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DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20240118T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20240118T203000
DTSTAMP:20260407T091902
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:20240108T183000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20240108T203000
DTSTAMP:20260407T091902
CREATED:20231224T135938Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20231224T135938Z
UID:40858-1704738600-1704745800@westmassgen.com
SUMMARY:WMGS Board Meeting
DESCRIPTION:
URL:https://westmassgen.com/event/wmgs-board-meeting-32/
LOCATION:Online
CATEGORIES:WMGS Board Meetings
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://westmassgen.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/zoom.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20240103T180000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20240103T200000
DTSTAMP:20260407T091902
CREATED:20231128T221441Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20231128T221441Z
UID:40837-1704304800-1704312000@westmassgen.com
SUMMARY:WMGS January Monthly Meeting: Was Your Ancestor Truly Gone or Just Hiding in the Records? with Pamela Vestal
DESCRIPTION:We all have ancestors who don’t seem to have any records that confirm their existence. We spend hours looking for them without any results. We know where they might have  been born\, lived\, married\, and died\, but still\, we can’t seem to locate them anywhere. \nWhy haven’t you found your ancestors in the records? Documents are often hidden  from view\, with information that is present but concealed\, stored in a place or a manner that is unexpected\, misspelled\, indexed incorrectly\, or separated from the other similar records. We’ll explore strategies for tracking down these elusive ancestors so that we don’t miss a single detail.
URL:https://westmassgen.com/event/wmgs-january-monthly-meeting-was-your-ancestor-truly-gone-or-just-hiding-in-the-records-with-pamela-vestal/
LOCATION:Online
CATEGORIES:WMGS Monthly Meeting
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://westmassgen.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Pamela-Vestal.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20231214T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20231214T203000
DTSTAMP:20260407T091902
CREATED:20231128T221914Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20231128T221914Z
UID:40840-1702580400-1702585800@westmassgen.com
SUMMARY:WMGS Virtual Holiday Party
DESCRIPTION:We had so much fun at our virtual holiday party in 2021 that we’re going to host another one this year! \nAt that event\, we shared photos of our members sitting on Santa’s lap as children\, the tempting results of an annual sisters’ Christmas cookie bake-off\, and a vintage holiday jewelry collection\, among other items. We chatted about holiday traditions and hosted a genealogy trivia game that was so much fun! \nDo you have photos of family tree ornaments\, visits with Santa\, a decorated snowman\non the lawn\, or any of the gifts or toys that you received for the holidays? Whether you celebrate Christmas\, Hannukah\, or another winter holiday with your family and friends\, we hope that you will share some of your photos and memories with your fellow genealogists. \nSearch those boxes\, albums\, closets\, and your online collection for your holiday photos\, and send your scanned items to us. We’ll create a slide show for our party and enjoy reminiscing with each other. \nOur holiday party will also be a wonderful opportunity to share your family traditions and memories with us. Do you make a special recipe each year? Do you have a family  tradition that you’ve carried forward through the years? \nWe’ll also host another holiday trivia game to test your knowledge! \nBring your mug of hot chocolate\, hot mulled wine or cider\, or something stronger! Wear your holiday finest or your ugliest holiday sweater\, if you dare! \nPlease send your scanned photos to us at: westmassgen@gmail.com by Monday\,  December 11th and we’ll create a slideshow of your submissions.
URL:https://westmassgen.com/event/wmgs-virtual-holiday-party/
LOCATION:Online
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://westmassgen.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/2023-Holiday-Cookies.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20231206T180000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20231206T200000
DTSTAMP:20260407T091902
CREATED:20231128T220823Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20231128T220823Z
UID:40835-1701885600-1701892800@westmassgen.com
SUMMARY:WMGS December Monthly Meeting: An Introduction to the Courthouse by Michael John Neill
DESCRIPTION:Now that we can get back to in-person research\, many of us will be heading to a courthouse to research our ancestors. Michael will present an overview of the records typically found in a county courthouse: land\, probate\, court\, and vital records. He’ll talk about the basics involved in courthouse research\, including how to prepare for a visit\, what you need to know before you make that trip\, what records you might find\, and what to expect from the courthouse and its staff.
