The British Isles Family History Society of Greater Ottawa (BIFSHGO) in Ottawa, Ontario, will be holding their virtual conference from 19-26 September, 2021. The conference theme is Irish Lines and Female Finds: Exploring Irish records, female ancestors and genetic genealogy. Fourteen international speakers will present 15 sessions, for all levels of genealogical experience.
More information about the conference, including program and registration, visit https://bifhsgo2021.ca/
The Society for German Genealogy in Eastern Europe virtual convention will take place Sept. 18-19, 2021. The conference theme is Finding Our Stories. This is the schedule as of today. Please note the time zone – Pacific Daylight Time.
9 a.m. PDT Opening and welcome
9:10 – 10:10 a.m. PDT Karl Krueger | EWZ records (about the speaker)
10:20 – 11 a.m. PDT Annual General Meeting (members only)
11:15 a.m. – 12:15 p.m. PDT Uwe Krickhahn | Kartenmeister
12:25 – 1:25 p.m. PDT Bill Remus | German migrations
9 a.m. PDT Welcome
9:10 – 10:10 a.m. PDT Andre Hamman | Germans in Brazil
10:20 – 11:20 a.m. PDT Dave Obee | German-occupied Ukraine 1943-44
11:30 a.m. PDT – ? “Zoom rooms” | small group chats
The convention team is considering how we can facilitate small group chats so that participants can talk with each other, replicating what would normally be the hallway chats, the dinner conversations and coffee break exchanges. Stay tuned!
For more information on speakers and topics, please visit https://sggee2021convention.blogspot.com/
Don’t forget to do your 2021 Census!
The 2021 Census of Population is Canada’s 23rd national census. It collects information on the demographic, social and economic situation of people across Canada, as well as on the dwellings they live in.
Did you know that the first census in North America took place in 1666 in New France? To learn more about how to use the census in your family history search, visit Using the Census to Research Your Family History.
Ever wondered what is available in the MGS Resource Centre? What are all those books? Rows of CDs? Cabinets of microfilm and microfiche? What is a Henderson Directory and how can that help you in your research? What is available on the computers?
Join us for a virtual tour of the MGS Resource Centre on May 15, 2021! Ask us questions in the comments, and we will answer them live on the broadcast. Time to be determined. Circle your calendar now!
Manitoba Day is officially May 12th. Happy 151st Birthday Manitoba!
The 2021 Annual General Meeting is scheduled for Saturday, June 12, 2021 from 1 pm to 3 pm. During Covid-19 we have been running all our meetings via ZOOM, but we are ever hopeful that face-to-face meetings will come back soon. You can register for the 2021 AGM with Eventbrite.
Email your expression of interest to nominations@mbgenealogy.com
Want to Nominate Someone? 2021 – 2022 MGS Call for Nominations
DID YOU KNOW…..
We hope you will consider volunteering at MGS.
The Standing Committee Chairs are part of the MGS Council and consists of these positions:
Administration Department
Communication Department
Finance Department
Information Technology Department
Note: These positions are not elected by the membership but are appointed by the MGS Executive. In order to do that, we need to know who is willing to serve. How about YOU?
Email your Expression of Interest to nominations@mbgenealogy.com. Please see 2021 Standing Committees – web brief descriptions for list of duties.
The Executive Committee meets monthly to direct the day-to-day operations of MGS, and consists of:
Elected positions
Appointed positions
NOTE: Elected positions are 1-year terms, eligible to be re-elected to the same position for up to 4 years. Email your nomination and/or interest to nominations@mbgenealogy.com. Please see 2021 Executive – web brief descriptions.
Email your expression of interest to nominations@mbgenealogy.com
Want to Nominate Someone? 2021 – 2022 MGS Call for Nominations
CONGRATULATIONS TO CAROL SIELSKI the winner of our Women’s History Month Contest! She wins a free Research Package from MGS.
Thank you to the 78 people who entered the contest. Only 45 got all skill testing questions right. We used an online “random number generator” to pick the winner from the 45 correct entries.
MGS Research Package (Value $75)
The MGS Research Package is available for a set fee of $75.00 for non-members and $60.00 for MGS members and entails a search of all sources at the MGS Resource Library and MGS databases. In addition, other Manitoba resources will be sourced as deemed relevant to your request It will give you a minimum of 6 hours of a volunteer researcher’s time. Although we prefer to deliver results electronically, the package can cover photocopying and postage up to a $5.00 maximum. To help us get started, please complete our Research Request Form and mail/email it to us along with the required fee.
