UVTAGG Press Release: Online Meeting Saturday Morning 13 June 2026: ALICE CHILDS on USING AI AS YOUR DIGITAL FAMILY HISTORY ASSISTANT

UVTAGG Press Release: Online Meeting Saturday Morning 13 June 2026:  ALICE CHILDS on USING AI AS YOUR DIGITAL FAMILY HISTORY ASSISTANT

2026-06-10

Journalists and newsletter editors, please post this where you can. If you need more information, please see our website -- https://uvtagg.org and Press Release Blog https://blog.uvtagg.org/. If you have questions, please contact me. Thanks.

Gerhard Ruf - uvtagginfo@gmail.com

[Short Version]======================.

UVTAGG MEETING, Saturday Morning, 13 June 2026 on Zoom and Facebook

10 am - 11 am MDT:     ALICE CHILDS on USING AI AS YOUR DIGITAL FAMILY HISTORY ASSISTANT     

Details on UVTAGG.org and on the UVTAGG blog.

====================================.

[Long version]======================.

UVTAGG MEETING, Saturday Morning, 13 June 2026 on Zoom and Facebook

Details and links to watch are on https://uvtagg.org and on the UVTAGG Facebook page.

10 am - 11 am MDT:    ALICE CHILDS on USING AI AS YOUR DIGITAL FAMILY HISTORY ASSISTANT

ABOUT THE PRESENTATION:

This presentation will introduce attendees to the powerful ways artificial intelligence can serve as a research partner, creative collaborator, and technical assistant. Participants will explore the AI Research Assistant at FamilySearch, the GoldieMay AI Research Assistant, and major large language models such as ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, and Perplexity - learning how each tool can help locate records, interpret complex legal documents, generate evidence tables, and bring ancestors to life through compelling short stories. Grounded in the principle that AI is a tool for collaboration rather than replacement, the session offers practical prompting strategies while encouraging participants to verify AI output and align its use with their own values and judgment.

ABOUT ALICE CHILDS:

Alice Childs, AG® is a professional genealogist accredited in U.S. Mid-Atlantic states research. She currently works as the Assistant Director of the BYU Center for Family History and Genealogy. Alice is also a professional genealogy lecturer and authors the GenealogyNow blog at alicechilds.com where she shares family history resources and inspiration for genealogists of all ages and stages.

ABOUT THE GROUP:

All meetings of the UVTAGG group are open to the public and have the goal of helping people use technology to further their family and personal history. The Group is in its 36th year and was first called the Utah Valley PAF Users Group. The blog provides a link for anyone to receive the press releases via email. The public is invited to watch the presentations on the UVTAGG Facebook page.  Members of the group ($15/year), besides being able to interact with presenters on ZOOM, receive the monthly newsletter, TAGGology, via email and have access to the more than 650 videos of past presentations and classes. TAGGology contains a wealth of information about genealogy, including information for Temple and Family History Consultants. Request a free sample copy of the Newsletter by emailing to uvtagginfo@gmail.com.

Officers of UVTAGG are Gerhard Ruf, President; Laurie Castillo, 1st VP;  Marilyn Thomsen, 2nd VP; Secretary (vacant); Jerry Castillo, Membership Officer, TAGGology Newsletter Editor (Vacant); Bonnie Dimond, Treasurer; Carol Hill, Social Media Publicist; Chris Stevenson, Caleb Clayson, Jerry Castillo, and Dawn Brimhall, Broadcast and Website Specialists. For further information contact President Gerhard Ruf at uvtagginfo@gmail.com (801-602-5048), or 1st VP Laurie Castillo at gengal@comcast.net.

Gerhard Ruf

President, UVTAGG

uvtagginfo@gmail.com 

UVTAGG Press Release: Online Meeting Saturday Morning 9 May 2026: LAURIE WERNER CASTILLO on CAN I RESEARCH FROM HOME USING THE ONLINE BYU RESOURCES?