URL:https://westmassgen.com/event/wmgs-december-monthly-meeting-an-introduction-to-the-courthouse-by-michael-john-neill/
LOCATION:Online
CATEGORIES:WMGS Monthly Meeting
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://westmassgen.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Michael-John-Neil.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20231101T180000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20231101T200000
DTSTAMP:20260407T091902
CREATED:20230925T205813Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20230925T205813Z
UID:40785-1698861600-1698868800@westmassgen.com
SUMMARY:November Monthly Meeting: Forensic Genealogy: Law and Order Meets Family History
DESCRIPTION:Have you ever wondered what forensic genealogists do? How they use genealogical research techniques to find both living and deceased individuals to solve legal issues? At our November meeting\, genealogist Michael Brophy will return to WMGS to present “Forensic Genealogy: Law and Order Meets Family History.” \nForensic genealogy is an emerging field involving cases with legal ramifications. This fascinating area of research includes heir research\, adoption\, citizenship\, immigration\ncasework\, and military repatriation involving living people. \nWe hope you’ll join us on Wednesday\, November 1st\, 2023 at 6 p.m. for a virtual\npresentation on Zoom.
URL:https://westmassgen.com/event/november-monthly-meeting-forensic-genealogy-law-and-order-meets-family-history/
LOCATION:Online
CATEGORIES:WMGS Monthly Meeting
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://westmassgen.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Michael-Brophy.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20231019T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20231019T203000
DTSTAMP:20260407T091902
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:20231009T183000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20231009T203000
DTSTAMP:20260407T091902
CREATED:20230925T205549Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20230925T205549Z
UID:40783-1696876200-1696883400@westmassgen.com
SUMMARY:WMGS Board Meeting
DESCRIPTION:
URL:https://westmassgen.com/event/wmgs-board-meeting-31/
LOCATION:Online
CATEGORIES:WMGS Board Meetings
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://westmassgen.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/zoom.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20231004T180000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20231004T200000
DTSTAMP:20260407T091902
CREATED:20230827T171413Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20230827T171413Z
UID:40707-1696442400-1696449600@westmassgen.com
SUMMARY:October Meeting: The Hub of the Wheel: How Tracing a Brother With No Children Connected Ten Siblings
DESCRIPTION:Finding the origins of immigrant ancestors can be challenging for sure. For anyone with Irish ancestors\, finding their origins in Ireland can be especially difficult. Most of our ancestors left few clues to where they were born and where they lived prior to\nimmigration. However\, we know that most immigrants followed family and friends to travel across the ocean and settle near each other in their new country. That knowledge and good research skills can help us solve those challenges. \nAt our October 4th monthly meeting\, nationally known genealogist Mary Kircher Roddy will join us to present “The Hub of the Wheel: How Tracing a Brother with no Children Connected Ten Siblings.” Mary will use a case study showing how a family from Ireland emigrated in a chain migration scheme to western Pennsylvania between 1825 and 1845 and how using the standards for researching connected the siblings and their descendants and led to their origins in County Tyrone.
URL:https://westmassgen.com/event/october-meeting-the-hub-of-the-wheel-how-tracing-a-brother-with-no-children-connected-ten-siblings/
LOCATION:Chicopee Public Library & Online\, 449 Front Street\, Chicopee\, MA\, 01013\, United States
CATEGORIES:WMGS Monthly Meeting
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://westmassgen.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Mary-Kircher-Roddy.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20230914T183000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20230914T200000
DTSTAMP:20260407T091902
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:20230911T183000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20230911T203000
DTSTAMP:20260407T091902
CREATED:20230827T172843Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20230827T172843Z
UID:40712-1694457000-1694464200@westmassgen.com
SUMMARY:September Board Meeting
DESCRIPTION:
URL:https://westmassgen.com/event/september-board-meeting/
LOCATION:Online
CATEGORIES:WMGS Board Meetings
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://westmassgen.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/zoom.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20230906T180000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20230906T200000
DTSTAMP:20260407T091902
CREATED:20230827T163301Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20230827T163301Z
UID:40704-1694023200-1694030400@westmassgen.com
SUMMARY:September Meeting: Mining Information from City Directories
DESCRIPTION:Before phone books\, many municipalities had city directories. Updated annually\, the directories were comprehensive listings of adult residents\, along with their addresses\,\ntheir occupations\, names of spouses\, and other helpful facts. Initially intended for salesmen and merchants who wanted to contact people in the area\, city directories\nare a gold mine for genealogy research. \nParticipants in this session will learn about the variety of information contained in city directories and how to use this information to find their ancestors and learn what\nthey were really like. Through the use of a case study\, a portion of the presentation will focus on how to use spreadsheets to record\, organize\, and manipulate the data and to use city directory information as a gateway to other resources.
