Beginning Genealogy - Free!

• Did you start your family research but are stuck on where to look for information?  Did you resolve to renew your genealogical research?  Want some new ideas or to be reminded of good processes?  Join us for our free May Beginning Genealogy class to get some inspiration!
• Saturday, May 7th at 1:30 p.m. Central Time
• Instructor - Laurie Kolstead
• Register in advance at https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZMrdOmvqjMvGNX0-FU0JferlUUY6H6vv_Sx

• This class will highlight some lesser known genealogical databases and collections. Including brief overviews of the Periodical Source Index (PERSI),  Journal Storage (JSTOR), National Union Catalog of Manuscript Collections (NUCMC) and online digital collections (libraries and Museums). 
• Saturday, May 21st at 1:30 p.m.  Central Time
• Instructor - Stacy Weaver
• Register in advance at https://igs.regfox.com/lesser-known-genealogy-resources

IGS is sponsoring a road trip to the Midwest Genealogy Center library (MCG) in Kansas City.  The MGC is ranked as the best genealogy library and research center in our area and is also ranked among the best in the nation.  Many of our members have expressed an interest in going to this library, so IGS is putting together this road trip in response. Not only does this trip afford our members and friends a great research opportunity, but it affords us all time together to get to know local people, like ourselves, with a strong interest in genealogy.

    The MGC will have extra volunteers on these days ready to assist our travelers as they use MGC resources to search for family information. 

    The date for this road trip is Monday, June 20 through Tuesday, June 21, 2022.  Our transportation will leave from the IGS library on Monday morning and return us late on Tuesday evening.

Tentative Schedule:
     Monday
              7:30 a.m. -        Leave on our Charter bus.
            10:45 a.m. -        Arrive at Midwest Genealogy Center.
            12:00 noon -      Break for lunch at the library (included in cost of the trip).
              1:00 p.m.          Start researching your family tree with help of MGC volunteers.
            5:50 p.m. -         Dinner will be catered at the library. (included in cost of the trip).
            9:00 p.m. -         MGC closes and we go to our hotel.                                                            
   Tuesday
            6:30 – 8:30 a.m.     Breakfast at the hotel (included with your room) and pack
            9:00 a.m.           Return to Midwest Genealogy Center
            12:00 p.m.         Lunch will be at the library (included in cost of the trip).
            1:00 p.m.           Finish up your research
            4:30 p.m.           Load buses for return to Des Moines
            5:00 p.m.           Stop before leaving KC area for dinner
 (we will make reservations but cost is on your own).
            9:00 p.m.           Arrive back at the IGS library facility.
 
Cost of the trip:
            We are asking for $100 down on the trip now.  The total cost of the trip is dependent on the number of people who sign up, but it will be between $255 and $290 (for one adult with double occupancy hotel room) or between $320 and $355 (for one adult with single occupancy hotel room).

Trip registration and payment deadline is May 23, 2022
            In order to get our rooms reserved and finalize other arrangements, we need to know numbers by this date.  This trip is also limited to a maximum of 56 participants.
Miscellaneous Notes:
                If you have physical limitations, it is recommended that you bring someone along to assist you.  Please contact the IGS office for specific information.

German SIG

• Meets Monday, May 2nd at 7:00 p.m.
• This month, we will continue the discussion from January about using FamilySearch's wiki for German genealogy, and then talk about genealogy groups worth joining.
• Join us in person at IGS or online using Zoom.  Register in advance for the Zoom meeting at https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZMuc-yqrzsjHNIHNbMKWtaKF3cIrW5VP-Jd

DNA SIG

• Meets Tuesday, May 3rd at 6:30 p.m. via Zoom
• Register in advance at https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZAudu6gqj4jHNMHHXCP_FoSNFTh-fJZXDy0

• IGS is looking for submissions for the Hawkeye Heritage.
• If you have a written any of the following, please consider submitting to IGS@iowagenealogy.org to be considered as part of our Hawkeye Heritage publication.
  • A family history or sketch
  • Genealogical proof of a few pages or more
  • How-to articles
  • Transcribed records sets

• IGS is looking for volunteers for additional library attendants for Saturdays.
• IGS is also seeking anyone who might be interested in presenting classes.  You need not be located in Des Moines or even in Iowa!
• Please reach out to Tony at IGS@iowagenealogy.org if you are interested in volunteering.

• Just a reminder that IGS is a FamilySearch Affiliate Library.
• Affiliate libraries have enhanced access on-site to FamilySearch’s digital genealogical collections, providing access to some databases that would otherwise be accessible only through a FamilySearch family history center.
• FamilySearch also provides its affiliates with the latest tools and tips for genealogy reference librarians.
• To access the additional collection you need to be physically at IGS and utilize their computers or login to the FamilySearch website from your personal computer using IGS' Wi-Fi.