Eastside Genealogical Society

PO Box 374 • Bellevue, Washington 98009-0374

Eastside Genealogical Society invites you to attend an event or become a member.

Events

  • General Meeting and Speaker – March 12th 6:30 PM

    Eastside Genealogical Society presents:

    How to Write a Family History Book:
    It’s Easier Than You Think

    Our speaker: Rebecca Shamblin
    Thursday, March 12, 2026  
    Networking and announcements at 6:30 pm Pacific; program at 7:00 pm
    Via Zoom—watch for the link*

    About our speaker: Rebecca Shamblin is a passionate genealogist who helps families bridge the gap between research and storytelling. Building on her success with Leaving a Legacy: Turn Your Family Tree Into a Family Book, she now empowers researchers to unlock the full potential of their favorite genealogy tools. Her engaging seminars, presented across the country, make genealogy and authorship accessible to everyone.                                                                           

    About our program: Maybe it has always been a secret dream of yours to create a book out of your research. We will talk about the research process, what to include, how to turn facts into stories, how to organize your book, how to get it printed, and finally how to share it. You can choose any software for this project, but I will show you how Family Tree Maker and Family Book Creator can make things faster and easier than you might think. A family history book really is achievable and can play an important role in preserving your research.

    Everyone is welcome—we hope you will join us.

    For more information about EGS, visit our website at https://eastsidegenealogicalsociety.org

    *The Zoom link will be sent to members, otherwise check the website close to the program date.


  • Italian Interest Group – Friday March 21st 1:30 PM

    Italian Interest Group

    Date: March 21, 2026 (Saturday)
    Time: 1:30 PM (PT)
    Topic: Find Your Family in U.S. Catholic Church Records
    Presenter: Sunny Jane Morton

    Click to request the meeting invitation

    Description: Roman Catholic sacramental records often contain vital events, relationships, and overseas hometowns. They’re also confidential, so they can be tricky to access. Learn about Catholicism in the U.S., what’s in sacramental records and what they look like, how to identify an ancestral parish, and tips for accessing Catholic records.

    Presenter: Sunny Jane Morton
    Sunny Jane Morton is a genealogy educator, editor and writer. She has expertise in U.S. records and history, and is co-author of How to Find Your Family History in U.S. Church Records, which received a book award from the National Genealogical Society, and Searching for Sisters: A Guide to Researching Catholic Nuns in the United States. She is Editor of NGS Magazine; Contributing Editor at Family Tree Magazine; an instructor at GRIP Genealogy Institute and the Salt Lake Institute of Genealogy; and past Editor of Ohio Genealogy News.

  • Family Tree Maker SIG – Friday March 20th 10:30 AM

    The Family Tree Maker SIG meets on the 3rd Friday of most months from 10:30AM to 12:30PM Pacific time via Zoom. (Check this website for information on each upcoming meeting date.) If you would like to attend and are not on the SIG e-mail distribution list, please send an e-mail to ftmsig@eastsidegenealogicalsociety.org to request the meeting link.

  • Lunch Bunch – Thursday March 19th 11:30 AM

    The Lunch Bunch topic for discussion this month is RootsTech Sharing.

    On the third Thursday of most months, from 11:30 to 1:00, we meet in a reserved room in the church across from the FamilySearch Center, at 10675 NE 20th Street, Bellevue. Bring lunch from home or buy food at a nearby local location.

    Use the FamilySearch Center Library with databases either available only by subscription or unavailable online. Bring your laptop. The library is open until 6:00 PM. No reservation required.

    Contact: Celia McNay with questions.

  • Genealogy Book SIG – Friday March 13th 10:00 AM

    The Eastside Genealogical Society’s Genealogy Book SIG will meet Friday September 12th at 10 AM PT via Zoom.

    The book for this month is Three Times Removed by M.K. Jones

    Email Kimberly Nichols at vicepresident@eastsidegenealogicalsociety.org to request a zoom link and be added to the email list.

  • Genealogy Help – February 26th 10:30AM to 12:30PM

    Get genealogy help at the Bellevue Library Computer Lab
    1111 110th Avenue NE
    Bellevue, WA 98004
    We are available to help on the 2nd and 4th Thursdays of most months.
    No registration is required. Get in-person assistance with…

    Ancestry Library Edition.

  • Genealogy Help – February 12th 10:30AM to 12:30PM

    Get genealogy help at the Bellevue Library Computer Lab
    1111 110th Avenue NE
    Bellevue, WA 98004
    We are available to help on the 2nd and 4th Thursdays of most months.
    No registration is required. Get in-person assistance with…

    Ancestry Library Edition.

  • Italian Interest Group – Friday February 21st 1:30 PM

    Italian Interest Group

    Date: February 21, 2026 (Saturday)
    Time: 1:30 PM (PT)
    Topic: Exploring Italian Catholic Parish Registers – Marriage Records, Processes and Dispensations
    Presenter: Suzanne Russo Adams

    Click to request the meeting invitation

    Description: Discover how Italian Catholic marriage processes generated rich valuable records for genealogical research. Learn about the steps leading to marriage, the documentation created, and when and why couples might need a bishop’s dispensation.

    Presenter: Suzanne Russo Adams
    Suzanne Russo Adams, MA, AG®, is an Associate Professor of family history and the Director of the Center for Family History and Genealogy at Brigham Young University. An Accredited Genealogist® specializing in Italian research, she holds degrees in Family History/Genealogy and Sociology, as well as a master’s degree in History. With over 25 years of experience in the genealogy field, Suzanne has worked extensively in record acquisition, strategy, and content digitization for Ancestry.com and FamilySearch.org. She is the author of “Finding Your Italian Ancestors: A Beginner’s Guide.”

  • Lunch Bunch – Thursday Feb 19th 11:30 AM

    The Lunch Bunch topic for discussion this month is Marriage Records.

    On the third Thursday of most months, from 11:30 to 1:00, we meet in a reserved room in the church across from the FamilySearch Center, at 10675 NE 20th Street, Bellevue. Bring lunch from home or buy food at a nearby local location.

    Use the FamilySearch Center Library with databases either available only by subscription or unavailable online. Bring your laptop. The library is open until 6:00 PM. No reservation required.

    Contact: Celia McNay with questions.

  • Family Tree Maker SIG – Friday February 20th 10:30 AM

    The Family Tree Maker SIG meets on the 3rd Friday of most months from 10:30AM to 12:30PM Pacific time via Zoom. (Check this website for information on each upcoming meeting date.) If you would like to attend and are not on the SIG e-mail distribution list, please send an e-mail to ftmsig@eastsidegenealogicalsociety.org to request the meeting link.