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Meetings 2023
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Date: February 1, 2023- “Who’s Behind Those Foster Grants?” – VIRTUAL MEETING
Speaker: Thomas MacEntee
Leominster Public Library in Partnership with CMGS – An Escape Room Presentation
Sunglasses can often make a person appear enigmatic and mysterious. Such is the case of Sam Foster, co-founder of the Foster Grant company, noted manufacturer of sunglasses based in Leominster, Massachusetts. Come join us for a fun evening of “watch as it happens” genealogy research, pick up some new research skills, and learn more about Sam Foster.
Accidentally, you are locked in at the Leominster Public Library after hours. It seems that you fell asleep in a cubicle while researching the history of sunglasses. Your current research subject is Sam Foster, who along with William Grant founded the Foster Grant company in Leominster and helped popularize sunglasses.
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Date: February 28, 2023- “How to Clear the Mess on Your Desk” – VIRTUAL MEETING
Speaker: Kelli Bergheimer
The time it takes to digitize and organize will save time in the future. Spend time efficiently making progress in your quest, not filing and looking for what is misplaced. Learn tips and tricks to organize your papers, photos, documents, research, DNA cousins, research trips, and digital records. Learn some common backup tools to protect what you have acquired. Get the most out of your family tree software program to allow your ancestry information to be available on the go. Organize yourself in a way that leaves you more time for the fun stuff of genealogy– sharing, publishing, and finding even more!
Kelli Bergheimer is a writer, teacher, editor, and national genealogical speaker. Kelli holds a Bachelor’s in Biology, a Master’s in Education: Curriculum and Instruction, and a Master’s in Business Management. Kelli is the Director of Curriculum and Assessment for Blue Kayak, a K-12 textbook company. She also works as a DNA report editor for Legacy Tree Genealogists. Kelli runs two small businesses—Geo-Centric Learning and Mess on the Desk, a genealogical organization company with a YouTube channel and online store. Kelli is the Genetics, Genealogy, and You facilitator. Kelli is a member of the Association of Professional Genealogists and the Genealogical Speaker’s Guild.
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Date: March 28, 2023 – “The Photo Angel Project” – VIRTUAL MEETING
Speaker: Kate Kelley
The Photo Angel project reunites long lost photos with their relatives. The project has been featured on NBC’s The Today Show, Family Tree Magazine, The Boston Globe, WCVB’s Channel 5 Boston’s “Chronicle,” The Mayflower Society’s “Mayflower Quarterly,” The Daughters of the American Revolution’s “American Spirit” and several other news media outlets. https://thephotoangel.net/
It all began with a pile of labeled photos of non-relatives that were mixed in with my grandparents’ old family pictures. Were they friends? Classmates? War buddies? Neighbors? I was determined to find out. So I started poking around genealogy websites and BINGO! I immediately began connecting with relatives of the photographed. Now I’m hooked! I love to visit antique stores to thumb through their pictures in my quest to find those that are labeled so that I may return them to their family members. One woman affectionately dubbed me, “The Photo Angel” which was just so sweet. The purpose of this project is to document success stories and inspire others to dig out their dusty attic boxes and visit antique stores for photos with identifiable information and join in the fun!
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Date: April 25, 2023 – “Resources and History of the Grand Lodge of Massachusetts” – IN PERSON
Speaker: Walter H. Hunt
Walter will discuss the genealogical resources available through the Masonic Lodge and the history of Freemasonry. In Person meeting on April 25, 2023 at the Hope Lodge Freemasons, 42 Central Street. Gardner MA – 7-9 PM.
Walter H. Hunt, the grand Historian for the Grand Lodge of Massachusetts and the librarian for the Grand Lodge, main governing body of Freemasonry within Massachusetts. He is also the author of 1636 Cardinal virtues with Eric Flint and The Dark Wing series.
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