URL:https://westmassgen.com/event/september-meeting-mining-information-from-city-directories/
LOCATION:Chicopee Public Library & Online\, 449 Front Street\, Chicopee\, MA\, 01013\, United States
CATEGORIES:WMGS Monthly Meeting
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://westmassgen.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Susan-J-OConnor.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20230802T180000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20230802T193000
DTSTAMP:20260407T091902
CREATED:20230727T180530Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20230727T180530Z
UID:40691-1690999200-1691004600@westmassgen.com
SUMMARY:WMGS August Monthly Meeting: Genograms for Genealogists
DESCRIPTION:Have you ever noticed common threads in your family tree and wondered why they happened? At our August monthly meeting\, genealogist\, and member\, Edwin Strickland II will present an intriguing and useful topic for our members\, “Genograms for Genealogists.” \nEdwin will show us how the concepts behind the genogram (McGoldrick-Gerson Studies or Lapidus Schematics)\, typically used in counseling and therapy\, can be applied to genealogy to open a third dimension to our research. Going beyond the family group sheet and pedigree chart\, you can extend patterns of behavior and medical history beyond the family into the community. Genograms can help explain some of the hows and whys we encounter. They can also be used as predictors to focus further research.
URL:https://westmassgen.com/event/wmgs-august-monthly-meeting-genograms-for-genealogists/
LOCATION:Online
CATEGORIES:WMGS Monthly Meeting
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://westmassgen.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Ed-Strickland.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20230705T180000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20230705T193000
DTSTAMP:20260407T091902
CREATED:20230527T153336Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20230527T153336Z
UID:40660-1688580000-1688585400@westmassgen.com
SUMMARY:WMGS July Monthly Meeting: War and Change in the Post-Civil Ware Era Until World War I
DESCRIPTION:At our July 5th monthly meeting\, genealogist John Putnam will join us to present War and Change in the Post-Civil War Era Until World War I. \nThis presentation is part four of John’s New England series and covers the incredible immigration and growth from the Civil War until World War I. \nFollowing the Civil War\, there were many changes in New England society. Reconstruction\, immigration\, advances in travel\, burgeoning industries\, and other issues contributed to the vast changes that affected our ancestors and their families\nprior to World War I. Knowing about these factors will help you understand their lives\nand expand your research.
URL:https://westmassgen.com/event/wmgs-july-monthly-meeting-war-and-change-in-the-post-civil-ware-era-until-world-war-i/
LOCATION:Chicopee Public Library & Online\, 449 Front Street\, Chicopee\, MA\, 01013\, United States
CATEGORIES:WMGS Monthly Meeting
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://westmassgen.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/John-Putnam.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20230615T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20230615T203000
DTSTAMP:20260407T091902
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:20230612T183000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20230612T203000
DTSTAMP:20260407T091902
CREATED:20230423T165346Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20230423T165346Z
UID:40620-1686594600-1686601800@westmassgen.com
SUMMARY:WMGS June Board Meeting
DESCRIPTION:
URL:https://westmassgen.com/event/wmgs-june-board-meeting/
LOCATION:Online
CATEGORIES:WMGS Board Meetings
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://westmassgen.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/zoom.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20230607T180000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20230607T200000
DTSTAMP:20260407T091902
CREATED:20230423T165040Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20230423T165508Z
UID:40616-1686160800-1686168000@westmassgen.com
SUMMARY:WMGS June Monthly Meeting: An Introduction to the Courthouse with Michael John Neill
DESCRIPTION:Now that we can get back to in-person research\, many of us will be heading to a courthouse to research our ancestors. Michael will present an overview of the records typically found in a county courthouse: land\, probate\, court\, and vital records. He’ll talk about the basics involved in courthouse research\, including how to prepare for a visit\, what you need to know before you make that trip\, what records you might find\, and what to expect from the courthouse and its staff.
