NSDCGS Program Meeting feature speakers with expertise on various issues relating to Genealogy.
- 4th Tuesday of the month (except December)
- In-person: City of Carlsbad Faraday Administration Building in Room 173B
- Doors open at 9:30 a.m.
- Virtual via Zoom: Registration link below
- Presentation: 10:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
- All meetings will be hybrid (in-person and virtual)
- Presentation recordings are available to current NSDCGS members
Upcoming Speakers and Topics
November 25, 2025 – HYBRID
Researching Newspapers Outside of Newspapers.com presented by Amber Oldenburg
Amber Oldenburg will present remotely
Presentation will be recorded and available for 1 month
Virtual attendees – Register HERE
The availability of digitized newspapers continues to grow each day and now researchers can find thousands of newspapers on sites outside of websites like Newspapers.com. This presentation will explore the numerous sites and archives that make newspapers easily accessible for little to no cost. This presentation will showcase sites that make newspapers available to researchers for free or very little cost, such as Advantage Archives and Chronicling America, as well as the resources for newspaper research available at local FamilySearch Centers and archives. Attendees will walk away armed with a wide array of resources to begin tracing their family history in newspapers.
Amber Oldenburg is a genealogist, lecturer, and social media manager with a degree in Family History Research from Brigham Young University-Idaho. She currently serves as an online instructor in the Family History Research program at BYU-Idaho. She specializes in United States Midwest research and is currently working toward professional accreditation with the International Commission for the Accreditation of Professional Genealogists in the Great Lakes region. When she is not working on family history, Amber can be found traveling the county with her family, exploring archives and cemeteries, or reading a historical monograph.
January 27, 2026 – HYBRID
Write Your Family History Quickly presented by Susie Wickman
Susie Wickman will present remotely
Presentation will be recorded and available for 2 months
Virtual attendees – Registration available later
Want to write your family history but don’t know where to start? This fun, fast-paced class will introduce several creative and practical ways to turn your research into meaningful stories—without getting stuck or
overwhelmed. You’ll learn about tools that help you write faster, organize your ideas, and even get a little help from technology. Whether you’re a scrapbooker, a software fan, or someone who just wants to “finally get it done,” there’s a method here for you. Come discover which one makes writing your history feel possible—and even enjoyable.
Susie has a BSBA from University of North Dakota and an MA from American Military University in Emergency and Disaster Management. She is a published children’s book author and has been teaching genealogy classes since 2017. Susie began her interest in genealogy when she received a box of family photos after her parents died in 2002. She is passionate about genealogy and enjoys sharing her knowledge of ways to write and map family history.
February 24, 2026 – HYBRID
What’s New in Family Tree Maker 2024 presented by Mark Olsen
Mark Olsen will present remotely
Presentation will not be recorded
Virtual attendees – Registration available later
Join us for a live discussion and Q and A session to answer all your questions about Family Tree Maker 2024, updates, features, and more. This is an interactive session for both virtual Zoom attendees and attendees who come in person to the City of Carlsbad, Faraday Center, Room 173 at 1635 Faraday Avenue, Carlsbad. We would love to see you and discuss all your Family Tree Maker 2024 questions. We have tables and Wi-Fi at the in-person location so you can bring your laptops.
Mark Olsen is the Family Tree Maker Ambassador to historical and genealogical societies around the world working to support their members as they use Family Tree Maker. Mark is a graduate of Brigham Young University and holds a bachelor’s degree in Family History with a Spanish records emphasis. He has been working in the genealogy industry since 2007 and has been the Family Tree Maker Ambassador since 2016.
March 24, 2026
Why You Should Research Collateral Lines presented by Dawn Carlile
Past Topics
2025
- January: 8 Tips for Using AI as Your Genealogy Assistant presented by Dana Leeds
- February: Railroad Record and Railroad History: Methods for Tracking presented by Paula Stuart-Warren
- March: The Value of Using Maps presented by Suzanne Young Brayer
- April: Do Yourself A Favor: Create A Locality Guide presented by Lisa Medina
- May: Using Tax Records in Your Family History Research presented by Melanie McComb
- June: Unraveling Family History with AI: Leveraging AI to Trace an Ancestor’s Journey with ChatGPT presented by Diane Henriks
- July: Creating Your Ancestor’s Resume presented by Karen Molohon
- August: Internet Archive For The Family Historian presented by Tina Beaird
- September: Solving Your Picture (Photo) Problems presented by Allyson Maughan
- October: The Salem Witchcraft Hysteria presented by John Putnam
2024
- January: Research a Veteran presented by Jennifer Holik
- February: The Greatest Generation presented by Jennifer Holik
- March: Heritage Tours: How to Plan Your Own Ancestry Travel presented by Erica Forrest
- April: Learn from Lineage Societies … without Being a Member! presented by Elizabeth Swanay O’Neal
- May: Stories among the Headstones: Researching in the Cemetery presented by Cheri Hudson Passey
- June: The Family History Research “Circle”: The Internet, FamilySearch Centers, Social Networks, Libraries and On-Site Research presented by Maureen Brady
- July: Locating Images of Ancestors: Putting A Face With A Name presented by Andy Likins
- August: Let’s Get Social With Genealogy And Social Media presented by Amber Oldenburg
- September: Not Who He Once Was: Tips For Finding Your Name Changing Ancestors presented by Mary Kircher Roddy
- October: American Warp, Jewish Weft: Weaving Jewish-Specific Sources With Traditional Genealogy presented by Jane Neff Rollins
- November: Getting the Most From Distant Relatives presented by Ed Storey