Monday, August 3, 2026

UVTAGG Press Release: Online Meeting Saturday Morning 8 August 2026:   KAREN CLIFFORD, AG on CONFIDENTLY EMBRACING THE WORK OF OTHERS

UVTAGG Press Release: Online Meeting Saturday Morning 8 August 2026:   KAREN CLIFFORD, AG on CONFIDENTLY EMBRACING THE WORK OF OTHERS 

2026-08-03 

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, 8 Aug 2026 on Zoom and Facebook 

10 am - 11 am MDT:   KAREN CLIFFORD, AG on CONFIDENTLY EMBRACING THE WORK OF OTHERS 

Details on UVTAGG.org and on the UVTAGG blog. ====================================. 

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

UVTAGG MEETING, Saturday Morning, 8 Aug 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:   KAREN CLIFFORD, AG on CONFIDENTLY EMBRACING THE WORK OF OTHERS 

ABOUT THE PRESENTATION: 

Let’s begin by considering the steps we can take to evaluate the evidence suggested in a FamilySearch Family Tree Relationship Report, a new Hint, or even a self-published family history of the 1980s. We live in a digital age and have unique problems to overcome. After all, the further back researchers go, the more likely they will find themselves in unfamiliar territory. Even in areas where people speak the English language there are different dialects; and therefore, variant spellings for people’s names and for localities. We can learn about the research tools available within FamilySearch to prepare ourselves to be a good judge of what others share with us. A discerning researcher knows that “different” is not always wrong, and “same” is not always right. 

ABOUT KAREN CLIFFORD, AG: 

Karen Clifford develops and teaches multiple online genealogy courses at colleges in California and Utah. She is an Accredited Genealogist® Professional and a Fellow of the Utah Genealogical Association. She has been President/CEO of Genealogy Research Associates, Incorporated since 1997. Her years of professional research work lead to authoring college textbooks and do-it-yourself guidebooks covering both traditional and electronic genealogy research including several books: Becoming an Accredited Genealogist, The Complete Beginners Guide to Genealogy, the Internet, and Your Genealogy Computer Program (updated 2011), and Digging Deeper: Using Essential Pre-1850 Records (2011). She was the founding President of the Monterey County Genealogy Society, a Director of the Monterey California Family History Center, President of the Utah Genealogical Association, a Vice President of the Federation of Genealogical Societies, a Vice Chair of the International Commission for the Accreditation of Professional Genealogist (ICAPGen). Currently Karen and her husband are Area Temple and Family History Advisers for eleven stakes in the Provo East area. 

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, 
UVTAGGuvtagginfo@gmail.com

Saturday, July 4, 2026

UVTAGG Press Release: Online Meeting Saturday Morning 11 July 2026: ROOTSWEB 2026 REBROADCAST - DIAHAN SOUTHLAND on DNA SWIM SCHOOL - Part 1 - FLOATING WITH ONE DNA MATCH

UVTAGG Press Release: Online Meeting Saturday Morning 11 July 2026:   ROOTSWEB 2026 REBROADCAST  -  DIAHAN SOUTHLAND on DNA SWIM SCHOOL - Part 1 - FLOATING WITH ONE DNA MATCH

2026-07-04

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 July 2026 on Zoom and Facebook

10 am - 11 am MDT:  ROOTSWEB 2026 REBROADCAST  -  DIAHAN SOUTHLAND on DNA SWIM SCHOOL - Part 1 - FLOATING WITH ONE DNA MATCH      
Details on UVTAGG.org and on the UVTAGG blog.
====================================.

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

UVTAGG MEETING, Saturday Morning, 11 July 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:   ROOTSWEB 2026 REBROADCAST  -  DIAHAN SOUTHLAND on DNA SWIM SCHOOL - Part 1 - FLOATING WITH ONE DNA MATCH

ABOUT THE PRESENTATION:

Welcome to DNA Swim School! In this beginner-friendly session, we’ll help you get your footing—er, floating—by focusing on just one DNA match. If your match list feels like the deep end, this is your life jacket. We’ll show you how to set a simple, clear research goal, then guide you through how to choose a match that can help you take your first meaningful step. You’ll get a friendly walkthrough of your testing company’s match list tools (no goggles required!), so you know what all those menus, labels, and numbers are really telling you. This class is perfect if you’re brand-new to DNA or you’ve tested and then felt stuck. You’ll walk away more confident navigating your match list—and ready for your next swim lesson.