URL:https://westmassgen.com/event/wmgs-june-monthly-meeting-an-introduction-to-the-courthouse-with-michael-john-neill/
LOCATION:Chicopee Public Library & Online\, 449 Front Street\, Chicopee\, MA\, 01013\, United States
CATEGORIES:WMGS Monthly Meeting
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://westmassgen.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Michael-John-Neil.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20230518T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20230518T210000
DTSTAMP:20260407T091902
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
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20230508T183000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20230508T203000
DTSTAMP:20260407T091902
CREATED:20230423T165233Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20230423T165233Z
UID:40618-1683570600-1683577800@westmassgen.com
SUMMARY:WMGS May Board Meeting
DESCRIPTION:
URL:https://westmassgen.com/event/wmgs-may-board-meeting/
LOCATION:Online
CATEGORIES:WMGS Board Meetings
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://westmassgen.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/zoom.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20230503T180000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20230503T200000
DTSTAMP:20260407T091902
CREATED:20230331T232533Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20230331T232533Z
UID:40584-1683136800-1683144000@westmassgen.com
SUMMARY:WMGS Annual Meeting & Tech Talk with Dave
DESCRIPTION:Our annual meeting will be held on May 3rd at 6 p.m. This will be a hybrid meeting.\nMembers can choose whether to attend in person in the Chicopee Public Library conference room or participate virtually on Zoom. \nAt the meeting\, our Treasurer will give a brief financial report. Next\, the Nominating\nCommittee will present the slate of candidates for election to open positions as officers\nand directors of our society. Nominations will also be accepted from the floor. Voting\nwill be conducted in person and virtually through an anonymous poll on Zoom.\nThe following positions are up for election to two-year terms:\n• President\n• Treasurer\n• Director (Two positions) \nA Nominating Committee consisting of Dave Lapierre and Cara Seitchek has been appointed. If any member is interested in running for election to a position and/or wishes to know the requirements for the position\, please send an email to the Nominating Committee at westmassgen@gmail.com with Nominating Committee in the subject line. Please include a brief description of your qualifications and experience for the position you are seeking. \nWe’ll also announce our Founders Award recipient and review our plans for the\nupcoming year. \nFollowing the business portion of our May 3rd annual meeting\, we will be hosting “Tech Talk with Dave.”\nDave Lapierre will field and (hopefully) answer your technology questions. Rather than giving a prepared presentation\, Dave will answer questions from the audience.
URL:https://westmassgen.com/event/wmgs-annual-meeting-tech-talk-with-dave/
LOCATION:Chicopee Public Library & Online\, 449 Front Street\, Chicopee\, MA\, 01013\, United States
CATEGORIES:WMGS Monthly Meeting
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://westmassgen.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/CPL.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20230427T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20230427T203000
DTSTAMP:20260407T091902
CREATED:20221123T002349Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20221123T002524Z
UID:40457-1682622000-1682627400@westmassgen.com
SUMMARY:WMGS Training Session: Genealogy 101 - Session #4
DESCRIPTION:We’re excited to share the news with you! Peggy Clemens Lauritzen\, one of our favorite presenters\, will be teaching “Genealogy 101: A Four-Session Course in Beginning\nGenealogy” for WMGS members at our monthly training sessions from January through April 2023. \nThese sessions will be held virtually on the 4 th Thursday of the month at 7 p.m. via Zoom. The recordings and handouts will be archived in the Members Only section of our website\, in case you miss a class or want to watch it again. \nFor some time\, we’ve been searching for a beginners’ course in genealogy that we could offer to potential\, new\, and current members. \nThis course could be a way to bring more members to our society and introduce more\npeople to the joy of family history research. \nMany of us are self-taught and could benefit from learning other aspects of genealogy\nresearch. Whether to learn new skills or brush up on unfamiliar areas\, we think current\nmembers will be interested in attending such a course as well. We’ll have more information in our January newsletter about the sessions and what topics Peggy will\ncover in each class. \nIf you have friends or family who have been thinking about doing their family genealogy\,\nplease let them know about this wonderful opportunity. For the low cost of an annual\nmembership\, they’ll be able to take this course (either live on Zoom or at their leisure)\,\nattend our monthly meetings\, and have access to all of the archived webinars\,\nhandouts\, and other content in the Members Only section of our website as well.
