For the past 3 years or so, I've been offering classes in genealogy research in a variety of venues. Usually, I set up 4 or 5 one hour sessions spread out over 4 or 5 weeks. It works very well and I've been invited back to all who have had me.
I was thinking about this year's first fund raiser for out church. As a matter of fact, that's how I got into conducting these sessions. I was with my wife at a church meeting where the discussion centered around funding. Towards the end of the meeting I asked my wife if she thought that I could conduct some classes for a small fee, most of which we could contribute and turn it into a genealogical fund raiser. Although I'm not an official "member" of this congregation, I attend regularly with my wife and I'm no stranger in the relatively small church community there.
It sounded like a good idea to the committee so I began putting together a power point presentation that broke down the basics and advertised it for what it was, namely, a fund raiser. That first year, I held 3 separate events. Each time there were approximately 14 or so attendees. The program got better as time went on as I added certain elements and removed others.
So now, what can I come up with this year that could be unique? The answer came from Nancy, the office manager at the church. She happened to mention to my wife that she would love to take the class but she couldn't find the time to attend evenings when I had usually scheduled past events. She mentioned that there were probably lots of others with a similar problem. She said that she's like to see a one day, 4 or 5 hour, get-it-done-in-one-shot event. She said that she'd even provide lunch! Free lunch? I'm in!!!
Now I'm in the middle of consolidating about 150 slides in a variety of presentations to make this happen. In case you'd like
[caption id="attachment_3204" align="alignright" width="103"]
First Church in Ludlow, Ludlow, Mass. Est 1774[/caption]
to attend, we're going to be getting started at 10 AM on May 31, 2014 in the "Parlor" at First Church in Ludlow. Why is it called "First Church in Ludlow"? I was hoping you'd ask! It's because it was the first congregation established in the soon to be established Town of Ludlow, Massachusetts. They were both incorporated in 1774. On top of that, I discovered that my own 4th cousin 6 times removed was the first minister! Talk about coincidences. Pelatiah Chapin and I are common descendants of
Deacon Samuel Chapin, one of the original settlers of
Springfield, Massachusetts in the early 1640's.
In the past several weeks, I've "met" many cousins who also descend from Samuel who live all over the country. The Deacon is the ancestor of many famous people including
Harry Chapin,
President Taft, Marion Mitchell Morrison and others. Oh, Marion changed his name as he was starting his career in Hollywood. He became John Wayne....Good thing he changed it! Anyway, here's the statue that another of Samuel's descendants,
Chester Chapin, had erected in 1898.
[caption id="attachment_3206" align="aligncenter" width="300"]
Deacon Samuel Chapin[/caption]
The full sized statue sits on a pedestal with his name and dates. Of course, it's a representation of what Deacon Chapin may have looked like. Many people believe the face was modeled after another infamous Springfield resident,
John Brown. And yes, "THE" John Brown of radical abolitionist fame.
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Daguerreotype of John Brown (Photo credit: Wikipedia)[/caption]
OK....sorry for the diversion. I'm hoping that revamping 4 or 5 sessions into this new "workshop" is successful. It seems that more people may be willing to participate for a number of reasons: 1) All in one day, Saturday; 2) Workshop atmosphere; 3) The successes of previous classes; 4) It's happening before "vacation" season and, most importantly 5) Free lunch! (I hope she makes egg salad with chopped olive sandwiches...)
