November 19, 2011 – Members share personal projects
At the November meeting, Wanda Wood-Knox, Jeanette Irvin, Maxine Hairston, and Daisy (Griggs) filled in the group on several of their individual genealogy-related activities. Topics included tips for a family presentation (From whence we came), results of DNA testing, unique family handouts, and excerpts from published works.

October 22, 2011 - Delores Jones publishes family book
At the October 22 meeting, AAGS Member Delores Jones announced the completion of a family research project reflecting her maternal lineage. She has now published “A Family Built on Banks and Walls - a history of ancestors and descendants of Tilla Banks and Mack & Anna Wall”. The book includes interviews, photos, stories, records & documentation, and superbly illustrates the culmination of years of research. Delores will be featured in an article in the AAGS Newsletter.

September 24, 2011 – Judith Cetina, Cuyahoga County Archives, visits AAGS
At the September AAGS meeting, Dr. Judith Cetina, Archivist at the Cuyahoga County Archives, provided the group with a variety of information about the resources available at the Franklin Boulevard site. She also informed us of their monthly lecture series.

Summer 2011 – Cleveland Public Library ads include AAGS interviews
The Cleveland Public Library launched a promotion in 2011 with the theme, “My Place 2 Dream, Create, Grow.” The campaign included highlighting a diverse group of its patrons, including AAGS members. CPL conducted short interviews with AAGS members Deborah Abbott and Cathy Neal relating to the library and the AAGS genealogy research clinics.

September 7-10, 2011 - FGS holds 2011 Conference
Burned Counties Research; Digital Scrapbooking; Post-Adoption Research; Engaging a New Generation of Genealogists; Locating and Using Oral History Collections; Using ‘Correlation’ to Reveal Facts that No Record States… How’s that for variety? Actually, it’s just a sampling of the diverse topics served up at the FGS 2011 Conference in Springfield, Illinois. Between the presentations, vendors, workshops, and society networking, attendees got their fair share of new tips on researching and improving society operations.

Loretta (Lou) Szucs & Pat Oxley led a brainstorming session for society leaders	Angela McGhee, AAGHS-Chicago Speaker Tony Burroughs, Speaker Deborah Abbott

August 6, 2011 – “Discovering Your Ancestors Online” at Akron Public Library
A number of AAGS members attended the full and informative one-day program that offered ways for genealogists to tackle research using on-line resources. The free program was an excellent vehicle for researchers of all levels. The Akron-Summit County Library will be providing genealogy sessions on Saturdays throughout the remainder of 2011.

June 25, 2011 – Presentation to National Council of Negro Women
It was a “win-win” situation, being asked to give a presentation to the NCNW on the subject of beginning genealogy. Not only did NCNW get a dose of what AAGS is all about, along with basic techniques to consider when starting on the family research road -- but AAGS also gained a better understanding about the helpful works of the NCNW. On the same day, at the AAGS general meeting, members took part in an interactive exchange dealing with Research Methodology.

May 21, 2011 - States Research at AAGS
At the May AAGS meeting, members began group discussions based on individual states. The first two tackled were Alabama and Georgia. Free-flowing conversation uncovered more places to look for records (e.g. Freedman Bureau labor contracts); common research pitfalls (be as clear as possible prior to site visits); obtaining useful contacts (such as local registrar, church, neighborhood elders); possible solutions to research snags; determining which sites have the needed documents (Courthouse, Health Dept., Archives, etc.); understanding the intent of certain records (e.g. voter registration); and other worthwhile tidbits based on personal experiences. For instance, a “Virtual Vault” of historical documents can be accessed at the Georgia State Archives and the Redbook is available on line on ancestry.com/wiki.

April 30, 2011 - Westlake FHC holds 8th annual conference
Nearby--Check. Full of variety--Check. Free--double Check! You just can’t beat a genealogy opportunity that’s close to home and brimming with new things to learn. The conference presented by the Westlake Ohio Family History Center took advantage of the talents of area experts to deliver wide-ranging topics, such as: manuscripts, blogging, WIKI, digital record preservation, FHC library catalog, community research, and no-cost Internet sites. The day also included a segment on how researchers can “give back” – by way of volunteering for the FamilySearch indexing project. Photo of Marti Halliday, presenter of “Organizing, Archiving and Preserving Genealogy in the Digital Age.”

April 23, 2011 – Local videographer visits AAGS
At the April AAGS meeting, the Society welcomed Lewis Burrell, who provided a wonderful presentation on Life History Video Biographies. Mr. Burrell showed how oral histories can be captured by video or audio recording. He offered numerous filming ideas, as well as technology choices. He noted that, based on the result desired and technical savvy, videos can be made by the genealogist or by a professional. Another option is involving youth to tap into their technical skills and to get them engaged in genealogy.

March 31-April 3, 2011 - 50th Annual OGS Conference
If you weren't at the Ohio Genealogical Society Conference in Columbus, you missed a grand opportunity to network with others and a chance to learn new and different approaches in your pursuit of genealogy/family history.

The pre-conference workshops were applicable for beginners to advanced researchers. At the conference, there were a variety of presentations suitable for African-American and other ethnic experiences; however, it didn’t matter which participants attended which sessions – since there was much to be gained by all researchers at all sessions. Workshops included: Google Earth; Using Maps to Find Your Ancestors; Using DNA for Genealogy Research; Federal, State & County Resources, Digital Projects, and much more. A sampling of the 35 speakers and their topics:

Tim Pinnick (left) Newspapers WWI Draft Cards	Michael Leclerc (left) Maps, Gazetteers & Atlases Writing Using MSO Word
	Deborah Abbott (right) Life of an Ohio Nurse in WWI
Mark Lowe (left) Early Methodist Church Tennessee Case Study Confederates in the Southland	Shamele Jordon Tracing Family Beyond 1870 Freedman’s Bureau Research US Colored Troops

March 16, 2011 - Bowling Green students pick up the mantle

March 6, 2011 - AAGS Heritage Dinner – Our Own Story
AAGS celebrated a very special milestone – its 21st year as a society. The enjoyable event supplied the chance to reminisce about the group’s beginnings, pay homage to past members, celebrate current members, highlight individual accomplishments, and share reflections on how far we’ve come.

February 26, 2011 – AAGS Sharing Corner
At the February AAGS general meeting, AAGS member Barbara Flewellyn shared her experiences with writing her family histories and putting “meat” on the bones of ancestors, based on what was found during her searches. She also reiterated opportunities where genealogists (particularly African-American) can offer to assist local libraries (particularly rural) with improving their collections -- by donating completed research documentation and providing perspectives on items of interest to have available for genealogists.

January 22, 2011 – AAGS Officers Installed
The January AAGS general meeting included installation of new officers (photo, left), followed by beginner, intermediate, and advanced workshops for members.