Minnesota British Isles Family History Day

The Minnesota Genealogical Society & The Irish Genealogical Society International proudly present “British Isles Family History Days, Irish, Scottish, English, and Welsh Genealogy” featuring David E. Rencher, AG, CG, FUGA, FIGRS, Chief Genealogical Officer, FamilySearch.org.

• Friday, April 29, 2011: An Evening with David Rencher, Dessert Reception and Presentation "The Sun Never Sets on the Data Empire."

• Saturday, April 30, 2011: Irish, Scottish, English, and Welsh Genealogy 
• Two plenary sessions presented by David Rencher
• Twelve Breakout Sessions
• Vendors and Exhibitors

Events will take place at Hennepin Technical College, Eden Prairie, MN 20 minutes from Minneapolis/St. Paul Airport.

For more information, full lineup, and registration, Click Here.

There are also details there for a guided tour of the beautiful Lakewood Cemetery in Minneapolis which is home to such notables as Vice President Hubert H. Humphrey, Charles A. Lindberg, Paul Wellstone, Tiny Tim, Carl Pohlad, Curtis Carlson, several former Minnesota governors, prominent sports figures, and many other other people.

Irish Newsletter Septs Wins NGS Award

At this month's National Genealogical Society Conference in Kansas City, winners were announced for many special awards. Among the winners was the Irish Genealogical Society International, which is based here in Minnesota. The IGSI quarterly journal, the Septs, won first place in the NGS Newsletter Competition under the category of Major Genealogical or Historical Society Newsletter.

Along with my congratulations, I want to add "you've come a long way, baby!" since the early 1980s when the typed newsletter was assembled on my dining room table for several years and before and after that in other members' homes.

IGSI is truly an international organization with members in all 50 U.S. states and ten other countries. Check out its website and then see how easy it is to join online. I had let my membership really lapse and just rejoined. The Septs and the website make this $30.00 fee very worthwhile.

The excellent IGSI library is at the Minnesota Genealogical Society's Library at 1185 Concord St. N., South St. Paul, Minnesota. The library is on the second floor and parking is free!