ABOUT DIAHAN SOUTHLAND:

Diahan Southard has been helping people use DNA to explore their roots for over 20 years. She started her career at the Sorenson Molecular Genealogy Foundation, which created the DNA database that became AncestryDNA. After witnessing the power of DNA for family history–and the difficulties people face in using it effectively–she launched a pioneering career in DNA education.

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

Wednesday, June 10, 2026

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 

Tuesday, May 5, 2026

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

Wednesday, April 8, 2026

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 

Wednesday, March 11, 2026

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

Monday, February 9, 2026

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

Sunday, January 4, 2026

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

Sunday, October 5, 2025

UVTAGG Press Release: Online Meeting Saturday Morning 11 Oct 2025: MARILYN THOMSEN on AI OPENS COURT RECORDS

UVTAGG Press Release: Online Meeting Saturday Morning 11 Oct 2025:  MARILYN THOMSEN on AI OPENS COURT RECORDS

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, 11 Oct 2025 on Zoom and Facebook

10 am - 11 am MDT:  MARILYN THOMSEN on AI OPENS COURT RECORDS

Details on UVTAGG.org and on the UVTAGG blog.

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

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

UVTAGG MEETING, Saturday Morning, 13 Sep 2025 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:  MARILYN THOMSEN on AI OPENS COURT RECORDS

ABOUT THE PRESENTATION:

AI has opened court records like never before. The Full-Text Search at FamilySearch locates family in court, probate, will, guardianship, deed and land records. The Summarize feature cuts through legal jargon. This class will talk about how to recognize in what part of the court process these documents are created, how to attach the sources to the Family Tree and use the AI generated transcripts in research logs and research plans.

ABOUT MARILYN THOMSEN:

Marilyn Thomsen served as the editor of TAGGology, the Utah Valley and Technology Group’s newsletter for 10 years. She graduated with a BA from BYU (’05) with a Family History focus in US Southern research. She was a volunteer on the US & Canada floor at the Family Search Library in SLC and worked on other projects. She was the Director at three FamilySearch Centers in Utah. After completing National DAR training, she enjoyed lineage research for new applicants. During her BYU Internship at the National Archive Regional Center in Georgia, she rambled through courthouses and cemeteries of her Southern roots. With her husband, Richard, she visited the homes, parishes and archives of her ancestors in Denmark, Isle of Man and England. Marilyn loves to put flesh on the bones of her ancestors and won BYU’s Family History of the Year Award for histories focusing on her Utah Pioneer ancestors. Her enthusiasm when teaching comes because she really loves helping others find their roots. Her husband, Richard, shares a passion for digging up dead relatives and connecting them to living relatives.
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 35th 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 email newsletter, TAGGology, 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); Beccy Martin, Secretary; Jerry Castillo, Membership Officer, TAGGology Newsletter Editor (Vacant); Treasurer (Vacant); Carol Hill, Social Media Publicist; Chris Stevenson, Brent Nelson, 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

Tuesday, September 9, 2025

UVTAGG Press Release: Online Meeting Saturday Morning 13 Sep 2025: LUANA DARBY on THE LIBRARIAN KNOWS WHERE IT'S AT

UVTAGG Press Release: Online Meeting Saturday Morning 13 Sep 2025:  LUANA DARBY on THE LIBRARIAN KNOWS WHERE IT'S AT


2025-09-09

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 Sep 2025 on Zoom and Facebook

10 am - 11 am MDT:   LUANA DARBY on THE LIBRARIAN KNOWS WHERE IT'S AT

Details on UVTAGG.org and on the UVTAGG blog.

