\nSee examples of occupational records and learn how the information they contain\nenriches the ancestor’s story.\n\nThe occupations of coal miner\, farmer\, railroad worker\, Catholic priest\, and textile worker will be highlighted. Diane will share her success in using occupational records to advance her research and enrich her ancestor’s stories.
URL:https://westmassgen.com/event/wmgs-june-training-session-enriching-your-ancestors-story-using-occupational-records-an-introduction/
LOCATION:Online
CATEGORIES:WMGS Training Session
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://westmassgen.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/occupation.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20250522T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20250522T203000
DTSTAMP:20260428T083626
CREATED:20250422T213111Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250422T213111Z
UID:41445-1747940400-1747945800@westmassgen.com
SUMMARY:WMGS May Training Session: Genealogy Neatly - Organizing Your Family History Research
DESCRIPTION:How do you organize your genealogical research? Do you use physical storage (binders\, papers\, hanging files\, notebooks\, etc.)\, digital storage (genealogy program\, Microsoft Word/Excel\, PDF files\, your laptop\, the cloud\, etc.)\, or a combination of both physical and digital? \nIs your current organization system working for you? Can you find that document or photograph when you want to? Can you quickly locate that 1920 census document that you downloaded and saved? \nOrganizing our genealogical data is a challenge many of us deal with. There are various options and methods available. We’ve all seen the ads on social media from vendors promising that if we buy their product or subscribe to their organizational system\, all our challenges will be solved. The only organizational system that works is the one that  works for you! \nAt our May 22 training session (starting at 7 p.m.)\, Dave Lapierre will present “Genealogy Neatly: Organizing Your Family History Research.” He will review both physical and digital genealogy files and discuss methods for organizing both types\, file naming conventions\, folder structure\, and how to maintain organization over time. This will be the fifth session of our Tech Talk with Dave series.
URL:https://westmassgen.com/event/wmgs-may-training-session-genealogy-neatly-organizing-your-family-history-research/
LOCATION:Online
CATEGORIES:WMGS Training Session
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://westmassgen.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/DavidLapierre.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20250417T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20250417T203000
DTSTAMP:20260428T083626
CREATED:20250218T185632Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250218T185632Z
UID:41393-1744916400-1744921800@westmassgen.com
SUMMARY:WMGS April Training Session: Our Ancestors' Clothing
DESCRIPTION:We’re very happy that Howard Vincent Kurtz will be joining us again at our April 17 training session for another presentation of “Our Ancestors’ Clothing”! \nIf you have participated in Professor Kurtz’s previous visits to WMGS\, you’ll know what a unique opportunity he provides our members. If you have photographs of people that you can’t identify\, if you’d like more information about their clothing\, or if you think other\nmembers would find them intriguing\, please send them to us. Prof. Kurtz will research the clothing worn and other photographic details to help identify the time and place the photos were taken\, among other characteristics. \nProf. Kurtz’s analysis may help to identify ancestors\, solve family mysteries\, and add\ndetails and context to family stories. In addition\, his visits provide our members with an opportunity to gain skills in photograph analysis from an expert.
URL:https://westmassgen.com/event/wmgs-april-training-session-our-ancestors-clothing/
LOCATION:Online
CATEGORIES:WMGS Training Session
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://westmassgen.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/clothing.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20250320T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20250320T203000
DTSTAMP:20260428T083626
CREATED:20250218T185348Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250218T185348Z
UID:41391-1742497200-1742502600@westmassgen.com
SUMMARY:WMGS March Special Interest Group (SIG): Canadian Research...continued
DESCRIPTION:Join us for our next Canadian Special Interest Group meeting on Thursday\, March 20 at 7 p.m. on Zoom. In our inaugural session\, we explored Canadian genealogy\nresources available through Library and Archives Canada and FamilySearch. This time\, we’ll delve into resources on Ancestry\, including the Drouin Collection\, U.S.-Canadian\nborder crossings\, census records\, and many others. We’ll also explore additional websites as time permits. \nWhat to Expect: \n\nKnowledge sharing: Connect with members researching ancestors from\nvarious regions of Canada.\nNew resources: Discover helpful tips and explore new databases.\nResearch assistance: Share your research questions and receive help with\nchallenging brick walls.\nFocus areas: Covering topics from the Eastern Provinces\, Quebec\, Ontario\, and\nthe Western Provinces to Loyalists\, Irish immigrants\, and more.\n\nWe’ll uncover a wealth of resources for Canadian ancestry research\, covering both well-known and new databases that could provide the breakthroughs you’re seeking. \nLeading the group will be Jeanne Leblond\, who has over 25 years of experience researching Canadian ancestors. Members are encouraged to send their research questions or brick wall problems in advance to westmassgen@gmail.com or ask them\nduring the meeting.