URL:https://westmassgen.com/event/wmgs-training-session-genealogy-101-session-1-4/
LOCATION:Online
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://westmassgen.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Peggy-Clemens-Lauritzen.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20230405T180000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20230405T193000
DTSTAMP:20260407T091902
CREATED:20230331T231837Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20230331T231950Z
UID:40581-1680717600-1680723000@westmassgen.com
SUMMARY:WMGS April 2023 Monthly Meeting: Using Tax Records in Genealogy - How Taxes Can Be a Good Thing!
DESCRIPTION:Many dread tax day\, but old tax records provide valuable clues to our ancestors’ lives. Since the early days of America\, people were taxed to create roads\, to support wars\,\nand to provide needed revenue. Learn the types of records available\, where to find\nthem\, and how they help solve genealogy problems. \nJoin us on Wednesday\, April 5th at 6 p.m. for a virtual presentation with Dr. McCoy.\nYou can participate on Zoom from home or attend the presentation in person at the\nChicopee Public Library conference room.
URL:https://westmassgen.com/event/wmgs-april-2023-monthly-meeting-using-tax-records-in-genealogy-how-taxes-can-be-a-good-thing/
LOCATION:Chicopee Public Library & Online\, 449 Front Street\, Chicopee\, MA\, 01013\, United States
CATEGORIES:WMGS Monthly Meeting
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://westmassgen.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Carol-P-McCoy.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20230323T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20230323T203000
DTSTAMP:20260407T091902
CREATED:20221123T002342Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20221123T002450Z
UID:40456-1679598000-1679603400@westmassgen.com
SUMMARY:WMGS Training Session: Genealogy 101 - Session #3
DESCRIPTION:We’re excited to share the news with you! Peggy Clemens Lauritzen\, one of our favorite presenters\, will be teaching “Genealogy 101: A Four-Session Course in Beginning\nGenealogy” for WMGS members at our monthly training sessions from January through April 2023. \nThese sessions will be held virtually on the 4 th Thursday of the month at 7 p.m. via Zoom. The recordings and handouts will be archived in the Members Only section of our website\, in case you miss a class or want to watch it again. \nFor some time\, we’ve been searching for a beginners’ course in genealogy that we could offer to potential\, new\, and current members. \nThis course could be a way to bring more members to our society and introduce more\npeople to the joy of family history research. \nMany of us are self-taught and could benefit from learning other aspects of genealogy\nresearch. Whether to learn new skills or brush up on unfamiliar areas\, we think current\nmembers will be interested in attending such a course as well. We’ll have more information in our January newsletter about the sessions and what topics Peggy will\ncover in each class. \nIf you have friends or family who have been thinking about doing their family genealogy\,\nplease let them know about this wonderful opportunity. For the low cost of an annual\nmembership\, they’ll be able to take this course (either live on Zoom or at their leisure)\,\nattend our monthly meetings\, and have access to all of the archived webinars\,\nhandouts\, and other content in the Members Only section of our website as well.
URL:https://westmassgen.com/event/wmgs-training-session-genealogy-101-session-1-3/
LOCATION:Online
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://westmassgen.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Peggy-Clemens-Lauritzen.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20230223T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20230223T203000
DTSTAMP:20260407T091902
CREATED:20221123T002335Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20221123T002417Z
UID:40455-1677178800-1677184200@westmassgen.com
SUMMARY:WMGS Training Session: Genealogy 101 - Session #2
DESCRIPTION:We’re excited to share the news with you! Peggy Clemens Lauritzen\, one of our favorite presenters\, will be teaching “Genealogy 101: A Four-Session Course in Beginning\nGenealogy” for WMGS members at our monthly training sessions from January through April 2023. \nThese sessions will be held virtually on the 4 th Thursday of the month at 7 p.m. via Zoom. The recordings and handouts will be archived in the Members Only section of our website\, in case you miss a class or want to watch it again. \nFor some time\, we’ve been searching for a beginners’ course in genealogy that we could offer to potential\, new\, and current members. \nThis course could be a way to bring more members to our society and introduce more\npeople to the joy of family history research. \nMany of us are self-taught and could benefit from learning other aspects of genealogy\nresearch. Whether to learn new skills or brush up on unfamiliar areas\, we think current\nmembers will be interested in attending such a course as well. We’ll have more information in our January newsletter about the sessions and what topics Peggy will\ncover in each class. \nIf you have friends or family who have been thinking about doing their family genealogy\,\nplease let them know about this wonderful opportunity. For the low cost of an annual\nmembership\, they’ll be able to take this course (either live on Zoom or at their leisure)\,\nattend our monthly meetings\, and have access to all of the archived webinars\,\nhandouts\, and other content in the Members Only section of our website as well.