UVTAGG Press Release: Online Meeting Saturday Morning 9 May 2026:   LAURIE WERNER CASTILLO on CAN I RESEARCH FROM HOME USING THE ONLINE BYU RESOURCES?

2026-05-05

Journalists and newsletter editors, please post this where you can. If you need more information, please see our website -- https://uvtagg.org and Press Release Blog https://blog.uvtagg.org/. If you have questions, please contact me. Thanks.

Gerhard Ruf - uvtagginfo@gmail.com

[Short Version]======================.

UVTAGG MEETING, Saturday Morning, 9 May 2026 on Zoom and Facebook

10 am - 11 am MDT:   LAURIE WERNER CASTILLO on CAN I RESEARCH FROM HOME USING THE ONLINE BYU RESOURCES?   

Details on UVTAGG.org and on the UVTAGG blog.

====================================.

[Long version]======================.

UVTAGG MEETING, Saturday Morning, 9 May 2026 on Zoom and Facebook

Details and links to watch are on https://uvtagg.org and on the UVTAGG Facebook page.

10 am - 11 am MDT:   LAURIE WERNER CASTILLO on CAN I RESEARCH FROM HOME USING THE ONLINE BYU RESOURCES?   

ABOUT THE PRESENTATION:

There are many  resources at the BYU Library Family History Center. The FHC is housed in the Main BYU Library, the Harold B. Lee Library or HBLL. The HBLL itself provides numerous digital research helps that may also assist you in your research. I am constantly finding something new.

ABOUT LAURIE WERNER CASTILLO:

Laurie Werner Castillo was born in Santa Monica and raised in West Los Angeles with beagles and land tortoises for pets and playmates. She played on the girls basketball team for two years in high school and also loved participating in tennis, volleyball and basketball. She misses the palm trees in her front yard and the smell of the ocean every day. After a really great educational experience in Los Angeles, she attended BYU, earning an AA in Communications and Fine Arts and a BS in Consumer Economics. She met Jerry Castillo, from San Antonio, Texas, in Utah and they have 2 children and 7 grandchildren. Laurie is currently first vice president of the Utah Valley Technology and Genealogy Group; She is former Vice President, Executive Secretary and Board Member, of the Utah Genealogical Association; She has been a BYU FH Library consultant, tour guide and teacher for 32+ years; She has been a professional researcher and writer 34+ years; She has presented at many conferences including: RootsTech 2016-2020, BYU FH Conference 2014-2019, and BYU Education Week 2016-2017, We Are Cousins Conferences 2-7 (2021-2024); She is a former Red Cross Instructor, Girl Scout Troop Leader, Boy Scout Merit Badge Counselor and Chihuahua breeder. Her research specialties include: Germany, the Netherlands, Sweden, Canada and Hispanic Research; And New England, Midwest, Southwest, Mountain States and Pacific Frontier regions of the US. Her interests include: history, mystery, geography and genetics. Add those up and you have family history.

ABOUT THE GROUP:

All meetings of the UVTAGG group are open to the public and have the goal of helping people use technology to further their family and personal history. The Group is in its 36th year and was first called the Utah Valley PAF Users Group. The blog provides a link for anyone to receive the press releases via email. The public is invited to watch the presentations on the UVTAGG Facebook page.  Members of the group ($15/year), besides being able to interact with presenters on ZOOM, receive the monthly newsletter, TAGGology, via email and have access to the more than 650 videos of past presentations and classes. TAGGology contains a wealth of information about genealogy, including information for Temple and Family History Consultants. Request a free sample copy of the Newsletter by emailing to uvtagginfo@gmail.com.

