Michigan: Writing family history, Feb. 17

What will you do with all your family research?
What do you say when relatives ask when your book is coming out?

Although genealogists are very good at conducting research and collecting facts, most of us delay publishing the results. I tend to reply that things keep changing so frequently that a book on either of my two families of interest is years off in the future.

However, I certainly admire and commend those who are serious about writing their family histories. If you're thinking about the possibilities and live in Michigan, this program may help you proceed with your project.

Professional genealogist, researcher and instructor Mike Karsen of Chicago will present "Write Your Family History Now," at 12.30pm Sunday, February 17, at the Holocaust Memorial Center in Farmington Hills.

He'll show participants how to publish findings in books varying from 30 pages to those with detailed biographies and historical context. The goal is to organize your findings and share them with your family as soon as possible.

Karsen has published four family histories and authored the Guide to Jewish Genealogy in Chicagoland. He's the president of the Jewish Genealogical Society of Illinois, a co-host of the 28th IAJGS International Conference on Jewish Genealogy, and has presented at state, national and international conferences. He's on the Newberry Library and Spertus Institute of Jewish Studies faculties and is a member of the Association of Professional Genealogists, the Genealogical Speakers Guild and the National Genealogical Society.

Members, free; others, $5. For directions and more details, click here.