LAWGS

LAWGS Board decided to cover the cost of the new and increased fees for the Burton Chase Park facility that start with January 2010.  Each board member will sponsor a meeting.  ELAINE BERRY generously offered to sponsor January's meeting and SUZY GOULET offered to sponsor February's.  

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Joan discovered DNA test for dogs and cats!  She used it to discover her dog's breed.

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LAWGS' new service concerning entertainment industry obituaries which were provided by a dedicated LAWGS member and compiled over many years is on another page of this website.  Please go to the contents menu on the left and click on that topic.

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MONTHLY SPEAKER PROGRAM in REVIEW by Tom Lane  

LAWGS' November meeting featured the annual Pot Luck and Show 'N Tell.  After the feast, members provided a variety of stories and displays.  Participating this year were:  Suzy Goulet, Dorothy Garven, Lowell Downer, Betty Knoblock, Jim Gibson, Anne Goodenough, Elaine Berry, Joan LoPear, and Tom Lane.

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  LAWGS  SHARED  GENEALOGICAL TIDBITS:

Tom Lane forwarded several interesting items to share:

1.  From NEHGS:  The U. S.  Customs and Immigration Service (USCIS) has been updating the genealogy section of their website in preparation for offering new services.  Two new ones will be Index Search and Record Copy Request.  For more information, visit the USCIS site  www.uscis or the National Archives (NARA).  

2.  From FGS Forum:  The State of Georgia has made over 275,000 death certificates accessible online at no cost.  

3.  From "The Guardian", Saturday, August 16, 2008:  Genealogists reacted with anger yesterday after it emerged that a government website, which promised direct access to 171 years of family records, had been delayed indefinitely following the failure of a Whitehall Computer project.  

   

    LAWGS MAILBAG: 

Amy Pritchard , LAWGS Life Member, sent a letter to Dorothy Garven who shared it at our meeting.  She survived polio and is 94 years young.  She included helpful hints about preserving family letters and to make sure that the envelope, wrapper, or homemade enclosure is kept and digitized for provable evidence of date, cost, method of having been moved from one place to another. 

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  Pre-meeting educational table: 

Our last meeting in November consisted of Show 'N Tell presentations from various members attending that meeting.

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If you have ideas for future tables, please contact Elaine Berry.  She is always open to suggestions.

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  Educational opportunities:  Monthly FREE classes at the LA Regional Family History Center, please see link:  www.larfhc.org/class.htm  and www.familysearch.org

 With the closure of the LA Regional Family History Center for remodeling, please check to see where the classes are now offered.

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  ANNOUNCEMENT:  The Family History Center (LARHFC) on the West Los Angeles Temple grounds will close for remodeling on April 25, 2009.  This remodel will last several months.  Please note that the Torrance Center and Los Angeles Public Library are two possible temporary research centers.

    NARA IN LAGUNA NIGUEL IS MOVING TO RIVERSIDE  IN A NEW FACILITY TO REJOIN THE FEDERAL RECORDS CENTER (FRC). THE CURRENT HOLIFIELD BUILDING CANNOT BE RENOVATED.   THE MOVE IS EXPECTED TO BE COMPLETED BY SPRING 2010.