German Roots with Ken Weaver
2025-09-04 10:00 - 12:00, 2025-10-02 10:00 - 12:00, 2025-11-06 10:00 - 12:00, 2025-12-04 10:00 - 12:00, 2026-02-05 10:00 - 12:00 (America/New_York) | FL
German Roots
For LCGS members researching ancestors from Germany and other German-speaking countries. This group usually meets on the first Thursday morning of each month from September through April from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Email Ken for the link to join.
Ken Weaver
kenneth.n.weaver@gmail.com

FMRL ~ AI and Genealogy Research Trouble Ahead? with Thomas MacEntee
2025-09-11 10:00 - 11:30 | Fort Myers Regional Library – Virtual Webinar
Thursday, September 11th – Thomas MacEntee – AI and Genealogy Research Trouble Ahead? – Go To Webinar – 10-11:30am – **Note: I may ask Thomas if we can switch time to the afternoon depending on my backup for Rt. 4 delivery.
While AI (Artificial Intelligence) seems to be a recent event, the reality is that genealogy databases and researchers have been using this technology for years. Within the next five years, it will likely permeate almost every aspect of business, genealogy, and society. Learn how AI is being used to improve the genealogy research experience, and if you should use AI for your own genealogy research.
To register: https://leelibrary.librarymarket.com/event/online-ai-and-genealogy-trouble-ahead-107578

September Meeting (Hybrid) ~ Cemetery Art with Shari Golden
2025-09-18 10:00 - 11:30 | Fort Myers Regional Library ~ In Person, 1651 Lee Street, Meeting Room A, Fort Myers, FL, 33901, United States
Join us along with Shari Golden as she presents her program on Cemetery Art. Discover the meanings of commonly found tombstone icons with an overview of changes in tombstone materials and design, along with helpful tips to maximize your family research. This program will explore the symbolism carved in stone, highlight how burial practices and gravestone styles have evolved over time, and offer guidance on how to interpret these clues to uncover new insights into your ancestors’ lives.
Speaker will be remote.
If you’d like to attend this program virtually, please register using the following link:
https://zoom.us/meeting/register/WY-DFcfaTmWct_nxlGtrAw

The Book Club at LCGS ~ NEW!
2025-09-24 19:00 - 20:00 | Zoom via LCGS
A NEW member benefit for everyone passionate about family history. Each month we’ll explore a different book—fiction or nonfiction—highlighting themes of ancestry, identity, and family ties.
Our first meeting will be September 24, 2025 at 7:00 p.m. via Zoom. Join us every month or simply drop in for the titles that interest you—each book is a stand-alone read, so you’re welcome anytime! The future meeting dates TBD.
Be sure to read our first selection (listed below) before we meet on September 24, so we’re ready to dive into a great discussion together.
Register using the following link: https://zoom.us/meeting/register/x9BxOXYnR_uYFMuc9oMpdw
Our first selection: Orphan Train by Christina Baker Kline
Available on Kindle, Audiobook, paperback and hardback
Between 1854 and 1929, so-called orphan trains ran regularly from the cities of the East Coast to the farmlands of the Midwest, carrying thousands of abandoned children whose fates would be determined by pure luck. Would they be adopted by a kind and loving family, or would they face a childhood and adolescence of hard labor and servitude?
As a young Irish immigrant, Vivian Daly was one such child, sent by rail from New York City to an uncertain future a world away. Returning east later in life, Vivian leads a quiet, peaceful existence on the coast of Maine, the memories of her upbringing rendered a hazy blur. But in her attic, hidden in trunks, are vestiges of a turbulent past.
Seventeen-year-old Molly Ayer knows that a community service position helping an elderly woman clean out her home is the only thing keeping her out of juvenile hall. But as Molly helps Vivian sort through her keepsakes and possessions, she discovers that she and Vivian aren’t as different as they appear. A Penobscot Indian who has spent her youth in and out of foster homes, Molly is also an outsider being raised by strangers, and she, too, has unanswered questions about the past.
Advisory: This novel addresses difficult topics such as child neglect, abuse, and trauma

