Do you know what a SIG is?

Commonly called SIGs, special interest groups meet alongside the regular monthly meetings and activities to discuss specific areas of interest to the members. SMCGS currently has three SIGs running: German, British/Irish, and DNA. 

Meetings of the groups are held either once a month, or once every other week.  As a member of SMCGS you are able to attend any of these meetings without charge.  In fact, you can pick and choose, and rotate among groups as your interests change.

Here's what the groups are doing right now:

Haben Sie deutsche Vorfahren? The German SIG emphasizes sharing family histories and recent research successes, seeking  advice on overcoming brick walls, and learning from others about useful research tools, techniques and online resources. Recent presentations include one on the occupations of members of a German family using pictures from old books and another on the use of Google maps to show locations where ancestors lived in Germany and United States.

DNA SIG: You've seen the wonderful results of DNA testing on shows such as "Finding Your Roots with Henry Louis Gates, Jr." on PBS. The purpose of this group is to help you better understand how to use DNA in your family research. We explore various ways to make use of testing sites like AncestryDNA, MyHeritage, 23andMe, FamilyTreeDNA, and 3rd party DNA sites of interest. We work collaboratively to interpret your DNA results, and attempt to help answer your DNA questions.

British/Irish SIG.  In hopes of a soft Brexit, we have now combined the British and Irish groups into one peaceful collaboration.  Recent explorations have been for an unusual surname in Devon which shows up all too frequently, a Lancashire ancestor who (surprise, surprise) is commemorated on a monument in a Dublin cathedral for going on a rescue mission to the Arctic, and a long missing ancestor discovered under a rug in the Berkeley (UK) church.  We are hoping for someone to come in looking for medieval ancestors.  Challenge us!

Currently the SIGs are held via Zoom.  To sign up, see the listings on our webpage with contact emails.  http://www.smcgs.org/programs/special_interest

Do you have ideas for other SIGs you'd like to see?  

Would you be interested in a New England SIG?

Please send your thoughts and suggestions to the Blog editor, Margaret Melaney, at publications@smcgs.org.