9:00 - 10:00 am

Computer Security by Bill Heck
During this presentation you will learn all about Internet and Computer Security, how to detect scams, and how to prevent being hacked. You will learn all about hacking systems and what to look for when you log onto your documents and e-mail using a public internet link such as you will find in airports, restaurants and other public places. You will learn all about Phishing, a cybercrime in which targets (You) are contacted by e-mail, telephone or text by someone posing as a legitimate institution to lure you into providing sensitive information about banking, credit cards, and passwords to your accounts.

Interviewing Techniques by Cheryl Heck
During this presentation you will learn about how to conduct a genealogy interview and how not to conduct one. You will learn what type of questions will yield the most important information and which questions will stifle the interview. We will even have a live demonstration on interviewing techniques.

I. Beginning Genealogy; Taking the first steps on your journey of discovery by Sam Colon
What is Genealogy all about?
How do I get started? What do I need to find my ancestors?
Get answers to these questions and more in this introductory class.

10:15 - 11:15 am

Researching Your German Ancestors by Gary Haas
Discover techniques and tricks to research your German ancestors. We will discuss how to find places with information about your German ancestors. Find stuff at FamilySearch.org, Ancestry.com, Google. Find how individuals and organizations can help your research efforts. Find how to use technology to make you an effective and efficient researcher.

Passenger Lists and Naturalization Papers by Bob Tatalovich
For those who became citizens, these are two sides of the same coin: either one can lead to the other, and provide a reasonably complete picture of how your ancestor got here, and the circumstances into which he settled. We'll begin with Ellis Island, by volume the largest US port of arrival. We'll examine straightforward and more complex search strategies to locate your ancestor's record. Ellis Island, however, was not alone, so we'll take a look at a variety of ports and time-frames for immigration. Naturalization Petitions provide a look at your ancestor, the citizen. We'll look at indexes to those records (on Ancestry, Family Search, etc), and techniques for locating their actual papers.

II. Using The Census and Other Records To Research Your Family by Sam Colon
Learn the 5 steps to successful research of your family history.
What records are available and how to put together a research plan.

11:30 - 12:30 pm

FamilySearch Digital Research by Bob Heck
During this presentation we will look into the digital records collection that you can access right from your own home for free. While you may have visited the Family Search web site in the past, during this presentation you will learn the techniques for finding the really great records. You will learn where and how to look for images and documents that are not obvious to the casual researcher. You will learn which databases have transcribed records and which have original records. You will learn some of the search secrets of records that can be browsed. The day of microfilms will soon be gone and they are being replaced with digitized records. The Family Search web site grows nearly every day and you need to add this powerful site to your genealogy toolbox.

Demystifying DNA by Pat Mundstock
Thinking about taking a DNA test for genealogy? Already took a test, but you don't know what to do next? This session covers DNA testing basics, how firms determine those ethnicity percentages, and tools that different services offer to take your DNA test to further your genealogy research.

III. Organizing and Documenting Your Research by Sam Colon
Now that you have a start to your family history what do you do with the data you accumulate. How do you keep it all organized and documented?

1:30 - 2:30 pm

Google - Beyond Basic Search by Pat Mundstock
Google offers many tools that can help a genealogist besides the basic search. We'll quickly review many of these tools and give you ideas for finding more information online that can help your research.

Polish Genealogy Research by Bob Tatalovich
Many Milwaukeeans descend from Poles who immigrated between 1870 and 1914 (the start of World War I). So what do you know of your ancestor(s)? You've got their American name, but was that their birth name? And "Poland" did not exist as a country during those years, so from what country did they come? Was it Germany, Prussia, Austria, Russia or ...? What religion did they practice? Many were Roman Catholic, and they belonged to Polish Catholic churches here in America. We'll look at ways to add to that picture: with suggestions for where else you can check locally; and with records your ancestors created: census records; naturalization papers; draft cards; etc. More importantly, we'll use that information to find the European village from which they came. Lastly, we'll look at the kinds of records which are now online, both digital copies of original church records and indexes that will allow you to find birth, marriage and death information for your Polish ancestors.

2:45 - 3:45 pm

Military Research by Bob Heck
During this presentation we will look at methods of determining if your ancestor served in the military during any of the major wars involving the United States. Even if your ancestor never served during a war there are still records available such as draft registration, alien registration, nurse's corps, and other volunteer groups. We will look at how to find records, including military service and health records, and most importantly to genealogists, pension records. You will see samples from the Revolutionary War, Spanish American War, WWI, WWII, Korea, the Cold War period, and wars in the Middle East. We will also look into Veteran Groups such as the GAR (Grand Army of the Republic).