March 2026 Issue 1 Vol 40

PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE

2026 MONTHLY MEETINGS Albany Regional Museum 136 Lyon St S, Albany 97321 First Saturday, monthly at 1:00 PM

Elizabeth Rapp Co-President

April 4th March 7th

September 12th October 3rd November 7th December 5th

Staring outside on a foggy morning in west Albany I’m grateful knowing there is sunshine above the fog that surrounds us. Sometimes that is the way I feel when I am concerned about membership involvement at Linn Genealogical Society. However, I look at the list of amazing individuals who volunteer with us time after time to keep our organization running. Today I want to recognize and thank David, Susan, Dulca, Mike, Edward, Gina, Christie, Cathy, Colleen, Bev, Stephanie, and Bill for the many, many hours they put in each month to keep us alive. They are the heartbeat of Linn Genealogical Society. We have been hearing a lot about AI and its place in genealogical and historical research. I admit I’ve been a little awed by the capabilities of AI, yet fearful to actually give it

May 2nd

ealogy and having some amazing successes.

Today, though, I’m sharing a word of caution from my personal experience. When you ask questions within an AI platform, review the response critically. Before you get excited about your new discovery and add it to your family tree or biographical writings, pause a moment and think about the information you have uncovered with AI. Verify it and ASK IF IT IS REAL before you believe it. continued pg 3

claire GEBBEN The Tale of Two Scotlands (Scots/Irish) February 7th at 1:00 pm

a try. So, I began educating myself to conquer my fear. I sat in on Zoom classes through German Genealogy Group, Your DNA Guide and Legacy Tree Genealogists. I listened to presentations and interviews with Lisa Louise Cook, Kristin Britanik, Diahann Southard and Sara Cochran and even watched a Thomas MacEntee’s present ation again. I’ve truly enjoyed dabbling in AI with my gen

Did your ancestors hail from the rugged Highlands, the industrial Lowlands, or the "third Scotland" of the Scots-Irish? This presentation explores the distinct cultures, histories, and languages of these three groups. Join us to discover why they left, where they settled in North America, and essential tips for tracing your Scottish genealogy.

page 2