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

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

UVTAGG MEETING, Saturday Morning, 13 Sep 2025 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:   LUANA DARBY on THE LIBRARIAN KNOWS WHERE IT'S AT - USING STATE ARCHIVES AND LOCAL LIBRARIES RESOURCES ONLINE

ABOUT THE PRESENTATION:

With many state archives and local libraries posting one-of-a-kind information that many times has never been seen outside of that institution, the wealth of information available to genealogists is incredible.  From actual records to photographs these digital collections will enrich your genealogical experience and may offer that breakthrough you are looking for! Learn how to find and access these gems.

ABOUT LUANA DARBY:

Genealogy and the recording of family history has always been a passion for Luana. She began organizing photos, documents, and information on her grandmother’s family in 1977 and has researched for others since 1985, working as a professional genealogist since 1995. She specializes in Palatine German, US and Canadian, and western European research She frequently travels to Europe for genealogical research on site in archives located in Germany, Poland and France. Luana has a bachelor’s degree in Family History from Brigham Young University and a master’s degree in Library and Information Science from San Jose State University. In addition to her education at BYU and SJSU, Luana is an Accredited Genealogist®.

She is a frequent lecturer at local and national conferences and institutes, including the Salt Lake Institute of Genealogy, the British Institute, RootsTech and through Legacy Family Tree Webinars. Luana is a member of the Association of Professional Genealogists and the National Genealogical Society. She has served as past president and director of the Utah Genealogical Association and director at the Association of Professional Genealogists. She currently serves as the Utah State Society DAR 2nd Vice Regent and has served as a past State Registrar, and as a commissioner on the ICAPGen accreditation board. Luana worked on the research team of Relative Race, BYU TV’s reality competition show, seasons 3 and 4. She loves her ancestors and the chance to solve genealogical mysteries.

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 35th 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 email newsletter, TAGGology, 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); Beccy Martin, Secretary; Jerry Castillo, Membership Officer, TAGGology Newsletter Editor (Vacant); Treasurer (Vacant); Librarian (Vacant); Carol Hill, Social Media Publicist; Chris Stevenson, Brent Nelson, 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

Tuesday, July 29, 2025

UVTAGG Press Release: Online Meeting Saturday Morning 9 Aug 2025: CAROL HILL on WHAT HAPPENED TO FAMILYSEARCH INDEXING?

UVTAGG Press Release: Online Meeting Saturday Morning 9 Aug 2025:  CAROL HILL on WHAT HAPPENED TO FAMILYSEARCH INDEXING?


2025-07-29

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 Aug 2025 on Zoom and Facebook

10 am - 11 am MDT:  CAROL HILL on WHAT HAPPENED TO FAMILYSEARCH INDEXING?

Details on UVTAGG.org and on the UVTAGG blog.

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

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

UVTAGG MEETING, Saturday Morning, 9 Aug 2025 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:  CAROL HILL on WHAT HAPPENED TO FAMILYSEARCH INDEXING?

ABOUT THE PRESENTATION:

FamilySearch indexing, in its traditional form, concluded on April 21, 2025.  This marked the end of an era and the beginning of a new approach driven by technological advancements.  Carol will show how FamilySearch needs volunteers to "Get Involved" checking AI generated information. Instead of typing out records from scratch, you review and edit indexed information to help ensure accuracy and make the names of ancestors easier to find.  You can use the computer as well as your mobile device!  It's also so much easier than indexing!

ABOUT CAROL HILL:

Carol Hill received her Family History degree from BYU with an emphasis on Southern States Research.  She is currently serving a 16 hour/week FamilySearch Support mission taking phone calls and answering emails. Besides her loving husband, 6 children, and 31 grandchildren, her favorite pastime is to help others with their family history.  She has a Youtube channel where she shares short videos about how to do simple tasks on FamilySearch and other sites.  https://www.youtube.com/@familyhistoryhelpbycarolhill
She also posts these videos on her website:  http://www.freegenealogyhelp.net/

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 35th 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. Members of the group ($15/year), besides being able to interact with presenters on ZOOM, receive the monthly email newsletter, TAGGology, 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); Beccy Martin, Secretary; Jerry Castillo, Membership Officer, TAGGology Newsletter Editor (Vacant); Rayanne Melick, Treasurer; Librarian (Vacant); Carol Hill, Social Media Publicist; Chris Stevenson, Brent Nelson, 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

