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• Family tree Maker with Mark Olsen

  • When
    9 Dec 2025
  •  
    12:30 PM
  • Location
    Riverview Library, 9951 Balm Riverview Rd, Riverview, FL 33569

  
  

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• Family Tree Maker event with Tampa Area Genealogical Societies

  • When
    9 Dec 2025
  •  
    12:30 PM - 3:30 PM
  • Location
    Riverview Public Library, 9951 Balm Riverview Road, Riverview, FL 33569

  Join us for a Family Tree Maker event.

  Family Tree Maker Executive Director Duff Wilson and Genealogy Community Ambassador Mark Olsen will present the latest features and innovations of FTM 2024.

  This event will include interactive demonstrations with lots of tips, techniques, helpful insights, and Q&A with those in attendance, much like a Family Tree Maker User Group meeting.

  FAMILY TREE MAKER SESSIONS

  Some of the topics we will cover:

  • A brief introduction to Family Tree Maker and why it's been America's favorite desktop family history software for 35 years.
  • Features only found in Family Tree Maker, including some insider tips and tricks for expert users.
  • Connect! A completely new workspace in FTM 2024 that makes it easy to enlist relatives to help you accelerate your research.
  • Easy on the Eyes™, a long-requested feature that gives relief to tired old eyes by enlarging each section of the screen just when it's needed.
  • A number of useful requested improvements in managing and reporting relationships.
  • Tools for cleaning up orphaned items (media, sources, and citations).

  We'll also cover:

  1. FTM CONNECT 2.0

  For the greatly expanded version 2.0 of our mobile tree viewer app (for Android, iPhone, and iPad), we'll show you:

  • How FTM Connect can now be used by your relatives to fact-check your tree and introduce you to extended family members you didn't know you had.
  • How to use FTM Connect with an iPad or Android tablet to provide a handy touchscreen that works seamlessly with Family Tree Maker on your PC or Mac at home.
  • How to take your tree with you on your tablet or smartphone when visiting relatives and have their additions and corrections waiting for you as sticky note hints on your FTM tree when you get back home.

  2. ALBUMWALK® Mobile App

  Called a "game-changer" in capturing memories in photos, we'll demonstrate:

  • How easy it is to have a relative identify everyone in a group photo just by tapping on them and talking about them.
  • How our newly-patented technology enables you to make "instant" documentary-style presentations.
  • How you can use TreeVault to work seamlessly between Family Tree Maker and AlbumWALK, and to automatically back up these priceless "photo memories" for safekeeping.

  Register here.

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• German SIG

  • When
    10 Dec 2025
  •  
    10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
  • Location
    zoom

  
  

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• Genealogical Society of Sarasota Christmas Party

  • When
    13 Dec 2025
  •  
    11:30 AM
  • Location
    Cooper's Hawk Winery and Restaurant 3130 Fruitville Commons Blvd., Sarasota, FL

  Registration is closed

  Join us for the Genealogical Society of Sarasota Christmas Party

  WHEN: Saturday, December 13, 2025 at 11:30 a.m.

  WHERE: Cooper's Hawk Winery and Restaurant

  3130 Fruitville Commons Blvd., Sarasota, FL

  ATTIRE: Christmas Casual

  Luncheon will include your choice of:

  Parmesan Crusted Filet Medallions with Mary's Potatoes & Asparagus

  or

  Soy Ginger Atlantic Salmon with Wasabi-Buttered Mashed & Asian Slaw

  PLEASE CHOOSE THE MEAL TYPE VIA THE TICKET TYPE MEDALLIONS OR SALMON

  
  

  IF YOU ARE BRINGING A GUEST, CHOOSE GUEST-MEDALLIONS OR GUEST-SALMON.

  Meals include House Salad, coffee, tea & soda & Salted Caramel Creme Brule for dessert.

  Price per person is $45.00 (includes tax and tip)

  CASH BAR IS AVAILABLE

  Please RSVP by November 28, 2025.  Your completed RSVP will automatically enter you into the drawing for DOOR PRIZES.

