Poolside Chats

Poolside Chats: A Genealogy Webinar Series

The “Poolside Chats: A Genealogy Webinar Series” is organized by the Technology-Outreach Committee and presented to the FSGS membership and the public on a monthly basis. We have had webinars on topics such as DNA in genealogy, cloud-based technology, Florida territorial records and everything in between – and we are just getting started.

Genealogy education today can be accomplished in a number of mediums, webinars being one of them. This educational opportunity can provide you with information about resources, new technology and its relationship with genealogy, methodology, new websites and new databases coming online, and much more.

The "Poolside Chats: A Genealogy Webinar Series" is organized by the Technology-Outreach Committee and presented to the FSGS membership and the public on a monthly basis. We have had webinars on topics such as DNA in genealogy, cloud-based technology, Florida territorial records, and everything in between - and we are just getting started.

Genealogy education today can be accomplished in a number of mediums, webinars being one of them. This educational opportunity can provide you with information about resources, new technology and its relationship with genealogy, methodology, new websites and new databases coming online, and much more.

All you need to participate is a computer with speakers and a connection to the internet. So, we invite you to sit back and enjoy the presentations being brought to you by knowledgeable presenters and made possible through your membership dues.

All webinars start at 8 PM ET unless otherwise noted.

Upcoming Webinars

Past Webinars

Research Plan

Ready-Set-Plan! Developing a One-Step Research Plan

By J. Mark Lowe | January 15, 2015
The probability of creating a successful research project is greatly enhanced when the project begins with a precise statement of research goals and reasoning for the process. A strong basis of collected information is required for a solid, research plan. It is essential that a researcher be familiar with the data or evidence gathered about the subject and location of the project. A researcher with experience and knowledge of this base will be more likely to develop a good plan. This lack of knowledge about the principal research subject is the most likely reason a genealogical research plan will stumble or fail. Learn a simple technique for breaking down difficult research problems into manageable segments. Learn to get more research done while remaining focused.

J. Mark Lowe, CG, FUGA is a full-time professional genealogist, author, and lecturer. While sharing personal experiences that help beginning and experienced researchers gain new skills and insights for research, he specializes in original records and manuscripts throughout the South. Mark lives in Robertson County, Tennessee, along the Kentucky border.

Courthouse Research

That First Trip to the Courthouse

By Judy G. Russell | December 18, 2014
If there is one home truth in genealogy research, it’s this: not everything is available online. Sooner or later, every genealogist has got to make that first trip to the courthouse to check out the original records available there. How to prepare for that trip, the rules of the road, what to expect, what to ask for, and how to be sure you’ll be welcomed back the next time are explored in this lecture. 

The Legal Genealogist Judy G. Russell is a genealogist with a law degree. She writes, teaches, and lectures on a wide variety of genealogical topics, ranging from using court records in family history to understanding DNA testing. A Colorado native with roots deep in the American south on her mother’s side and entirely in Germany on her father’s side, she is a member of the Association of Professional Genealogists, the National Genealogical Society and numerous state and regional genealogical societies. She has written for the National Genealogical Society Quarterly and National Genealogical Society Magazine, among other publications. On the faculty of the Salt Lake Institute of Genealogy, the Institute of Genealogy and Historical Research in Alabama, and the Genealogical Research Institute of Pittsburgh, she is a member of the Board of Trustees of the Board for Certification of Genealogists, from which she holds credentials as a Certified Genealogist℠ and Certified Genealogical Lecturer℠. 

Latest Trends in Publishing for Genealogists

By Marlis Humphrey | October 16, 2014
What is happening in the publishing industry in general that genealogists can take advantage of? Look at where technology is heading that may impact what you decide to do today (e.g., website, blog, Facebook, Flipboard, printed book, smartphone, tablet, eReader, ePaper, and more). See how the next generation of readers consume books and media in different ways than in the past and have different expectations of what makes compelling content. Become familiar with the new tools available and formats. Learn about the importance of interactivity in creating an engaging family history. See how to add interactivity to a printed book. See it through the eyes of today’s readers. Develop a new perspective on how you publish your family history. You can create a family treasure.