October 2011 Mentoring Sessions

Thursday October 13, 2011

Topic:     Gravestone Cleaning How To's & Tour

Time:     10 am

Place:     Bridge Road Cemetery, Bridge Road, Eastham, MA 02642

Mentor:  Robert Carlson

Learn about the do's and dont's for cleaning gravestones while standing in one of Eastham's Ancient cemeteries. Check out Bob's web site to learn about some of the headstones that can be found here. Please contact Bob at rpcarlson@comcast.net for a reservation.

Friday October 14, 2011 

Topic:     Irish Research:  Getting Started
Time:      10 am- noon
Place:      Genealogy Room:  Dennis Public Library
Mentor:   Pat Concannon     patcon123@aol.com

Pat Concannon is the leader of our Irish Special Interest Group and has helped dozens of our members with their Irish Research.  Contact Pat to get some concentrated time with her to get your Irish Research jump started!

Friday October  21, 2011

Topic:       Help!  How do I get started?
Time:        10 am- noon
Place:        Genealogy Room: Dennis Public Library
Mentor:     Nancy DeNise  508-432-6072  (Please call in the evening!)

Have you put off starting your family tree because you just don't know where to begin? Be sure to contact Nancy at the number above to make a reservation to this session to help you learn how to 'jump into' researching your family history!  Space is limited so call early.

Friday October 28, 2011

Topic:       Random Acts of Genealogical Kindness & GenForum
Time:       10:30 am- 12:30 pm
Place:       Genealogy Room: Dennis Public Library
Mentor:    Marti Day martiday@yahoo.com

Marti uses these two great web sites in her genealogy quest and has found them extremely helpful.  Contact her at the e-mail address above today to get hands on experience with them both.

New Library Hours

The hours of the CCGS Library are changing as of October to the following schedule:

• Tuesday   Noon to 4PM
• Thursday  10AM to 4PM
• Saturday  10AM to noon

This change is based on several factors: an analysis of usage patterns, the availability of library volunteers, and the desire to make the room and collection available for mentoring or by appointment.  It was proposed to the Board and approved at the August 31 meeting.

Anyone wishing to use the room for mentoring or individual coaching on Wednesday or Friday should contact Nancy De Nise at 508-432-6072.  A mentor or trained library volunteer needs to be present for access to the room and collection.  

The library is located within the Dennis Public Library at 5 Hall Street in Dennisport, which is closed on Sundays, Mondays and holidays.

Carol Magenau is New CCGS Librarian

As of October 1, 2011, Carol Magenau will assume the responsibilities of the Society's Library at Dennis Public Library, and will transition to that role with the valuable assistance of the long-serving Betsy Ferris and Brenda Hayes who have done a super job of developing and building the library collection and its services over the years.

Carol is retired from a 30-year career as an academic librarian, having served at Harvard Divinity School, Northeastern University, the University of Connecticut, and most recently at Dartmouth College. She lives in her parents' retirement home in South Wellfleet, across the street from where her mother was born. Her mother, Polly, was CCGS President during the 1980's; thus, Carol comes by her genealogical interest naturally.

Carol reflects on genealogy as a pursuit today by pointing out that, while the help of computers is revolutionary compared to her mother's time, there is still an important place for printed materials and the unique unpublished resources in the CCGS collection in Dennis. She encourages all to explore what the library has to offer, and welcomes your comments and suggestions. All best wishes to you, Carol!

For updates and more information on the CCGS Library, check http://blog.capecodgensoc.org/search/label/CCGS%20Library.

Genealogical Help for Beginners

CCGS Member Nancy De Nise has offered to provide individual assistance to anyone who is starting their genealogical research and would like to have some personal coaching.  She will be available on Friday mornings at the Dennis Public Library in the Genealogical Room in which the CCGS collection is located. To arrange an appointment with Nancy, call her at 508-432-6072.

Research Trip to Boston - October 25, 2011

The Cape Cod Genealogical Society is sponsoring a research bus trip to Boston on Tuesday, October 25, 2011.

Destinations include:

• Boston Public Library - Copley Square. You will need your BPL library card. You can get one free at the entrance.
• New England Historic Genealogical Society - Newbury St. (additional cost of $15 at entrance if non member of NEHGS).

