Western Massachusetts Genealogical Society, Inc.

WMGS October Training Session: Write Your Family History Using Traditional and AI Strategies
2025-10-16 19:00 - 20:30 (America/New_York) | Online
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
presentation, when he shared his family’s journeys through the hilltowns of Western Massachusetts.)
Starting with his template for developing stories, John will explain his step-by-step process for writing a family history. We’ll learn more about:

Using AI tools to find more detailed information that is period- and locale
specific to our ancestors.
Incorporating basic genealogical material with this additional research.
Using AI to draft reports or revise them for tone, grammar, and spelling.

John encourages us to identify an ancestor living between 1800 and 1950, so we can
follow along in real time. He’ll also ask volunteers to share their research findings. This is a great opportunity to get some direct feedback!

WMGS November Training Session - Tech Talk with Dave: Mapping Your Ancestors' Migration
2025-11-20 19:00 - 20:30 | Online
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.
Dave will show us how to:

Use Google My Maps to create a map with various pinned locations from an
ancestor’s migration
Connect the various pinned locations
Save and export a KMZ file from Google My Maps
Import the KMZ file into Google Earth / Google Earth Pro
Play the “tour” in Google Earth / Google Earth Pro

Dave will also provide a step-by-step handout with all the directions, so that we can map our own ancestors’ migrations and journeys.

WMGS January Training Session: Get Involved with WMGS!
2026-01-22 19:00 - 20:30 | Online
WMGS is seeking more volunteers to help keep our society thriving. There are many
ways to contribute and share new ideas. Routine tasks often require only a few hours
each 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.
With all that in mind, January’s training session will serve a dual purpose:

Reviewing our current volunteer needs and exploring ways members can contribute to our society’s ongoing success.
Opening a conversation about the potential launch of a Genealogy Helpers
program.

Attending 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,
collaborate on a shared ancestor or location, or guide those just beginning their family history research.
Your 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.

WMGS February Training Session: Getting Ready for RootsTech2026 - Preview & Review
2026-02-19 19:00 - 20:30 | 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.
