Learn Family Tree Maker (FTM): Genealogy Program
for Windows and Mac

ZOOM-only & FREE for everyone

Join the FTM Interest Group, facilitated by Sue Dolezal, to learn about using the features of FTM in the most effective ways, and discover the additions and improvements in FTM version 2024.   

While the group will use the free, online FTM Companion Guide as a study guide for the sessions, your comments, questions, and tips will make the interest group a lively workshop experience for everyone.

Click here to  view the FTM webpage in the Events section of the BGS website. The plan right now is for the group to meet every other month through May.

The Zoom meeting will be open at 5:45 PM for extra chatting time before the official start at 6 PM. Join early, if you are available.

Registration is required to receive the link to join the Zoom meeting.

10 AM (Pacific Time) on Wednesday, March18th, 2026  Hybrid- Zoom or in person at Williamson Hall.  (you are encouraged to come in person).  

Join our GERMAN Interest Group meeting:  The Bend Genealogical Society’s German Interest Group is meeting again in 2026.

The group focus is researching German ancestors in Europe and the US. The group welcomes anyone with an interest in Germanic Ancestors, including those in current German borders, Swiss, Bohemia, Moravia, Austria, Poland, Hungry and Russia.

Three meetings are planned for 2026: Feb 18th, Mar 18th, & Apr 15th.    The group will be led by BGS member Jim Kleinschmidt.

The 2nd meeting topic:   A Tale of Two Emigrations-This is a personal story of the group coordinator’s (Jim Kleinschmidt) maternal family history (Langer). This story traces their first  emigration from Franconia to Northeast Bohemia (Czechia) and their subsequent emigration to the United States (in particular, Wisconsin and Minnesota). The presentation will include not only the history, but sources, websites, references, and techniques used to construct this history and that you might also use to track your family's emigration.

We hope you'll join us
for Coffee & Cousins,
a monthly morning of

genealogy & conversation!

Experienced & Independent

Researchers Welcome! 

Ancestor Short
Story Workshop

Bring your ancestor’s story to life!

USING PHOTOS & GRAPHICS

Learn How to Use Photos & Graphics in Your Short Story.   

In this workshop, you’ll learn easy ways to add photos and visual elements to your story using Word, Pages, or Google Docs. We’ll practice inserting and formatting images, choosing the right file types, writing captions, and creating clean, readable layouts. Bring a digital photo to try it yourself. 

BONUS!
We'll walk through Ancestry's & My Heritage's
New AI Photo Tools! 

WHO SHOULD ATTEND?
This workshop is for anyone who uses photos or graphics in documents and wants to present them clearly and effectively. While especially helpful for those working on an ancestor short story, the focus will be on inserting, formatting, and using images in a clean, readable way.

Everyone is welcome. In Person Only

BE READY:

OPEN TO ALL WRITERS OF FAMILY HISTORY  

DETAILS

✨ Whether you’re polishing a story for publication or simply capturing family memories, this workshop is a welcoming space to explore, write, and connect.

We look forward to seeing you there!

On the 1st Saturday of the month, BGS regularly hosts a FREE, in-person Genealogy Open Lab. The Lab is dedicated genealogy research time without the distractions at home. Research on your own, or if you have questions about a research problem, the Open Lab volunteers or other participants are nearby to offer assistance.

There is not a program presentation at the Open Lab. Bring your laptop or other device to use for research; WiFi is available. Come once, or come every 1st Saturday. The BGS Library is open, too, from 10 AM to 2:00 PM.

The public is invited to the Open Lab. If you are interested in starting your family tree, come to the Lab. We can help your find you first ancestor and assist you in beginning to research your family history. 

Location: Williamson Hall, 2200 NE Hwy 20, Bend, 97701. Click here for a map to see the Hall's location. Thank you for clicking Register to RSVP, so we know to expect you.

Roads West – How Your Ancestors Got to Where They Wanted to Go

Since the first immigrants touched the shores of this continent, settlers have been on the move. Whether for adventure, religious freedom, overpopulation, or seeking a better future, people have found a way to move; south, north but mostly west. In this presentation, we will explore the methods they used, including roads, rivers, canals, and rails, the reasons for moving, and the records created along the way. 