URL:https://westmassgen.com/event/wmgs-march-special-interest-group-sig-canadian-research-continued/
LOCATION:Online
CATEGORIES:WMGS Training Session
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://westmassgen.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/zoom.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20250220T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20250220T203000
DTSTAMP:20260428T083626
CREATED:20250125T180445Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250125T180548Z
UID:41292-1740078000-1740083400@westmassgen.com
SUMMARY:WMGS February Training:  Murder\, Mayhem\, and Mystery!
DESCRIPTION:Join us at our February training session for another thrilling edition of Murder\, Mayhem\,\nand Mystery! Do you have a famous or infamous ancestor in your family tree? Someone with an unusual occupation or career or perhaps someone who made headlines for a\nscandalous event? Whether it’s a horse thief\, a bank robber\, or another colorful character\, we’d love to hear their story. \nHave you solved a mystery about an ancestor’s disappearance\, uncovered a secret that was hushed up by the family\, or disproved a family myth? Share the discoveries that have intrigued\, fascinated\, or shocked you and tell us how you uncovered these intriguing stories. \nThese events are a great way to gather your documents and share your discoveries or\nstories with fellow members. They’ll also be ready to share with your own family later.  We hope you’ll consider sharing one of your findings with us. This will be an informal\nevent\, so it isn’t necessary to provide tons of background information\, research documentation\, or other material. \nShort (5 minutes or so) presentations about your ancestor and research will be\ncombined with others from WMGS members for an enjoyable event. \nIf you’d like to share photos\, documents\, or digital material (limit of 10 scanned\nitems/slides please) along with your story\, please send the items to us at westmassgen@gmail.com by Friday\, February 14 and we’ll have them ready to\nshare on the screen. \nWhether you’d like to present or not\, we hope you’ll join us on Thursday\, February\n20 at 7 p.m. on Zoom.
URL:https://westmassgen.com/event/wmgs-february-training-murder-mayhem-and-mystery/
LOCATION:Online
CATEGORIES:WMGS Training Session
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://westmassgen.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/mmm.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20250123T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20250123T203000
DTSTAMP:20260428T083626
CREATED:20250107T175347Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250107T175434Z
UID:41273-1737658800-1737664200@westmassgen.com
SUMMARY:Special Interest Group (SIG): Canadian Genealogy Research
DESCRIPTION:Kick off the new year with our inaugural virtual Special Interest Group (SIG) session in January! This month\, we’re diving into Canadian genealogy research. \nWhat to Expect: \nKnowledge Sharing: Connect with members researching ancestors from across Canada. \nNew Resources: Discover helpful tips and new databases. \nResearch Assistance: Discuss your research questions and get help with those tricky brick walls. \nFocus Areas: From the Eastern Provinces to Quebec\, Ontario\, the Western provinces\, Loyalists\, Irish immigrants\, and more. \nWe’ll explore a wealth of resources for Canadian ancestry research\, covering both well-known and exciting new databases that might provide the breakthroughs you’re looking for. \nLeading the group will be Jeanne Leblond\, who has over 25 years of experience researching Canadian ancestors. Members can send their research questions in advance or ask them at the meeting.
URL:https://westmassgen.com/event/special-interest-group-sig-canadian-genealogy-research/
LOCATION:Online
CATEGORIES:WMGS Training Session
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://westmassgen.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Canadian-Flag.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20241121T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20241121T210000
DTSTAMP:20260428T083626
CREATED:20241022T012735Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20241022T012735Z
UID:41206-1732215600-1732222800@westmassgen.com
SUMMARY:WMGS November Training Session: Tech Talk With Dave: Cemetery Websites
DESCRIPTION:At our September 19th training session\, Dave Lapierre reviewed and demonstrated three popular websites for finding our ancestors’ resting places: Find A Grave\, BillionGraves\, and Interment.net. All three of these sites are free to use\, and two of them have a mobile version — an app you can download to your smartphone. Dave explained how the sites are similar\, how they differ\, and how to use them. \nMany of us have searched for ancestors on these sites but were pleasantly surprised by the extensive features of these sites. Many of us also haven’t used the apps at cemeteries and are eager to learn more about them. \nMembers had more questions than Dave had time to answer\, so we will offer a follow-up session at our November training session. This gives members a chance to explore the websites\, jot down follow-up questions\, and download and practice using the mobile apps beforehand. If you weren’t able to attend the training or need a refresher\, the recording and handouts are available in the Members Only section of our website under Trainings. \nIf you would like to submit questions in advance\, please send them to Dave at westmassgen@gmail.com. Of course\, you can also ask your questions at the session. We hope you’ll join us for this helpful presentation.