Wednesday, July 9, 2025

UVTAGG Press Release: Online Meeting Saturday Morning 12 Jul 2025: KATHRYN GRANT on DEMYSTIFYING AI IN FAMILY HISTORY

UVTAGG Press Release: Online Meeting Saturday Morning 12 Jul 2025:  KATHRYN GRANT on DEMYSTIFYING AI IN FAMILY HISTORY


2025-07-09

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, 12 Jul 2025 on Zoom and Facebook

10 am - 11 am MDT:   KATHRYN GRANT on DEMYSTIFYING AI IN FAMILY HISTORY

Details on UVTAGG.org and on the UVTAGG blog.

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

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

UVTAGG MEETING, Saturday Morning, 14 Jun 2025 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 DEMYSTIFYING AI IN FAMILY HISTORY

ABOUT THE PRESENTATION:

Kathryn Grant shares ways to use AI tools in family history, along with common-sense precautions to take.

ABOUT KATHRYNN 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.

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 35th 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. Members of the group ($15/year), besides being able to interact with presenters on ZOOM, receive the monthly email newsletter, TAGGology, 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); Beccy Martin, Secretary; Jerry Castillo, Membership Officer, TAGGology Newsletter Editor (Vacant); Rayanne Melick, Treasurer; Librarian (Vacant); Carol Hill, Social Media Publicist; Chris Stevenson, Brent Nelson, 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

Tuesday, June 3, 2025

UVTAGG Press Release: Online Meeting Saturday Morning 14 Jun 2025: LAURIE WERNER CASTILLO on LOST TOWNS & CITIES: HOW TO RESEARCH PLACES THAT MAY NO LONGER EXIST

UVTAGG Press Release: Online Meeting Saturday Morning 14 Jun 2025:  LAURIE WERNER CASTILLO on LOST TOWNS & CITIES: HOW TO RESEARCH PLACES THAT MAY NO LONGER EXIST


2025-06-03

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 Jun 2025 on Zoom and Facebook

10 am - 11 am MDT:  LAURIE WERNER CASTILLO on LOST TOWNS & CITIES: HOW TO RESEARCH PLACES THAT MAY NO LONGER EXIST

Details on UVTAGG.org and on the UVTAGG blog.

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

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

UVTAGG MEETING, Saturday Morning, 14 Jun 2025 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 LOST TOWNS & CITIES: HOW TO RESEARCH PLACES THAT MAY NO LONGER EXIST

ABOUT THE PRESENTATION:

Locating the towns inhabited by our ancestors can be difficult. Many of them have not survived. Some have had several names over the course of time and may be hiding in plain sight. The presentation will cover best practices for locating and Identifying ancestral towns, in general. There will also be discussion of "lost towns," why they no longer exist and where to find their records.

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.

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 35th year and previously was called the Utah Valley PAF Users Group. On the blog is a way for anyone to receive the press releases via email. Members of the group ($15/year), besides being able to interact with presenters on ZOOM, receive the monthly email newsletter, TAGGology, 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); Beccy Martin, Secretary; Jerry Castillo, Membership Officer, TAGGology Newsletter Editor (Vacant); Rayanne Melick, Treasurer; Librarian (Vacant); Carol Hill, Social Media Publicist; James Anderson, FamilySearch Coordinator; Chris Stevenson, Brent Nelson, 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

Saturday, May 10, 2025

UVTAGG Press Release: Online Meeting Saturday Morning 10 May: KRISTILEE J. MANUEL on FINAGLING SOURCES FROM FAMILYSEARCH BETA, FULL-TEXT COLLECTIONS

UVTAGG Press Release: Online Meeting Saturday Morning 10 May: KRISTILEE J. MANUEL on FINAGLING SOURCES FROM FAMILYSEARCH BETA, FULL-TEXT COLLECTIONS

2025-05-10

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

Gerhard Ruf - uvtagginfo@gmail.com

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

UVTAGG MEETING, Saturday Morning, 10 May 2025 on Zoom and Facebook

10 am - 11 am MDT: KRISTILEE J. MANUEL on FINAGLING SOURCES FROM FAMILYSEARCH BETA, FULL-TEXT COLLECTIONS

Details on UVTAGG.org and on the UVTAGG blog.

