SPEAKERS BUREAU
Genealogy Societies use speakers to help educate their members. These societies often contact one another to find and engage qualified speakers. The Morris Area Genealogy Society (MAGS) is pleased to offer guest speakers (who are members of MAGS) to community organizations, libraries, museums, schools and social clubs. We provide presentations on a wide variety of genealogical topics including how to do genealogical research, recording family history, and making connections through genetic genealogy (DNA). We can present at your conference, meeting or seminar.
We structure our presentations for 60-75 minutes, which includes the presentation and question and answer afterwards.
The following speakers are available.
Martha Corson is a genealogist with a lifetime of genealogical experience. She is a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints with an excellent knowledge of researching FamilySearch.org. She is an avid writer of family stories. She is actively involved in MAGS as Newsletter Editor, past president of MAGS, and past VP and Program Chair of MAGS.
Susan Kehr is a genealogist with over 18 years of experience. She grew up in the northeast Bronx in the 1950s and 1960s in a place known as the Village of Baychester before moving to New Jersey. She is the current MAGS Webmaster, a former MAGS Trustee, and a former and again current MAGS President. Susan's pre-retirement life includes many years in corporate InformationTechnology, and was a small business owner. She has researched her mother's ancestors to 1700's Italy; and her father's ancestors to 1600's Europe.
Lisa Kerr Ilowite is a research scientist who applies her scientific research skills to genealogy and has been conducting her family research for more than 25 years. Her areas of interest include Western PA, Scotland, social history, and Black Sheep ancestors. Although she has strong Western PA roots and is originally from Western PA, she has many connections to New Jersey. She is a member of Descendants of Founders of NJ; her DAR ancestor, John Emery, is from Hunterdon County; and she is a direct-line descendant of the FitzRandolph and Gaston families. Lisa is an active member of MAGS.
Susan Simon has been researching her family since the 1970s. She is a past president and presently a trustee of MAGS and moderator of both the Brick Walls SIG and the DNA SIG. She has researched her mother’s ancestors back to the 1600s in Massachusetts. Recently she found her relatives were intimately involved in the Salem Witch Trials. She had three articles published in Ohio Records and Pioneer Families, a journal of the Ohio Genealogical Society, and is a member of the First Families of Ohio.
The following is a sample of topics that may be available for presentation, and customized to fit your needs.
- Black Sheep of the Family
- Brick Walls
- Crossing The Pond
- DNA
- FamilySearch Family Tree
- FamilySearch.org Research Tips
- Family Tree Maker
- Genealogical Proof Standards and Citing Sources
- Genealogy of a Neighborhood
- Genealogy for Free
- Presenting the Evidence
- Researching the Correct Family
Remuneration
Our speakers generally request remuneration. Speakers will negotiate their terms and conditions with other organizations. MAGS will promote the contact but will be minimally involved in the transaction.
Contact
For additional information about our Speakers Bureau, topics, and speakers, you may send us an email to [email protected]. Your email will be forwarded to the appropriate member who will contact you.
Last Updated: May 15, 2023
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