2026 – Lake County Genealogical Society

June 25, 2026

News

Elizabeth Williams Gomoll will be presenting; ”Where They Once Stood: Finding Your Immigrant Ancestor’s Place of Origin.”

For many genealogists, crossing the pond to find an ancestor’s place of origin in the old country is an insurmountable brick wall. This presentation offers examples of American records that can break down that barrier. (B, I)

Liz is based in the Minneapolis/St. Paul area. Her primary research area is the Upper Midwest (Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, North and South Dakota) and Sweden, but she is highly successful at researching people, events, and places throughout the United States.

May 28, 2026

News

Kelli Jo Bergheimer will be presenting: “How to Organize and Pass On Your Family History.”

Wouldn’t you like to leave clear instructions for your family and friends on how to save your accumulated family history? You have spent thousands of hours organizing, digitizing, searching, compiling, and archiving your family story. Don’t let that effort be lost! Come to this webinar and leave with the beginnings of a preservation plan.

Kelli Jo Bergheimer is a writer, teacher, editor, and international genealogical speaker. Kelli holds a Bachelor’s Degree in biology, a Master’s in Education Curriculum and Instruction, and a Master’s in Business Management. Kelli is the Director of Curriculum and Assessments for Blue Kayak, a K-12 textbook company. She also works as the Director of Education for Your DNA Guide. Kelli runs a small business—Mess on the Desk, a genealogical organization company with a YouTube channel. Kelli is the facilitator for Genetics, Genealogy, and You, an online DNA Interest Group. Kelli is a member of the Association of Professional Genealogists and the Genealogical Speaker’s Guild member.

April 30, 2026

News

Join us for a presentation by our own Merralee Retallick on “Introduction to AI”.

This program will cover the following:

▪ What is AI? Including basic terminology and a bit about where it’s been and where it’s going

▪ Overview of common AI tools and what they are best at

▪ Common Genealogical applications of AI

▪ Tips for getting the best results with AI

▪ Resources

As a child, Merralee was fascinated by cemeteries, not the death aspect of them, but trying to figure out what stories might be behind the dates, inscriptions, and symbols on headstones. When her mom married her stepfather, she got a wonderful third grandmother who introduced her to genealogy and Merralee knew right away that it was for her. Merralee is also a self-proclaimed geek with an undergraduate degree in electrical engineering and a minor in computer science. As Artificial Intelligence became more mainstream, she became fascinated, curious, excited, and sometimes terrified by its prospects. Merralee is semi-retired, and when she isn’t working to apply AI while building a company with her two co-founders, she is trying to apply it to genealogy.

March 21, 2026 Sleeves Up

News

Sleeves-Up Genealogy In-Person Research Session

Saturday, March 21, 2026 – 1 to 4 p.m.

Morley Library Genealogy Room, Painesville, Ohio

Join members of the Lake County Genealogical Society for an open research afternoon from 1 to 4 p.m., Saturday, March 21, 2026. Whether you are just getting started tracking down your ancestors or need help tackling a research problem, the experience of Society members will be helpful. We look forward to helping you discover your family history!