The International German Genealogy Partnership (IGGP) has just released its new 2-page brochure on next year’s conference. We’re closing in on final speakers selection and program definition plus some special events!
Author Archives: Gordon
Ahnenforscher Stammtisch Unna
Yesterday’s announcement of the unveiling of the Research Assistance Request (RAR) program of the International German Genealogy Partnership (IGGP) brought an emailed letter today from Georg Palmüller. He says that the group of German genealogists in Unna has chosen not to take their share of the $30 fee collected from request submitters. Here are some excerpts:
“We will do it like we always did since 2001: free and without any kind of fee! We love to help from our hearts to the hearts of the genealogists who need help. We never took any money from help seeking genealogists except when there were fees to pay for needed documents.
“So we ask the IGGP to keep the complete fee of $30 when the Ahnenforscher Stammtisch Unna is asked for help via RAR submissions….
“We always tried to help in an easy kind of way. Just by eMail, quick, modern, fast and uncomplicated without any kind of forms at all to fill out. But we can live with the decision of the IGGP board who is believing that forms are really needed.
“We can’t wait to receive RAR submissions to help our genealogist friends in the US and elsewhere in the world and we will enjoy to help them.”
It should be added that from their webpage it is stated that the genealogical interests and research areas of participants in this monthly “Stammtisch” meeting are quite broad. So even if your research problem is not associated with their home area, these kind-hearted individuals will help if they can.
As theirs is not a society with expenses to meet, they feel they can make this offer, as Georg says, from their hearts. We should all make special efforts to return the favor, if asked!!
IGGP Research Assistance Requests
On a trial basis, the International German Genealogical Partnership (IGGP) has introduced its Research Assistance Request (RAR) program. Participation in this program is optional for member societies, and Australia and Brazil have not opted in at this time. Four German societies are joining in: Ahnenforscher Stammtisch Unna und Umgebung (an informal group in Unna, Germany), Roland zu Dortmund (an organized society nearby), the Oldenburgische Gesellschaft für Familienkunde and the Verein für Computergenealogie. U.S. societies and groups will be coordinated according to three regions: Western, Central, and Eastern States. There are also Coordinators for Canada and the U.K.
The RAR process, as currently established, may have some flaws. But the IGGP Executive Committee is introducing it now because of its great potential to provide member societies and their membership an invaluable service. Your IGS will soon begin to pay annual dues to the IGGP in order for our members to have access to this developing network of researchers. It is an additional benefit of belonging to our society. Not a member of IGS? Please consider joining us!!
Participation in this RAR program is, however, not free to requestors. There will be a $30 fee for submitting an RAR. Half of this fee goes to IGGP and half to the society assigned to respond to the RAR by the Coordinator(s). The assigned researcher(s) will put forth a “reasonable effort” to find answers to the RAR question. However, requestors need to be aware that there is no guarantee that a solution will be found.
Please find attached the English-language version of the instructions and forms, and a list (with map) of the RAR regions for the United States. The Submission Form should be filled out as completely as possible, but it is not required that all questions be completed. Just provide what information you have (and as much as you know) and submit it according to the directions. There will be a tracking process utilized to ensure that RAR Team Leaders are aware of the status and results of a request, and to assist in improving the process. Your feedback on the strength/weakness of the RAR program is welcomed, and may be directed to Mr. Delbert Ritchart at: dritchh37 [at] gmail.com.
Ventura County August 18th
The Ventura County Genealogical Society is presenting a Family History program on “Finding Online Resources from Lineage Societies.” The date is Saturday, August 18, 2018 from 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm. It is a free event, open to all. For more information, visit their web site: https://venturacogensoc.org/.
SOLD OUT!
Our Handwriting Workshop with Dr. Fritz Juengling on June 9th is now sold out. There is a waiting list, but we do not expect that we’ll have too many cancellations. So, while we’re always willing to add names, it’s probably unwise to get one’s hopes up.
The good news is that this encourages the IGS to offer more programming in the future. We used to be very active in this regard, until the internet and decreased membership made it seem unwise to continue offering programs — while paying speakers and presenters to come for declining audiences.
This workshop represents the first time in years that we’ve been able to pay a presenter for their work and cover transportation costs. That being something of a gamble, we did not want to add more risk by contracting for a hall somewhere for this event. The result is that we’re squeezing as many as we can into limited space at SCGS and IGS, but having to turn away those for whom we just have no available room. We hope you understand.
We’re pleased — VERY pleased — at the turnout, however. This means we’ll try to “think bigger” next year. Please keep us in mind!
Two Announcements
- It is important that any members who can attend, do attend the Annual Meeting on Sunday at 2 p.m. at the IGS Library. For reasons of illness and injury, the officers cannot be present. Still, our Bylaws require a certain level of participation in the election of the new Board. You need not stay long, but your presence will be appreciated!
