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
June 23, 2026 – HYBRID
Key US Records for Mexican Research presented by Lisa Medina
Lisa Medina will present remotely
Presentation will be recorded and available for 2 months
Virtual attendees – Register HERE
An overview of U.S. records from the 19th and 20th century that contain information about Mexican immigrants, as well as tips for finding clues for tracing them to their origins in Mexico.
Lisa Medina is an enthusiastic and experienced lecturer who brings together the stories and methodologies of genealogy with the effective pedagogies of a teacher in her presentations. She has experience researching in several U.S. states, as well as the Mexican states of Jalisco, Nuevo León, Chihuahua, Sonora and Sinaloa. Lisa has attended the Salt Lake Institute of Genealogy and is a ProGen alum.
July 28, 2026 – HYBRID
Finding Records to Help Document Your Farming Ancestors presented by Lisa Gorrell
Lisa Gorrell will present remotely
Presentation will be recorded and available for 2 months
Virtual attendees – Registration available later
Up to about 1900, farming was the number one occupation. Nearly ten million Americans were engaged in some agricultural endeavor, from farmers, dairymen, florists, and gardeners to stock raisers, with the majority as farmers or farm laborers. You probably have many farmers in your family. This presentation will cover those records you already use (census, deeds, probate, tax records) but also focus on how to get the most out of them to tell your farmer’s story. The second half of the presentation will cover resources that can add context to the farming family story.
Lisa S. Gorrell is a Certified Genealogist®. She has served on the boards of several genealogical societies and is currently the recording secretary with the Contra Costa County Historical Society, where she volunteers at their archives. She enjoys giving genealogy presentations and writing about her family on two blogs: “Mam-ma’s Southern Family”http://mam-massouthernfamily.blogspot.com/ and “My Trails into the Past” http://mytrailsintothepast.blogspot.com/. She has written a three-generation family history about her husband’s Swedish ancestors.
August 25, 2026
Document Your Documents With Integrity presented by Jeanette Shiel
Jeanette Shiel will present remotely
Presentation will be recorded and available for 2 months
Virtual attendees – Registration available later
As genealogists, we collect and download documents – a lot of documents! How many times have you shared a record with someone, and you cannot tell them where or when or how you obtained that document? Through the years, our method of organizing records evolve – join us as we explore various approaches to retain your document’s integrity. [Note: this is not a program on citations.]
Jeanette Shiel is a professional genealogist with over 25 years of family history research experience. Board-certified from 2016-2026, Jeanette is a published author in NYG&B’s, The Record, and the National Genealogical Society Quarterly (NGSQ) among other local journals and publications. She is a past president of the North San Diego County Genealogical Society, serving the society for over 15 years in various board positions, and has also served the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution (NSDAR) in several capacities, including at state and national levels. Her formal education includes a degree in History with a minor in Film Studies.
September 22, 2026
Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Genealogy presented by Lynn Broderick
Lynn Broderick will present remotely
Presentation will be recorded and available for 3 months
Virtual attendees – Registration available later
As artificial intelligence continues to evolve, genealogists face new opportunities—and responsibilities—in using these tools wisely. This presentation explores how generative AI can support family history research while adhering to key principles of accuracy, disclosure, privacy, education, and compliance. Through practical examples and case studies, attendees will learn appropriate and effective ways to integrate AI into their work, balancing innovation with ethical practice.
Lynn Broderick, also known as the Single Leaf, is a professional genealogist, writer, and educator with passion for research. Lynn is a founding member of the Coalition for Responsible AI in Genealogy and helped author the widely-discussed Guiding Principles for Responsible AI in Genealogy. In addition to the vast resources available online, she currently researches at the FamilySearch Library, university libraries, and archives throughout the United States.
October 27, 2026
Tracking Down Your Eastern European Ancestors presented by Pam Vestal
Past Topics
2026
- January: Write Your Family History Quickly presented by Susie Wickman
- February: What’s New in Family Tree Maker 2024 presented by Mark Olsen
- March: Why You Should Research Collateral Lines presented by Dawn Carlile
- April: Mistakes I Have Made: Confessions of a Repentant Genealogist presented by Cheri Hudson Passey
- May: Got Mail: Using Postcards and Letter to Unlock Your Family History presented by Michelle Spencer
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