"Jewish Genealogy Brick Wall Roundtable"

Jewish Genealogical Society of Greater Orlando Program

ORLANDO, FL, March 25, 2013 — Join the Jewish Genealogical Society of Greater Orlando (JGSGO) for a roundtable discussion featuring genealogy brick wall problems and solutions.

Many genealogist encounter one or more brick walls when researching their family history. The paper trail seems to vanish. Your ancestors may have changed their names. All sources seem to have been exhausted. The trail has run dry. You may have run out of ideas on where to look next.

Bring your brick wall genealogy problem to the JGSGO’s mavens. In advance of the April 30^th meeting, submit a research problem statement, description, and background for your Jewish genealogy brick wall problem to jgsgo.maven@gmail.com. We ask that you be in attendance at the Brick Wall Roundtable meeting in order to hear what our mavens have discovered. Our mavens will share their findings and their research methods. The earlier you submit your brick wall problem, the more time our mavens will have to research it. This is a great opportunity to make a new discovery in your family history.

Even if you do not have a brick wall problem to submit at this time, the JGSGO Brick Wall Roundtable provides a great opportunity to learn Jewish genealogy research methods.

DATE: Tuesday, April 30, 2013

TIME: 7:00 P.M. – 8:45 P.M.

LOCATION: Maitland Public Library, 501 South Maitland Avenue, Maitland, FL 32751.

ADMISSION: Open to the public. Free.

About the Jewish Genealogical Society of Greater Orlando

The Jewish Genealogical Society of Greater Orlando (JGSGO) is a not for profit organization dedicated to sharing genealogical information, techniques and research tools with anyone interested in Jewish genealogy and family history. Anyone may join JGSGO. Annual dues are $25 for an individual and $30 for a family. For more information visit our blog at www.jgsgo.blogspot.com and “like” us at www.facebook.com/jgsgreaterorlando .

“Introduction to MyHeritage”

Jewish Genealogical Society of Greater Orlando Program

ORLANDO, FL, February 28, 2013 — Join the Jewish Genealogical Society of Greater Orlando (JGSGO) for a program featuring My Heritage Chief Genealogist, Daniel Horowitz, “Introduction to MyHeritage”.

MyHeritage.com, with more than 72 million registered users and 27 million family trees, is the biggest family network on the web. Learn how to build an online family tree for free, enter detailed information with sources and citations, navigate across the tree, generate charts and posters, create full reports, invite and share information with family members in 40 languages and get calendar alerts on family events. Set the privacy of your site from completely private to completely public, download a copy of your material or use the backup option.

Daniel Horowitz is MyHeritage Chief Genealogist, providing key contributions in the areas of product development, customer support and public affairs; contacting genealogy societies, bloggers and media. Daniel is also heading the company's Translation department, where he has been instrumental in increasing MyHeritage's global language support. A power genealogist, researcher and lecturer himself, Daniel holds board level positions in a few genealogical societies including the International Association of Jewish Genealogical Societies (IAJGS). With a B.Sc. in Computer Engineering and a Specialization in Education & Management of Educational Institutions, he has a deep understanding of the needs of today's family history enthusiasts. Daniel will be speaking to us from MyHertiage’s headquarters in Israel via the Internet.

Our maven will also be available at the meeting to help you with your genealogy questions. If you need assistance from our maven, please email us in advance at jgsgo.maven@gmail.com.

DATE: Sunday, March 17, 2013

TIME: 1:00 P.M. – 3:00 P.M.

LOCATION: Southwest Orlando Jewish Congregation, Social Hall, 11200 South Apopka Vineland Road, Orlando, FL 32836.

ADMISSION: Open to the public. $5.00 for non-members. Free for members.

About the Jewish Genealogical Society of Greater Orlando

The Jewish Genealogical Society of Greater Orlando (JGSGO) is a not for profit organization dedicated to sharing genealogical information, techniques and research tools with anyone interested in Jewish genealogy and family history. Anyone may join JGSGO. Annual dues are $25 for an individual and $30 for a family. For more information visit our blog at www.jgsgo.blogspot.com and “like” us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/JGSGreaterOrlando .

“Reverse Genealogy: Finding the Living”

Jewish Genealogical Society of Greater Orlando Program

ORLANDO, FL, January 28, 2013 — Join the Jewish Genealogical Society of Greater Orlando (JGSGO) for a program featuring Megan Smolenyak Smolenyak’s pre-recorded webinar, “Reverse Genealogy: Finding the Living”.

Although genealogy is at its heart the study of long-deceased ancestors, connecting with living relatives has become almost as important to many family historians. Some seek living kin in an effort to track down family photos; others do it to find family history playmates, plan reunions or identify DNA project participants. Whatever the motivation, one of the most addicting aspects of genealogy is the thrill of finding distant cousins, or in some cases, parents, children or siblings. But this "reverse genealogy" (working from the past to the present) has its own special challenges and requires the researcher to be part genealogist and part private investigator. This presentation covers proven techniques for tracing 20th and 21st century friends and relatives from the past to the present.

Megan Smolenyak² is a real life history detective who loves to solve mysteries. You might have spotted Megan or her handiwork on Top Chef, Who Do You Think You Are?, Finding Your Roots, Faces of America, Good Morning America, the Today Show, The Early Show, CNN, PBS and NPR. 

She's the author of 6 books, including Hey, America, Your Roots Are Showing and Who Do You Think You Are? (companion to the TV series) and conducts forensic research for the Army, coroners, NCIS and the FBI. 

If you've been bitten by the history or genealogical bug, please take a few minutes to explore her website http://www.honoringourancestors.com .

DATE: Sunday, February 17, 2013

TIME: 1:00 P.M. – 3:00 P.M.

LOCATION: Southwest Orlando Jewish Congregation, Social Hall, 11200 South Apopka Vineland Road, Orlando, FL 32836.

ADMISSION: Open to the public. $5.00 for non-members. Free for members.

About the Jewish Genealogical Society of Greater Orlando

The Jewish Genealogical Society of Greater Orlando (JGSGO) is a not for profit organization dedicated to sharing genealogical information, techniques and research tools with anyone interested in Jewish genealogy and family history. Anyone may join JGSGO. Annual dues are $25 for an individual and $30 for a family. For more information visit our blog at www.jgsgo.blogspot.com and "like" us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/JGSGreaterOrlando .