Officers of UVTAGG are Gerhard Ruf, President; Laurie Castillo, 1st VP;  Marilyn Thomsen, 2nd VP; Secretary (vacant); Jerry Castillo, Membership Officer, TAGGology Newsletter Editor (Vacant); Bonnie Dimond, Treasurer; Carol Hill, Social Media Publicist; Chris Stevenson, Caleb Clayson, Jerry Castillo, and Dawn Brimhall, Broadcast and Website Specialists. For further information contact President Gerhard Ruf at uvtagginfo@gmail.com (801-602-5048), or 1st VP Laurie Castillo at gengal@comcast.net.

Gerhard Ruf

President, UVTAGG

uvtagginfo@gmail.com

UVTAGG Press Release: Online Meeting Saturday Morning 11 Apr 2026: PEGGY CLEMENS LAURITZEN on ANALYSIS AND CORRELATION: A CASE STUDY ON A MISSING FAMILY

UVTAGG Press Release: Online Meeting Saturday Morning 11 Apr 2026:   PEGGY CLEMENS LAURITZEN on ANALYSIS AND CORRELATION: A CASE STUDY ON A MISSING FAMILY 

2026-03-08

Journalists and newsletter editors, please post this where you can. If you need more information, please see our website -- https://uvtagg.org and Press Release Blog https://blog.uvtagg.org/. If you have questions, please contact me. Thanks.

Gerhard Ruf - uvtagginfo@gmail.com

[Short Version]======================.

UVTAGG MEETING, Saturday Morning, 11 Apr 2026 on Zoom and Facebook

10 am - 11 am MDT:  PEGGY CLEMENS LAURITZEN on ANALYSIS AND CORRELATION: A CASE STUDY ON A MISSING FAMILY 

Details on UVTAGG.org and on the UVTAGG blog.

====================================.

[Long version]======================.

UVTAGG MEETING, Saturday Morning, 11 Apr 2026 on Zoom and Facebook

Details and links to watch are on https://uvtagg.org and on the UVTAGG Facebook page.

10 am - 11 am MDT:  PEGGY CLEMENS LAURITZEN on ANALYSIS AND CORRELATION: A CASE STUDY ON A MISSING FAMILY 

ABOUT THE PRESENTATION:

One of the elements of the Genealogical Proof Standard is
analyzing your information and documentation and correlating it
with other known facts. Does the research trail end when you can’t
find the family?

This is an advanced-level class presenting a case study that was
used in a First Families of Ohio application. It particularly drills
deeper into census research when an ancestor was supposedly
missed. By correlating the missing information with known
information of the time period, a new family story emerges.

ABOUT PEGGY CLEMENS LAURITZEN, AG, AGL, FOGS:

Peggy Clemens Lauritzen was involved in genealogy before she was even born.  One of her favorite pictures is of her mother doing cemetery research four days before Peggy was born.  The daughter of avid genealogists, she was spending time in courthouses and cemeteries while other children were playing on swings and going to the beach. The love of her family's history has never left her. With her experience as a former Family History Director, she is a frequent speaker at genealogical societies, workshops, seminars, and webinars where she loves bringing genealogy to life. Some of those would include The Ohio Genealogical Society, The Ohio State University, Brigham Young University, and many other state and local genealogy societies. Peggy is on the boards for the Utah Genealogical Association and the Association of Professional Genealogists.

ABOUT THE GROUP:

All meetings of the UVTAGG group are open to the public and have the goal of helping people use technology to further their family and personal history. The Group is in its 36th year and was first called the Utah Valley PAF Users Group. The blog provides a link for anyone to receive the press releases via email. The public is invited to watch the presentations on the UVTAGG Facebook page.  Members of the group ($15/year), besides being able to interact with presenters on ZOOM, receive the monthly newsletter, TAGGology, via email and have access to the more than 650 videos of past presentations and classes. TAGGology contains a wealth of information about genealogy, including information for Temple and Family History Consultants. Request a free sample copy of the Newsletter by emailing to uvtagginfo@gmail.com.

