Family History   

Everyone has a story! Where do you get ideas? Meaningful objects? Family traditions, children or travel? Your “firsts” and “favorites”? Practice brainstorming techniques and be inspired by writing prompts to begin your collection of life stories to enjoy and share. Multiple handouts to keep up your writing practice.

Create a 1-2 page Legacy Letter to express core values, beliefs, life lessons, dreams or affirmations to share with family and friends. What do you say in a Legacy Letter? Who will receive it? When is a good time to write and present your letter?  Read sample letters as "starters" and review a series of questions to engage personal reflection during classes as you write.

Not all family history records are indexed and easy to locate.  AI is helping with the records that aren't yet indexed, but you can do searches, too.  Learn how to navigate the catalogue on FamilySearch to find documents yourself. Who were your ancestors, where did they live, and what did they do?  Learn what information may be found when searching for Family History records and the initial steps on how to begin your Family History/Genealogy Journey.

Learn the basics of family history research, including terminology, how to organize your information, the best free and paid websites, common mistakes to avoid, and much more. Includes 20-page handout with the two basic forms you need to begin and “Start Now, Here’s How” step-by-step instructions.

In our death phobic culture we avoid one of our most significant life events. Conversations about death, dying, and grief are an alternative to the silence and shame around death, a balm for our personal and cultural fears, an aid to normalize the process of dying and prepare us for making end-of-life decisions. Applying effective listening empowers us to get comfortable with talking about our mortality.

In our death phobic culture we avoid one of our most significant life events. Conversations about death, dying, and grief are an alternative to the silence and shame around death, a balm for our personal and cultural fears, an aid to normalize the process of dying and prepare us for making end-of-life decisions. Applying effective listening empowers us to get comfortable with talking about our mortality.

Who were your ancestors, where did they live, and what did they do?  Learn what information may be found when searching for Family History records and the initial steps on how to begin your Family History/Genealogy Journey.

Using AI for genealogy is a hot topic, and many “how-to” programs and webinars are available. This is NOT a how-to-use-AI-for-genealogy presentation. It’s a one-hour description of my own “adventures” using AI, with examples of egregious AI mistakes as well as excellent, helpful results that saved me lots of time. Links to various resources for learning how to use it effectively will be included in the handout.

The United States federal census, which started in 1790, is a key records collection for anyone doing genealogy research. While the accuracy of the information can sometimes vary (for reasons explained in this presentation, with many examples), censuses are a must-use resource where you can count on finding valuable information on your ancestors. Includes 10-page handout.

Got a book you're struggling to finish? This 5-week workshop is for you. Work with a professional editor to create a satisfying ending for your target market and avoid the top five mistake authors make. Learn to use plot, character, and setting to find the flow of the story. A portion of each session is spent writing manuscript pages based on exercises completed in class while the instructor conducts one-on-one conferences with students. Zoom option available!

Stop putting off writing that book you've always dreamed of writing! This 5-week workshop will take you step by step through the process. Learn how to use character, plot and setting to drive your novel. Or subject matter, subtopics, target reader, and theme to develop your non-fiction. A portion of each session is spent writing manuscript pages using tools and techniques learned, as the instructor conducts one-on-one conferences with students. Zoom option available.

Maps are far more than just lines and words on paper — they can provide context and information that can be otherwise hard to find. Maps can also be fascinating to look at, illustrating details that provide color to our ancestors’ lives. Learn about different types of maps, what they can reveal, and where to find them. Includes detailed handout with links to many sources of online maps.

City Directories can provide a wealth of information on where families lived and the their life in that location.

Create a timeline of your significant events and losses for reflection, clarity  and legacy.  Reviewing your past can remind you to celebrate your joys and growth, illuminate losses that influenced your actions, and bring insights about patterns and possibilities for the next stages of your life. There will be time for pairs to practice deep listening to each other’s insights.

Create a timeline of your significant events and losses for reflection, clarity  and legacy.  Reviewing your past can remind you to celebrate your joys and growth, illuminate losses that influenced your actions, and bring insights about patterns and possibilities for the next stages of your life. There will be time for pairs to practice deep listening to each other’s insights.