The bus will leave promptly at 8:00 am from Patriot Square, Dennis, on Route 134-Exit 9A. We will then pick up passengers at the Burger King Park & Ride at Exit 6, and the Sagamore Park & Ride. The return trip will leave Boston about 3:15 pm to arrive on Cape Cod at about 5:00 pm.

The cost for this trip is $35.00.

We suggest you bring a brown bag lunch, although there are some spots to eat near all facilities.

See our Research Guides to help plan your trip.

All are Welcome to join us!

To sign up, print and return the registration form (pdf).

For more information, call Ellen Geanacopoulos at 508-432-5469.

Genealogy Workshops Set for Wellfleet

The Education Committee of the Society will offer a three-part Genealogical Workshop series on Mondays, October 17, 24, and 31, 2011, from 1:30 to 3:30 pm at the Wellfleet Public Library at 55 Main Street.  Similar to the series offered during 2010 in Harwich and Chatham, these workshops will include:

    Vital Records
    Using the Census
    Cemetery Records
    Church Records
    Immigration
    Migration
    Computer Software for Genealogists
    Using the Computer for Genealogy
       and more.

The cost for the series is $15 per person, and the deadline for registration is September 30. A registration form can be sent via email attachment if you would send a message of request to David Martin at davidchina_2000@yahoo.com .  The series is open to anyone, member or non-member, but space is limited.

Memorial Service for Dan McConnell

The Memorial Service for Dan McConnell is set for Friday, September 16, 2011, at the Brewster Baptist Chruch, Route 6A in Brewster. The time will be 6pm. The church is next door to the Brewster Ladies Library where our CCGS meetings are held. We expect that the Society will be well represented for this occasion.

President Dan McConnell Passes Away

With great sadness, we report that CCGS President Dan McConnell passed away suddenly on September 13, 2011.  He served the Society in an outstanding manner during his presidency as well as before. His contributions, other than fine leadership, included enthusiastic recruitment of new membership, writing scholarly articles for the Society's Journal, serving as representative from the Society to the New England Regional Genealogical Consortium, providing mentoring sessions for members, and making public presentations on historical and genealogical topics, among others.  Our sincere condolences are extended to his family. We express our deep appreciation for his leadership, which will be greatly missed.

The next regular meeting of the Society will still take place on Wednesday, September 21, at the Brewster Ladies Library, beginning at 10:00AM.

September 2011 Mentoring Sessions

September is our first month for Mentoring in our new year.  We have three programs for you to enjoy:

Thursday September 8, 2011

Topic:     Gravestone Cleaning How To's & Tour

Time:      10 am

Place:      Bridge Road Cemetery, Bridge Road, Eastham, MA 02642

Mentor:   Robert Carlson

Learn about the do's and dont's for cleaning gravestones while standing in one of Eastham's Ancient cemeteries. Check out Bob's web site to learn about some of the headstones that can be found here. Please contact Bob at rpcarlson@comcast.net for a reservation.

Friday September 16, 2011

Unfortunately, due to the untimely death of Dan McConnell, this Mentoring session is cancelled

Thursday September 29, 2011

Topic:        Genealogy Trips Abroad

Time:         2:00 to 4:00 pm

Place:        Dennis Public Library, Dennisport

Mentor:     David Martin
Many genealogists in the USA eventually reach the point where they must travel abroad in order to continue any further with their research. This mentoring session will describe a group's recent visit to England for that purpose. We will include: how to plan, what to take, the most useful facilities and places to visit, and how to record what you find, related to genealogical research in another country. Be sure to send David an e-mail at davidchina_2000@yahoo.com for a reservation to this informative session.

We need your help! If we are to continue this program, we need to have more members willing to host a Mentoring Session. If you are unsure, why not contact a member who has actually been a Mentor? Perhaps they can help you realize just how easy it really is. Try David Martin, Dan McConnell, Nancy Daniels, Jim Gould, Bill Harding, Betsy Ferris etc. Contact me at any time at nancy.daniels@comcast.net with the topic of your choice.