URL:https://westmassgen.com/event/wmgs-november-training-session-tech-talk-with-dave-cemetery-websites/
LOCATION:Online
CATEGORIES:WMGS Training Session
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://westmassgen.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/zoom.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20241017T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20241017T210000
DTSTAMP:20260428T083626
CREATED:20241022T013955Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20241022T013955Z
UID:41211-1729191600-1729198800@westmassgen.com
SUMMARY:WMGS October Training Session: Too Much Stuff: A Case Study
DESCRIPTION:Have you ever searched for a piece of information you know you\nhave but can’t find? Have you ever wanted to gather all the\ninformation you have on one individual in one place? Have you\never been overwhelmed with “stuff” and struggled with organizing\nand archiving it? \nIn “Too Much Stuff: A Case Study” WMGS member Angus Dun will describe how he uses Clooz software to organize his research. He will also discuss a system that provides consistent identification\, storage\, and retrieval of information. Using real data\, he will explain how Clooz helped him meet his goals and how it might help you. \nAngus Dun is a retired educator and education technology consultant who currently manages the historical artifacts collection of the Shelburne Historical Society in Shelburne Falls. His genealogical journey started over 50 years ago\, when he inherited an extensive collection of family letters\, documents\, and artifacts. He has\nself-published\, primarily for family\, one book\, “Catherine Whipple Pew: Life in Her Own Words\,” and has several others in the queue.
URL:https://westmassgen.com/event/wmgs-october-training-session-too-much-stuff-a-case-study/
LOCATION:Online
CATEGORIES:WMGS Training Session
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://westmassgen.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/zoom.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20240919T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20240919T203000
DTSTAMP:20260428T083626
CREATED:20240724T175632Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20240823T144041Z
UID:41124-1726772400-1726777800@westmassgen.com
SUMMARY:WMGS September Training Session: Tech Talk with Dave\, Session 4- Gravesites to Websites - Find A Grave\, BillionGraves\, and Interment.net - Let's Dig In
DESCRIPTION:In the 4th Tech Talk with Dave session\, Dave will review and demonstrate websites for finding graves.  Specifically\, Dave will showcase FindAGrave\, Billion Graves\, and  will touch on Interment.net. All three of these sites are free to use\, and two of them have a mobile version – – an app you can download to your smart phone.  Dave will explain how they are similar\, how they differ\, and how to use them.
URL:https://westmassgen.com/event/wmgs-september-training-session-tech-talk-with-dave-findagrave-billion-graves-interment-net/
LOCATION:Online
CATEGORIES:WMGS Training Session
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://westmassgen.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/DavidLapierre.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20240620T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20240620T203000
DTSTAMP:20260428T083626
CREATED:20240502T231937Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20240502T231937Z
UID:41003-1718910000-1718915400@westmassgen.com
SUMMARY:WMGS June Training Session - Virtual Skills Night
DESCRIPTION:
URL:https://westmassgen.com/event/wmgs-june-training-session-virtual-skills-night/
LOCATION:Online
CATEGORIES:WMGS Training Session
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://westmassgen.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/zoom.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20240516T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20240516T203000
DTSTAMP:20260428T083626
CREATED:20240502T231549Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20240502T231549Z
UID:40997-1715886000-1715891400@westmassgen.com
SUMMARY:WMGS May 16th Training Session: Paleography - Reading Old Handwriting Part 2
DESCRIPTION:
URL:https://westmassgen.com/event/wmgs-may-16th-training-session-paleography-reading-old-handwriting-part-2/
LOCATION:Online
CATEGORIES:WMGS Training Session
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://westmassgen.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Ed-Strickland.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20240418T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20240418T203000
DTSTAMP:20260428T083626
CREATED:20240324T135922Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20240324T135922Z
UID:40947-1713466800-1713472200@westmassgen.com
SUMMARY:WMGS April Training Session: Paleography: Reading Old Handwriting - Part 1
DESCRIPTION:At our April 18th training session\, Ed Strickland will present part one of a two-session course on paleography. The one-hour paleography lecture will be followed by a practice workshop at our May 16th training session. \nAfter only a little research\, we all have to begin to read original documents. Often our eyes glaze over after the first few lines\, or we skip through the document looking for names and overlooking many important details. This short course in paleography explores the development of the Roman alphabet and the cursive hand (including the pesky thorn). Ed will cover five steps to understanding old documents\, transcriptions\, special characters\, and translations.