Meet Jamie Lee McManus Mayhew, whose adventure into the annals of history began as a teenager in the cozy corners of her living room, with her mother as her first mentor. Together, they navigated the labyrinth of census records and pored over ancient tomes, revealing secrets from the past.
Fast forward five decades, and Jamie's childhood curiosity has blossomed into a lifelong quest. In 2010, she founded California Cousins. In her role there, Jamie applies her extensive expertise to uncover family histories and piece together narratives once lost in the shadows of time. Her work transcends the traditional scope of genealogy; it's about connecting the dots of the past, bringing to light the stories and legacies that shape families, one discovery at a time.

10 AM (Pacific Time) on Wednesday, April15th, 2026  Hybrid- Zoom or in person at Williamson Hall.  (you are encouraged to come in person).  

Join our GERMAN Interest Group meeting:  The Bend Genealogical Society’s German Interest Group is meeting again in 2026.

The group focus is researching German ancestors in Europe and the US. The group welcomes anyone with an interest in Germanic Ancestors, including those in current German borders, Swiss, Bohemia, Moravia, Austria, Poland, Hungry and Russia.

Three meetings are planned for 2026: Feb 18th, Mar 18th, & Apr 15th.    The group will be led by BGS member Jim Kleinschmidt.

The 3rd meeting topic:   The Fate of Those Who Remained in Europe (1914-Present) This presentation will focus on the fate of emigrant families’ relatives who remained in Europe during and after World War I. Most emigration stopped prior toWorld War I. This presentation will focus on the coodinator’s (Jim Kleinschmidt) specific relatives experiences as well as the overall general experiences of Germanic people remaining through Europe.

We hope you'll join us
for Coffee & Cousins,
a monthly morning of

genealogy & conversation!

Experienced & Independent

Researchers Welcome! 

On the 1st Saturday of the month, BGS regularly hosts a FREE, in-person Genealogy Open Lab. The Lab is dedicated genealogy research time without the distractions at home. Research on your own, or if you have questions about a research problem, the Open Lab volunteers or other participants are nearby to offer assistance.

There is not a program presentation at the Open Lab. Bring your laptop or other device to use for research; WiFi is available. Come once, or come every 1st Saturday. The BGS Library is open, too, from 10 AM to 2:00 PM.

The public is invited to the Open Lab. If you are interested in starting your family tree, come to the Lab. We can help your find you first ancestor and assist you in beginning to research your family history. 

Location: Williamson Hall, 2200 NE Hwy 20, Bend, 97701. Click here for a map to see the Hall's location. Thank you for clicking Register to RSVP, so we know to expect you.

10 AM (Pacific Time) on Tuesday, May 12, 2026, Hybrid - Zoom or In-Person at Williams Hall.   

We hope you'll join us
for Coffee & Cousins,
a morning of

genealogy & conversation!

Experienced & Independent

Researchers Welcome! 

Learn Family Tree Maker (FTM): Genealogy Program
for Windows and Mac

ZOOM-only & FREE for everyone

Join the FTM Interest Group, facilitated by Sue Dolezal, to learn about using the features of FTM in the most effective ways, and discover the additions and improvements in FTM version 2024.   

While the group will use the free, online FTM Companion Guide as a study guide for the sessions, your comments, questions, and tips will make the interest group a lively workshop experience for everyone.

Click here to  view the FTM webpage in the Events section of the BGS website. The plan right now is for the group to meet every other month through May.

The Zoom meeting will be open at 5:45 PM for extra chatting time before the official start at 6 PM. Join early, if you are available.

Registration is required to receive the link to join the Zoom meeting.

On the 1st Saturday of the month, BGS regularly hosts a FREE, in-person Genealogy Open Lab. The Lab is dedicated genealogy research time without the distractions at home. Research on your own, or if you have questions about a research problem, the Open Lab volunteers or other participants are nearby to offer assistance.

There is not a program presentation at the Open Lab. Bring your laptop or other device to use for research; WiFi is available. Come once, or come every 1st Saturday. The BGS Library is open, too, from 10 AM to 2:00 PM.

The public is invited to the Open Lab. If you are interested in starting your family tree, come to the Lab. We can help your find you first ancestor and assist you in beginning to research your family history. 

Location: Williamson Hall, 2200 NE Hwy 20, Bend, 97701. Click here for a map to see the Hall's location. Thank you for clicking Register to RSVP, so we know to expect you.

Experienced & Independent

Researchers Welcome!