KINSEEKERS promotes learning about genealogy and family history.
Our programs are free and open to the public.
Come check us out and see what we have to offer.
We meet at 10:30AM on the 3rd Saturday of the month (October - June)
at the Leesburg Public Library, 100 E Main St, Leesburg, Florida 34748.
Next Meeting: Saturday, 21 April at 10:30.
April Meet-Up (Program Change!)
Turn Family History Facts into Stories You Can Share
Saturday, 21 April at 10:30.
Leesburg Public Library (Meeting Room A)
Genealogists accumulate a lot of facts – but the rest of the world wants to hear stories. Does the idea of trying to tell the stories of your ancestors seem like too big a job? Two simple principles can get you started writing your family stories: look at what the facts imply and “take small bites.”
Presented by professional genealogist and nationally acclaimed speaker, Annette Burke Lyttle.
The DNA SIGs will meet before hand from 9:00 - 10:15 in Meeting Room A at the Leesburg Public Library.
The WikiTree SIG will meet for two sessions in the 2nd Floor Tech Room of the Leesburg Public Library. The first from 9:00-10:00 is for those just getting started (less than five profiles created); the second from 1-3pm for a more general Question and Answer period.
New Feature!
Weekly Genealogy Chats
Every Monday, 10:30 - 12:30
Florida Porch Cafe at 706 W Main St, Leesburg.
This is a 'come when you want' weekly get-together to discuss anything genealogy related.
Questions? Brick walls in your research? A new online resource to share? A major discovery you're excited about? Then stop in, grab a cup of coffee, and join the conversation. Better yet, stay for lunch; the food is great!.
March Meet-Up
Protecting Your Family Heirlooms and Genealogy Research from Disasters
Saturday, 17 March at 10:30
Leesburg Public Library (Meeting Room A)
Hurricanes. Tornados. Fire. Flooding. These are just some of the events that can wreck havoc on treasured family history items and research.
Professional achivist Kevin Arms will discuss ways to protect your family photos, documents, and heirlooms before, during, and after a disaster.
Our DNA SIG will meet beforehand from 9:00 - 10:15 in Meeting Room A.
The WikiTree SIG has been postponed to March 24th. They will meet in the 2nd Floor Tech Room from 9:00 to 10:15 for new Wikitree Accounts and from 1:00 - 3:00 for regular Q&A.
February Meet-up
How Research Plans Can Up Your Genealogical Game
Saturday, 17 Feb at 10:30.
Leesburg Public Library (Meeting Room A)
Research is more effective and productive if we take a little time to make a plan before we dive in. Learn the steps and techniques of research planning that will save you time and frustration. Using a research plan helps in all areas of genealogy, be it seeking an elusive vital record, identifying DNA connections, or even breaking down a brick wall.
Presented by professional genealogist and nationally acclaimed speaker, Annette Burke Lyttle.
Our DNA and WikiTree SIGs will meet before hand from 9:00 - 10:15. DNA will be in Meeting Room A and WikiTree in the 2nd Floor Tech Room, both at the Leesburg Public Library.
January Meet-Up
Understanding and Using Your Autosomal DNA ResultsSaturday, 20 Jan at 10:30.
Leesburg Public Library (Meeting Room A)
We're bringing back Genetic Genealogy expert and nationally acclaimed speaker, Drew Smith, to talk about Autosomal DNA. If you have tested with AncestryDNA or one of the other testing companies, are thinking about it, or simply want to understand why so many genealogists are excited about DNA testing, don't miss this program. Autosomal DNA test results not only provide clues to your heritage, they can help fill the spaces in your family tree. Learn to interpret the results and then make successful contact with matches.
Don't forget: We now offer a DNA SIG (Special Interest Group)! They meet the same day as our monthly program, from 9:00 - 10:15 in Meeting Room A at the Leesburg Public Library.
December Program & Annual Meeting
Thank you(!) to Kristin Barcomb for her presentation "The Digital Public Library of America (DPLA) and Internet Archive." Most of our members were unfamiliar with these two fantastic free resources. Kristin provided an overview of both sites and illustrated how we can use them to discover unique nuggets of our family history.
At our Annual Business Meeting, members voted to approve the proposed Interim By-Laws and elected our Officers for 2018.
Congratulations to:
President: Bob Schultz
Vice President: Kevin Arms
Treasurer: Debi Hoag
Secretary: Kristin Barcomb
Great Kick-Off for Our 2017-2018 Season!
Thank you to Debi Hoag for an outstanding presentation on
WikiTree, The World's Free, Collaborative, Online Family Tree. As a WikiTree Genealogist, Project Coordinator, Volunteer Coordinator, and Leader, Debi brought a unique and detailed understanding of WikiTree and how it can help us advance our family history research. Member response was so positive, we are starting a WikiTree special interest group (SIG). We'll share the details as soon as they are avaialble.
Society members can access her handouts and presentation slides in the "downloads" section of the Members Only tab.
Announcing A New Membership Benefit
We've partnered with Internet Genealogy magazine to offer a new membership benefit!
When you join KINSEEKERS, we'll present you a free issue of Internet Genealogy (a $6.95 value).
Inside, you'll find a special one year subscription offer to this bi-monthly magazine for only $20 (regularly $27.95). If you are already a subscriber, they will extend your subscription at this rate by one year.
Already a member? Come to our next meeting to receive your complimentary issue!
OCTOBER MEET-UP (WELCOME BACK!)
Join us on Saturday, 21 October as we kick-off our 2017-18 season with a great program.
WikiTree: The World's Free, Collaborative, Online Family Tree.
Over 426,000 genealogists world-wide are using DNA and traditional genealogical sources to create an accurate single family tree.
You can use WikiTree as your primary online family tree or simply as another tool to help further your own family history research.
Our presenter is Debi Hoag, who holds a Leader role at WikiTree. She co-leads the Profile Improvement Project, an initiative to ensure accurate supporting documentation for WikiTree entries. She also serves on many of WikiTree's functional projects.
In addition to our featured presentation, we have some exciting announcements to share: a new membership benefit, Special Interest Group (SIG) initiatives, and a wide range of volunteer opportunities. Come reconnect with genealogy friends and welcome new members.
Start time is 9:30am. Location is Meeting Room A of the Leesbug Public Library.
CONGRATULATIONS!
Kevin Arms, a librarian, archivist, and faculty member at Lake Sumter State College, has been awarded a much deserved scholarship by the Florida State Genealogical Society. Titled the Charlotte Reels Duvall/FSGS Librarian Scholarship, it is awarded to selected librarians to support their attendance at a genealogical conference or genealogical research institute. Congrats, Kevin!
Kinseekers thanks the FSGS for providing such a great opportunity for librarians to expand their genealogical education. Librarian Kevin Arms is a great supporter of our local genealogical community!