British Home Children – Bryan Mulcahy (Genealogy Workshop)
2025-10-04 10:00 - 12:00 | Zoom via LCGS
British Home Children – Bryan Mulcahy (GW)
The British Home Children program was the child migration project founded primarily by Annie MacPherson in 1869. More than 100,000 children were sent from the United Kingdom primarily to Canada. Some were also sent to places like Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa. The program was largely discontinued in the 1930s but not entirely terminated until the 1970s. This seminar will cover the highlights and includes a study guide with sources and links for further research.
This is a workshop and will be VIRTUAL ONLY. Please use the following link to register:
https://zoom.us/meeting/register/cHZDQA1dSPm-1OdIS5wRBQ

FMRL ~ Probate Packets, Wills and Genealogical Research with Bryan Mulcahy
2025-10-07 10:00 - 11:30 | Fort Myers Regional Library – Virtual Webinar
Tuesday, October 7th – Bryan L. Mulcahy – Probate Packets and Genealogical Research – Go To Webinar – 10-11:30am
Probate records are important to genealogists because they provide evidence about family relationships. The term “probate packet” refers to the court file where all paperwork, documents, and other legal papers pertaining to the settlement of an estate are kept. Wills and probate packets are among the most interesting and revealing sets of records you can find for an individual. You will find them among the records of the county probate court, usually in the state and county in which the person resided at the time of his or her death
To register: https://leelibrary.librarymarket.com/event/probate-packets-wills-and-genealogy-research-126830

Writers Group with Andrea Perisho
2025-10-07 13:00 - 15:00, 2025-11-04 13:00 - 15:00, 2025-12-02 13:00 - 15:00, 2026-01-06 13:00 - 15:00 | FL
Have you ever considered turning your genealogy research into engaging family stories that future generations will cherish?
For those of you interested in going beyond just names, dates, and places, this group focuses on weaving together fascinating details about ancestors’ lives – placing them within the social and historical context of their time. The group typically meets from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. on the first Tuesday of each month so add it to your calendar.
To join, please email Andrea for the meeting link.
Andrea Perisho
amperisho@outlook.com

October Meeting (Hybrid) ~ Researching Online in 2025 - How-To's and New or Interesting Sites with Peg Kaputsiak
2025-10-16 10:00 - 11:30 | Fort Myers Regional Library ~ In Person, 1651 Lee Street, Meeting Room A, Fort Myers, FL, 33901, United States
Join us along with Peg Kaputsiak when she presents her program “Researching Online in 2025 – How-To’s and New or Interesting Sites.” There are now many more blogs, links to talks, Special Interest Groups, signing up for Conference Keeper, etc. Some sites are free, others are not. It takes preparation to decide what and how to research and to not feel overwhelmed. Lots of topics to share and a chance for the audience to share their favorite sites.
This will be a hybrid meeting. To attend virtually, please use the following link to register: https://zoom.us/meeting/register/yNUrq4ePQeOsjrvGjWzErQ
If you are attending in person, see below for location information.

The Book Club at LCGS ~ Special Interest Group
2025-10-22 19:00 - 21:00 | Zoom via LCGS
Our next meeting will be held on Wednesday, October 22, 2025, at 7:00 p.m. via Zoom.
Our October selection is One of Windsor by Beth M. Caruso. What better month than October to explore the story of the first person on record to be executed for witchcraft in the American Colonies? Even more compelling, one of our very own members is a descendant of Alice (Alse) Young, whose life inspired the novel.
Do you have witchcraft in your family tree? Puritan ancestors? Or perhaps persecutors of accused witches? Witch trials were not limited to New England—they took place across Europe as well. We invite you to share your stories and insights about your ancestors during our discussion.
Plot Summary:
Alice, a young woman with intuitive gifts, leaves England in 1635 for the Massachusetts Bay Colony in hopes of reuniting with her family. Settling in Windsor, Connecticut, she finds herself navigating the challenges of the American wilderness, her own healing abilities, and the growing fears of Puritan leaders. These forces collide in a tragic outcome: on May 26, 1647, Alice becomes the first person executed for witchcraft in the Colonies.
Her story—woven with deep family ties—later influences Governor John Winthrop Jr. to bring an end to witchcraft executions in Connecticut. Yet those same ties also echo decades later, fueling Cotton Mather’s commentary on the infamous Salem witch trials of 1692. Through a mix of historical research and literary imagination, Caruso offers a passionate narrative that brings this tragic chapter of history vividly to life. Available at Amazon
We look forward to seeing you on October 22 for what promises to be a thought-provoking discussion.

