Special Interest Groups
The Kelowna & District Genealogical Society sponsors Special Interest Groups (SIGs) for its members. SIGs provide an opportunity for KDGS members with specific research interests to meet and exchange ideas and information. SIGs can be related to a specific location, for example England, Eastern Europe or a specific research topic, for example DNA, FamilyTreeMaker software.
NEW! AI FOR GENEALOGY, meets fourth Thursday of the month at 6.30-8.30pm via Zoom. This group provides a forward-thinking, member-only community that explores how to use Artificial Intelligence in our family history journey to organize data, transcribe old documents, and bring family history stories to life faster. We will learn, experiment and share practical strategies for using AI tools and mitigation risks of hallucination or other errors as we delve into this evolving new territory.
RE-LAUNCHED!: DNA SPECIAL INTEREST GROUP meets first Thursday of the month at 6.30pm via Zoom. Discussions will focus on using DNA to solve genealogy problems, finding clues, updates to commercial DNA websites, member questions and successes, and mini workshops by request.
EASTERN EUROPE SPECIAL INTEREST GROUP, meets the last Monday of the month at 6.30pm via Zoom. This group covers Central and Eastern European topics and helps people find their roots in these regions. Meetings can include discussions of specific records, case studies, presentations or brick wall busting.
ENGLAND SPECIAL INTEREST GROUP meets on the third Monday of the month at 1pm via Zoom. Members are asked to submit questions or problems the week before so they can be sent out to others who may have some solutions. Topics for discussion and the Zoom link are sent out a week before the meeting. All topics of discussion are decided by the attendees ahead of time.
FAMILY TREE MAKER SPECIAL INTEREST GROUP meets the first Wednesday of each month, 10am – 12 noon via Zoom. This group is a place for newcomers to learn how to use the basics of Family Tree Maker software. Beginning users can learn more about the capabilities of the program and advanced users can learn about data management and housekeeping features.
LEGACY FAMILY TREE SOFTWARE SPECIAL INTEREST GROUP meets periodically to learn how use the software, entering information, reports available, capabilities of the program and answer questions about using the software.
LET’S TALK GENEALOGY, meets the third Thursday of each month, October to April, 7-8:30pm via Zoom. This group is a chance for new and experienced genealogists to ask and answer questions, a place to discuss your finds, get help with brick walls or just come and enjoy the genealogy conversation. The session is open, unscripted and never the same.
SWEDEN SPECIAL INTEREST GROUP, meets the 3rd Wednesday of the month at 2pm via Zoom to discuss ongoing research, share new websites and interesting sources. Though the main focus is Sweden, some Norwegian research is discussed.
WRITING SPECIAL INTEREST GROUP, meets second Wednesday of each month, 10am to 12 noon, via Zoom. The group will lead members with topics and writing prompts to write their own story and read their stories to the group. We do not critique the stories.
COFFEE SOCIAL AND GENEALOGISTS IN THE PARK meet on the 3rd Wednesday of each month. From September – May we meet for coffee at Orchard Park’s Food Court near A&W, 2271 Harvey Avenue (Hwy 97). In June, July and August we meet at Guisachan Heritage Park, 10am, 1060 Cameron Avenue (bring your own chair and coffee/water).
For more information about SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS, email info@kdgs.ca.
Special Interest Groups are an extra advantage available at no extra cost to KDGS members in good standing.