1. What year did all women in Canada have the right to vote?
a. 1960
b. 1954
c. 1929
d. 1916
This question was the one that was answered incorrectly the most. The answer is 1960. Thirty entries had 1916 as the answer, and although this was the year women got the vote in Manitoba, all women in Canada did not get the right to vote until 1960.
“On January 28, 1916, the Lieutenant Governor passed into law the right of Manitoba women to vote – and to put themselves forward as candidates – in provincial elections. On March 14, Saskatchewan passed into law An Act to Amend the Saskatchewan Election Act, and on April 19, Alberta passed the Equal Suffrage Statutory Law Amendment Act S.A. 1916 c.5, both jurisdictions thereby granting women the right to vote and stand for election. On May 24, 1918, following passage of An Act to confer the Electoral Franchise upon Women S.C. 1918, c. 20, women in Canada were granted the federal franchise. It would be another 10 years before the Famous Five won the Persons Case Victory, and it was not until 1940 that Quebec women won the right to vote in provincial elections. In 1960 First Nations were allowed to vote without giving up treaty rights.”
SOURCE: https://cfc-swc.gc.ca/commemoration/cent/index-en.html
2. In 1903, Emma Baker was the first woman to receive a Ph. D. from a Canadian university. What was her degree in?
a. Psychology
b. Medicine
c. Science
d. Literature
“Emma Baker became the first woman to receive a Ph.D. from a Canadian university. She earned the degree in psychology at the University of Toronto.”
SOURCE: https://femmes-egalite-genres.canada.ca/en/commemorations-celebrations/womens-history-month/women-history-canada-timeline.html
3. Cecile Eustace Smith became the first Canadian woman to represent Canada in the first official winter Olympics in Chamonix, France. How old was she?
a. 15 years old
b. 18 years old
c. 21 years old
1924: Cecile Eustace Smith, a 15-year-old figure skater, became the first Canadian woman to represent Canada in the Olympic Games. She competed in the first official winter Olympics in Chamonix, France. SOURCE: https://femmes-egalite-genres.canada.ca/en/commemorations-celebrations/womens-history-month/women-history-canada-timeline.html
THANK YOU to everyone who entered the contest!
This year we are celebrating Women’s History Month with a contest!
Every day in the month of March, 2021, we will post a new slide on the MGS homepage, acknowledging the women who made a major impact on life in Canada. Watch the slides, and remember as much as you can. There will be an online quiz April 1-7.
Contest Rules:
Prize: A MGS Research Package!
You will fill out our Research Request Form and our team of researchers will search the appropriate sources and get back to you with their findings. This is a $75 value.
We run on volunteers at MGS. We have a variety of vacant volunteer positions. If you are interested in joining our team and would like to know more about any of these positions listed below, please contact us at volunteer@mbgenealogy.com There are other committee departments as well that can use more help too if none of these are your first choice. We find our area of interest, contribute and learn more as we go and grow our friendships as well. Come join us!
COUNCIL/EXECUTIVE
VP Administration – All the VP’s jointly coordinate and maintain the resources, holdings, equipment and any materials of the Society held in the Resource Centre and Library to further the mandate of the organization. Specifically, the VP Admin oversees the Standing Committees in the Administration Department, and is responsible for the overall management of the Resource Centre and Library.
There is a once a month Executive Committee Meeting (2nd Monday of month 1-3 pm) and a quarterly Council Meeting (usually on a Saturday from 1-3 pm) where you report on the activities of your team—in person or via Zoom. Although you can work from home, it is fun to come to the Resource Library and meet the volunteers, and work on any tasks there. A job description is available.
VP Finance – All the VP’s jointly coordinate and maintain the resources, holdings, equipment and any materials of the Society held in the Resource Centre and Library to further the mandate of the organization. Specifically, the VP Finance oversees the Standing Committees in the Finance Department, the overall management of the financial health of the organization. This can be done from home, but it is more fun to come in to the office and work with others. There is a once a month Executive Committee Meeting (2nd Monday of month 1-3 pm) and a quarterly Council Meeting (usually on a Saturday from 1-3 pm) where you report on the activities of your team—in person or via Zoom.
