The 2009 FGS Fall Seminar with Elizabeth Shown Mills

The Florida Genealogical Society (Tampa) is very pleased to announce the details of its 2009 Fall Seminar, which will be held from 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on Saturday, September 26, 2009, at the Dale Mabry Campus of Hillsborough Community College.

This year's speaker is Elizabeth Shown Mills, CG, CGL, FASG, FNGS, FUGA, distinguished, internationally recognized genealogy expert, speaker, author, and researcher.

Ms. Mills is a historical researcher and writer who has spent her life studying American culture and the relationships between people. A popular lecturer and author who has appeared on radio and television on three continents, Elizabeth has been widely cited as “The person who has had the most impact on family history in the post-Roots era.”

Across a thirty-year career, Elizabeth has been the long-term editor of the National Genealogical Society Quarterly and president of both the American Society of Genealogists and the Board for Certification of Genealogists. Since 1987, she has headed the groundbreaking Advanced Research Methodology track that she created at the Samford University Institute of Genealogy & Historical Research.

Elizabeth is the author, editor, and translator of thirteen books and over 500 journal and magazine articles in genealogy, history, literature and sociology. Aside from her 2004 reality-based historical novel, Isle of Canes—which reviewers have called a “masterpiece” and a cross between Roots and Gone with the Wind—Mills is best known for two works now considered essential references in the field of family history: Professional Genealogy: A Manual for Researchers, Writers, Editors, Lecturers & Librarians and the award-winning Evidence Explained: Citing History Sources from Artifacts to Cyberspace (Library Journal “Best Reference Work, 2007).

She will present four excellent lectures:

• The Elusive Ancestor: There’s No Such Thing as “Too Poor to Trace”
• Sources & Citations Simplified: From Memorabilia to Digital Data to DNA
• The Identity Crisis: Right Name, Wrong Man? Wrong Name, Right Man?
• Okay, I Got the Neighbors – Now What Do I Do with Them?

Join us for an exciting day of genealogical presentations, vendors and exhibitors, and great door prizes! In addition, an informal luncheon workshop about getting started with your genealogy will be presented. Box lunches will be available for purchase at HCC on the day of the conference. We will arrange for quantities to be available based on the number of registrations received by 15 September 2009.

Registration for the Fall Seminar is $35 for members and $40 for non-members. If you join FGS in conjunction with registering for the seminar, you will be entitled to the Member registration fee of $35 and your membership will include the last quarter of 2009 and all of 2010!

You will find the 2009 FGS Fall Seminar Registration Form, a Map of Hillsborough Community College, Site of 2009 FGS Fall Seminar showing the location of HCC's parking and the building in which the auditorium is located, and the FGS Membership Application in the right-hand columns of our website at http://fgstampa.org (under IMPORTANT FGS DOCUMENTS). For more information, please email us at fgstampa@hotmail.com.

Join us for an exciting and informative day with the inimitable Elizabeth Shown Mills!

FGS' 50th Anniversary and Fall Seminar

We have had a WONDERFUL 50th anniversary celebration for the Florida Genealogical Society (Tampa) this past weekend! Our gala 50th anniversary dinner on 12 September was limited to the first 50 registrants, and we had an almost full complement at the lovely Valencia Garden Restaurant in Tampa. The food was absolutely top-notch, and we were greatly entertained by Paula Stuart-Warren's talk about "Murphy's Law and Genealogy Research Trips."

We then presented our annual Fall Seminar on Saturday, 13 September, in the technologically state-of the-art Student Services Building Auditorium at Hillsborough Community College Campus on Dale Mabry Boulevard (across from Raymond James Stadium where the Tampa Buccaneers play and the site of the next Super Bowl on 2 February 2009). Almost 100 attendees enjoyed four excellent talks by the stellar Paula Stuart-Warren: 20th and 21st Century Genealogical Research; Railroad Records and Railroad History: Methods for Tracking; Organizing Your Genealogical Materials: Methods to Keep it Current; and Untrod Ground: Sources You May Not Have Encountered.

A great group of vendors and other genealogical societies were present in the exhibit hall, as well as a vast collection of free books, historic genealogical magazines, and more. FGS presented a commemorative display of its first fifty years, including special proclamations from Florida Governor Charlie Crist, Tampa Mayor Pam Iorio, and Generations Network CEO Tim Sullivan. These framed commemorative documents will be on permanent display in the Ceta Rodgers Armitage Room adjacent to the History and Genealogy Department of the John F. Germany Public Library in downtown Tampa.

