WINNEBAGO & BOONE COUNTIES GENEALOGICAL SOCIETY

The Winnebago & Boone Counties Genealogical Society (of Illinois) exists to:

• Encourage and support genealogical researchers.
• Promote the discovering and preserving of valued genealogical resources of Winnebago and Boone County, Illinois.
• Through our website, provide resources to help genealogists with an interest in Winnebago or Boone County, Illinois.
• Offer networking opportunities with others who have similar research interests.

All in-person meetings are at the Rockford Public Library - East Branch  6685 East State St, Rockford IL

UPCOMING MEETINGS

WBCGS holds monthly meetings that are open to the public.  We do not have meetings in December and July.
At each meeting, our speaker makes a presentation about a specific topic related to genealogy or a topic of local interest.

Based on the success we've had in using Zoom for our monthly meetings, we plan to continue offering Zoom meetings.  Meeting invitations will be sent to all WBCGS members with an email address prior to each meeting. Members and non-members can register for our meetings using the links below.

APRIL MEETING

Saturday, April 5, 2025 at 1:30 p.m. CDT
"AI in Genealogy"
Speaker: Bob Bertolasi
Meeting Location: RPL East Branch (in-person speaker, but also available via Zoom)
​Zoom registration for this meeting

Bob Bertolasi will present a view of various AI platforms and how they are integrating with genealogy research.  Bob will discuss the power of using AI assistance for research and recovery of artifactual data, and he will discuss the fictional/artificial influences (called Hallucinations) that are easily created when using generative AI without a significant amount of oversight.   He will review what is being done by leaders in the integration efforts to combat ingestion of non-factual details that can de-rail the efforts of others going forward .  Bob will present current ratings for various AI platforms as well as future expectations for user friendly AI tools for genealogists.

After graduating from East High School, Bob served in the U.S. Air Force until 1962, later earning a degree in General Science from Rockford College with majors in Physics, Mathematics, and Psychology. His career has spanned roles at Ingersoll Milling, Kelsey Hayes Gunite Foundry and Twin Disc, and has worked in 31 countries and logged over 1.8 million air miles. Now retired, Bob joined Rock Valley College’s Center for Learning in Retirement in 2012 and is currently an instructor, committee member and media specialist.  In addition, he enjoys a lifelong interest in photography and showcasing his customized 1950 Ford at car shows.

MAY MEETING

Saturday, May 3, 2025 at 1:30 p.m. CDT
"Researching Your Union Civil War Ancestors"
Speaker: Scott Norrick
Meeting Location: RPL East Branch (in-person speaker, but also available via Zoom)
​Zoom registration for this meeting
​​
The presentation will highlight websites and strategies for accessing additional records like headstones, state-level documents, and regimental histories.

Scott Norrick’s passion is connecting people to their past. While providing a list of names, dates and places for ancestors is a start, Scott enjoys helping others discover the stories of triumphs and tribulations that defined our ancestors’ lives. He does this by assisting clients with breaking down their genealogical brick walls and by helping them document the rich stories of their family history.
His areas of expertise include research in the American Midwest along with the immigration to the Midwest from European countries.
He has an undergraduate degree from the University of Illinois and a graduate degree from Northwestern University. With over 30 years of family history research experience, he is familiar with all the latest and time-tested genealogical tools. Through his company Ancestral Past, he welcomes the opportunity to assist others on their genealogy journey.​​

JUNE MEETING

Thursday, June 5, 2025 at 6:00 p.m. CDT
"DAR/SAR"
Speakers: Darlene Schoepski and Sharon Thomasson
Meeting Location: RPL East Branch (in-person speaker, but also available via Zoom)
​Zoom registration for this meeting
​
For those interested in learning about the history and membership process of the Daughters and Sons of the American Revolution, you can find comprehensive information here. These organizations honor the legacy of individuals who contributed to American independence, and they offer details on how to verify lineage, understand their mission, and apply for membership.  
​

ISGS Associate Member​

The Illinois State Genealogical Society (ISGS) was formed in 1968 through the cooperative effort and forward thinking of Illinois genealogical society representatives, who envisioned a statewide genealogical organization. ISGS is a not-for-profit, nonsectarian, educational organization.

Visit their website for more info
www.ilgensoc.org