Special Interest Groups
Looking for small group help with your family research? Alberta Family Histories Society offers several Special Interest Groups (SIGs) as a member benefit. These meetings are opportunities to meet with members with a shared interest in an aspect of the hobby, whether a specific software application, a geographic area of origin or technology. If you would like to be a guest at one of our Special Interest Group meetings, please send a message to communications@afhs.ab.ca
Some of our SIGs only meet via Zoom (Family Tree Maker SIG and Legacy SIG). The other SIGs sometimes meet at our library, sometimes hold hybrid meetings and sometimes meet using Zoom. For the most up-to-date information, please see our events page or online calendar.
If you are an AFHS member, contact information for our SIG leaders can be found on the Our Board & Volunteers page of our website (logged in members only).
Basics Special Interest Group
Are you just getting started? This special interest group is for you!
Meetings: Approximately every other month on a Saturday morning by Zoom (see the website calendar)
The leaders (Bev Smith and Marion Peterson) are willing to choose future topics based on the needs and wants of the attendees.
Celtic Special Interest Group
The Celtic SIG is for anyone with Scottish and/or Irish ancestry.
Meetings: Fourth Saturday of each month (except December, July & August) at 10 am via Zoom or hybrid (see the website calendar)
Digital Genealogy Special Interest Group
The Digital Genealogy SIG is the technology Special Interest Group for the Society. The meetings start with a session about digital tools or websites for genealogy. The second half is for members who are participating or wish to participate in our Family Genes project which uses TNG (The Next Generation) software to create online family projects.
Meetings: Second Saturday of each month (except July & August) at 10 am either via Zoom or hybrid (see the website calendar)
DNA Special Interest Group
The DNA SIG is for those who are interested in using genetic genealogy as a tool in their family history research.
Meetings: Usually the second Sunday of each month at 12:30 pm (except July & August). Please check the website calendar.
English/Welsh Special Interest Group
The English/Welsh SIG is for anyone with English and/or Welsh ancestry (remembering that since 1536 England & Wales have had the same laws, been taxed on the same things and so follow the same research paths). Anyone with English or Welsh ancestry in their family tree is welcome to come and meet other genealogists with similar interests. Our group offers expertise in English genealogy, small group discussion and individual help with specific problems.
Meetings: Third Saturday of each month (except June, July & August) at 10 am via Zoom or hybrid (see the website calendar)
Family Tree Maker Special Interest Group
If you are interested in using Family Tree Maker software and wish to talk to other users, join us on the first Saturday of each month (except July & August) at 10 am via Zoom. We look at the new version and the older ones and try to find tricks and features that are useful. No question is unimportant; many heads should be able to find the answer.
Meetings: First Saturday of each month (except July, August and holiday weekends) at 10:00 am via Zoom
Legacy Special Interest Group
Are you using Legacy Family Tree software for genealogy? Looking for a program to use and want to find out more about Legacy? From basics to advanced functions, a different topic is demonstrated at each meeting. Bring your questions, and we’ll try to answer them.
Meetings: We meet the fourth Tuesday of the month from 7:00 to 8:30 pm, September to November and January to June. Meetings are held via Zoom with an in-person wind-up meeting.
Ontario Special Interest Group
If you are interested in Ontario genealogy research, come and join us! Meet other genealogists with similar interests, connect with those with expertise in Ontario research, join in small group discussions, find out about new resources, get help with your Ontario brick walls and learn about the extensive collection of Ontario resources found at the AFHS library.
Meetings: The fourth Monday of each month (except July, August and December) at 1:30 pm via Zoom or hybrid (see the website calendar)
Writing Special Interest Group
We’re starting a new special interest group! Led by Kelly Southworth, the Writing Special Interest Group will help you record the stories of your family research.
Meetings: Via Zoom on the second Friday of each month beginning at 9:30 am (see the website calendar)