FMRL ~ Connections to German Grammar for the Genealogist – Ken Weaver
2025-11-01 10:00 - 11:30 | Fort Myers Regional Library – Meeting Rm A & B – Hybrid, 1651 Lee Street, Room A & B, Fort Myers, FL, 33901, United States
Connections to German Grammar for the Genealogist – Ken Weaver. An understanding of how the German language works will assist researchers to better understand the records and document they discover. This session is designed to help the non-linguist with German language issues to improve their understanding of documents they discover.
To attend, please register at: https://leelibrary.librarymarket.com/event/connections-german-grammar-genealogist-127366

The Book Club at LCGS
2025-11-19 19:00 - 20:30 | Zoom via LCGS
Revised date! Zoom registration: https://zoom.us/meeting/register/zUWKKRvLTcqbnfGTrwRstQ
Our November selection is The Orphan Collector by Ellen Marie Wiseman.
Set in Philadelphia during the 1918 influenza pandemic, this novel follows 13-year-old Pia Lange, a German immigrant girl separated from her family amid fear, prejudice, and loss. The story explores themes of the 1918 flu, World War I-era anti-German sentiment, and life inside a Catholic orphanage — a powerful portrait of survival and hope in a time of chaos.
This is an LCGS member benefit, although you may attend as a one-time guest to see if you would like to join us regularly.

November Meeting (Hybrid) ~ AI for Genealogy Peggy Jude
2025-11-20 10:00 - 11:30 | Fort Myers Regional Library – Meeting Rm A & B – Hybrid, 1651 Lee Street, Room A & B, Fort Myers, FL, 33901, United States
Join us along with Peggy Jude when she presents her program “AI for Genealogy.” Did you know artificial intelligence (AI) has been around a surprisingly long time? Dive into the fascinating world where artificial intelligence meets family history! Discover how AI, including ChatGPT, is revolutionizing genealogy. Learn how to harness these powerful tools to summarize, extract, transcribe, and supercharge your research. Speaker will be remote.
This is a hybrid meeting. If you are attending virtually, please use the following link to register: https://zoom.us/meeting/register/eHej82SHSTi5D_hLZW1onw
To attend this meeting in person, please see venue information below.

FMRL ~ (Virtual Only) Using PERSI for Genealogical Research with Allison DePrey Singleton
2025-11-25 10:00 - 11:30 | Fort Myers Regional Library – Virtual Webinar
Speaker: Our presenter is Allison DePrey Singleton – Genealogy Services Manager – Allen County Library Genealogy Center. Allison provides research consultations, serves on the Center’s programming team, and leads the Center’s family history webinars and educational initiatives.
Description: PERSI serves as a comprehensive index of most genealogical and family-history oriented periodicals. PERSI enables researchers to locate key information about people and places. It contains over 2.5 million entries from thousands of historical, genealogical, and ethnic publications, making it an invaluable, comprehensive family history resource. Researchers may access articles, photos, and other materials that may be difficult to locate using traditional search methods. This can help to build the historical context around personal research, and the world that our ancestors lived in. This information often provides leads for follow-up investigation.
VIRTUAL ONLY. To register: https://leelibrary.librarymarket.com/event/online-using-persi-genealogical-research-128048

German Civil Records: How to Read Them with Ken Weaver
2025-12-06 10:00 - 11:30 | Fort Myers Regional Library – Meeting Rm A & B – Hybrid, 1651 Lee Street, Room A & B, Fort Myers, FL, 33901, United States
German Civil Records: How to Read Them with Ken Weaver
Program Description: German territories adopted the French practice of government agencies maintaining records of births, marriages, and deaths. This system began in some regions as early as the 1790s and was implemented throughout all of Germany by 1876. This session will explore what researchers need to know about the information contained in official German civil records.
Registration is required even though it is in-person. Use the following link: https://leelibrary.librarymarket.com/event/german-civil-records-127452
Saturday, December 6, 2025
Fort Myers Regional Library
South Building, Meeting Room A&B
10:00am–11:15am

