Sally Hartman introduced Kelly McMahon who spoke about Ancestry and Genealogy. Kelly is working for Ancestry.com and is a colonial expert in the Tidewater area (west of the James River) and a William and Mary grad. She is an ancestor of Charlemagne, has a thing for bacon, and has two children in school. A senior at Maury and 6th grader at St Patrick’s.
Kelly is a Norfolk native and mentioned that ancestry research is the 2nd most popular search on the internet. She mentioned that this research produces some shocking results and some humbling. Starting with our two parents the numbers grow, so in 10 generations there are 4095 family members in your lineage. Also, Genetics don’t equal lineage. We don’t pull equal amounts of DNA from our parents.
When going back in history, land ownership was easy to trace, but those that did not own land are harder to find. Some religions are better than others in keeping records. But there is an ugly side of genealogy: Slavery starting in 1619, crimes and murder, poverty and the poor house, and the mentally impaired.
Black records are typically the first name so DNA is the best resource to find out the history. Kelly was able to find out about her grandfather whose throat was slit after he caught someone stealing bacon. The Edgewater Home for Girls (orphanage) has since closed but UVA has the records, many of the girls were mistreated and abused. Kelly found a note from her grandmother where she wanted only an umbrella and a box for pencils for Christmas.
What to do: Write down everything from your relatives. Names, dates, and places, use websites such as the Mormon Church, visit areas where ancestors were from, take a DNA test, keep an open mind, and don’t believe everything you read online. Don’t trust everything your family says, try social websites like the DAR. Kelly’s services are available, and her email is (kmcmahon@ancestry.com). We learned her red hair comes from the Vikings and not the Irish as first thought. For the most accurate DNA test get a male family sibling to take a Y-DNA test since they will not change as much as the other DNA tests.
Club Business:
John Cameron lead us in singing, Marty Raiss lead the invocation with a poem and a short prayer. We were happy to have Lorna Cochrane back with us after she was hauled off the golf course for kidney stones, but she is golfing again. Kelly Stefanko and Laurie Harrison introduced Crystal as a potential member. Michelle Nettles introduced Rebecca Wilson, who also works with Jeff Wells.
President Michael reminded us that the most important tenant in Rotary is fellowship and to stay in touch with other members, particularly those that are assigned to our tables but are not present.
President Michael is looking for people interested in going to England to visit our sister city with District 7600 to Norwich. Trip dates are 21-30 January 2022.
Marilyn Gowen was presented a Paul Harris plus 5 by Sigur Whitaker and when asked why, Marilyn responded by saying, she remembered seeing an old iron lung machine in the basement of a hospital and how they were used by children suffering from polio.
Sigur also reminded us that the club will match the first $500 donation to Norfolk Charities toward the First Paull Harris award.
A large number of club members participated in the district conference in Richmond over the past weekend. Many great motivational speakers including the keynote speaker General Manager of the Richmond Flying Squirrels, who was a personal friend of Dave Duncan. Also, Laurie Harrison and President Michael were seen as a married couple and many people commented on the fact at the conference….and yes Laurie did barely survive Michael’s fast aggressive driving (normal for the Northeast U.S.) to the event.
Dalton Dunbar won the $15 in the raffle pot.
Happy Bucks and Fines:
· Konner Pritchard was seen at another lunch last week instead of the Rotary meeting and was without his Rotary pin.
· Dr. Jones paid a fine for the educational op-ed he wrote about the educational process.
· Barb Lipskis paid a fine for asking Lorna which was worse childbirth or Kidney stones.
· Susan Donn donated some money for her comments to the city manager last week about getting a grocery store downtown.
· Marty Raiss was happy to pay some happy bucks for her trip to Egypt and the tattoo near her ankle.
· Dave Duncan had to pay happy bucks as the last task to lose his red badge and get a blue badge.
· Lynnwood Beckner was proud of Reilly for being recognized as Student of the Month.
· Sharon Laderberg was happy her dad was out of the hospital and back in his apartment.
· Julie Keesling was glad to be back attending our luncheons.
· Bill Moore was happy to be able to vote early.
· Lorna explained when she joined the club she knew no one, but with her kidney stones, she saw lots of Rotary friends visit her.