UPCOMING MONTANA STATE CONFERENCES

Last May at the May 5-7, 2000 MSGS Conference at Great Falls, there were no takers for the 2001 Conference so the MSGS Board chose Bozeman as a location and the Board will plan the conference. Because of the late choice of location, the date will be pushed back to fall for the first time. The date and place chosen will be Sept. 7 & 8, 2001 at the Grantree Motel. Although the Bozeman society is not active, Past President, Al Huntsman, lives at Bozeman and possibly individuals from there will help. More information to follow as plans take shape.

Last October 14th, four YGF members attended the quarterly State Board Meeting. Since YGF has not hosted a MSGS Conference since May 1-3, 1992 when Ken Nelson was the keynote speaker, we wanted to ask what portion of a conference would be our responsibility. Our last YGF style seminar was Sept. 26 & 27, 1997, featuring Curt F. Witcher.

The State Society will line up speakers and pay the majority of the expenses involved with putting on the seminar.

Our role would be making reservations at a convention center, doing registration, goody bags, decorations, etc. and being a liaison between the two and doing the foot-work locally.

To allow more time plus the fact that the 2001 conference will be in Sept., it was suggested Sept. 2002 and very opportune as it is YGF's 25th anniversary!

Louise LaRue and Verba Valentine have checked local convention centers, interviewed Directors of Sales and sent the findings to Betty Marshall, MSGS President. The State officers chose the Sheraton Billings for September 19-22, 2002 and the dates are confirmed now.

Betty asks that if anyone has suggestions for convention speakers contact her: Betty Marshall, Box 476, Chester, MT 59522, phone (406) 759-5627 or e-mail bubbles@ttc-cmc.net

Although the date is quite a long ways ahead, ideas for this event will be welcomed by any of our Board Members. This is our opportunity to carry our weight in the state society and celebrate our own 25th anniversary in style!

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MT. MARRIAGE RECORDS IN JEOPARDY

The Montana Attorney General has given his opinion about access to marriage records. Senator, John Tester, wrote Bill # 148 which went through the public committee meeting hearing starting Jan. 8th. Betty Marshall and Pat Ludwig attended the session. As things stand only the certificate can be given out by the Clerks of Court. Genealogically, the license contains most of the pertinent information. Earlier genealogists had access to these records. The marriage application has always been closed and will probably continue so.

The SB # 148 went to a closed session with the Senate approving it earlier this week. This bill will probably get to the House by the end of February.

Genealogists are asked to keep informed by checking MSGS and YGF Web pages. Both Betty Marshall and Pat Ludwig sent an address where you can check out progress and up dates by going into this site: http://laws.leg.state.mt.us:8000/laws01/plsql/LAW0200W$.startup

At this site you should be able to access online bill status information, agendas, etc. as well as the text of bills. Genealogists are asked to write their congressmen to support SB # 148 asking to keep Montana marriage records open for research.

From Your President:

Another year of genealogy is about to begin! It has been a cold ol' winter so far, but hopefully it has not deterred you from digging in, or out from under, which ever the case may be! The FHL is now open on 1000 Wicks Lane, after being closed down for renovations of the building. Come over and check it out. There has been some re-arranging and things are easier than ever to find!

As usual, we have some great programs lined up for this coming year. We will post the programs on the YGF web site for you.

We are excited to bring on board anyone that would be interested in organizing the programs this year. It is not a tough job and remember that the board is always here to help! I remember when I was a new member as well as a new genealogist. I hesitantly took on the job of the 'program person'. It turned out to be a great opportunity for me. I got to know a lot of members by phoning them for help and questions. I learned a lot about organizing,

and most importantly I was able to find guest speakers for subjects that were of interest to ME! There are new researchers as well as intermediate and advanced, so some programs serve as a review. If we can learn one thing at a meeting, it has been time well spent. After my year was "up", I asked to do the job for another year! I felt like I had just gotten my feet wet, and now I could really put some great programs together! Well, that was a few years ago and I enjoyed every bit of it! So, if you want to volunteer to help us all out, just give a call to a board member. Being an experienced researcher is NOT a prerequisite! In fact we want someone who is enthusiastic and fun and wants to learn!

I wish you all a Happy New Year and may all your researching days be grat-ifying!

Suzanne

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FORMER MEMBER DIES

Elizabeth K. Sanderson died on November 28, 2000. We knew her as "Beth". In 1990 and 1991 she served as Membership Chairman when Louise LaRue was president of YGF. How thrilled she was to receive a china painted cup, a doorprize at our Sept. 1990 Seminar featuring Jayare Roberts!

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WICKS LIBRARY OPEN AGAIN

The Family History Center on Wicks opened its doors on November 7, 2000 after being closed all summer for remodeling.

Looking very bright and clean, the furniture has been rearranged a bit for more efficient use. A separate room across the hall is where one reads microfiche. Perhaps the very best news is that the computers and printers have been hooked together and one doesn't need to put CDs in and out as you "build a pedigree". They can be pulled up internally. Nice! The microfilm reading room remains much the same. Most of the improvements are probably not so visible--new heating and air conditioning, improved lighting, new carpeting and such.

