WMGS February Training Session: Getting Ready for RootsTech2026 - Preview & Review
2026-02-19 19:00 - 20:30 (America/New_York) | Online
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?
Join 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.
If 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.

WMGS March 2026 Training Session: Introducing GenSocSoup!
2026-03-26 19:00 - 20:30 | Online
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.
GenSocSoup is an exclusive, subscription‑based learning platform — similar in style to YouTube — that provides 24/7 access to 15 on‑demand recorded webinars and
accompanying 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.
Tom’s webinar collection spans a wide range of topics, from basic genealogy skills to
new tools that can help us improve our research. Topics include research tips, technology, organization strategies, and more.
During 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.

WMGS April Training Session: Lineage Societies
2026-04-23 19:00 - 20:30
Thinking about joining a lineage society? You won’t want to miss our April training session!
Lineage societies help us connect with our heritage. Through societies, we can honor
ancestors by preserving family histories and traditions. Societies can also offer access to valuable genealogical resources and a strong sense of community.
At 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.
He’ll also outline the different types of societies and walk us through the typical
membership requirements and application processes.

WMGS May Special Interest Group (SIG): Western Massachusetts Ancestors
2026-05-21 19:00 - 20:30 | Online
Our first Western Massachusetts Ancestors Special Interest Group (SIG) session will take place on Thursday, May 21 on Zoom.
These SIG sessions are designed to give members a chance to explore a focused topic, connect with one another, learn new skills, discover useful resources, and share their research. Each session will follow a flexible, member-driven format that
may include:

Member Presentations
Members are invited to give short presentations (5–15 minutes) on a Western
Massachusetts ancestor, family line, or research topic. We encourage you to highlight the resources you used — databases, archives, websites, books, maps, or tools.
Resources, Tools, and Techniques
We’ll feature helpful research tools, newly updated databases, useful websites, and practical tips to support your genealogical work.
Brick Wall Challenges and Breakthroughs
Have a research puzzle you can’t solve? Share a brief summary of the ancestor or
problem, along with any clues or documents you’ve gathered, and we’ll add your brick wall to the agenda. Fellow members may be able to offer insights or suggestions to move your research forward.
Q & A and Open Discussion
We’ll reserve time for questions, troubleshooting, and open conversation about methods, records, and discoveries.

We hope members will help shape each session’s agenda — our SIGs will be member
driven. Whether you’re a beginner or someone with years of experience, your contributions will help us all understand our Western Massachusetts roots a little better.

WMGS June Training Session: Tech Talk with Dave - - Using YouTube for Genealogy
2026-06-18 19:00 - 20:30 | Online
At our next Tech Talk with Dave session, we’ll look at the world’s largest video site and how you can use it to enrich your genealogy journey. Dave Lapierre will show how YouTube is far more than entertainment — it is a vast, free library for genealogists and family historians.
Discover genealogy channels offering free, clear tutorials; locate vintage films; find solutions for tough research roadblocks; view archival footage; and learn to organize
your favorite videos and control playback speed. Dave will guide us step-by-step through navigating the website easily, adjusting settings for comfortable viewing, and safely saving videos to watch later.
