A Happy 40th!

 

After a couple of month's delay, the La Porte County (IN) genealogical Society celebrated a "Ruby" anniversary.

In January of 1984, a group of people were invited by Fern Eddy Schultz and Holly Jenks to meet for the purpose of forming a La Porte County genealogical society. The group organized and did all of the things required, and by June of that year were publishing a newsletter and meeting regularly.

Allowing a few months for the word to spread, the society gathered 65 charter members. By 1985, they boasted over 100 members.

On Tuesday evening, March 12th, 2024, the local members and two guests filled the meeting room at the La Porte County Public Library Main Branch to celebrate 40 years of mutual help and education. Two of the charter members were present to receive commemorative certificates. Cake and soft drinks were shared, and Patricia Gruse Harris, one of the charter members, reminded us of the early days.

Happy 40th Anniversary!

 

This Event Postponed: the date below is invalid 

Check the FaceBook site for more Information

My Email this morning had a item with the above title. With apology to Dorothy Palmer, I am copying the beautiful invitation here:

A real milestone for the La Porte County (IN) Genealogical Society

Personally, I wasn't there for the first meeting, but I have attended almost all of the meetings since September of 2001. What I learned from the other members has been the backbone of the research which I have accomplished since, and the folks who established this society live on in my memories.

Fortunately, a couple of them are around still around, and they will share some memories with us. Come join us if you can.

Ancestry owns Find A Grave

Some things about Find A Grave have always been annoying (I say always, but mean "since I have become aware of the site.")

The minority that treats the site as a place to count "trophies" is obnoxious, and their attitude to folks who suggest corrections, or who request transfers often is extremely irritating. 

More serious is the group that rushes to post new deaths. We all realize that newspaper obituaries and on-line lists on the sites of funeral homes can be a source of very early indications of deaths. A family which wants to consult with relatives for funeral arrangements or one which has personal reasons to delay a publication of the death can be blind-sided when their late relative's name surfaces on Find A Grave; further, they will have no say in how the posting appears.

Below is a link to a blog by Judy Russel, "The Legal Genealogist". She points out the gaps in the solution advanced by Find A Grave's parent company, Ancestry to this problem. I urge you to read Judy's blog, and to express your reaction to the executives at Ancestry.

 Judy G. Russell, “Ancestry, this one’s on you,” The Legal Genealogist (https://www.legalgenealogist.com/blog : posted 31 May 2022).

Alan H Zeller

 

Alarm!!!

I read a bunch of history books, mostly "popular" subjects by professional historians. They usually end with a score or more pages of references. I usually skip them.

I have bank accounts, credit card accounts, and a critically important retirement account. All of the financial institutions controlling these accounts periodically send me notices of changes - new Terms of Service, or changes to the rules governing the account. I usually skip them, or, at best, skim the summaries which often accompany them.

When I install or upgrade software on my computer or phone, there is a vendor's agreement which has to be accepted before the installation. Maybe this even has to be read before you click the box "I agree". I bet that I am not the only person who hits the scroll down to get to the end, but reads none of the legal words. It's called "clicking through".

Another place where a Terms of Service (TOS) agreement is often slighted is on the websites where you can build your family tree or post many kinds of data. You actually have a contract with the owner of such a site, and sometimes close attention to the TOS is merited.

On August third, Ancestry.com sent a notice of the changes in their TOS and Privacy Rules. Don't click through these! There is a lot of heavy reading here, but a few very bright folks have done most of it for you. In essence the change is that the rights which you granted to Ancestry ( and Find A Grave, Fold3, Newspapers.com,  and any other parts of Ancestry.com) now are perpetual and non-revocable and not dependent upon whether you remove "User Content" or even whether you are still a user of Ancestry Family Trees.

To get a better understanding of the changes, check Judy Russell, the Legal Genealogist, at https://www.legalgenealogist.com/2021/08/04/one-big-change-at-ancestry/, and at https://www.legalgenealogist.com/2021/08/06/ancestry-retreats/.

A discussion of the alternative strategies which are available is at

 https://blog.dearmyrtle.com/2021/08/the-sky-is-falling-or-is-it.html?fbclid=IwAR1iqcbIT6_LZ857fd-rFawj1eq-K6vzHKCwPJ_fP2ga9wCOWeTaB4ldY-8.

 

AncestryDNA evidently is not affected by these changes - but it never hurts to keep your eyes open.

 

Alan H Zeller ahzeller21@gmail.com

Using Your Research Time Well

 

At the Tuesday, September 8, 2020 meeting, President Carol Lloyd reminded us of the opportunities for learning on the internet. As an example, she copied a handout from a webinar presented by Curt B Witcher, the manager of the Genealogy Center at Allen County Public Library.

Mr Witcher emphasized the value of getting the maximum out of your historical research. He had suggestions ranging from how to ask archivists and record custodians the "right" question, to using parts of the library beyond the genealogical collection. He even included a form for thoroughly recording  and documenting your search.

Check the ACPL website and all of your favorite sites frequently. Notices of free classes and webinars are opportunities to improve your skills.

Not Your Ordinary Meeting!

 September 8, 2020

About 12 members and a guest gathered in the yard of President Carol Lloyd's home at 5:30 in the evening for a celebration of family history and La Porte County history. 

The business meeting was presented in a condensed format, due to public health protocols. All attendees wore face coverings and observed appropriate spacing. The program was the presentation of residency awards for 2020.

Carol Lloyd and Rick Deutscher, 

who removed their masks for a

photo op.

Member Rick Deutscher spoke about the difficulties he had encountered as he traced his ancestors. He found that his great-grandfather, John Schlene, could be found in property records as early as 1854. With proof of his relationship to John, Rick received a Pioneer Settler Award. Another great-grandfather, Christopher Deutscher, was proved in La Porte County in 1861, and he qualified for the presentation of  a Settler Award.

The Awards were presented by  President Lloyd, in the absence of the Residency Committee's Chair, Fern Eddy Schultz.

Future Meetings

Although the next meeting is scheduled for October 13, the meeting place and time could be altered. The President will endeavor to notify all members as soon as details are determined.

Website and Facebook

Check for news on Facebook [La Porte County Genealogical Society], or at the website, www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~inlcigs/.

Plans

The Covid-19 crisis has caused the cancellation of many planned events.

The regular meeting of the La Porte County (IN) Genealogical Society scheduled for April 14, with Harold Henderson telling us how to find and use Church records, has been cancelled.

The annual bus trip to the Allen County Public Library, organized by the society and supported by the Michigan City Public Library is on hold, hopefully subject to a revised schedule.

The next genealogical society meeting is to be held on May 12, 2020. Present plans are to hear Patricia Gruse Harris tell us about "Civil War Nurses of La Porte County."
The society has toured a local cemetery every June for over 25 years. This June 9, we will view the Miriam Benedict Cemetery, located on U.S. 6 east of Westville. Plan to be there at 6 PM. A gathering will follow at a restaurant in Westville.