Officers of UVTAGG are Gerhard Ruf, President; Laurie Castillo, 1st VP; 2nd VP (Marilyn Thomsent); Secretary (vacant); Jerry Castillo, Membership Officer, TAGGology Newsletter Editor (Vacant); Bonnie Dimond, Treasurer; Carol Hill, Social Media Publicist; Chris Stevenson, Caleb Clayson, Jerry Castillo, and Dawn Brimhall, Broadcast and Website Specialists. For further information contact President Gerhard Ruf at uvtagginfo@gmail.com (801-602-5048), or 1st VP Laurie Castillo at gengal@comcast.net.

Gerhard Ruf

President, UVTAGG

uvtagginfo@gmail.com

UVTAGG Press Release: Online Meeting Saturday Morning 14 Mar 2026: WHAT WE LEARNED AT ROOTSTECH 2026: A PANEL DISCUSSION with MARILYN THOMSEN, RAYANNE MELICK, AND SHAUNA LONGSTAFF

UVTAGG Press Release: Online Meeting Saturday Morning 14 Mar 2026:  WHAT WE LEARNED AT ROOTSTECH 2026: A PANEL DISCUSSION with MARILYN THOMSEN, RAYANNE MELICK, AND SHAUNA LONGSTAFF

2026-03-11

Journalists and newsletter editors, please post this where you can. If you need more information, please see our website -- https://uvtagg.org and Press Release Blog https://blog.uvtagg.org/. If you have questions, please contact me. Thanks.

Gerhard Ruf - uvtagginfo@gmail.com

[Short Version]======================.

UVTAGG MEETING, Saturday Morning, 14 Mar 2026 on Zoom and Facebook

10 am - 11 am MST:  WHAT WE LEARNED AT ROOTSTECH 2026: A PANEL DISCUSSION with MARILYN THOMSEN, RENEE ZAMORA, AND SHAUNA LONGSTAFF

Details on UVTAGG.org and on the UVTAGG blog.

====================================.

[Long version]======================.

UVTAGG MEETING, Saturday Morning, 14 Mar 2026 on Zoom and Facebook

Details and links to watch are on https://uvtagg.org and on the UVTAGG Facebook page.

10 am - 11 am MST:  WHAT WE LEARNED AT ROOTSTECH 2026: A PANEL DISCUSSION with MARILYN THOMSEN, RENEE ZAMORA, AND SHAUNA LONGSTAFF

ABOUT THE PRESENTATION:

Join us online for a discussion on what three family historians learned during the live presentations at RootsTech 2026.  You may want to share your experiences and/or ask questions.

ANNUAL ELECTION OF OFFICERS:

Following the presentation, current members of the group will elect the officers of the group, starting with the online portion of the election.

ABOUT THE GROUP:

All meetings of the UVTAGG group are open to the public and have the goal of helping people use technology to further their family and personal history. The Group is in its 36th year and was first called the Utah Valley PAF Users Group. On the blog is a way for anyone to receive the press releases via email. The public is invited to watch the presentations on the UVTAGG Facebook page.  Members of the group ($15/year), besides being able to interact with presenters on ZOOM, receive the monthly newsletter, TAGGology, via email and have access to the more than 650 videos of past presentations and classes. TAGGology contains a wealth of information about genealogy, including information for Temple and Family History Consultants. Request a free sample copy of the Newsletter by emailing to uvtagginfo@gmail.com.

Officers of UVTAGG are Gerhard Ruf, President; Laurie Castillo, 1st VP; 2nd VP (Vacant); Secretary (vacant); Jerry Castillo, Membership Officer, TAGGology Newsletter Editor (Vacant); Bonnie Dimond, Treasurer; Carol Hill, Social Media Publicist; Chris Stevenson, Caleb Clayson, Jerry Castillo, and Dawn Brimhall, Broadcast and Website Specialists. For further information contact President Gerhard Ruf at uvtagginfo@gmail.com (801-602-5048), or 1st VP Laurie Castillo at gengal@comcast.net.