- For reasons of illness, the December newsletter will be late.
German-American Day L.A. & Oktoberfest
This Sunday, consider this event…. https://germandayla.com
….where you can view the flyer shown below.
The date is Sunday, October 8th from 10 am until 6 pm, at Alpine Village in Torrance.
But whether or not you can make it, Happy German-American Day!
The Long Silence
To all, I apologize for the long silence. It has been too difficult to keep up with everything else and also keep active with a blog. But there are some new developments at the IGS Library that should be noted.
Those who come in might ask volunteer (and nominee to our Board) Janine Pizano about a project she and I are working on, and which was her idea, namely to build a database on our family histories and genealogies that goes beyond the catalog entry to specifically note information (such as major allied family names, time focus, major places of residence, etc.) that could assist researchers to learn about possible book resources they wouldn’t otherwise consult. Databases, once constructed, are easily searchable. And we want to see our books get more use and our researchers find more success.
A project of mine that now has received our Board’s approval, but which isn’t producing tangible results just yet, is to cull old research files and extract usable material (such as detailed request letters from lookup requestors, pedigree charts, document photocopies, etc.) to be filed according to major family in our surname files vertical file cabinets. I found that — for the first 1,000 requests, dated from the late ‘80s — only 6% of requests had worthwhile material that should be saved to help others. For the rest, we still have the volumes that were consulted to provide answers to the requests, so there’s really no need (this many years later) to save what we sent the requestors, as the search could be repeated easily if needed again.
Both of these projects are aimed at making what we have more available and useful to researchers. Janine’s database project is partway into the letter “B,” and has covered exactly one shelf of books to date. My filing project won’t immediately do anything beyond add to our IGS surname files, and there’s a lot of reorganizing of those files that also has to be done before they’ll be truly user-friendly. And, at the moment, the papers selected for preservation have yet to be actually filed where they belong, so the project is only at the start.
But do come visit the Library. New things are happening!
Re: Jamboree June 8 – 11
Attention, all friends of IGS!
Are you thinking you’ll not attend Jamboree this year because you don’t have the time or money for a full day’s activities?
Why not just come over for an hour or two to visit the IGS table and the other exhibitors? The Jamboree Exhibit Hall is free and open to the public all weekend. If you’re within commuting distance, you can still participate without making a major commitment!
If you park in the lot of the Marriott Burbank Airport Hotel, you can expect to pay for parking. But the Exhibit Hall alone — with all the displays, products, and connections-to-be-made — can be well worth it.
Don’t miss out, come on over!!
Astrid Adler’s 5/13 talk at the Library
Thank you to all who came to hear her this afternoon, and welcome to those who plan to come on Tuesday evening to hear this engaging presentation. Remember, May 16th at 1310 W. Magnolia Blvd. with informal reception at 6 pm and the talk beginning at 7 pm. However, please plan on coming a bit earlier than you had planned, as we’ve received notice of filming that evening in the next block to our west — and parking could be at a premium. [We have three lanes, for three cars each, behind our building off the alley.]
Now, here are photos from today’s talk….
When you come to hear her Tuesday, be sure to sign in at the front desk. Astrid will be selling copies of her books — which she will inscribe for buyers if they wish — so come prepared. She has done a great job telling the story of emigration to America from her home region, and these two books will make great gifts to family members who may wonder why genealogy fascinates you so!! The first explains what the journey was like, and why people chose to make it. The second tells the specific stories of eight families from her home town, including how they managed to adjust to their new country.
Astrid Adler’s Tuesday talk at IGS
This just in — there’s going to be filming activity in the next block of Magnolia Tuesday afternoon and evening. What does that mean to us? Simply that parking may be at a premium!
We received notice from TVM Productions, Inc. that filming will commence at 5 p.m. at 1420 W. Magnolia (Tyerman’s Automotive). While we’ll be mostly unaffected, we learned that parking may well be restricted in front of our building, on Magnolia Blvd. all the way up to Mariposa Ave. The West side of Griffith Park Drive, from Magnolia south to the alley, is also potentially “off limits.”
We’ve called to alert the company to our event, and it may be that part of the restricted spaces may be released for our use — but we won’t know for sure until Tuesday. So, if you’re planning to come Tuesday evening (6 pm reception, 7 pm talk & book signing), do plan on coming early enough to secure parking. Thanks!!
It’s happening!
Don’t forget to come hear Astrid Adler at the IGS Library!
This Saturday, May 13th, with an informal reception at Noon, her talk about her new books at 1 pm, and a book signing afterwards (and another opportunity to ask questions or chat). And again on Tuesday, May 16th, with reception at 6 pm, talk at 7 pm, and the book signing and questions/chat afterwards.
There will be food trays at the receptions. Parking can be either in the lanes behind our building, or on the neighborhood streets.
And a reminder — we’re closed this Sunday, as it’s Mother’s Day….