Recording Secretary – Meeting the 2nd Monday of each month from 1 pm to 3 pm on Zoom. Use Google Drive to keep digital records filed properly. Make paper copies of minutes and other documents for the various manuals. This can be done from home, but it is more fun to come in to the office and work with others. There is a once a month Executive Committee Meeting (2nd Monday of month 1-3 pm) and a quarterly Council Meeting (usually on a Saturday from 1-3 pm). In person or Zoom.
COUNCIL/COMMITTEE CHAIRS
Grants & Applications Chair – To coordinate and facilitate grant funding for MGS. There are different types of grant opportunities for heritage organizations. They have unique criteria with various reporting periods. We have documented previous grant applications, providing reference. We have submitted an average of 2 to 4 grants annually depending on availability and any specific projects we are working towards. When grants are approved and a timeline met, a completion report is required. You will be supported by the VP Finance and work with other department volunteers at the Resource Centre. Time commitment: will vary each year but approx. 5 – 10 hours monthly
Computer & Network Operations Chair – To ensure that the computer and network needs of the MGS Library/Resource Centre and Branches are met, for both patrons and volunteers. This includes hardware and operating systems, user services needs and a backup system. You would work with an existing team of volunteers that keep our computers and network operational. This position reports to the VP Information Technology, and this Chair position is on the MGS council which has a quarterly Council Meeting (usually on a Saturday from 1-3 pm)—in person or via Zoom.
Office Coordination Chair – To coordinate the effective day-to-day operations of the MGS Resource Centre, Library and Volunteer office. The MGS Resource Centre is open 3 days a week (Tue, Wed, Thu from 10 am to 3 pm) and each day has a list of volunteers who come in and do various tasks to keep MGS running smoothly. Volunteers from other departments come in to do their tasks, and members and non-members come in to do research. The Office Coordination Chair reports to the VP Admin, and is a council member who attends quarterly Council Meeting (usually on a Saturday from 1-3 pm)—in person or via Zoom. A job description is available.
Fundraising Chair – As a registered charity we need to explore the various opportunities for fundraising. The Fundraising Chair works with a committee and the support of the VP Finance. A job description is available. As a member of our MGS Council, you or someone on your committee is expected to attend quarterly council meetings (usually on Saturdays) either in person or via Zoom.
COMMITTEE POSITIONS
Fundraising – Donors. Soliciting donations is one means available to increase our revenue stream. You will research prospects and specific requirements for applying to businesses and organizations. You will schedule and submit applications using letters that have been created for this purpose. This can be done from home, but you may want to join other volunteers at MGS. Time commitment: approx. 3 hrs a week
Fundraising – Sponsorship. We want to maintain communication with existing sponsors and develop new ones. These have unique requirements and require building relationships in the community. Some of this can be done from home but meeting with people and companies will be an advantage. Time commitment: approx. 3 hrs a week.
MANI content – funeral homes. This is database entry work. We supply lists with various details, you type them into a spreadsheet. You can work from home, but come in to the office and work around others who are there working on their project. Time Commitment: varies but weekly inputting of data is the most common.
MANI content – local family histories. This is database entry work. We supply lists with various details, you type them into a spreadsheet. You can work from home, but come in to the office and work around others who are there working on their project. Time Commitment: varies but weekly inputting of data is the most common.
Project Assistant – MGS has a regular series of projects on the go, and this position reports to the VP Communication. A project will be assigned, and you will work closely with the VP Communication who will assign tasks like organizing documents, or sending emails or a variety of other tasks. When the project is over, there will be a time of no volunteering (until we ask you to join us on another project). Your help is needed.
We have job descriptions for the Executive and Committee Chairs. Committee Chairs work with a team, and coordinates the committees work.
Email us at volunteer@mbgenealogy.com
To see our organizational chart, click here: MGS Council Pedigree
We are looking for a volunteer editor for the MGS journal called Generations for 2021.
This is a 40+ page journal created in MS Word, and converted to .pdf for publication four times a year. The editor job description is linked below. We are looking for a one year commitment starting January, 2021.
This is a wonderful opportunity to get involved in MGS, get to know the members better, and collect and publish family histories, genealogy know-how, and more. What is your vision of Generations? Your creativity is welcome here.
Please fill out the volunteer-application-form and either email the form to vpcommunication@mbgenealogy.com or mail to MGS, Unit E – 1045 St. James St., Winnipeg, MB, R3H 1B1. Your support is very much appreciated.
Call 204-783-9139 or email if you are have any questions about volunteering – don’t miss the opportunity!
