Open forum and planning meeting
The meeting started with sharing special family pictures and related stories from about 8 FHIG members. They ranged from the very sad to the humorous. Several members talked about how they used their pictures for further discoveries of their own family history. In response to a question from one remember, we reviewed how one can use familysearch.org to try and identify non-obvious cousin relationships, often 8th to 12th cousins. There was a discussion and a caution about depositing family history information with county and/or state historical societies. There was a discussion of programming for next year and three potential sessions/presenters were identified. Possible session topics include Roots Tech, the use of Chat GPT, and identifying family history in situations where written family records do not exist.
Open forum and planning meeting
Wed, May 15 2024, 10am
You’re invited to join the final Family History Interest Group (FHIG) meeting for 2023–24 on Wednesday, May 15, from 10 to 11 a.m. via Zoom. This will be an open forum for participants to ask questions related to family history, share insights, talk about recent projects, and suggest topics for 2024–25 FHIG meetings.
We invite all who are interested to share up to two of their favorite family history pictures. Be prepared to answer questions and explain the significance of your photo(s). To share your pictures, email them to Craig Swan at [email protected] by Monday, May 13.
If you are working on a family history project and would like to make a presentation for a meeting next year, please let us know.
—Lynn C. Anderson and Craig Swan, FHIG co-chairs
Upcoming Events
Our July 15 "hike" is going to be a kayaking adventure on Bde Maka Ska (formerly Lake Calhoun) and Lake of the Isles! If you don't have a kayak (or paddleboard), Wheel Fun Rentals, located next to the new concession stand rents single kayaks at $15 an hour and double kayaks at $25. The second hour is free if we rent before noon. Life jackets are provided with the rental.
Laura Ericksen will lead the discussion of How Stella Learned to Talk by Christina Hunger, a true story by a speech-language pathologist who taught her dog, Stella, to communicate using buttons associated with different words.
Our August 5 hike will be a reprise of our hike last summer at William O'Brien State Park. This is a beautiful park with a winding trail and a great view of the countryside. The hike is about 5.5 to 6 miles and we'll go at a moderate pace with frequent water breaks. After the hike, we will eat lunch at Rustic Roots Winery, a half mile north of the park.
Kathy Cramer will lead the discussion of The Bookbinder by Pip Williams, a book set in 1914 Oxford chronicling the life of Peggy who works in the University bindery, but craves a life beyond binding books but to being a scholar herself.
Enjoy a two-hour cruise on the Jonathan Padelford, leaving from the Harriet Island dock in St. Paul, boarding time at 5:30 p.m. We will have a brief program on board by Patrick Nunnally from the River Life Program of the Institute on the Environment.
August 31 is the due date for annual reports and updates. Annual Reports, Toolkits, web page updates, operating document updates and archives collections are all due each year on this date.
Autumn is a wonderful season in Minnesota so plan to join UMRA at the Andersen Horticultural Library at the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum. Kristen Mastel, head librarian and curator, will reveal its treasure trove of publications and artifacts relating to plant history, horticulture, and natural history. After the tour, those who are interested may stay to eat lunch together, sitting outside if the weather is nice. Later, you are invited to a one-hour tram tour of the entire Arboretum that includes natural areas of flowering shrubs, bogs, and forests, family garden and landscaping showpieces, and the red barn farm
After a summer break the UMRA Photo Club will next meet September 10, 2024 in the meeting room of the Hennepin County St. Anthony Branch Library. For those interested in lunch, meet at the Great Dragon at 11:30 am. For September the THEME will be Curves
We will continue to discuss the pros and cons of Medicare Advantage. You will also hear about notable non-health plan and non-broker resources.