URL:https://westmassgen.com/event/wmgs-training-session-genealogy-101-session-1-2/
LOCATION:Online
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://westmassgen.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Peggy-Clemens-Lauritzen.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20230201T180000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20230201T193000
DTSTAMP:20260407T091902
CREATED:20230128T203917Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20230128T203917Z
UID:40541-1675274400-1675279800@westmassgen.com
SUMMARY:WMGS February Monthly Meeting: Pinpointing Ancestors Using Sanborn Fire Insurance Maps
DESCRIPTION:Where did your ancestors live? How did they live? What was their dwelling like? As genealogists we can generally find the addresses of our ancestors on census records\, marriage licenses\, death certificates\, and other sources. But the next question should be: Where exactly is this address? What was the dwelling like? How far did ancestors live from their place of work\, other relatives\, or their place of worship? Sanborn Fire Insurance Maps are one resource to locate where your ancestors lived and bring detail to their story. \nAt our February 1st meeting\, Susan J. O’Connor will be presenting “Pinpointing Ancestors Using Sanborn Fire Insurance Maps.” Susan’s presentation will include\nexamples from her ancestors who lived in Chicopee\, MA\, making her presentation\nespecially important for our members.
URL:https://westmassgen.com/event/wmgs-february-monthly-meeting-pinpointing-ancestors-using-sanborn-fire-insurance-maps/
LOCATION:Online
CATEGORIES:WMGS Monthly Meeting
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://westmassgen.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Susan-J-OConnor.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20230126T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20230126T203000
DTSTAMP:20260407T091902
CREATED:20221123T002331Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20221123T002331Z
UID:40453-1674759600-1674765000@westmassgen.com
SUMMARY:WMGS Training Session: Genealogy 101 - Session #1
DESCRIPTION:We’re excited to share the news with you! Peggy Clemens Lauritzen\, one of our favorite presenters\, will be teaching “Genealogy 101: A Four-Session Course in Beginning\nGenealogy” for WMGS members at our monthly training sessions from January through April 2023. \nThese sessions will be held virtually on the 4 th Thursday of the month at 7 p.m. via Zoom. The recordings and handouts will be archived in the Members Only section of our website\, in case you miss a class or want to watch it again. \nFor some time\, we’ve been searching for a beginners’ course in genealogy that we could offer to potential\, new\, and current members. \nThis course could be a way to bring more members to our society and introduce more\npeople to the joy of family history research. \nMany of us are self-taught and could benefit from learning other aspects of genealogy\nresearch. Whether to learn new skills or brush up on unfamiliar areas\, we think current\nmembers will be interested in attending such a course as well. We’ll have more information in our January newsletter about the sessions and what topics Peggy will\ncover in each class. \nIf you have friends or family who have been thinking about doing their family genealogy\,\nplease let them know about this wonderful opportunity. For the low cost of an annual\nmembership\, they’ll be able to take this course (either live on Zoom or at their leisure)\,\nattend our monthly meetings\, and have access to all of the archived webinars\,\nhandouts\, and other content in the Members Only section of our website as well.
URL:https://westmassgen.com/event/wmgs-training-session-genealogy-101-session-1/
LOCATION:Online
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://westmassgen.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Peggy-Clemens-Lauritzen.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20230104T180000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20230104T193000
DTSTAMP:20260407T091902
CREATED:20221123T001614Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20221123T001851Z
UID:40449-1672855200-1672860600@westmassgen.com
SUMMARY:WMGS Monthly Meeting: Introduction to U.S. Church Records: Why We Care Where Grandma Went to Church
DESCRIPTION:Popular genealogist and author Sunny Jane Morton will help us kick off the new year! At our January 4th meeting\, Sunny will present “Introduction to U.S. Church Records: Why We Care Where Grandma Went to Church.” \nAs Sunny has noted\, U.S. church records of many denominations can reveal ancestors’ vital events\, maiden names\, family relationships\, overseas birthplaces\, and other information such as our ancestors’ religious practices and residences. Sunny will help us learn what these records may look like\, how to identify an ancestral church\, locate extant records\, and tell us where we might locate them. \nSunny’s acclaimed book on this topic\, “How to Find Your Family History in U.S. Church Records” (co-authored with Harold Henderson)\, has become a bestseller. Sunny is a popular speaker at genealogy conferences and seminars around the U.S. and world. She’s especially known for expertise in tracing U.S. ancestors\, her unique comparisons\nof the industry’s largest websites\, and inspiring presentations on how to reconstruct\nand tell meaningful stories from the past.
