Invitation from the National Institute
The National Institute for Genealogical Studies is inviting our members to a free event, as well as discounts and prizes as they continue celebrating their 20th anniversary year. Here is what is available to you from The National Institute:
- Saturday, June 27, 2020: a FREE online fun-filled day with Gena Phillibert-Ortega: talks and games;
- $10,000 worth of prizes;
- one of three free courses available to everyone;
- one of six courses at 50% off;
- 15% off any one package.
OGS Goes Virtual in Response to COVID-19
On March 11, in light of the growing concern about the spread of the COVID-19 virus, and in the interest of protecting the high-risk population we serve, the OGS Executive Committee cancelled face-to-face gatherings of the Society until such time as this threat has passed.
An ad hoc committee reviewed several available tools for virtual meetings in April and gained substantial experience with the May 9 Virtual Spring Seminar.
In late May, the OGS Board decided to conduct all OGS general meetings for the 2020-2021 program year virtually. OGS Board meetings also will be conducted virtually. It is expected that a number of other OGS events (e.g. DIG and various SIG meetings) also will be virtual, but none have been scheduled to date.
OGS will be using Zoom for its virtual meetings. Participants who have not used Zoom are encouraged to view the video "Joining a Zoom Call for the First Time" at
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9isp3qPeQ0E.
Welcome to Our Website!
The Olympia Genealogical Society's website is designed to allow our members to engage with each other as they trace their ancestors, fill out their family trees, and discover their family histories. We want to make this site a dynamic experience where members can share with and learn from one another. Here are just a few ways to engage on this site today:
- Go to the Members Only area and log in.
- Review your Profile and provide any appropriate revisions to your Contact Info and Member Settings.
- Under the Surnames tab of your profile, add the names of your ancestors.
- Join a Special Interest Group (SIG).
- Submit feedback, topic ideas or tips to Webmaster@OlyGenSoc.org.
If you aren’t already an OGS member, please consider joining and engaging with our community. To do so, see
Membership in the menu in the left column.
Special Interest Groups
Come One, Come All! A Special Interest Groups Fair was held at the General Membership meeting on September 13, 2018. It was a great way to kick off the year with six groups started. Facilitators gave a brief introduction about their SIGs. After the introductions, members mingled around the room, spoke with the facilitators and signed up for the groups that they were interested in. Treats and sharing were enjoyed by all.
Special Interest Groups and Facilitators:
- ANCESTRY - Greg Nordlund
- DNA - Judi Hine & Kerry McHugh Upton
- FAMILY HISTORY WRITING - Cindy Neff
- FAMILY SEARCH - Carolyn Gibbons
- FAMILY TREE MAKER - David Abernathy
- LEGACY - Gayle Strom
- ROOTS MAGIC - Rosemary Walrod
Special Interest Groups are open to all members as well as visitors. Meeting location and time to be set with the facilitator. Please contact the facilitator to learn more about the group. More information is shared on the Forum page once you have logged onto the OGS website, Members Only section. Access to the Forums is a benefit of membership, if you aren't a member yet, join up and start taking in all that membership offers!
Other committees that were started up last year:
- Cemetery Project -- Members will update our Cemetery page, working with the local cemeteries. It's been 40 years since OGS has added to the content of the cemeteries database! If you're interested in learning more about this project, contact Eileen or Norman Dodge.
- Outreach -- The Outreach committee will share to the community about the Olympia Genealogical Society via local community events, schools, and other opportunities the group identifies. Please contact Kathy Erlandson or Greg Nordlund.
OGS Newsletter