Gerhard Ruf

President, UVTAGG

uvtagginfo@gmail.com

UVTAGG Press Release: Online Meeting Saturday Morning 14 Feb 2026: KATHRYN GRANT on USING FAMILYSEARCH'S TREE INTEGRITY FEATURES

UVTAGG Press Release: Online Meeting Saturday Morning 14 Feb 2026:  KATHRYN GRANT on USING FAMILYSEARCH'S TREE INTEGRITY FEATURES

2026-02-03

Journalists and newsletter editors, please post this where you can. If you need more information, please see our website -- https://uvtagg.org and Press Release Blog https://blog.uvtagg.org/. If you have questions, please contact me. Thanks.

Gerhard Ruf - uvtagginfo@gmail.com

[Short Version]======================.

UVTAGG MEETING, Saturday Morning, 14 Feb 2026 on Zoom and Facebook

10 am - 11 am MDT:  KATHRYN GRANT on USING FAMILYSEARCH'S TREE INTEGRITY FEATURES

Details on UVTAGG.org and on the UVTAGG blog.

====================================.

[Long version]======================.

UVTAGG MEETING, Saturday Morning, 104 Feb 2026 on Zoom and Facebook

Details and links to watch are on https://uvtagg.org and on the UVTAGG Facebook page.

10 am - 11 am MDT:  KATHRYN GRANT on USING FAMILYSEARCH'S TREE INTEGRITY FEATURES

ABOUT THE PRESENTATION:

You've likely noticed that FamilySearch has been adding features to Family Tree to improve "tree integrity": the accuracy and trustworthiness of information in the shared tree. This presentation will highlight several of these features, including the new edit guidance feature. We'll cover how the features work and provide tips for using them. These features make it easier than ever to contribute quality information, correct errors, and avoid common mistakes. 

ABOUT KATHRYN GRANT:

After years on the sidelines, Kathryn began doing family history. Somewhat to her surprise, she discovered that she loved it! Her specialty is helping new family historians find success and maybe even avoid some of the mistakes she’s made. Kathryn teaches Sunday classes at the BYU Family History Library and presents at other family history events. Her column on family history ran in the Nauvoo Times for about a year and is still available online. In addition, she’s a regular contributor to the FamilySearch blog. Kathryn works as a technical writer and instructional designer with a focus on usability and process improvement. Her current work assignment includes developing training used on mobile devices. Besides family history, she loves uplifting music, thought-provoking books, and fresh raspberries.

ABOUT THE GROUP:

All meetings of the UVTAGG group are open to the public and have the goal of helping people use technology to further their family and personal history. The Group is in its 36th year and was first called the Utah Valley PAF Users Group. On the blog is a way for anyone to receive the press releases via email. The public is invited to watch the presentations on the UVTAGG Facebook page.  Members of the group ($15/year), besides being able to interact with presenters on ZOOM, receive the monthly newsletter, TAGGology, via email and have access to the more than 650 videos of past presentations and classes. TAGGology contains a wealth of information about genealogy, including information for Temple and Family History Consultants. Request a free sample copy of the Newsletter by emailing to uvtagginfo@gmail.com.

Officers of UVTAGG are Gerhard Ruf, President; Laurie Castillo, 1st VP; 2nd VP (Vacant); Secretary (vacant); Jerry Castillo, Membership Officer, TAGGology Newsletter Editor (Vacant); Bonnie Dimond, Treasurer; Carol Hill, Social Media Publicist; Chris Stevenson, Caleb Clayson, Jerry Castillo, and Dawn Brimhall, Broadcast and Website Specialists. For further information contact President Gerhard Ruf at uvtagginfo@gmail.com (801-602-5048), or 1st VP Laurie Castillo at gengal@comcast.net.

