We are proud to announce
MoSGA’s 2010 Annual Conference

August 13 and 14, 2010
Capitol Plaza Hotel
Jefferson City, Missouri

Keynote Speaker
Roger Minert, Ph.D.

Roger P. Minert received his doctoral degree from Ohio State University in German language history and second language acquisition theory.  He taught German language and history for ten years, and then became a professional family history researcher. Accredited by the Family History Library for research in Germany and Austria, he has more than 33,000 hours in research experience. In August 2003 he became an associate professor of family history at Brigham Young University. The author of more than 70 books and articles, he is currently directing the project “German Immigrants in American Church Records” and has completed the first of two volumes of a history of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Germany during World War II.

MoSGA Conference 2010 Supporting Speakers

Mary Celeste retired from Mid-Continent Public Library in May 2007 after twenty years of service there, most recently as the Branch Manager of the Boardwalk Branch. She holds a Masters of Library and Information Science from the University of Missouri-Columbia.  Mary has served as registrar for two local lineage society chapters, is a past member of the American Library Association and was a chair of the Local History Committee, she was a committee member of the National Genealogical Society’s 2008 Conference Local Arrangements Committee and co-chair of the Local Events Committee, and a 2003 alumna of the National Institute of Genealogical Research a the National Archives.  Mary is currently chair of MoSGA’s First Families Program, program chair of the Heartland Chapter of the Association of Professional Genealogists, a member of the Genealogical Speakers Guild, and numerous genealogical and historical societies.

Gene Block became involved in genealogy in the mid-1970s when a daughter in junior high school asked for help with a school project on immigration.  It was then he realized he knew very little about the history of his family.  He has been involved with genealogy ever since.  He is a member of the St. Louis Genealogical Society and the Pomona Valley (CA) Genealogical Society where he serves as treasurer.  Gene has written and published nine genealogy articles which have appeared in the St. Louis Genealogical Society Quarterly, MoSGA Journal, and Avotaynu.  Mr. Block holds a BS degree from St. Louis University, and two MS degrees from California State University.

Tom Pearson is a U.S. Air Force veteran.  He holds a B.A. in History from Eureka College (IL) and an M.S. in Library Science from the University of Illinois.  He has served as library director at a maximum-security prison in northern Illinois, a small public library in South Dakota, and a branch library in north St. Louis.  He was worked for the St. Louis Public Library since 1984.  Tom is editor of the St. Clair County (IL) Genealogical Society Newsletter and “Show Me” State Genealogical News [MoSGA’s newsletter], and co-edits Gateway Family Historian, a publication of St. Louis Public Library.  His is also editor of MoSGA Messenger, the Official Blog of the Missouri State Genealogical Association.  He has presented programs on genealogy and military history to numerous libraries and genealogical, lineage, and patriotic societies.  He was a supporting speaker at the St. Louis Family History Fair in 2007 and 2008, and the Missouri State Genealogical Association and the Missouri Library Association Conference in 2009.

Marilyn H. Collins is an award-winning author of three history books and a how-to book for writers – Rogers: The Town the Frisco Built; Rogers, Arkansas: A Pictorial History (winner of the North Carolina Historians Award); and The Old Burying Ground, Beaufort, North Carolina – as well as over 100 magazine and newspaper features.  Her latest book, Write History Right, was awarded first place in 2010 by the Arkansas Press Women and second place by the National Federation of Press Women.  Collins held executive positions with the American Association of University Women, Washington national Cathedral Association, and the Beaufort (N.C.) Historical Association.  She owned Wilson Collins Marketing Consultants in the Washington, DC, area and currently owns CHS Publishing.  She is a frequent conference speaker and workshop leader.  [www.mhcollins.com]

June Sommer holds a B.S. Degree in Genealogy from Brigham Young University and a M.S. Degree in Library Science from the University of Missouri – Columbia.  She is a Charter member of MoSGA and was awarded an Honorary Life Membership by the St. Louis Genealogical Society.  She is a retired Branch Manager, St. Louis County Library.  June currently serves on the MoSGA Board of Directors as the Recording Secretary.  She is a Member of the Local Planning Committee for the 2011 Czechoslovak Genealogical Society International Conference to be held in St. Louis.

Ruth Ann (Abels) Hager is a Reference Specialist in St. Louis County Library's Special Collections Department where she works extensively with the Julius K. Hunter & Friends African American Research Collection. Prior to joining the library staff, she conducted genealogical research for clients, taught genealogy classes at St. Louis Community College, and served as co-webmaster for the St. Louis Genealogical Society's web site. Ruth Ann has lectured at national, state and local conferences, and has been on the IGHR faculty since 2005. She authored Dred & Harriet Scott: Their Family Story (2010), The Schieber Family History (1986), and The Hager Family (1983); edited A Schieber Research Journal (1991) and Jefferson Township Cemeteries, Nodaway County, Missouri (1988); co-authored the National Genealogical Society Quarterly article "Slaves, Soldiers, and Citizens: Special Civil War Recruitment Lists" (June 2003); and authored a number of articles for the St. Louis Genealogical Society Quarterly and other genealogical periodicals. Her educational background includes a BA in history from Benedictine College, Atchison, Kansas; Master of Arts in Teaching from Webster University, St. Louis, Missouri; Institute of Genealogy and Historical Research (2004-2008); National Institute on Genealogical Research (1999); and Genealogical Institute of Mid-America (1994). Ruth Ann is a member of the Association of Professional Genealogists, the National Genealogical Society, Missouri State Genealogical Association, and is a Life Member of the St. Louis Genealogical Society.

Patricia Luebbert is the senior archivist at the Missouri State Archives in Jefferson City, where she supervises the reference area. She is a frequent speaker on genealogical topics throughout the state.

Suzanne Vinduska has been a Research Assistant at Midwest Genealogy Center of Mid-Continent Public Library for over 5 years. She teaches the Irish-American part of the class, Ireland Here and There. Suzanne is researching the Dwyer, Flaherty and Tighe families, all of whom settled in the St. Louis area. She herself is a native of St. Louis. In her class, Suzanne emphasizes how important it is to know all of the “here” information on this side of the “pond.” That local information with supply you with many answers and may help you locate your ancestors in Ireland.

Maria Forsha has been with the Mid-Continent Public Library system since November, 2004 at the Genealogy Branch, (now the Midwest Genealogy Center) in Independence, Missouri. She has been a Librarian Assistant since August, 2005. She is a native of Dublin, Ireland. Maria is the “Ireland There” half of the Ireland, Here and There team. The team dispenses advice, ideas, current Irish genealogy news and of course, some "blarney" to help with the search for your Irish ancestors. With a love of Irish history and family history, Maria has researched her ancestors for many years, finding numerous surprises along the way - on both sides of the ocean. Her ancestor's counties in Ireland include: Dublin, Kildare, Wicklow and Wexford.