General Meetings

RGS holds meetings eight times a year on the third Tuesday of the month in addition to an annual all-day conference, Genealogy in Bloom. National and local genealogy experts present a wide variety of topics based on the interests of our members. We  meet in-person at Nazareth University Otto Shults Center and/or on Zoom depending on current circumstances.  Meetings start at 6:45pm and are usually held in September, October, November, January, February, March, May, and June. Genealogy in Bloom is held in April. See Upcoming Events for our current list of future meetings.

Our 2024 -2025 Programs

17 September – Navigating the Records From the War of 1812 and I Have a Civil War Ancestor....Now What?

15 October – Pathway of Resistance: The Erie Canal and the Underground Railroad and Waters of Change: Women and the Canal

19 November – Exploring Records of the Freedman’s Bureau

21 January – Criminal Genealogy and an introduction to the Scottish Heritage Society

18 February – Finding Scottish Ancestors and an intro to the UofR Archives

18 March – Researching in Canada and a presentation from the City of Rochester Historian

20 May – RGS Members Poster Session with Elections and State of RGS

17 June – Annual Picnic

National Presenters have included:

• Christine Cohen
• Carol Ansel    
• Jeanette Sheliga
• Karen Crowe

Member Spotlight

RGS Member Profile:  Celeste Veloski

Member Since 2018

I joined RGS in 2018 when I started to get serious about family history/genealogy and after taking the
Boston University Principles Course. With all the programs and special interest groups RGS offer, they
provided the follow up needed to continue my genealogical education. Ultimately, being able to tap
into the experience of the RGS members and being able to talk to others who share my passion for
genealogy/family history is the most important aspect of membership.