Special Interest Groups

Cape Cod Families meets in-person on the fourth Tuesday of the month from 1:00 P.M – 3:00 P.M. at the Sturgis Library on Route 6A in Barnstable. Here members are able to access the extensive collection of genealogical, maritime, and historical collections housed at the Sturgis Library. The focus is on colonial era research of ancestors who lived on Cape Cod. Because we meet in a public space, we are unable to offer a Zoom meeting at this time. Host: Bebe Brock

Nickerson Family Homestead, Chatham, MA

The Computer Users SIG meets via Zoom, on the second Tuesday of the month from 10:00 A.M. – Noon. (We do not meet in July and August.) Our focus is on computer resources for genealogical research. Accordingly, we may discuss genealogy software programs, online genealogical resources, artificial intelligence (AI), useful computer utilities, style guides. source citations, image editing, artifact archiving, organization, and the like. We select topics from a survey of our membership, and we encourage ad hoc discussion of current topics. Meetings included comprehensive handouts and are recorded. Handouts and recordings are made available to the members. Host: Bob Oppenheim

The DNA group meets via Zoom the first Tuesday from 1:30P.M. – 3:00 P.M. every other month. (We do not meet in July and August.) What is a centiMorgan? A haplogroup? How can a DNA match help with your research? This SIG is a great resource for interpreting your DNA test results. Host: Walter Murphy

The German Research SIG meets via Zoom, on the first Tuesday of the month from 10:00 A.M. – Noon. (We do not meet in July, August, or September.) We welcome anyone researching their German ancestors, along with the history, traditions, and customs of Germany. The meetings follow a member participation format. Members are invited to share topics of interest about their research which need not be limited to strictly German sources. Meetings are recorded and made available to the members. Host: Bob Oppenheim

The Irish Research SIG meets quarterly, either in-person or via Zoom. Anyone with an interest in Irish Genealogy is welcome. We have members with lots of experience who can help those with little knowledge of Irish records – which can be tricky. Our goal is to share strategies for discovering where those elusive Irish ancestors may be lurking. The SIG leader sends a follow-up e-mail to capture important points from the meeting. Host: Pat Flaherty

The Writers SIG meets via Zoom on the third Friday of the month from 10:00 A.M. – Noon. (We do not meet in July and August.) Anyone interested in sharing their writing with the group regarding personal genealogy or about family members (including pets), anything historical, current event topics, articles of personal satisfaction and more is most welcome. We explore many styles of writing and narrative, even poetry, as well as discuss the possibilities of publication. Everyone is welcome to participate and share their work, writing tips, and techniques. If you do not have anything to share, join us anyway. You may become inspired! Hosts: Sherill Baldwin and Lee MacDonald.

The FTM Users Group meets via Zoom the fourth Friday of the month at 10:00 A.M. This group gets together to share tips on how to use this genealogy management software package. Beginners, veterans, and everyone in-Between are welcome. You can schedule a one-on-one Zoom session if you are just getting started or want to share a specific problem. Host: Bob Oppenheim.

The RootsMagic Users Group meets via Zoom. Meetings are scheduled month-to-month for a date and time determined by the members. Discussion includes sharing challenges, solving problems, and discussing new developments produced by the RootsMagic company. Host: David Martin