June Membership Meeting - Passing the Baton with Sue Styx
2025-12-09 08:00 - 17:00 | FL
https://zoom.us/meeting/register/5fVa7NpQTQu5QuPKKKQJHA

December Meeting ~ What's New at Family Search with Maureen Brady (Virtual Only)
2025-12-10 10:00 - 12:00 | Zoom via LCGS
Join us along with Maureen Brady as she tells us “What’s New at Family Search.” FamilySearch’s resources are much more than searching records. This presentation will review the little used options of FamilySearch, such as the Research Wiki, Digital Library,
Genealogies and the FamilySearch Labs.
If you’d like to attend virtually, please register using the following link: https://zoom.us/meeting/register/ROM3NdyiQYSfXO4spxbakg

Genealogy Workshop ~ After You’re Gone: Future Proofing Your Genealogy Research with Thomas MacEntee (Virtual Only)
2025-12-13 10:00 - 11:30 | Zoom via LCGS
Join us as we kick off our 2026 programs with this exciting workshop! After You’re Gone: Future Proofing Your Genealogy Research with Thomas MacEntee. Have you ever considered what will happen to your years of genealogy research once you’re gone? Learn how to ensure that your hard work carries on. Through a combination of planning, common sense, and new technologies, we’ll review how to create an action plan for preserving your genealogy research.
As a special bonus, two attendees will win signed copies of Ancestor Sketch: How to Turn Years of Genealogy Research into a Captivating Family Story by Thomas MacEntee. Get your copy here.
Register Here ~ Virtual Only

FMRL ~ Reading & Understanding German Civil Registration Records with Ken Weaver
2025-12-20 10:00 - 11:30 | Fort Myers Regional Library – Meeting Rm A & B – Hybrid, 1651 Lee Street, Room A & B, Fort Myers, FL, 33901, United States
Reading & Understanding German Civil Registration Records with Ken Weaver. German territories followed the French practice of government agencies keeping records of births, marriages and deaths. This practice dates back to the 1790’s in some sections and expanded to all of Germany by 1876. This session will look what the researcher needs to know about information contained in official German government documents.
To register: https://leelibrary.librarymarket.com/event/reading-understanding-german-civil-registration-records-127452

German Roots with Ken Weaver
2026-01-08 10:00 - 12:00 | FL

FMRL ~ Getting Through that Awful German Handwriting with Ken Weaver
2026-01-10 10:00 - 11:30 | Fort Myers Regional Library ~ In Person, 1651 Lee Street, Meeting Room A, Fort Myers, FL, 33901, United States
All FMRL programs you must register in advance whether you are attending in person or virtually.
Register online: https://libraryaware.com/3A0848?SID=01b51c45-43a8-42b0-a51a-b4bb735665ef
Contact Bryan Mulcahy at 239-533-4626 or email him at bmulcahy@leegov.com.

January Membership Meeting ~ Navigating the NARA Website with Julie Miller
2026-01-15 10:00 - 11:30 | Fort Myers Regional Library – Meeting Rm A & B – Hybrid, 1651 Lee Street, Room A & B, Fort Myers, FL, 33901, United States
Join us when Julie Miller presents Navigating the NARA Website, an introduction to one of the most valuable resources available to genealogists. The National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) website provides access to records held in Washington, DC, and at regional branches across the country—many of which are available online. This program will walk you through the website, explain what records are available, and show you how to use these resources to enhance your genealogical research.
Join virtually: https://zoom.us/meeting/register/ssNjah9-ScOBVdzvPUbhQw
In Person: See below for address and directions.

The Book Club at LCGS
2026-01-28 19:00 - 20:30 | Zoom via LCGS

Writers Group
2026-02-03 13:00 - 15:00 | FL