URL:https://westmassgen.com/event/wmgs-april-training-session-paleography-reading-old-handwriting-part-1/
LOCATION:Online
CATEGORIES:WMGS Training Session
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://westmassgen.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Ed-Strickland.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20240321T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20240321T203000
DTSTAMP:20260428T083626
CREATED:20240220T221050Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20240220T221120Z
UID:40907-1711047600-1711053000@westmassgen.com
SUMMARY:WMGS March Training Session: Our Ancestors' Clothing
DESCRIPTION:We’re very happy that Howard Vincent Kurtz will be joining us again at our March 21st\ntraining session for another presentation of “Our Ancestors’ Clothing”! \nIf you have participated in Professor Kurtz’s previous visits to WMGS\, you’ll know what a unique opportunity he provides our members. As in his previous visits\, Prof. Kurtz will review a selection of photographs sent in by our members\, analyzing the clothing worn and other clues in them. \nProfessor Kurtz’s analysis may help to identify ancestors\, solve family mysteries\, and add details and context to family stories. In addition\, his visits provide our members with an opportunity to gain skills in photograph analysis from an expert.
URL:https://westmassgen.com/event/wmgs-march-training-session-our-ancestors-clothing/
LOCATION:Online
CATEGORIES:WMGS Training Session
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://westmassgen.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/clothing.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20240215T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20240215T203000
DTSTAMP:20260428T083626
CREATED:20231224T135839Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20240123T024211Z
UID:40856-1708023600-1708029000@westmassgen.com
SUMMARY:WMGS Training Session: Tech Talk with Dave - Part 3
DESCRIPTION:Have you started (or maybe finished) scanning all the photos in those albums\, boxes\, and file folders? Are there now dozens\, hundreds\, or thousands of photos on your computer in different folders? Have you simply transformed your physical photo mess into a digital photo mess? Can you find that one specific digital photo when you want or need it? \nAt our February training session\, Dave Lapierre will host another session of “Tech Talk with Dave.” Dave will field and (hopefully) answer your technology questions on a topic that often overwhelms many of us. \nMany of you will remember Dave’s previous presentations on photo preservation and how helpful they were. For this session\, Dave will give a brief overview of the basics of photo scanning and review file-naming conventions for those scanned digital photos to help you find them later. He’ll also go over some options for labelling digital photos with metadata (this is not what you name the image; rather\, it’s a description of what the image is\, who is in the image\, and where the photo was taken). Lastly\, he will talk about options for storing those digital photos so they are safe and can be retrieved when you want. He’ll also answer any questions that you would like to ask him. \nIf you would like to submit questions in advance\, please send them to Dave at westmassgen@gmail.com. Of course\, you can also ask your questions at the session. We hope you’ll join us for this very helpful presentation!
URL:https://westmassgen.com/event/wmgs-training-session-tech-talk-with-dave-part-3/
LOCATION:Online
CATEGORIES:WMGS Training Session
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://westmassgen.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/DavidLapierre.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20240118T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20240118T203000
DTSTAMP:20260428T083626
CREATED:20231224T135630Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20231224T135704Z
UID:40853-1705604400-1705609800@westmassgen.com
SUMMARY:WMGS Training Session: Murder\, Mayhem\, and Mystery!
DESCRIPTION:We’ve all had research discoveries that surprised and even shocked us. Have you discovered that an ancestor was murdered or was involved in a murder? An ancestor who was a horse thief\, robbed a bank\, or participated in a rebellion or another illegal event? Perhaps a story was passed down through the family\, and you have discovered\nevidence about what really happened! \nWe hope you’ll share your research discoveries with us at our January training session\, “Murder\, Mayhem\, and Mystery!” We all love a good story\, and your fellow members will appreciate hearing about your discoveries. \nShort (5 minutes or so) presentations about your ancestor and research will be combined with others from WMGS members for discussion and Q & A. \nThis will be an informal event\, so it isn’t necessary to provide tons of background\ninformation\, research documentation\, or other material about your ancestor or your\nresearch. We’re planning for this event to be fun and interactive\, so we hope you’ll\nconsider telling us about your ancestor! \nIf you’d like to share photos\, scanned documents\, or other digital material with your story\, please send the items to us at westmassgen@gmail.com by Friday\, January 12th\, and we’ll have them ready to share on the screen.