Gerhard Ruf

President, UVTAGG

uvtagginfo@gmail.com

UVTAGG Press Release: Online Meeting Saturday Morning 10 Jan 2026: ROBERT GIVENS on THE PLACE OF VITAL RECORDS IN FAMILY HISTORY RESEARCH

UVTAGG Press Release: Online Meeting Saturday Morning 10 Jan 2026:  ROBERT GIVENS on THE PLACE OF VITAL RECORDS IN FAMILY HISTORY RESEARCH

2025-10-05

Journalists and newsletter editors, please post this where you can. If you need more information, please see our website -- https://uvtagg.org and Press Release Blog https://blog.uvtagg.org/. If you have questions, please contact me. Thanks.

Gerhard Ruf - uvtagginfo@gmail.com

[Short Version]======================.

UVTAGG MEETING, Saturday Morning, 10 Jan 2026 on Zoom and Facebook

10 am - 11 am MDT:  ROBERT GIVENS on THE PLACE OF VITAL RECORDS IN FAMILY HISTORY RESEARCH

Details on UVTAGG.org and on the UVTAGG blog.

====================================.

[Long version]======================.

UVTAGG MEETING, Saturday Morning, 10 Jan 2026 on Zoom and Facebook

Details and links to watch are on https://uvtagg.org and on the UVTAGG Facebook page.

10 am - 11 am MDT:  ROBERT GIVENS on THE PLACE OF VITAL RECORDS IN FAMILY HISTORY RESEARCH

ABOUT THE PRESENTATION:

Family Historians rely on Vital Records for many of the details that are needed to complete the research on their ancestors.  When available, Vital Records should be your go-to records.  This presentation will explain what Vital Records are, why we seek them out, challenges in using them, what specifically can be found in them, when we can't find them - the records we can substitute for them, and a FamilySearch tool - Guided Research - that makes finding Vital Records in select areas easy for everyone. 

ABOUT ROBERT GIVENS:

Robert Givens has received degrees from Fresno State College and California State University, Fresno. His career in education spanned 39 years as a teacher and administrator. He started researching his family history during his high school years and has been even more actively involved since his retirement in 2008. This included 8 years directing the Fresno North Stake FamilySearch Center and currently with his wife are Area Temple and Family History Advisers for 8 stakes in the Fresno region. For 15 years as a FamilySearch volunteer, he was actively involved supporting various features of FamilySearch, including helping patrons with their problem records, launching and supporting social communities and administering research groups sponsored by FamilySearch in Facebook, and working on its Research Wiki. He is an experienced researcher in New England, Midwest and southern state records, has published 4 genealogy books, and has presented genealogical topics in multiple states. When he is not researching, he loves to travel, garden, read, and watch sports on TV.

ABOUT THE GROUP:

All meetings of the UVTAGG group are open to the public and have the goal of helping people use technology to further their family and personal history. The Group is in its 36th year and was first called the Utah Valley PAF Users Group. On the blog is a way for anyone to receive the press releases via email. The public is invited to watch the presentations on the UVTAGG Facebook page.  Members of the group ($15/year), besides being able to interact with presenters on ZOOM, receive the monthly newsletter, TAGGology, via email and have access to the more than 650 videos of past presentations and classes. TAGGology contains a wealth of information about genealogy, including information for Temple and Family History Consultants. Request a free sample copy of the Newsletter by emailing to uvtagginfo@gmail.com.

Officers of UVTAGG are Gerhard Ruf, President; Laurie Castillo, 1st VP; 2nd VP (Vacant); Secretary (vacant); Jerry Castillo, Membership Officer, TAGGology Newsletter Editor (Vacant); Bonnie Dimond, Treasurer; Carol Hill, Social Media Publicist; Chris Stevenson, Caleb Clayson, Jerry Castillo, and Dawn Brimhall, Broadcast and Website Specialists. For further information contact President Gerhard Ruf at uvtagginfo@gmail.com (801-602-5048), or 1st VP Laurie Castillo at gengal@comcast.net.

Gerhard Ruf

President, UVTAGG

uvtagginfo@gmail.com