Thursday, April 29, 2010

Hi Guys! Tuesday, April 27th, I had the great pleasure of addressing the Moose Jaw branch of SGS who were celebrating their 40th anniversary!! Isn't that amazing? There was a really good turn-out of members, including some of the original three members from 40 years ago. Sheesh!!

I always love speaking in Moose Jaw as I was a resident there for 14 years ... waaaay back in the 1960s/70s ... and the residents are just as gracious and charming as they have always been. My Mother also resided there for a time in the 1920s, and my paternal Scottish grandparents enjoyed their retirement years in the 1940s/50s on the east side of town. They are still in Moose Jaw, resting at Rosedale, so I took time to share a few words with them in the peaceful cemetery on the far west of town.

The city is growing and continues to improve itself. I stayed overnight with some 'old' friends, Charlie & Elaine Campbell, so you can imagine how the 'chins' wagged' well into the darkness as we've had few visits over the past 29 years. Wednesday we loaded ourselves into the car and went for a drive, checking out the new construction of homes/condos and the amazing Sportsplex. WOW!! We also did a drive-by of some of the locations I lived in on Hochelaga St., Albert St., 6th Ave, and Ross Ave, as well as Sun Valley resort at Buffalo Pound. YES - I loved to move around in those days!! I am doing my best to leave lots and lots of records for my descendants to follow.

Even though my presentation didn't go as planned - we couldn't get my laptop to talk to their projector - I have been a professional presenter long enough to have planned for 'interruptions' such as this and everyone received maps and paper copies of my presentation so we worked through the mystery together!! LOTS and LOTS of laughs were shared as this group of very knowledgeable genealogists worked to help solve the mystery. Even the lovely reporter from the Times Herald newspaper was intrigued enough to stay for the entire 1 1/2 hours after she had interviewed me before we began. She is from England, and so was able to add some very interesting comments during the presentation. We just never know from whom we can learn, or the circumstances that will present new opportunities once we slow down, listen, read, and learn!!

The evening wound up with Beverly and Marge noting some upcoming events that will be of great interest to Sask. genealogists! Mark your calendars for Sat. June 5th, and join in for the FHC one day seminar. Check out their website at http://www.reginafamilyhistory.com. I'll be speaking about land records which will deal with REAL examples of Saskatchewan homestead files. In true fashion, I'll be showing you how things can go terribly wrong , and how there is so much more to learn when using land records.

Thanks again to the MJ branch for including me in their celebrations, and a big Happy Anniversary and congratulations to everyone involved. Oh yes, one last note - on my drive home Wed. April 28th, a semi on the Ring Road in Regina threw up a rock and I now need a new windshield! Wonder if a descendant will ever locate *that* record? Who knows!

Happy Searching Everyone!!
Pat

A Lovely email sent to me from the President of the MJ branch Marge Cleave
Hi Pat,

Thanks so much for speaking at our 40th anniversary celebration, we couldn’t have gotten a better person to be our guest speaker. You did an excellent job and the feedback I got from everyone confirms that! Your presentation was a really good way of getting your point across to double check everything and really go through what you are reading line by line. It made me want to get right home and start rereading all of the information I have collected on my families over the years. (I have my fingers crossed that I find something I missed before!!)

I forwarded your blog onto our members so they can all read the very kind words you had written about the evening you spent with us. There are only a few of us who don’t have computers, but I have printed it off and will share it with the others at our next meeting.

The Times Herald reporter did a huge write up for the newspaper! Again, thanks to you and the interview you did with her and the presentation, I think you have her hooked on genealogy!! I think she thoroughly enjoyed herself.

I do wish you still lived closer to Moose Jaw, I know our group would love to have you come speak to us more often and do more workshops with us. I am looking forward to hearing you speak at the FHC in Regina on June 5th, I think there is going to be a car load or two going from Moose Jaw.

Until then,
Marge


Pat

Wednesday, April 14, 2010

Upcoming Events

I am sooooooooooo slow at this blogging stuff! And don't even ask about my Facebook site. I just don't see the point of posting my everyday life - it's pretty boring guys!

What IS new and exciting is all the great opportunities genealogists have this spring, summer and autumn!! So for most of the upcoming events be sure to read my next post, but I'll now add a couple new ones that are just soooooooooo incredible I want you to know so you don't miss out!

1. Thanks so much to Pipestone Branch of the Saskatchewan Genealogical Society for organizing a seminar April 10th, titled Family History & the Internet! I was the presenter and it was GREAT fun!! There were people attending from town of course, plus numerous locations outside of Moosomin - within the province ads far away as Regina & Yorkton - as well as from Manitoba! What a great way to spend the day as the blinkin winds howled outside!!

2. G.R.O.W. Your Family Tree Family History Conference happens June 5th, 2010 sponsored by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (aka Mormons) at 550 Sangster Blvd in Regina. This will be THE place to be!! Have a peek at the great speakers and topics http://www.reginafamilyhistory.com/ EXTREMELY WELL DONE, and a full day of presentations plus lunch will cost $15.00!! See you there?

3. October 15, 16, 17, 2010 - Central Butte Branch will present a weekend RETREAT for genealogists!! To be held at the Mainstay Inn, Palliser Park, on Lake Diefenbaker, near Riverhurst. The entire program is not quite ready, but I'll be there, as will others. Stay tuned guys!! AND harvest should be done eh?

4. I will be speaking at Moose Jaw branch of SGS, Tuesday April 27th. This is a celebration of their 40th Anniversary!! Check it out http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~skmjbsgs/index.htm

5. I will be organizing my Fall course offerings soon, on-line, in Regina and Indian Head soon. I *might* be convinced to travel to other locations ... so if interested, contact me pryan@sasktel.net. And keep checking at this blog site as I will be adding the course offerings here.

That's it for now. Happy Searching All!!

Kindest Regards,
Pat