DNA to be highlight of genealogy conference

DNA is one of the hot topics in genealogy these days, so the Maine Genealogical Society is bringing a top-notch speaker to its state conference, “Linking to Your Family’s History,” set for Saturday, Sept. 20, at the Wyndham Portland Airport Hotel in South Portland.

Megan Smolenyak Smolenyak, author of “Trace Your Roots with DNA: Using Genetic Tests to Explore Your Family Tree,” will give the keynote address, “Remembering Our Ancestors,” at 9:15 a.m.

At 10:15 a.m., choose from three breakout sessions: “Trace Your Roots with DNA,” with Smolenyak; “Mapping Your Ancestors Electronically,” with Geoff Rasmussen, a software developer for Legacy Family Tree; and “A Conversation about LD 1084,” with state Sen. Paula Benoit.

An adoptee, Benoit was a driving force behind the passage of a Maine law to allow adoptees 18 and older who were born in Maine to have a copy of their original birth certificate.

Choices at 2 p.m. are “Beyond Y-DNA: Your Genetic Genealogy Options,” with Smolenyak; “Marketing Your Ancestors with Message Boards and Mailing Lists,” with Rasmussen; and “The Maine-Canada-Ireland Connection: Seeking Rogers Roots,” with Carol P. McCoy, a professional genealogist in Yarmouth who is president of Find-Your-Roots.

At 3 p.m., choose from “Reverse Genealogy: Techniques for Finding Your Lost Loved Ones,” with Smolenyak; “Legacy Software: Insider Tips and Tricks,” with Rasmussen; and “Preservation of Modern Imaging Systems,” with David Mishkin, president of Just Black and White, a photographic processing lab in Portland.

Registration begins at 8 a.m., and of course you want to pre-register to save money.

The best rate is available to Maine Genealogical Society members who preregister before Aug. 31. They pay just $40 for the day.

Non-MGS members pay $55 before Aug. 31.

Everyone who registers after Aug. 31 pays $75.

Add $25 for the luncheon buffet.

Make checks payable in U.S. funds to the Maine Genealogical Society and mail to MGS, P.O. Box 221, Farmington 04938.

If you want to join the society in order to get the best rate for preregistration, send $20 to MGS at the above address. (For first-class postage on the quarterly journal and the newsletter, add $5. Membership in Canada is $29, and outside the U.S. and Canada, it’s $34.)

As you can see, Mainers who pay $20 to join MGS and then

register for the conference before Aug. 31 end up saving $35, quite a deal.

For info on the conference, visit www.maineroots.org

There will, as always, be vendors of books and other items at the conference.

In addition, organizers will repeat the very popular “Research Room” from last year. So, there will be lots of resources for you to browse, and volunteers on hand to help.

Another reason to join MGS is the money you can save on several of the society’s Special Publications that are a joint project of Picton Press.

New books in July include “Vital Records of Canaan, Maine,” compiled by Sally Furber Nelson, $50.95 plus tax and postage for MGS members, $60.95 plus tax and postage for nonmembers; and “Vital Records of Wayne, Maine,” compiled by Marlene A. Groves, $37.95 plus tax and postage to MGS members, $44.95 plus tax and postage to nonmembers. Visit www.pictonpress.com for more information on the Rockport company’s publications, including items published with MGS. Or call 596-7766. To get the MGS discount, have your membership number at hand.

Interested in a three-hour “Introduction to Genealogy Research” workshop to get you started?

The Maine Historical Society will offer a workshop with Kathy Amoroso, genealogist and director of digital projects at MHS, at 9:30 a.m. Saturday, July 12, at the society at 489 Congress St., Portland.

The fee is $25, $20 for MHS members. Registration is required, 774-1822 or info@mainehistory.org

Alice Hawes, of the Hampden Historical Society, will give a program at the meeting of Brewer Historical Society, at 7 p.m. Tuesday, July 1, at the Clewley Museum, 199 Wilson St., Brewer. All are welcome.

Send genealogy queries to Family Ties, Bangor Daily News, P.O. Box 1329, Bangor 04402; or e-mail queries to familyti@bangordailynews.net.