Their OPEN HOUSE will be held be-ginning on Saturday, February 17th, plus the following Tues., Wed., and Thurs., Feb. 20, 21 and 22. Make a point to go see for yourself and stay and research awhile.

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(quilt graphic)

A family is pieced together

with hope and faith,

A family is quilted and bound

with love and grace.

--unknown

"Internet Volunteers: Genealogy Needs You"

The above title caught my eye of the January 2001 AARP BULLETIN, p. 4. It starts out by saying that the Internet is for older Americans as well as teenagers who enjoy holding a joystick playing games, the frantic day-trader or late-night lonely hearts. One of the fastest growing seg- ments on the Internet is senior citizens serving as genealogical cyber volunteers. Brian Leverich, founder of RootsWeb says genealogical volunteering is easily the largest collective project he's ever seen on the Net. One lady in Michigan is known as the "map lady" and a number of people are putting passenger ship lists on the Web. Bridgett Schneider oversees "Random Genealogical Acts of Kindness". If you look, you'll see Maria Minear at Big Horn Co., MT and Sue-Ann Jacobson at Yellowstone Co., MT--two researchers we know. Check it out, there may be help for you. A person is asked to give one day a month of free help to fellow genealogists. In the case of Sue-Ann, she will look up obituaries in Billings news-papers if given the date. You might be charged for copying fees.

And this article mentions how it is hoped in the far-flung U.S. GenWeb project that volunteers will "adopt" each county of the U.S. and maintain a county website and feed into that site as much historical info as possible. This is what Corky Knebel has talked about.

Whether you want help or want to volunteer help, here are some sites you might check.

www.rootsweb.com Volunteers see "Hosted Genealogy projects.

istg.rootsweb.com Immigrant Ships Transcribers Guild

raogk.rootsweb.com Random Acts of Geneal- ogical Kindness

Mail.yahoo.com free e-mail accounts

hotmail.com

familytree.com

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DO YOU REALLY NEED A 2ND PHONE LINE?

by Cleve Kimmel

One of the basic concerns some users have is whether or not they should invest in a separate phone line.

1) If you generally use the service late at night when others are unlikely to call you, then no change is probably needed. Keep one line.

2) If you are a heavy user of the internet, and either you or someone else needs to use the phone lines during the same times, then obviously two or more lines are needed; unless you make all other calls on a mobile phone, and don't expect any calls on the main line connected to the PC, then one would be okay.

3) For the most of us casual users that frequent the internet at any time during the day or night, it becomes a real incon-venience to others who try to call you and find the line busy. Their personal frustration will sometimes be taken out in great anger about your inconsideration. For some, the solution is having a second line dedicated to the computer, and of digital quality for higher connection speeds. The problem with this plan is that your annual phone costs will skyrocket. The additional line can cost you about $250 to $350 a year. Peace of mind is obtained, knowing that all persons who try to reach you can do so during your connection with the internet. As an alternate, you can avoid these costs and never miss a call by having Call Waiting installed, and change your modem to a PC Call Waiting Modem. Call waiting adds about $60 per year to the phone bill, and most of us have it installed anyway. A 56k call waiting modem costs about $60 and is easy to install. There are several on the market, but only get one that connects itself automatically after the operating card is installed into a PCI slot. All others are virtually impossible to setup. I use Action Tec PCI 56k Modem, and it has three operating modes; each easily changed from the keyboard. When your PC is on line and someone calls you you can set the system to: a) ignore the call and allow the line to provide a busy signal, b) immediately accept the call by ringing at the phone connected to your PC. You can pick up the phone and talk to the caller for about ten seconds before automatic disconnect. (Some changes are planned to extend the time indefinitely), and c) allow all phones in the house to ring, and which ever one is picked up will disconnect the PC and you can carry on a conversation. This is the setting I normally use. Check out the various ones by searching for Call Waiting Modems, and read about their capabilities and requirements for use and installation. It will save you a bundle.

GEN-ROOM LIBRARY ACQUISITIONS

Ellen Cushing, our librarian, would like to report the following additions.

1. Index to War of 1812 Pension Files by Virgil D. White.

2. Index to Old Wars Pension Files, 1815-1926 by Virgil D. White.

3. Index to Pension Applications for Indian Wars Service Between 1817 and 1898 by Virgil D. White.

4. The Orphan Trains: Placing Out in America.

Donated by the Heights Family History Center:

5. Early Pennsylvania Births, 1675-1875.

6. Maryland Census, 1790.

7. The Winthrop Fleet of 1630.

8. The Volga Germans, in Russia & the Americas, from 1763 to Present.

9. Cradled in Sweden.

10. The Maine Genealogical Society Newsletter, 1987-1990.

Donated by Athna May Porter:

11. The Underground Railroad: First-Person Narratives.

Donated by Kevin Kooistra-Manning:

11. Montana Heritage Resources Directory.

12. The Jim and Jennie Lane Family of Forsyth, MT.

Donated by Myrle Theimer:

13. The Essex Genealogist, Feb. 1997-May 1999.

14. Lawton Ledger, June 1996-March 1999.

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NEW YEARS RESOLUTIONS

Did you make any New Years Resolutions? If so, I hope one or more was to accomplish something genealogically that you haven't done before. Or do you consider resolutions old and fuddy-duddy and never get done anyway.

