2009-10 programs and other Web site changes

Please visit the IRGS.org Web site to see the first cut at the program schedule for the 2009-10 meeting season. You will also notice that a new "About Us" page has been added, as well as a memorial page. Hopefully the slimmed-down front page will load a little faster for you now.

Also note that we have stopped mirroring all of the Web content at our old Rootsweb address. If you are still using the "flindigs" address, it is time to update your bookmarks!

I hope you are having a fun-filled summer of research.

Regards,
Phil Wright, webmaster

123456789

Ponder this:

Just after midnight and just after noon on July 8, 2009 it will be ... 12:34:56 7/8/9

Happy Serial Day!

First Fall Meeting date shifted!

Hi everyone,

Our first fall meeting will be held on Wednesday, September 16, at 9:30 am in the large meeting room in the library. We hope to see you there. You will receive information later on about the program for that day.

Your IRGS Board

Genealogy Game Show: May 12th

IRGS Membership Meeting
May 12, 2009
It’s Game Time Again!

By popular request, our May program will be another program of Genealogy
Jeopardy presented by Nancy and Tom Garvey. The audience will be divided
into three teams vying for genealogy related prizes. The three captains are
Marcia Eyberse, Maryellen McGarry and Tony Young. Marcia heads up the
Purple Team; Maryellen the Green Team and Tony, in his favorite team color,
will captain the Orange Team.

This time, the genealogy terms will be from many sources – legal, medical,
wills and occupations among others. Four possible answers will be presented.
While there is only one right answer, all four choices may look logical. These
are all words used by our ancestors but seldom found in today’s world. Many
have a very whimsical sound. All are a source of pure fun. We may learn a
little but mostly we’ll just have good competitive enjoyment.

After each quiz, the three captains will tally the number of correct answers for
their teams. Pete Kersey as The Master Scorekeeper will keep track of the
correct totals. The highest cumulative score determines the winning team.
Each member of the team with the highest number of winning answers will
receive a prize with special genealogy or historical remembrances. Look at
some of your old documents and even historical novels for clues! Come
prepared to win and have fun!

See our Web page at irgs.org for details

10 Genealogy Libraries to visit before you die

The Julian W. Lowenstein Archive Center & Genealogy Department at the Indian River County Main Library in Vero Beach, Florida ...

and, oh yeah, these other 9: http://www.familytreemagazine.com/article/9-libraries

I didn't see the Godfrey Memorial Library listed ... what would you add to the list? Post a comment to let us know!

George Branford Wilson, IRGS co-founder, passed away Mar 26th

Obituary, Press Journal, Wednesday, April 1, 2009

George Branford Wilson, 100, of Sebastian, Florida and former life long resident of Maryland, died Thursday, March 26th, while in rehab recovering from an earlier fall. Mr. Wilson was born in Hillsboro, Maryland the third and last child of George Lawrence and Louise Branford Wilson. He attended Washington College, Chestertown, Maryland and graduated from the Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore Maryland. Following his civilian retirement from the United States Army Chemical Corp Mr. Wilson developed an interest in genealogy, wrote and published several family histories and was a co-founder of the Indian River Florida Genealogical Society. He is survived by his sons: George Robert Wilson of Urbana, IL., John Bonifant Wilson and wife Anne (Brien) of Winston-Salem, NC, stepson Eric B. Larson and wife Ellen of Bethesda, Maryland and numerous grand and step grandchildren. Mr. Wilson’s ashes will be returned to Denton, Maryland for interment on June 15, 2009.

Local arrangements entrusted to Cox-Gifford-Seawinds Funeral Home and Crematory, Vero Beach, Fl. Condolences may be sent through www.seawindsfh.com/obit.php

Michigan death records available

Research tidbit submitted by Marg Putzke, IRGS Member & Polish GIG leader

Million Record March

By Kris Rzepczynski, Library of Michigan | March 16, 2009

Introducing the Michigan Death Records Collection

Welcome to Seeking Michigan! As a partner in the site, The Library of Michigan is excited to make these Michigan death certificates for the years 1897 to 1920 freely available online. The years 1915 to 1920 are particularly significant, as a readily available statewide index did not exist previously.

See http://seekingmichigan.org/discover-collection?collection=p129401coll7

Polish GIG news from Marg

The Polish GIG will meet on Thursday, April 16th at 3:00 to discuss the latest and greatest technology aids. We will be implementing our very own Wiki to help us connect with our research friends.

Personal Ancestral File (PAF) Seminar

On Thursday, March 12, 2009 at 10:30 AM in the Large Meeting Room at the Library, we will present an overview of the popular genealogy software usually referred to as PAF. We'll show you how to enter your basic genealogy information and navigate around the program. PAF is the easiest, most user friendly but not the most comprehensive of the myriad of genealogy programs. Also, the price is right; it's FREE. Anyone who is working on their genealogy should use some genealogy program because it is a great assist in organizing your work, printing out standard genealogy forms and sharing your data with others. We'll cover multiple marriages, adoptions, linking pictures, citing sources, printing out a variety of forms and books, and backing up your data.

If you do not already have PAF on your computer, we strongly suggest you download it from familysearch.org; click on download PAF, provide your information, click on download English, and follow prompts. See you there!!!

IRC Library collection now on WorldCat.org

We have been waiting to tell the world what is in the Indian River County Main Library genealogy department. It has finally happened.

Due to a grant from the State of Florida, they have chosen several library collections in Florida to be added to WorldCat.org which is really OCLC (Online Computer Library Catalog.) Due to the large expense, we never thought it would happen and is the reason why many small-town libraries are not included.

However, since only phase 1 of 3 phases has been completed, I would recommend using our ouline catalog at http://catalog.irclibrary.org/polaris/ for a little while longer if you do not find what you want. I understand the whole process may be completed by the end of the month.

WorldCat.org is a wonderful tool and if you put in your zipcode, it will tell you the nearest library and how far it is from your home. It searches libraries from all over the world.

Try this example: Search for People of the Red Barns. Click on the title and you should see our library listed as number one and the next closest library is 128 miles away in Collier County. When you click on the library name, it will automatically take you to the catalog WITHIN the library and you can locate the call number.

Remember: our collection does NOT circulate. You have to come visit us, which makes us very happy!

Try it! I think you'll like it.

Pam Cooper, Supervisor of Archive Center and Genealogy Department
Indian River County Main Library, Vero Beach, Florida