GENEALOGICAL
SOCIETIES -- LOCAL & WITHIN REASONABLE DRIVING DISTANCE
For upcoming
programs, check the listed contact or website for details,
location, directions, or for any last minute changes:
The Lakewood
Ranch Genealogical Club
meets first Monday of the month at 7:00 PM from Nov. thru Apr. at Lakewood
Ranch Town Hall. Their leader is professional genealogist, Donna Moughty.
For inquiries please contact
Nancy Johnson (941-752-9819, or [email protected]
).
Genealogical Society of Sarasota
(see
http://gssfl.com/);
meets on the 2nd Saturday of
the month at 10am (lite refreshments) and 10:30am for the program from Oct. thru May at Selby Library, 1331 1st St., Sarasota.
South Bay Genealogical Society,
(see
https://sites.rootsweb.com/~flsbgs/ )
meets the third Tuesday of the
month at 10:45 AM with a Regional Roundtable, followed by lunch at noon ,and
a presentation at 1:00 PM from Oct. thru May. Meetings and Regional
Roundtables are usually held at the new South Shore Regional Library, 15816
Beth Shields Way, Ruskin.
Florida Genealogical Society
(Tampa)
(see
http://fgstampa.org/events.php)
Meetings are the third
Saturday of each month (except for December) at 10 AM in the John F. Germany
Library Auditorium, 900 N. Ashley Drive in downtown Tampa. Check website for
updates and changes.
Englewood
Genealogical Society
meets the fourth Wednesday
of the month at 1:30 PM for the General Meeting for Sept., Oct., Jan. thru
Apr.; third Wednesday Nov., Dec. and May at Elsie Quirk Library, 100
Dearborn W. St., Englewood. January: meeting place TBA.
See:
http://egsfl.org
Lee County Genealogical Society, meets
the 3rd Thursday of the month at 1:00 PM. Check the website for details:
http://lcgsfl.org/index.php
Pinellas Genealogy Society,
(
https://sites.rootsweb.com/~flpgs/ )
meetings are the 3rd Saturday of the month and begin at
11:00 AM in the Jenkins auditorium of the
Largo Public Library. The Computer Interest Group meets at 9:45
AM before the general meeting, also in the Jenkins auditorium. Refer to
website for updates and any changes.
Jewish
Genealogical Society of Southwest Florida
(
http://www.jgsswf.org:80/ )
meets the third Sunday of the
month at 1:00 PM from Nov. thru May (with the exception of the second Sunday
in February) at Kobernick House, 1951 N. Honore Ave., Sarasota.
Jewish Genealogical
Society of Tampa Bay,
(see
https://sites.rootsweb.com/~fljgstb/ ) meets
the second Sunday of the month at 1:00 PM (beginner's session), and 2:00 PM
(featured program) from Sept. thru June (with some exceptions to accommodate
speakers or holiday conflicts) at Gulf Coast Jewish Family Services, 14041
Icot Blvd., Clearwater (unless there is a very special program).
Charlotte County
Genealogical Society
(
http://www.ccgsi.org
)
Meets monthly (except for July and August) on the third
Wednesday of the month, at 1:30p.m for a brief computer presentation; the
regular business meeting and speaker starts at 2pm. The meeting is at the
Port Charlotte Beach Park, 4500 Harbor Blvd, Room B, Port Charlotte, FL
33952. A free parking pass is available at the front entrance;
check the
website for details and meeting subject.
SOURCE OF STATE WIDE GENEALOGICAL NEWS & EVENTS
The Florida State Genealogical Society (FSGS)
http://www.flsgs.org has a
website, which lists all societies in the state. There is also a liaison
newsletter that goes out to each society, listing meetings and seminars for
all groups scheduled during the next few months. If you are a member
of MGS, this newsletter will be distributed to you via email . This is a must for society members
to know what is going on in the world of genealogy in Florida. Most of us are
happy to travel to Jacksonville or Tallahassee or Miami to hear a
nationally-ranked speaker. As you get to know the members of our group,
you'll hopefully find partners in research and develop a wider range of
friends for carpooling together.
HERITAGE
ORGANIZATIONS
It is fun to join organizations which honor our ancestors. It enriches our heritage. Completed and approved research can be very satisfying. Social aspects form close ties with new “cousins” and friends.
Here are some websites that list a variety of lineage societies.
HEREDITARY SOCIETIES WITH FUNCTIONAL WEBSITES
http://www.hereditary.us/list_date.htm
As you become familiar with the other members of our genealogy community, you might be amazed by their education, research, and travel experience. Many hold membership in and several hold local, state or national office in lineage organizations.
Here is a sample of organizations our own MGS members participate in:
Colonial Dames XVII Century; Colonial Dames of America; First Families of VA, CT, OH, etc; , National Huguenot Society; Sons of the American Revolution; Daughters of the American Revolution; Daughters of 1812; United Daughters of the Confederacy; Daughters of Union Veterans of Civil War 1861-1865; General Society of Mayflower Descendants; Flagon and Trencher; Jamestowne Society; National Society of Early Quakers; Daughters of American Colonists; Pilgrim John Howland Society; Pilgrim Francis Cooke Society; Descendants of Colonial Clergy; Women Descendants of Ancient and Honorable Artillery Company; Sons and Daughters of the Pilgrims; and Order of Founders and Patriots.
Membership in these societies requires research to prove either a new ancestor or relationship to one already established.
Our members often attend national conferences such as National Genealogical Society or State meetings such as Florida Genealogical Society. Several have taken classes or researched in the National Archives, DAR Library, Family History Library in Salt Lake or the Allen County Library in Fort Wayne, IN.
Some do indexing for the DAR online databases. Some maintain websites for societies or their own family line. Several have developed extensive personal libraries of genealogy books and CDs. Some volunteer to administer genealogy mailing lists such as those at
https://sites.rootsweb.com/ .
Some assist other researchers by serving as volunteers at the local public library or Family History Center. Some are experienced computer genealogists and teach classes in this subject area both locally and regionally. Several have published their family histories; how-to books and articles in genealogy magazines.
Others diligently teach the younger members of their families about their unique ancestral heritage by publishing family newsletters and sponsoring reunions and special grandchildren/grandpa research trips.
Almost all are willing to help fellow researchers in their areas of expertise. Just ask!
A LOCAL
GROUP OF INTEREST
The DIMAGE Photography Group
This group was
once a subset of the Manatee PC Users Group, but has grown to include nearly
200 attendees during season. Many from our genealogical community have benefited by
the tremendous teachings from this group. Meets in the evening, the 4th Tuesday
of the month. Digital photography and videography, and developing CD and DVD presentations
are the principal focus of this group.
