WESTERN MICHIGAN GENEALOGICAL SOCIETY ONLINE!

MONTHLY MEETINGS

We meet at 1:30 p.m. in the Ryerson Auditorium of the Grand Rapids Public Library on the first Saturday of the month, September through June. Should the first Saturday fall on a holiday weekend, another day will be scheduled. The June meeting is often times changed to the 2nd Saturday. Unless a special program, each meeting has a one-hour lecture on a genealogy related subject by a knowledgeable speaker. 

For the time being, membership meetings are held virtually -  via Zoom.

Books and charts are sold at our meetings and a "Hospitality Hour" follows. Looking at a genealogical book on the internet?  See if it’s for sale at the WMGS sales table.  Our books are sold for same price as the Internet….but at our sales table and as a member of WMGS that same book has a 10% discount and you don’t pay for shipping.  Talk to Lisa and Wanda about items you don’t see. 

All meetings are free and open to the public. 

REMINDER: Parking is free at the library on Saturdays. Just make sure you validate your parking exit ticket in the machine in the first floor lobby.

Please review our weather cancellation policy so you'll be aware how we'll inform you when it is necessary to cancel a meeting.

MONTHLY MEETINGS

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May 7, 2022 Virtual Meeting (1:30pm)

Virtual presentation via Zoom Webinar
Click for Zoom Meeting Link

“Finding Fabulous (and Free)
       Genealogy Websites” 

Presenter: Mark Mullinax

Want to research your family tree but don't want to spend a fortune doing it? Every U.S. state and many foreign countries have websites devoted to genealogy and family history that can be accessed for FREE! This presentation shows a variety of popular and less well known genealogy websites you can access from home at absolutely no cost to you!

Biography:

Mark Mullinax is a professional genealogist with more than 35 years experience in family history research. He has been a contributing researcher for family history books and has written articles for a variety of magazines and newsletters. He is a member of several professional organizations including the National Genealogical Society, the Genealogical Speakers Guild, the American Library Association, the Michigan Historical Society and the International Molyneux Family Association. He lives in Grand Rapids and commutes to Brighton District Library weekly where his goals include assisting others in their efforts to learn about their ancestors, helping preserve the history of Brighton and Livingston County and making that history easily accessible to others.

Handout available here. 

RESEARCH TRIPS

Allen County Public Library

Western Michigan Genealogical Society’s
Bus Trip to Fort Wayne’s
Allen County Public Library

The Bus Trip is  scheduled for Wednesday - Thursday, April 20-21 has been canceled * 

* subject to change depending on Fort Wayne Library conditions as we get closer.

  

WMGS WRITERS GROUP

We help and support each other's desire to write about our families with a kind eye and lots of humor. Everyone is welcome.

Please see current information on the Writers Group page.

OTHER ACTIVITIES AT MONTHLY MEETINGS

Refreshments:   Many WMGS members are great cooks!  They share homemade cookies and other goodies with us during our social time!  Social time for gene-people is as must!  Who else wants to listen to how you found G-G-G Grandpa except another WMGS member?   If you can bring cookies, contact Joann Fast, our Hospitality Chairperson.

WMGS Book Sales:  WMGS stocks quite a large number of new  books and materials for your inspection.  We feel that most people want to browse through genealogy books before they purchase. Valuable genealogy materials are  difficult to find in the normal bookstores.  Got ideas?  Want to help?  Let us know!   Watch for our Christmas Special in December!