In addition, FGS had more than $1,100.00 in door prizes of all types from Ancestry.com (The Generations Network), RootsMagic, Everton's, Family Tree Magazine, Family Roots Publications, the Florida Genealogical Society, the Estate of Melvin O. Brown, George G. Morgan, GenerationMaps.com, the Pasco Genealogical Society, and local society member Ann King! It was a rich treasure trove for our attendees!

Volunteers pins were awarded to a number of society members in recognition of their great service to the society. The annual Volunteer of the Year Award was bestowed upon Shirley Evans Besch. Shirley provides the society's "Ask a Genealogist" service at the John F. Germany Library in downtown Tampa on the first Saturday morning of each month. She has served on the FGS Board for the last year, providing inteligence, excellent ideas and suggestion for membership, great humor, and wonderful camaraderie. She produced (with husband Rick Besch) this year's elegant FGS Member Directory, and she unselfishly volunteers her time and energy to help other researchers and to promote the success of the society. Shirley is the embodiment of charm, grace, and volunteer spirit!

The Florida Genealogical Society declared our 50th Anniversary and Fall Seminar a great success. We sincerely thank Paula Stuart-Warren for her excellent presentations and her unselfish sharing of time to answer every question posed by every attendee. We are grateful to Paula for making this year's seminar another winner!

The 2008 FGS Fall Seminar with Paula Stuart-Warren

The Florida Genealogical Society is very pleased to announce its annual Fall Seminar, which will be held on Saturday, September 13, 2008, at the Dale Mabry campus of Hillsborough Community College in Tampa, FL, from 8:30 AM to 4:00 PM

Our very special speaker is Paula Stuart-Warren, CG^SM, an internationally recognized genealogical expert, author, lecturer, and professional researcher who works full-time in the field of genealogy.

Paula is a graduate of the National Institute of Genealogical Research held at the U.S. National Archives and Records Administration (NARA). She is certified by the Board for Certification of Genealogists and is a firm believer in continuing education in genealogy. She is comfortable with her audiences and enjoys discussing genealogy with participants. Her seminar presentations have taken her to most states in the U.S. and to Canada. Since 1997 she has been a Course Coordinator for the Salt Lake Institute of Genealogy's American Genealogy Records and Resources intermediate course.

She is a columnist for Ancestry Weekly Journal and has written articles for many genealogical publications including NewEnglandAncestors.org, FGS Forum, the NGS NewsMagazine, and Ancestry Magazine. She co-authored the book, Your Guide to the Family History Library. Paula has been a national officer of the Association of Professional Genealogists (APG), a board member of the Minnesota Genealogical Society, and an active volunteer for the Federation of Genealogical Societies.

Her ancestors represent eight different countries. These ancestors, descendants, and the cousins resided in many Midwestern and Western states and in several Canadian provinces. She has researched her children’s paternal southern ancestors. Her other specialties include the U.S. National Archives, major repositories, American Indians, railroads, and the WPA.

Paula will present four lecture topics at this year's conference:

• 20th and 21st Century Research
• Railroad Records and Railroad History: Methods for Tracking
• Organizing Your Genealogical Materials: Methods to Keep it Current
• Untrod Ground: Sources You May Not Have Encountered

In conjunction with this year's Fall Seminar, FGS is celebrating its Gala 50th Anniversary. Our society is the oldest genealogical society in the State of Florida! To commemorate this occasion, FGS will host a gala banquet on Friday evening, September 12th, 2008, at the historic Valencia Garden Restaurant in Tampa. Paula will deliver what is guaranteed to be a warm, funny, and engaging banquet talk.

We are exceedingly pleased to have Paula Stuart-Warren with us to celebrate our golden anniversary and to present at our annual all-day seminar. You will not be disappointed!

A registration form for the seminar and a banquet reservation form are available on our FGS web site. Maps to the seminar site and to the Valencia Garden Restaurant will be added to the web site soon. There are still seats available for the Gala Banquet!

The 2008 FGS Fall Seminar with Paula Stuart-Warren

The Florida Genealogical Society is very pleased to announce its annual Fall Seminar, which will be held on Saturday, September 13, 2008, at the Dale Mabry campus of Hillsborough Community College in Tampa, FL, from 8:30 AM to 4:00 PM

Our very special speaker is Paula Stuart-Warren, CG^SM, an internationally recognized genealogical expert, author, lecturer, and professional researcher who works full-time in the field of genealogy.