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

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

UVTAGG MEETING, Saturday Morning, 10 May 2025 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:  KRISTILEE J. MANUEL on FINAGLING SOURCES FROM FAMILYSEARCH BETA, FULL-TEXT COLLECTIONS

ABOUT THE PRESENTATION:

Doesn't "beta" mean something isn't ready for prime time? Not when considering FamilySearch's beta full-text collections. Make the most of your research time by discovering documents tied to your ancestors that were previously very difficult to find without the help of AI combined with OCR technologies. This presentation will give you the opportunity to make discoveries in these exciting, new collections by sharing strategies, outlining search steps, and providing the inside scoop on how to minimize the "beta" and maximize results.

ABOUT KRISTILEE J. MANUEL:

Kristilee J. Manuel authored the textbook "Introduction to Genealogy: A Modern Family History Methodology." This year she was a presenter at RootsTech and she previously taught at BYU's Women's Conference and served as a FamilySearch Center Director. Kristilee designed genealogical tools and created content for Brigham Young University's Family History Workshops and recently collaborated with the Chinese National Parks Service to develop a family history certification program for teens.

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 35th year and previously was called the Utah Valley PAF Users Group. On the blog is a way for anyone to receive the press releases via email. Members of the group ($15/year), besides being able to interact with presenters on ZOOM, receive the monthly email newsletter, TAGGology, 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. Free sample copies of the Newsletter can be requested by emailing uvtagginfo@gmail.com.

Officers of UVTAGG are Gerhard Ruf, President; Laurie Castillo, 1st VP; 2nd VP (Vacant); Beccy Martin, Secretary; Jerry Castillo, Membership Officer, TAGGology Newsletter Editor (Vacant); Rayanne Melick, Treasurer; Librarian (Vacant); Carol Hill, Social Media Publicist; James Anderson, FamilySearch Coordinator; Chris Stevenson, Brent Nelson, 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 Group
uvtagginfo@gmail.com

Tuesday, April 8, 2025

UVTAGG Press Release: Online Meeting Saturday Morning 12 Apr 2025: LAURIE WERNER CASTILLO on LOST TOWNS & CITIES: HOW TO RESEARCH PLACES THAT MAY NO LONGER EXIST

UVTAGG Press Release: Online Meeting Saturday Morning 12 Apr 2025:  LAURIE WERNER CASTILLO on LOST TOWNS & CITIES: HOW TO RESEARCH PLACES THAT MAY NO LONGER EXIST

2025-04-8

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

Gerhard Ruf - uvtagginfo@gmail.com

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

UVTAGG MEETING, Saturday Morning, 12 Apr 2025 on Zoom and Facebook

10 am - 11 am MDT:  LAURIE WERNER CASTILLO on LOST TOWNS & CITIES: HOW TO RESEARCH PLACES THAT MAY NO LONGER EXIST

There will be no second class.

Details on UVTAGG.org and on the UVTAGG blog.

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

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

UVTAGG MEETING, Saturday Morning, 12 Apr 2025 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 LOST TOWNS & CITIES: HOW TO RESEARCH PLACES THAT MAY NO LONGER EXIST

There will be no second class.

ABOUT THE PRESENTATION:

Locating the towns inhabited by our ancestors can be difficult. Many of them have not survived. Some have had several names over the course of time and may be hiding in plain sight. The presentation will cover best practices for locating and Identifying ancestral towns, in general. There will also be discussion of "lost towns," why they no longer exist and where to find their records.

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

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 35th year and previously was called the Utah Valley PAF Users Group. On the blog is a way for anyone to receive the press releases via email. Members of the group ($15/year), besides being able to interact with presenters on ZOOM, receive the monthly email newsletter, TAGGology, 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. Free sample copies of the Newsletter can be requested by emailing uvtagginfo@gmail.com.