URL:https://westmassgen.com/event/wmgs-monthly-meeting-introduction-to-u-s-church-records-why-we-care-where-grandma-went-to-church/
LOCATION:Online
CATEGORIES:WMGS Monthly Meeting
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://westmassgen.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/Sunny-Jane-Morton.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20221215T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20221215T203000
DTSTAMP:20260407T091902
CREATED:20221027T011611Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20221115T162724Z
UID:40418-1671130800-1671136200@westmassgen.com
SUMMARY:WMGS Virtual Holiday Gathering
DESCRIPTION:We’re very excited that well-known local historian\, Dennis D. Picard\, will be presenting “Dashing Through the Snow: The Real History of Christmas in New England” at our virtual holiday event this year. \nThe reality of Christmas in early New England may be disappointing to some and unbelievable to many\, but the historical actuality of that celebration — or lack of celebration — of Christmas is a very interesting tale and one that blends the heritage and spirit of many cultures and many lands. \nDennis’ presentation in period costume with accompanying artifacts will help us understand what Christmas was like for our ancestors and put us in the holiday spirit. His interpretations of history are always a fascinating look into the past. \nBrew a mug of mulled wine\, cider\, or hot chocolate and join us as we travel back in time.
URL:https://westmassgen.com/event/wmgs-virtual-holiday-event/
LOCATION:Online
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://westmassgen.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/decorate.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20221207T180000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20221207T200000
DTSTAMP:20260407T091902
CREATED:20221027T011143Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20221027T011143Z
UID:40416-1670436000-1670443200@westmassgen.com
SUMMARY:WMGS Monthly Meeting: The Pilgrims: Persistent and Resilient
DESCRIPTION:At our December meeting\, John Putnam will return to present “The Pilgrims: Persistent and Resilient.” John will discuss the challenges and successes of the Plymouth Colony from its settlement until its merging with the Massachusetts Bay Colony in 1692. \nAfter facing and surviving challenges on their journey\, the Pilgrims faced further hardships once they arrived on the shores of America. The list was long and included housing\, food\, disease\, weather\, conflicts with Native American tribes\, economic issues\, and more. How did they deal with these challenges and what were the outcomes of their efforts? Where did their strength and resilience originate?
URL:https://westmassgen.com/event/wmgs-monthly-meeting-the-pilgrims-persistent-and-resilient/
LOCATION:Online
CATEGORIES:WMGS Monthly Meeting
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://westmassgen.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/John-Putnam.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20221130T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20221130T203000
DTSTAMP:20260407T091902
CREATED:20221123T002944Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20221123T002944Z
UID:40461-1669834800-1669840200@westmassgen.com
SUMMARY:Massachusetts Genealogical Council: An Evening with Kate Kelley - Meet the Photo Angel
DESCRIPTION:It all began with a pile of labeled photos of non-relatives that were mixed in with Kate’s grandparents’ old family pictures. Were they friends? Classmates? War buddies? Neighbors? I was determined to find out. She started poking around genealogy websites began connecting with relatives of the photographed. Now hooked\, Kate visits antique stores to thumb through pictures to find those that are labeled so that she can try to return them to their family members. Affectionately dubbed “The Photo Angel\,” Kate has established a project to reunite long lost photos with their relatives. \nThis presentation is free\, but registration is required!
URL:https://westmassgen.com/event/massachusetts-genealogical-council-an-evening-with-kate-kelley-meet-the-photo-angel/
LOCATION:Online
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://westmassgen.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/MGC-Emblem-for-website-link.png
END:VEVENT
END:VCALENDAR