Paula is a graduate of the National Institute of Genealogical Research held at the U.S. National Archives and Records Administration (NARA). She is certified by the Board for Certification of Genealogists and is a firm believer in continuing education in genealogy. She is comfortable with her audiences and enjoys discussing genealogy with participants. Her seminar presentations have taken her to most states in the U.S. and to Canada. Since 1997 she has been a Course Coordinator for the Salt Lake Institute of Genealogy's American Genealogy Records and Resources intermediate course.

She is a columnist for Ancestry Weekly Journal and has written articles for many genealogical publications including NewEnglandAncestors.org, FGS Forum, the NGS NewsMagazine, and Ancestry Magazine. She co-authored the book, Your Guide to the Family History Library. Paula has been a national officer of the Association of Professional Genealogists (APG), a board member of the Minnesota Genealogical Society, and an active volunteer for the Federation of Genealogical Societies.

Her ancestors represent eight different countries. These ancestors, descendants, and the cousins resided in many Midwestern and Western states and in several Canadian provinces. She has researched her children’s paternal southern ancestors. Her other specialties include the U.S. National Archives, major repositories, American Indians, railroads, and the WPA.

Paula will present four lecture topics at this year's conference:

• 20th and 21st Century Research
• Railroad Records and Railroad History: Methods for Tracking
• Organizing Your Genealogical Materials: Methods to Keep it Current
• Untrod Ground: Sources You May Not Have Encountered

In conjunction with this year's Fall Seminar, FGS is celebrating its Gala 50th Anniversary. Our society is the oldest genealogical society in the State of Florida! To commemorate this occasion, FGS will host a gala banquet on Friday evening, September 12th, 2008, at the historic Valencia Garden Restaurant in Tampa. Paula will deliver what is guaranteed to be a warm, funny, and engaging banquet talk.

We are exceedingly pleased to have Paula Stuart-Warren with us to celebrate our golden anniversary and to present at our annual all-day seminar. You will not be disappointed!

A registration form for the seminar and a banquet reservation form are available on our FGS web site. Maps to the seminar site and to the Valencia Garden Restaurant will be added to the web site soon. Check back for more details!

FGS Tampa's 2007 Fall Conference is a Great Success

The 2007 FGS (Tampa) Fall Seminar was, by all accounts from attendees, vendors, and the FGS Board, an unqualified success! Our speaker, Amy Johnson Crow, CG, delivered four information-packed presentations from which every attendee -- both beginner and veteran researcher -- agreed that they learned a great deal. Amy is a consummate presenter who incorporates quality information and humor in all of her materials. We are exceptionally proud to have brought Amy to Tampa for this, our third annual Fall Conference.

Our vendors, societies, and other exhibitors enjoyed the intense interest of all of our more than 80 attendees. In addition, there were 20 door prizes, as well as many free books and magazines, donated by the following: Aha! Seminars, Inc., AncestorStuff.com, Ancestry Publishing, Digital Genealogist, LLD, Everton Publishers, the Florida Genealogical Society, Inc., the Genealogy Guys Podcast, the Hillsborough County Public Library System, RootsMagic, Inc., Trevetta Hartline Wunderlin, and more. We are sincerely grateful for the support of our society's activities by these wonderful people .

One of the great delight and highlights of the annual Fall Seminar is the awarding of the FGS Volunteer of the Year award. This year's recipient is Loraine Jacobs Rose. Loraine is a much-loved and -respected member of the society and the Corresponding Secretary of the FGS Board. She s, coordinating the Telephone Tree to remind our members of monthly meetings and other upcoming events, handling correspondence, and contributing her efforts and talents wherever they are needed. Despite personal and family health concerns, she has worked tirelessly in the past year (and indeed for many years) to make our genealogical society a high quality, professional and scholarly organization. Loraine is shown at right receiving her 2007 Volunteer of the Year Award plaque from society president Drew Smith. In addition, her name has been added to the society's Volunteer of the Year Award plaque that hangs in the Ceta Rodgers Armitage Room at the John F. Germany Library in downtown Tampa. Her name joins that of Treveta Hartline Wunderlin, the 2006 award winner, and their names and contributions will be honored and remembered for all time by our society.

Planning is already under way for the FGS 2008 Fall Seminar, which will commemorate and celebrate the society's 50th anniversary. We are the oldest genealogical society in the State of Florida and are planning a gala conference for next year! Watch for details in the coming months, and let us know if you'd like to volunteer to be part of the planning and excitement!