Officers of UVTAGG are Gerhard Ruf, President; Laurie Castillo, 1st VP; 2nd VP (Vacant); Beccy Martin, Secretary; Jerry Castillo, Membership Officer, TAGGology Newsletter Editor (Vacant); Rayanne Melick, Treasurer; Librarian (Vacant); Carol Hill, Social Media Publicist; James Anderson, FamilySearch Coordinator; Chris Stevenson, Brent Nelson, 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 Group

Friday, March 14, 2025

UVTAGG Press Release: Online Meeting Saturday Morning 15 Mar 2025: ROOTSTECH FAMILYSEARCH FORUM - WHAT'S NEW AT FAMILYSEARCH


UVTAGG Press Release: Online Meeting Saturday Morning 15 Mar 2025: ROOTSTECH FAMILYSEARCH FORUM - WHAT'S NEW AT FAMILYSEARCH

2025-03-14

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

Gerhard Ruf - uvtagginfo@gmail.com

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

UVTAGG MEETING, Saturday Morning, 15 Mar 2025 on Zoom and Facebook

10 am - 11 am MDT:  ROOTSTECH FAMILYSEARCH FORUM on WHAT'S NEW AT FAMILYSEARCH

There will be no second class taught on this date.  In the future all monthly public meetings will be limited to one presentation.

At the end of this meeting the annual election of officers will be initiated.

Details on UVTAGG.org and on the UVTAGG blog.

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

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

UVTAGG MEETING, Saturday Morning, 15 Mar 2025 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:  ROOTSTECH FAMILYSEARCH FORUM on WHAT'S NEW AT FAMILYSEARCH

There will be no second class taught on this date.  In the future all public meetings will be limited to one class.

At the end of this meeting the annual election of officers will be initiated.

ABOUT THE PRESENTATION:

This is a rebroadcast of the RootsTech 2025 FamilySearch Global and Technology Forum.  It was the formal opening session. It includes 7 FamilySearch panelists describing innovations accomplished during the prior 12 months, including enhancements of previously announced features, and descriptions of new apps and features.

The panelists are Sarah Hammond, Brett Weeks, Valerie Villalobos, Bryan Austad, Ryan Parker, Michelle Barber, Craig Miller, and Andy Gold.

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 35th year and previously was called the Utah Valley PAF Users Group. On the blog is a way for anyone to receive the press releases via email. Members of the group ($15/year), besides being able to interact with presenters on ZOOM, receive the monthly email newsletter, TAGGology, 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. Free sample copies of the Newsletter can be requested by emailing uvtagginfo@gmail.com.

Officers of UVTAGG are Gerhard Ruf, President; Laurie Castillo, 1st VP; 2nd VP (Vacant); Beccy Martin, Secretary; Jerry Castillo, Membership Officer, TAGGology Newsletter Editor (Vacant); Rayanne Melick, Treasurer; Librarian (Vacant); Carol Hill, Social Media Publicist; James Anderson, FamilySearch Coordinator; Chris Stevenson, Brent Nelson, 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, uvtagginfo@gmail.com

UVTAGG Group

Friday, January 31, 2025

UVTAGG Press Release: Online Meeting Saturday Morning 8 Feb 2025: ROBERT GIVENS on USING FAMILYSEARCH PARTNER: MY HERITAGE

UVTAGG Press Release: Online Meeting Saturday Morning 8 Feb 2025: ROBERT GIVENS on USING FAMILYSEARCH PARTNER: MY HERITAGE


2025-01-31

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, 8 Feb 2025 on Zoom and Facebook

10 am - 11 am MST:  ROBERT GIVENS on USING FAMILYSEARCH PARTNER: MY HERITAGE

With sadness we announce the passing of Donald R. Snow, our 2nd Vice President.  
There will be no second class taught on this date.  In the future all monthly public meetings will be limited to one presentation.

Details on UVTAGG.org and on the UVTAGG blog.

