Finding Your Elusive Ancestors

Description

Good news! 
 
The Manatee Genealogical Society is hosting a Virtual Seminar on Saturday, January 28, 2023, 10:00 a.m. - 4:15 p.m. EST.  Instead of just one speaker, we will have FOUR nationally known speakers. The theme of the seminar is “Finding Your Elusive Ancestors,” and don’t we all have one or two or three? You will be able to submit your questions to the speakers for expert guidance, and you will also have the chance to win prizes from major genealogical companies. 
 
Program speakers and topics:

Blaine Bettinger, PH.D., J.D., will discuss “Evaluating a Genealogical Conclusion Including DNA Evidence” – incorporating DNA evidence with documentary evidence is not a simple matter.  It requires careful and methodical analysis of a variety of different autosomal DNA limitations and pitfalls. The session will examine essential considerations for EVERY genealogical conclusion using DNA, including confirmation bias, Tree Completeness, shared DNA amounts, and more. Blaine is a professional genealogist specializing in DNA evidence and is the author of the long-running blog (founded 2007) The Genetic Genealogist (https:// the geneticgenealogist.com/).  Blaine has a PH.D. in biochemistry with a concentration of genetics.

Michael D. Lacopo, D.V.M. will present “She Came From Nowhere…. - Using Social History in Your Research.”  Dr. Lacopo is a professional genealogist researching since 1980.  His research skills cover a broad range, with specialties in Mennonite, German, Swiss, Mid-Atlantic American, genetic genealogy, social history and advanced problem solving. His presentation illustrates the joys and pitfalls of Virginia research, using social history, to identify the parents of Elizabeth Stith, the ancestor “from nowhere”. This lecture will accentuate how the knowledge of social history can be the glue that holds your proof argument together!                                                     

J. Mark Lowe, a Fellow of the Utah Genealogical Association (FUGA), author and lecturer, will speak on “Overcoming Record Loss”. Historic record loss from fire, water damage or theft can create information gaps that may not be easily answered. Preparing a diligent strategy of discovery and investigation may provide substitutes or alternate records that lead to many of the missing answers plus additional information. Mark is a lifelong genealogist who specializes in original records and manuscripts throughout the South.  Mark does webinars for Legacy Family Tree and worked on several genealogical television series.                    
 
Cyndi Ingle, creator of CyndisList.com and a 42-year genealogist, will round out the day’s seminar by addressing the challenging topic of the Internet. She will discuss her research methodology in: “Diligence Online:  Keep Looking Everywhere to Find Your Elusive Ancestors”. The Internet is piecemeal. It isn't clean and neat and tidy with everything in its place. With the exception of the U.S., U.K., and Canadian censuses (and perhaps a couple of other datasets), there is no one complete database or collection of everything you need for one place or one record type. The answer to this is thorough, detailed, and relentless searching across multiple repositories and collections. Finding aids and researching the origins of the records offline can help you pinpoint if and where they exist online, even in multiple places.
 
COST:  Members - $40; Non-members: S50.  Learn more about our speakers and register for the seminar at our website: https://mgsfl.org/. 
 
Hope to see you there!
The Manatee Genealogical Society