Lets believe that you have or will think about your BIG picture of research-ing. What are some of the things you'd like to gain in 2001?

Now to the knitty-gritty. Where are you in researching? Are you a beginner? Or have you been collecting data for several years? You're getting to know your way around libraries and how to read micro-films and microfiche. Or maybe you're a "Pro" and don't need help.

You probably have a research notebook and hopefully you have it organized by pedigree and family sheets or by surnames or some other way that you like better. I'm sure you've been cautioned to leave original records, documents and photos at home so they'll be safe.

And at home, your original papers and photos should be kept in some kind of system where they can be retrieved easily. File folders in a file. Or notebooks in a bookcase. You decide which way is easiest for you.

You may have a genealogy computer program to store your research and yes, it saves you from re-typing the same data over and over as you know well and good that additional facts will add, change or even take away what you thought was correct earlier on.

Now you need to think about each surname on your pedigree sheet--one at a time. Look at the info you already have and start dreaming. You may want to list your ideas on a form such as a "Research Organizer". Or if you have a computer, you may list it as "Research" or "Yet To Do" at the end of your notes. It all gets us to the same place. We're analyzing our situation and writing down our wishes or goals.

Darken the library doors, order some films, write some cousins, phone your Grandma, travel back to your ancestor's farm or find their grave. There's a number of things you could do. It all starts with focusing on one small empty blank until you get the answer. Not every genealogy question can be answered but in the process you may learn a lot and sometimes there's twists and turns that may surprise you. Once found, we'll hope you share your finds with a cousin, your grandkids, an elderly aunt--it will bring you pleasure twice. Now where were we on this list?

Your Editor

LIBRARIAN'S CORNER

The book, "First Families of Montana and Early Settlers, Vol. I" is the result of the Montana State Genealogical Society's effort to record early settlers coming to Montana. After several years of collecting applications and awarding certificates, this book shows what people have been documented. The October Gen-Bug carried a good description of the book's several attributes.

Since one of the 3 indexes is by counties, you might be interested in those names listed under Yellowstone County. If any of these names "ring a bell", go to the Gen-Room at Parmly 2nd floor and check this book (on the west wall under "New Books") and find the submitter and their 1/2 page listing.

GILLILAND, Mary (wife of Guy T. Van Cleave), 1916

GLASSGOW, Emma Burton (HOLLAND), 1907

GLASSGOW, Frank M. and GLASSGOW, Samuel F., 1909 (brothers)

HOWELL, Ethan Allen and BLYTHE, Sarah Ann, 1906

KENNEDY, Edward B. and HART, Catherine Frances, 1882

McENTEE, Amelia (wife of Robert T. HANNAH), 1886

NILSON, NILS, 1909

O'DONNELL, Edward, 1885 and LOFTUS, Mary,

1883

O'DONNELL, Cyril Raymond, 1915

PITSCH, Andrew, 1903, and REICHART, Kath-arina, 1907

POPP, Jacob, Sr. and HEIZENROTER, Barbara, 1912

REICHART, Jacob and SPRYER, Sophie F., 1907

REITER, Henry, Sr., and REICHERT, Mary, 1912

ROMEE, Steve, 1918 and BUDGE, Lucille E., 1920

ROMEE, Karl and NEFF, Anna, 1909

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MONTANA BIG SKY PAF USER'S GROUP

The Montana Big Sky PAF User's Group would like to invite you to attend their monthly meetings. The group meets on the 3rd Saturday of the month, 10 a.m. until 12 at the Wicks LDS Church, 1000 Wicks. Anyone interested in using a computer to handle their genealogy could benefit al-though the society was formed to help those who use the LDS Personal Ancestral File (PAF). Many features carry over in much the same way. The group meets Sept. to May with the exception of December. Each meeting has a very worthwhile program presented by Richard Davis, Program Chairman. Excellent handouts are given that can be referred to later.

An updated 104 page booklet for PAF with windows entitled, "Family History Documentation Guidelines" by the Silicon Valley PAF Users Group is for sale at $7.50 each.

Two videos are on the white shelves at the Wicks Family History Center that could help. One is "Getting Started" and the second is "Intermediate" that shows you how to use the PAF 4.0 (windows) program. They, along with some additional videos, may be checked out.

To express our appreciation for using the church for meetings, the MT Big Sky PAF User's Group has voted to purchase several CDs for the Wicks Library collection.

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--shared by Suzanne McPherson