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Archiver > GEN-EVENTS > 2007-04 > 1175727341


From: "Celia Mitschelen" <>
Subject: [GEN-EVENTS] German Conference Jun 30 in Des Moines, IA
Date: Wed, 4 Apr 2007 18:00:10 -0500


The Fifteenth Annual German Genealogical Conference will be held at the Des
Moines Botanical Center, 909 East River Drive, Des Moines, IA. Saturday June
30, 2007. 8:45 A.M - 4:00 P.M. (Registration opens at 8:00 A.M.)

The conference will be held at the Des Moines Botanical Center 909 East
River
Drive, Des Moines, Iowa. It is a lovely place to visit and those attending
the
conference are free to roam the Dome and its gardens during breaks. Parking
is free and the Center is wheelchair accessible. A box lunch is included in
the
conference fee which is $35 for IGS members and $40 for non-members.
You are free to roam through the Botanical Center at no extra charge. The
meeting room is just off the large geodesic dome that has the main plant
display.

Mr. Ernest Thode is manager of the Local History and Genealogy Department of
the Washington County Public Library in Marietta, Ohio. He is a lecturer on
Germanic genealogy and taught at several Elderhostels. He is the author of
several books, including German-English Genealogical Dictionary, Address
Book for Germanic Genealogy, and Genealogical Gazetteer of Alsace-Lorraine,
and co-author, with Chris Anderson, of A Genealogist's Guide to Discovering
Your Germanic Ancestors. His award-winning genealogy column "Family Tree"
appears in The Marietta Times, Marietta, Ohio, and "Ask Ernie" appears as a
regular feature in The Palatine Immigrant. His special interests include
German immigration, German surnames, and German-Americana.

The Iowa Genealogical Society Library is not far from the Botanical Center.
It is located at 628 East Grand Ave., Des Moines, IA. - Grand Ave. is a main
east-west street; and is directly across the street from the Iowa Historical
Library which is convenient for many researchers.There is plenty of
off-street
parking. The Friday evening session will be held there from 7 P.M.- 9P.M.
This session is free and open to the public. The topic will be,

"Coping with German Border Changes and the Importance of Dates".
Did your ancestor seem to move around? Perhaps it was the border that did
the moving.

Topics Saturday are:
1. Getting started in German Research for Newbies
We always ask our speakers to include a session for beginners. By
putting it first it will help the novice to better understand the more
advanced topics. It doesn't hurt the more experienced researcher
to brush up on the basics either.

2. How to Figure Out What That Name Really Was.
We all know one cannot research in Germany without a place name.
Also we may not recognize an ancestor's name when we see it.

3. Genealogy websites in Germany
We know there is good "stuff" out there if only we knew how to get
it. Every German researcher needs to learn at least a few German
words. Mr. Thode is not going to teach you German but does plan
to walk us through some of the best German genealogical web sites.

4. Responding to Research Issues
Our speaker will endeavor to help with specific research problems.
Write your research problem on a file card, you can do this at home,
and turn it in before the sessions get started. He will not be able to
handle all problems due to time restrictions. Since there are other
people wanting to learn from this experience he will pick the
questions that will help the most people.

By special arrangement the IGS library will be open Sunday July 1 from
10 AM - 2 PM for those that wish to stay over and do more researching.
There is an outstanding variety of German resources, most of which the
conferences have made possible. Anything over the expenses of the
conference goes toward the purchase of German resources for the library.
There will be volunteers there to help you locate books, maps, etc. and
assist individuals that need extra help.

Just being in a group of people that share your interests is a great
experience.

If you would like a registration form I would be happy to send you one.

If you have amy questions please ask.

Celia Mitschelen

Madison County, IA

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