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

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

UVTAGG MEETING, Saturday Morning, 8 Feb 2025 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:  ROBERT GIVENS on USING FAMILYSEARCH PARTNER: MY HERITAGE

With sadness we announce the passing of Donald R. Snow, our 2nd Vice President. There will be no second class taught on this date.  In the future all public meetings will be limited to one class.

ABOUT THE MAIN PRESENTATION:

We will explore one of FamilySearch's partner sites - My Heritage.  It has value for all of us.  We will cover its focus, how to best tap into the records found there, why your DNA should be uploaded there, and finally, the great photo features found there.

ABOUT ROBERT GIVENS:

Robert Givens has received advanced degrees from Fresno State College and California State University, Fresno. His career in education spanned 39 years in that area. He started researching in 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 Family History Center and currently with his wife is an Area Temple and Family History Adviser for 11 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 presented on genealogical topics in multiple states. When he is not researching, he loves to garden, read, and watch sports on TV.

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 35th year and previously was called the Utah Valley PAF Users Group. On the blog is a way for anyone to receive the press releases via email. Members of the group ($15/year), besides being able to interact with presenters on ZOOM, receive the monthly email newsletter, TAGGology, 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. Free sample copies of the Newsletter can be requested by emailing uvtagginfo@gmail.com.

Officers of UVTAGG are Gerhard Ruf, President; Laurie Castillo, 1st VP; 2nd VP (Vacant); Beccy Martin, Secretary; Jerry Castillo, Membership Officer, TAGGology Newsletter Editor (Vacant); Rayanne Melick, Treasurer; Librarian (Vacant); Carol Hill, Social Media Publicist; James Anderson, FamilySearch Coordinator; Chris Stevenson, Brent Nelson, 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, uvtagginfo@gmail.com 

Thursday, January 9, 2025

UVTAGG Press Release: Online Meeting Saturday Morning 11 Jan 2025: JAMES TANNER on GETTING OUT OF THE RUT OF YOUR GENEALOGICAL RESEARCH

 UVTAGG Press Release: Online Meeting Saturday Morning 11 Jan 2025: JAMES TANNER on GETTING OUT OF THE RUT OF YOUR GENEALOGICAL RESEARCH

2025-01-09

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 - gruf@byu.net 

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

UVTAGG MEETING, Saturday Morning, 11 Jan 2025 on Zoom and Facebook

10 am - 11 am MST: JAMES TANNER on GETTING OUT OF THE RUT OF YOUR GENEALOGICAL RESEARCH

With sadness we announce the passing of Donald R. Snow, our 2nd Vice President.  

There will be no second class taught on this date.  In the future all monthly public meetings will be limited to one presentation.

Details on UVTAGG.org and on the UVTAGG blog.

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

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

UVTAGG MEETING, Saturday Morning, 11 Jan 2025 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: JAMES TANNER on GETTING OUT OF THE RUT OF YOUR GENEALOGICAL RESEARCH

With sadness we announce the passing of Donald R. Snow, our 2nd Vice President. His obituary is at   https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/deseretnews/name/donald-snow-obituary?id=57072140

 There will be no second class taught on this date.  In the future all public meetings will be limited to one class.

ABOUT THE PRESENTATION:

Doing the same searches and genealogical work over and over again is like driving a car in a deep rut in the road. It seems like you can't break out of the habit. This class takes you through the process of moving on to a more productive genealogy life with ways to expand your knowledge and focus. Take some time think through how you are approaching your genealogical challenges

ABOUT JAMES TANNER:

James has over 40 years of experience in genealogical research and is an avid blogger of the Genealogy’s Star blog. He has served as a family history volunteer for over 18 years and has presented at expos and conferences around the US, Canada, and Europe. He is a member of the board of directors of the Family History Guide Association and is currently serving at the BYU Family History Library. James is an attorney, a professional photographer, and has 7 children, 34 grandchildren and 2 greatgrandchildren.

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 35th year and previously was called the Utah Valley PAF Users Group. On the blog is a way for anyone to receive the press releases via email. Members of the group ($15/year), besides being able to interact with presenters on ZOOM, receive the monthly email newsletter, TAGGology, 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. Free sample copies of the Newsletter can be requested by emailing uvtagginfo@gmail.com.

