Exciting Offer for StLGS Members from Mocavo.com

At yesterday's Summer Speaker Series, guest speaker Michael Leclerc, who works for the genealogy search engine Mocavo.com, announced an exciting special offer for StLGS members. For the next sixty days only, StLGS members can sign up for a year's subscription to Mocavo Plus for a deeply discounted price. The regular subscription price is $119.40. The discount currently being advertised is $79.95, but StLGS members can subtract even more and sign up for just $59.70!
     Mocavo is a genealogy search engine. Unlike generic search engines, when you search on Mocavo, it does not offer hits on social network sites. It searches only genealogy-based websites and blogs. Although the basic search is free, Mocavo Plus offers enhanced searching ability, including an interesting twist on searching for names that might be misspelled. There is also a version of the Social Security Death Index on the site that still retains all the details that some other sites have removed because of privacy concerns, and there are family trees being posted as well.
     Start exploring Mocavo.com by clicking here to create a free account (you just provide your name and e-mail address). When you are ready to upgrade, click here. This page is just for StLGS members and will give you a secure way to sign up for your discounted year's subscription. Thanks to Michael Leclerc for making this possible for our members. Have fun and find lots of relatives!

Congratulations to Joyce Hoffman

The Missouri State Archives, which spearheaded the effort to get the 1940 federal census for the state of Missouri indexed as rapidly as possible, initiated a contest in early June, hoping to get the final counties finished in record time. All volunteers that transcribed 2,500 names or more during the month of June were entered into a drawing for three excellent prizes: a membership to the Missouri State Genealogical Society, a membership to StLGS, and a membership to the Genealogical Society of Central Missouri. 

     Joyce Hoffman was the winner of a year’s membership to StLGS. Since Joyce is already a member, her membership has been extended for a year. Joyce has been an awesome indexer and arbitrator. She says she indexed more than 9,000 names just in June and arbitrated another 20,000 more! Joyce has been an active member of our society’s Facebook page, answering questions and encouraging other volunteers, and she spent several hours at the office and was a big help during our Index-a-Thon. Look for the full article on Joyce's achievement in the August issue of News 'n Notes.

Summer Speaker Series Early Registration Ends Soon

A friendly reminder that the Summer Speaker Series early registration discount ends 14 July 2012. This year’s Summer Speaker Series will be held on Saturday, 28 July 2012.  We are excited about Michael Leclerc talking about "Online Resources for Genealogist." from 8:30 a.m. until 3:30 p.m. at Orlando Gardens, 8352 Watson Road, Webster Groves, Missouri.

Upcoming Events on Tuesday, 10 July

Tuesday evening, 10 July will be a busy evening for genealogists in St. Louis. The St. Louis Genealogical Society monthly meeting will be held that night at 7:00 p.m. at St. Louis County Library Headquarters. Pat Stamm, StLGS education director, will present some possible solutions for you to try in "Breaking Through Your Brick Walls." Before Pat's lecture, Larry Franke, reference librarian in Special Collections, will give a short talk on the international aspects of Special Collections, taking us "Around the World in Special Collections." Everyone is invited to StLGS monthly meetings!

National Archives Hosting Preservation Road Show

The National Archives in St. Louis is hosting a Preservation Road Show on Tuesday evening, 10 July followed by a workshop on Thursday, 12 July. Tuesday evening's panel discussion will run from 6:30 p.m. until 8:30 p.m. and is titled "Practical Preservation: Using Preservation Techniques in the Home." Thursday's workshop, which runs from 10:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m., offers an opportunity for visitors to bring a single object from home; preservation professionals will be on hand to offer instructions and answer questions on your treasure but will not do appraisals. No weapons will be permitted, but you may bring any paper products, artwork, or movies.

     Free parking is located at the nearby Hazelwood East Middle School, and shuttle service will run between the school and the NARA facility. You will need photo ID to enter either day. For more information and directions, click here to visit the website. For answers to specific questions on this event, please contact Keith Owens (314-801-0908) or Wanda Williams (314-801-9313).

Passing of Ed Schmidt

We are sad to report that long-time StLGS volunteer, Ed Schmidt, passed away on Monday, 2 July. Visitation will be on Wednesday, 4 July from 3 p.m. until 7 p.m. at Kutis South County Chapel, 5255 Lemay Ferry Rd. at Butler Hill. The funeral will be Thursday, 5 July at 9:30 a.m. at Kutis Chapel. Following the service will be a mass at Assumption Catholic Church with burial in the church cemetery afterward. Ed's obituary is in today's St. Louis Post-Dispatch.