URL:https://westmassgen.com/event/wmgs-training-session-murder-mayhem-and-mystery/
LOCATION:Online
CATEGORIES:WMGS Training Session
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://westmassgen.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/mmm.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20231019T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20231019T203000
DTSTAMP:20260428T083626
CREATED:20230925T205455Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20230925T205455Z
UID:40781-1697742000-1697747400@westmassgen.com
SUMMARY:October Training Session: Back to the Future
DESCRIPTION:Remember the old days when members could chat about their genealogy research interests\, talk about discoveries and brick walls\, meet up with old friends\, and make\nnew friends at meetings? \nWell\, a worldwide pandemic upended all of that. We miss those opportunities and suspect that you do as well. The world has changed in many ways since COVID-19\narrived on the scene. Working from home and buying groceries online weren’t on our\nradar back then\, but we learned how. \nSocial and educational opportunities have changed as well. Virtual meetings and hybrid events needed an explanation\, but we’ve all become used to them now. \nBut what’s missing is our social time with members. Well\, that can still happen on Zoom and we’ll show you how at our October 19th training session! \nThis training session will be a follow-up to our Tech Talk with Dave – Take Two session\nin September. We’ll be practicing how to use Zoom breakout rooms\, the chat function\,\nand other options to visit with each other. We’ll have a chance to visit and get to know\nmore about our genealogy interests. \nWe hope you’ll join us for an evening of “Back to the Future” and enjoy spending some time with each other.
URL:https://westmassgen.com/event/october-training-session-back-to-the-future/
LOCATION:Online
CATEGORIES:WMGS Training Session
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://westmassgen.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/zoom.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20230914T183000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20230914T200000
DTSTAMP:20260428T083626
CREATED:20230827T171628Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20230827T172721Z
UID:40710-1694716200-1694721600@westmassgen.com
SUMMARY:September Training Event: Tech Talk with Dave
DESCRIPTION:At our September training session\, Dave Lapierre will host another session of “Tech Talk with Dave.” Dave will field and (hopefully) answer your technology questions. \nDave will spend some time teaching us useful Zoom techniques\, including how to mute and unmute your mic\, turn your camera off or on\, set up a virtual background\, navigate\nZoom rooms\, use the chat and reactions functions (for example\, raise your hand to ask a question or applaud)\, share a document or website on screen\, change viewing  options from speaker only to gallery view\, and more. \nOur Program Committee is planning several interactive Zoom events for the next\nyear\, so Dave’s review of Zoom techniques will be helpful for everyone. He’ll then give members an opportunity to ask questions about computer and software problems that they might be experiencing.
URL:https://westmassgen.com/event/september-training-event-tech-talk-with-dave/
LOCATION:Online
CATEGORIES:WMGS Training Session
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://westmassgen.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/DavidLapierre.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20230615T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20230615T203000
DTSTAMP:20260428T083626
CREATED:20230331T232912Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20230527T153530Z
UID:40586-1686855600-1686861000@westmassgen.com
SUMMARY:WMGS Training Session: Hillary Schau presents Roots Magic Software - Part 2
DESCRIPTION:At our June training session\, Hillary Schau will be offering Part 2 of her presentation on the features of RootsMagic 8 software\, along with demonstrations on how to do the most common tasks of logging your family history and research. Time will be allowed\nat the end of the session for questions. \nIf you missed the first session\, the recording and handout are available in the Members\nOnly section of our website.
URL:https://westmassgen.com/event/wmgs-training-session-hillary-schau-presents-roots-magic-software-part-1/
LOCATION:Online
CATEGORIES:WMGS Training Session
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://westmassgen.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/HillarySchau.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20230518T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20230518T210000
DTSTAMP:20260428T083626
CREATED:20230423T165649Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20230423T172547Z
UID:40624-1684436400-1684443600@westmassgen.com
SUMMARY:WMGS Training Session: Hillary Schau presents Roots Magic Software - Part 1
DESCRIPTION:
URL:https://westmassgen.com/event/wmgs-training-session-hillary-schau-presents-roots-magic-software-part-1-2/
LOCATION:Online
CATEGORIES:WMGS Training Session
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://westmassgen.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/HillarySchau.jpg
END:VEVENT
END:VCALENDAR