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• Mid-Atlantic SIG

  • When
    17 Dec 2025
  •  
    10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
  • Location
    Online

  
  

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• Using Google Tools - Regina Negrycz

  • When
    10 Jan 2026
  •  
    10:00 AM
  • Location
    Gulf Gate Library- 7112 Curtiss Ave, Sarasota, Fl 34231

  to be updated soon

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• Scribes

  • When
    15 Jan 2026
  •  
    10:30 AM - 12:00 PM
  • Location
    zoom

  
  

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• DNA TBD - Regina Negrycz

  • When
    14 Feb 2026
  •  
    10:30 AM
  • Location
    Gulf Gate Library- 7112 Curtiss Ave, Sarasota, Fl 34231

  to be updated soon

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• Scribes

  • When
    19 Feb 2026
  •  
    10:30 AM - 12:00 PM
  • Location
    zoom

  
  

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• MyHeritage Advanced Features & Technologies - David Horowitz

  • When
    13 Mar 2026
  •  
    1:00 PM
  • Location
    Gulf Gate Library 7112 Curtiss Ave, Sarasota, Fl 34231

  
  

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• Basic Photo Editing - Chuck Ford

  • When
    14 Mar 2026
  •  
    10:30 AM
  • Location
    Gulf Gate Library- 7112 Curtiss Ave, Sarasota, Fl 34231

  

  Chuck Ford is a long time member of the Genealogical Society of Sarasota. He has been doing genealogical research on and off since he was in his 20s. His experience in photo editing began with restoration work on his own ancestral photos. Upon moving to Florida in 2000, he began a 10 year stint as a volunteer at the Venice Museum and Archives. One of his assignments while there was doing restoration and cleanup work on phots from their collection which were used in various publications and displays. Through this experience he became proficient in using photo editing tools such as PhotoShop. In addition he compiles a monthly article for the newsletter of the Venice Region of the Antique Automobile Club of America which contain photos of vintage automobiles which often need editing in one way or another.

  
  

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• Scribes

  • When
    19 Mar 2026
  •  
    10:30 AM - 12:00 PM
  • Location
    zoom

  
  

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• Raising the Dead: Why Cemeteries Should Be Part of the Foundation of Genealogical Research

  • When
    11 Apr 2026
  •  
    10:30 AM - 12:00 PM
  • Location
    Gulf Gate Public Library 7112 Curtiss Ave., Sarasota 34231

  Join me, Dara Tolbert Brooks as we investigate a subject in research everyone will have to explore ... Cemeteries!

  Cemeteries are more than just a resting place for the dead. They are rich repositories of families with stories waiting to be uncovered. In this session, we’ll delve into the invaluable role cemetery research plays in piecing together family connections and filling in the gaps in our genealogical journey. We will explore the unique insights that gravestones, burial records, cemetery landscapes and burial traditions can offer to enrich our research.

  
  

  
  

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• Scribes

  • When
    16 Apr 2026
  •  
    10:30 AM - 12:00 PM
  • Location
    zoom

  
  

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• Alternative and Hidden Sources for Genealogical Research - Bryan Mulcahy

  • When
    9 May 2026
  •  
    10:30 AM
  • Location
    Gulf Gate Library 7112 Curtiss Ave., Sarasota 34231

  

  Bryan Mulcahy is a long-time lecturer and friend of the Genealogical Society of Sarasota.  He has been the Adult Reference, Genealogy, and Circulation librarian since 1990.  Bryan received his BA and Master of Library Science from Florida State University in 1984.   We always welcome his knowledge and inspiration in the field of genealogy as he has shared many written articles and guides with us over the years.

  Alternative records and other related Hidden Resources are defined as documents, records, or memorabilia that provide the same or similar types of information that would normally be contained in the more common primary genealogical records. Regardless of your effort and expertise, brick walls are an inevitable fact of life for all genealogists. Dead-ends, discrepancies between records, and research roadblocks tend to be the rule rather than the exception in genealogical research. Inconsistencies in record keeping practices from bygone eras will also present challenges as you search for genealogical records. Primary genealogical sources such as birth certificates, marriage records, census returns, and death certificates are only as useful as the determined accuracy of the information provided by the individual at the time the record was created. The information supplied may fall short of expectations or raise issues that were completely unexpected. The ancestor may not appear on any existing records for the time period or locality. When any of these situations arise, genealogists must turn to other avenues to overcome these issues. This seminar will touch on locating these hidden options for research success.

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• Scribes

  • When
    21 May 2026
  •  
    10:30 AM - 12:00 PM
  • Location
    zoom

  
  

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