Thanks Randy,
for using my question for some Saturday Night Fun!
While I had
done some family research in the early 1980’s, my passion really started in
1996. About that same time, I saw a genealogy class at the local public library. I was the only student who came that night. The instructor and I talked quite a bit, and
at the end of the class he gave me a card stating I was officially a member of
the library’s genealogy society. He told
me it would help me get into libraries etc.
As far as I know, this society never met, but I carried around the card
for many years, just in case.
In the early
2000’s I researched family who for many years lived in Bureau and Henry counties
in north central Illinois. I joined both
counties’ genealogy societies for a year or two, to get a discount on having
local members research family names. Both
societies had quarterly periodicals, and I wrote letters asking if other
members had information on my Dunbars, Knuddes and Verbecks to contact me. As luck would have it, Barb, who lived on the
west coast read my Bureau county letter and we enjoyed many years of tracking
down Dunbars together via letters. When Barb passed away her sister wrote to
tell me that Barb had enjoyed our exchanges of information which had kept her
busy during her long illness. (I was
surprised because Barb had never mentioned being sick to me, but it was nice to
know that I provided some relief.)
I had been
volunteering weekly at the local Family History Library (Church of Latter Day
Saints) for about 15 years, when in 2012, I decided I needed a change of venue. I saw on their bulletin board several notices
of local groups and picked out two meetings to attend. I joined and am still active in both.
1)
CAGGNI,
which started as a genealogy group focusing on computers. It meets 11 months of the year. One general meeting with a genealogical speaker
every month. Many SIGs (special interest
groups.) It is a large diverse group. I
am currently the Secretary.
2)
Northwest
Suburban Genealogy Society, which is a smaller group, meeting 8 times a
year. One general meeting a month with
great speakers. I write the monthly NWSGS
newsletter currently.
So I joined
groups at different times, for different reasons. First, just to get the basics. Next, to help me locate records too distant
for me to travel. Then to meet, mingle,
socialize and grow my knowledge of family research on a long-term basis. By not only attending, but volunteering, I’ve
learned and grown. I hope to continue
for many more years.
