WINNEBAGO & BOONE COUNTIES GENEALOGICAL SOCIETY
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The Winnebago & Boone Counties Genealogical Society (of Illinois) exists to:
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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. Meetings are the first Saturday of the month at 1:30pm.
We do not have meetings in December, July and August.
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.
We do not have meetings in December, July and August.
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.
Special meeting announcement!
Saturday March 21 at 1:30pm at Rockford Public Library - East Branch, hosted by WBCGS
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Rockford's Only Monument to Women: Creating a Suffrage Centennial Sculpture During a Pandemic!
A Women’s History Month presentation: Martha Byrnes of the Rockford Women’s Suffrage Plaza Steering Committee will explain how 13 organizations joined to fundraise and create a celebration of the centennial of women’s suffrage and the ratification of the 19th US Constitutional amendment. The first-of-its-kind sculpture honoring women in Northern Illinois was designed by mosaic artist Susan Burton and pieced together by more than 200 local volunteers during COVID! Located at 200 Y Boulevard, Rockford, it was dedicated October 31, 2020. In 2021 six curved benches were added with mosaic scenes of the community and the words of the 19th Amendment. Learn why the three-sided composition features Kate F. O’Connor, Dr. Constance Goode and “future voters.” Review the workbook written for students, parents and educators, which answers questions about voting rights, national and local activists and the ladies depicted on the sculpture. Free bookmarks with QR codes will be given to attendees. No registration needed. In-person only (not available on Zoom). The link to the event on the Rockford Public Library calendar is here. |
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MARCH MEETINGSaturday, March 7, 2026 at 1:30 p.m. CST
"Using AI Responsibly to Recover and Restore Old Photos" Speaker: Bob Bertolasi Meeting Location: RPL East Branch (in-person speaker, but also available via Zoom) Zoom registration for this meeting With rapid developments in artificial intelligence, it’s more important than ever to talk about responsible use of AI in genealogy, especially when restoring or recovering historic photographs. New tools appear constantly, and while many are heavily promoted by genealogy and heritage platforms, much of that attention is driven by marketing rather than accuracy. Over the past year, ongoing discussion within the genealogy community and emerging ethics committees have highlighted the need for transparency, faithfulness, and care when using AI with historical images. Some platforms, notably Gemini, are gaining recognition for producing restorations that many genealogists consider more accurate and respectful of the original photograph. Interestingly, much of Gemini’s capability is currently available at no cost for limited daily use, raising important questions about standards, expectations, and where the performance bar should be set going forward. This seminar explores how to use AI thoughtfully and ethically, ensuring that restored images support honest genealogical research rather than unintentionally rewriting history. 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. 
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APRIL MEETINGSaturday, April 11, 2026 at 1:30 p.m. CDT
"Dark Days of Illinois History: Prohibition" Speaker: Kathi Kresol Meeting Location: RPL East Branch (in-person speaker, but also available via Zoom) Zoom registration for this meeting Explore the dark side of Illinois history with a thrilling look at Prohibition, when infamous criminals turned the state into their own playground of shootouts, heists, and hideouts. Rare photographs and little-known stories reveal the shadowy legacy of Illinois’s most notorious “businessmen.” Kathi has been researching the area's history for almost 20 years for her column in The Rock River Times, “Voices from the Grave.” She has two solo books published including, "Murder and Mayhem in Rockford, Illinois" and "Haunted Rockford, Illinois". 
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MAY MEETINGSaturday, May 2, 2026 at 1:30p.m. CDT
"ABC's of Self-Publishing" Speaker: Maureen Lang Meeting Location: RPL East Branch (in-person speaker, but also available via Zoom) Zoom registration for this meeting Learn to publish on KDP, Kindle Direct Publishing. Bring your laptop for hands on. MUST have an Amazon account to access KDP. |
ISGS Associate Member
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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 |
