Genealogy Club news

Lydia O’Connor

The New Year got off with a great start. The club’s guest speaker was Bridgette LeFevre who has been doing genealogy work for the past ten years. She has a degree in family history and has been on the TV show Dead Files dealing with homes that have ghosts. She provides a history for the family while “ghost experts” do the work in trying to communicate with the ghost! Bridgette has also written several books. She takes people’s research and creates a book for them.

Today she gave us useful information on planning a genealogy research trip. Whether one travels to Salt Lake City to do research or anywhere in the continental Unites States or overseas, there are tips and preparation all need to be aware of. The main tip is to plan ahead especially if traveling outside the United States with proper documents and vaccinations, baggage rules and if you can use your personal computers or phones and cameras. Think about the modes of transportation, climate, currency and obtaining a guide if necessary. If one does advance research, the time wasted looking for something that doesn’t exist may be avoided. Consider bringing along comfortable clothing and shoes and always leave some room in the suitcase for memorabilia. If you are going to connect with relatives, check with them first and research some local events you might attend while there. And finally, be sure to take tons of pictures and remember those flash drives. You can never take too many pictures.

With all this valuable information, we were all ready to venture out on research trips of our own. We were given many websites to help along the way.

Russ Soderberg and Sue Reggentin were our door prize winners.

Be sure to join us next month when we will host Amy Urman who will talk on “Tips and Tricks for Using Google.” We meet every first Thursday of the month at 1:00 p.m. in the SaddleBrooke One Clubhouse, Coyote Room. See you there.