Officers of UVTAGG are Gerhard Ruf, President; Laurie Castillo, 1st VP; 2nd VP (Vacant); Beccy Martin, Secretary; Jerry Castillo, Membership Officer, Marilyn Thomsen, TAGGology Newsletter Editor; Rayanne Melick, Treasurer; Librarian (Vacant); Carol Hill, Social Media Publicist; James Anderson, FamilySearch Coordinator; Chris Stevenson, Brent Nelson, 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, gruf@byu.net

Wednesday, November 6, 2024

UVTAGG Press Release: Online Meeting Saturday Morning 9 Nov 2024: MARILYN THOMSEN on FEDERAL AND STATE MILITARY RECORDS

UVTAGG Press Release: Online Meeting Saturday Morning 9 Nov 2024: MARILYN THOMSEN on FEDERAL AND STATE MILITARY RECORDS


2024-11-06

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.

for Don

Donald R. Snow - snowd@math.byu.edu 

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

UVTAGG MEETING, Saturday Morning, 9 Nov 2024 on Zoom and Facebook

10 am - 11 am MST: MARILYN THOMSEN on MILITARY RESEARCH WHEN AND WHERE

11:10 - 12 Noon MST: MARILYN THOMSEN on STATE MILITARY RECORDS RESEARCH

Details on UVTAGG.org and on the UVTAGG blog.

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

UVTAGG MEETING, Saturday Morning, 9 Nov 2024 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: MARILYN THOMSEN on MILITARY RESEARCH WHEN AND WHERE

11:10 - 12 Noon MDT: MARILYN THOMSEN on STATE MILITARY RECORDS RESEARCH


ABOUT THE MAIN PRESENTATION:

Thinking of exploring your ancestor's military records? Military records are an important USA source of information. They are especially valuable when researching families before the 1850 Census.  Marilyn will discuss military records, how they are organized and what you can expect to discover. Also the major repositories of records and search strategies will be included.


ABOUT MARILYN THOMSEN:

Marilyn Thomsen has been the editor of TAGGology, the Utah Valley and Technology Group’s newsletter for 10 years. She graduated with a BA from BYU (’05) with a Family History focus in US Southern research. She was a volunteer on the US & Canada floor at the Family Search Library in SLC and worked on other projects. She was Director at three FamilySearch Centers in Utah. After completing National DAR training, she enjoyed lineage research for new applicants. During her BYU Internship at the National Archive Regional Center in Georgia, she rambled through courthouses and cemeteries of her Southern roots. With her husband, Richard, she visited the homes, parishes and archives of her ancestors in Denmark, Isle of Man and England. Marilyn loves to put flesh on the bones of her ancestors and won BYU’s Family History of the Year Award for histories focusing on her Utah Pioneer ancestors. Her enthusiasm when teaching comes because she really loves helping others find their roots. Her husband, Richard, shares a passion for digging up dead relatives and connecting them to living relatives.


ABOUT THE CLASS:

State Archives may have your ancestor's military records. Local archives have databases and records not found in Federal databases. This intermediate level class discusses the importance of being familiar with local county histories and records when researching your ancestor's military background.


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 34th year and previously was called the Utah Valley PAF Users Group. On the blog is a way for anyone to receive the press releases via email. Members of the group ($15/year), besides being able to interact with presenters on ZOOM, receive the monthly email newsletter, TAGGology, 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.  Free sample copies of the Newsletter can be requested by emailing uvtagginfo@gmail.com .


Officers of UVTAGG are Gerhard Ruf, President; Laurie Castillo, 1st VP; Don Snow, 2nd VP; Beccy Martin, Secretary; Jerry Castillo, Membership Officer, Marilyn Thomsen, TAGGology Newsletter Editor; Rayanne Melick, Treasurer; Librarian (Vacant); Carol Hill, Social Media Publicist; James Anderson, FamilySearch Coordinator; Chris Stevenson, Brent Nelson, 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 , or 2nd VP Don Snow at snowd@math.byu.edu .


for Donald R. Snow, 2nd VP, snowd@math.byu.edu .

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