THE SENIOR MEN'S CLUB OF NEW CANAAN
Minutes of the Regular Meeting of July 23, 2010
President Nick Zacagnino opened the meeting with 98 of 474 members present.
MINUTES:Roger Langevin read the minutes of the July 9, 2010 meeting.
ANNOUNCEMENTS: Nick announced the increase in 2010-2011 membership dues from $35 to $40 with collection starting in the Fall. Christmas luncheon/party to be
Friday, 12/17 at Country Club of New Canaan, with entertainment by Blue Notes.
MEMBERSHIP ASSISTANCE: After rising to thunderous applause, Bob Moylan announced he had received no reports from members.. Later Dick Davies noted Les DeVilliers was leaving Norwalk Hospital to return home, no additional particulars.
ACTIVITIES: Bridge and Tennis as usual (with advance notice of 10/4 End of Season
Party for the latter). Bicycle Club planning 7/28 all day excursion featuring New York City's Greenway path, leaving together by car from New Canaan (need immediate
sign-ups to confirm trip). Golf 7/28 at Smith Richardson (Fairfield) at 9:36AM ($47 pp),
8/9 Ridgefield Golf Course 9:30AM ($45 pp), 8/25 Whitney Farms, 9/15 Sterling Farms.
COUTH: Program "on holiday" until September Canadian Rockies train trip (sold out).
HUMORIST: Bob Moylan told of a suicidal young lady who addressed her depression by going to SEA as a stowaway to be secretly SERVICED by a young seaman with food and LOVE, only to discover that he misled her. She was on the Staten Island Ferry.
SPEAKER: Vice President, Bob Goldblatt introduced Phoebe Kirkham, head of the reference services at the New Canaan Library. She opened her talk, "Connecting with Your Ancestors Online and Off", outlining several factors that can generate interest in genealogy (i.e.legal issues, organization membership requirements, religious linkages, medical history patterns, and just plain curiosity). Drawing on over 20 years dedication to genealogical study, Phoebe outlined an amazing array of information sources. She mentioned family stories, newspaper clippings, obituaries, and certificates along with interviews and casual conversations. She suggested vital records such as the internet (e.g.Vital Records.com) or BDM's (i.e. local registers of Births, Deaths, and Marriages). Also, Phoebe mentioned immigration and ship passenger documents, Federal censuses, legal records (e.g.land, wills, and even criminal trials) along with naturalization and military records. She emphasized making copies of these materials to assure accuracy and completeness. According to Phoebe, there are many free sources of information (e.g. "ancestry" at the New Canaan Library, Heritage Quest, RootsWeb, Family Search, Northeast Historical Genealogical Society, and Cindi's List) and many "for fee" services. The challenge to organize lots of information can be addressed with computer programs (e.g. Family Tree Maker and Masters Genealogy) and with paper folders, 3 ring binders, plastic sheets (for photographs), and the like. A further look at what, where, when, and why is needed to full in the gaps, looking at such categories as places, events, and occupations. Finally, sharing information can provide more genealogical leads. Typically, genealogy is a back and forth process littered with dead ends. In the Q and A, Phoebe covered utilizing census taker notes, employing Cindi's List, adapting to dead ends, accessing foreign records, assessing factors in accuracy of records (i.e.source, recorder, and transcriber), using Soundex, drawing on published footnotes, relying on ship lists, value of the 61 question 1960 census, and the details in the 1930 census.
Donald Hudson, Assistant Secretary