Sign up for summer genealogical conference

The McHenry County Illinois Genealogical Society 2015 Summer Conference will be Saturday, July 11, at McHenry County College, 8900 Route 14, Crystal Lake.

The late registration fee is $70; lunch not included.

Register online at www.mcigs.org/conference.html.

The conference will begin from 8:30 to 9 a.m. with registration, breakfast snacks and vendors, followed by a welcome and introduction.

Session I will be 9:45 to 10:45 a.m.

• DNA and Genetic Genealogy Today (Debbie Parker Wayne)

Learn where we are today using DNA for genealogy. Maximize Y-DNA, mitochondrial DNA, and autosomal DNA test results to contribute to genealogical research goals.

• Evernote for Genealogists (Thomas MacEntee)

Evernote is a note-taking application that can do so much more for genealogists than track research. Learn how to harness the power of this program with many of its features available for FREE.

• Investigating the Clerk of the Circuit Court of Cook County Archives (Ray Johnson)

This class concentrates on a very practical approach to on-site court research including, civil, law and chancery cases, divorces, wills and probates, county naturalizations, declarations of intentions, criminal cases and burnt records.

• Family Tree Maker 2014 Workshop: Beyond Entering Names (9:45 a.m. to noon) (Jane Haldelman)

So you know how to enter names and dates in Family Tree Maker, what's next? Understand how to use Family Tree Maker's Sources, Places, Publish, and WebSearch Workspaces.

There will be a break from 10:45-11 a.m., followed by Session II from 11 a.m. to noon.

• Going Nuclear: DNA Discoveries to Trace All Lines of Decent (Debbie Parker Wayne)

Learn to link families using autosomal DNA test results from any testing company. Maximize impact on your genealogical research goals. Includes how to use test results such as those from 23andMe and Family Tree DNA Family Finder tests.

• They're Alive: Searching for Living Persons (Thomas MacEntee)

Genealogists have many reasons to locate living relatives - from connecting with long lost cousins to performing collateral searches to break down brick walls. Learn the most effective ways to find living people using Internet search engines and resources.

• Tips, Tricks and Overlooked Sources of Genealogical Information (Ray Johnson)

The instructor shares almost 30 years of genealogical and investigative experience in the Chicago area including some often overlooked sources of genealogical information that can help researchers scale the proverbial "brick wall.

Lunch will be noon to 1:15 p.m. Check out the vendors for new books, materials and supplies.

Session III will be 1:15 to 2:15 p.m.

• Paternal Lines: Using Y-DNA (Debbie Parker Wayne)

This lecture covers the basics of Y-DNA testing for males, and how to find DNA projects and testing companies. An introduction to analysis of the DNA test results is given.

• Tracing Your New York Ancestors (Thomas MacEntee)

Participants will learn the basics of researching their New York ancestors starting with the arrival of Henry Hudson in 1609, to the Yankee migration from New England and then the Immigration era up through the present-day.

• FamilySearch: Preserving Your Family History on Family Tree (Maureen Brady)

FamilySearch, a free website sponsored by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, provides many resources to help you discover your family history, but it also provides a way for you to preserve your family history.

• Dead Men's Tales: Cemetery Symbols and Their Meaning (Greg Phelps)

Have you ever wondered what the skull, hand, or rose on a tombstone meant? Dead Men's tales looks at the history of gravestones, their symbols and their meanings.

Session IV will be 2:30 to 3:30 p.m.

• Mitochondrial DNA: Tools & Techniques to Go Beyond Basics (Debbie Parker Wayne)

This lecture uses case studies to demonstrate databases and analysis methods using mtDNA for genealogy. Low resolution and full mitochondrial sequences are discussed.

• Can I Use That in My Genealogy? What You Should Know About Copyright (Thomas MacEntee)

Learn the basics of U.S. copyright law and how you can still use copyrighted items such as document, articles and photographs as part of your genealogy research.

• Tapping the Power of FamilySearch (Maureen Brady)

Maureen Brady's presentation will provide a "tour" of the website and will also discuss search strategies and helpful hints for organizing your research time at FamilySearch.

• Using Maps in Family History Research (Craig Pfannkuche)

Understand how various types of maps and related documents can pinpoint where your ancestor lived and worked, and how the surrounding area played a part in their everyday life.

About the Conference Speakers

• Debbie Parker Wayne is a full-time board-certified genealogist and genealogical lecturer experienced using DNA analysis, as well as more traditional techniques, for genealogical research. Her DNA research focuses on client projects and on research into her own family project which includes Y DNA, mtDNA, X DNA, and autosomal DNA studies. Her traditional research focuses on Texas, the Southwest, and the Southern U.S. She has performed research for several genealogical television series in the U.S. and Canada. She coordinates and teaches weeklong, comprehensive, interactive genetic genealogy courses at SLIG and GRIP teaching how to interpret and apply DNA test results to genealogical research. See debbiewayne.com for more information.

• Thomas MacEntee has 25 years of experience in the information technology field which he uses to improve genealogical research and to interact with others in the family history community. Mr. MacEntee now shares his knowledge of technology and experience as a genealogist with others through various forms of social media and speaking engagements. Through his business High-Definition Genealogy, he provides consulting services in the genealogy industry covering such areas as market research, education, technology and more. As the creator of GeneaBloggers.com, Thomas has organized and engaged a community of over 2,800 bloggers to document their own journeys in the search for ancestors.

• Greg Phelps of Colchester, Illinois, is a Library Specialist at the Malpass Library on the campus of Western Illinois University in Macomb. Greg currently serves as president of the Scott's Cemetery Association of McDonough County and is active in the preservation of the over 100-year history of the church and cemetery. His research has expanded and been organized into the presentation "Dead Men's Tales: Cemetery Symbols and their meaning".

• Maureen Brady A former school librarian and computer educator, Maureen Brady has over 25 years experience with family history research and is a professional genealogist and owner of Bare Roots Genealogical Services. She has made numerous presentations to Illinois and Wisconsin genealogical societies, libraries, conferences, and workshops, as well as presenting at the 2002 National Genealogical Society Conference. Ms. Brady is co-director of the Crystal Lake (Illinois) Family History Center and is a member of many genealogical and family history societies in the U.S. and Scotland.

• Jane Haldeman's passion for genealogy began in 8th grade with a school assignment. Her other passion is technology which lead her into theater as a stagehand. Today she has blended her love of family history and technology and shares that love with others. She is owner of "It's Relative," www.itsrelative.net; President, Illinois State Genealogical Society; Immediate Past-President, Fox Valley Genealogical Society; past Registrar Fort Payne Chapter, NSDAR; and past Design and Technical Editor, Illinois State Genealogical Society Quarterly Journal. Jane lives in the suburbs of Chicago and her lectures focus on technology as applied to genealogical research.

• Craig Pfannkuche is a retired high school history teacher, and president of Memory Trail Research, Inc. since 1993. Craig has been the Genealogical Archivist for the Chicago and Northwestern Railroad Historical Society since 1984, and is on the board of directors of the Chicago Genealogical Society. He has presented numerous workshops in history, genealogical and historical research, and archaeological techniques.

• Ray Johnson is a former criminal investigator from DuPage County Illinois and has almost 30 years of genealogical experience. After leaving law enforcement he started Johnson Research Services www.historycop.com. Ray conducts research for family historians, attorneys, governmental agencies, television production companies and other authors. He is the author of two books; Chicago's Haunt Detective, 2011 www.hauntdetective.com and Chicago History - The Stranger Side, 2014.