Wisconsin STate Genealogical Society

Gene-A-Rama 2025

DNA and Societies

 

 Our presenters!

                                                  

                            Kelli Jo Bergheimer               Russell Horton              Rebecca Hopman              Frank Smoot                  Dr. Bill Hopkins

 

Hosted by

 

 

March 28-29, 2025
Holiday Inn Eau Claire South
4751 Owen Ayres Court, Eau Claire, WI  54701

Phone: (715) 830-9889

 

Deadlines to remember- These are “received by” dates for forms and checks mailed in or if registering online. You can still register up to or at the conference but not for meals!

•         February 27: Hotel block is released so make your hotel reservations by this time to guarantee the WSGS rate.
•       March 1: Discounted rates for early bird registrations for members and non-members
•         March 1: Vendor registrations are due.
•         March 1: If you want to have lunch with the group on Saturday, you must order your luncheon meal by this date.
•         March 1: If you want a printed syllabus, you must order it by this date. Otherwise, you will have to print/save the copy when it’s emailed out. A link to the syllabus will emailed to   attendees the week of the conference to all participants. If you order a hard copy, you will receive it at registration.

 

LOCATION AND HOTEL ACCOMMODATIONS

Click here to make a reservation at Holiday Inn South I-94- $139.95 per night plus tax.

You can make your reservations by using the link above and putting in their check in and check out dates to book a room at the group rate.  You can also call the Front Desk at (715) 830-9889. A reminder that the rooms are released on 02/27 and that they will not be able to book at the discounted rate after that date.

 

 The Schedule for the weekend!

Friday, March 28 

8:00 AMRegistration and Vendors Open 9:00 AM President’s Welcome, WSGS Annual Business Meeting 
9:30 AMKelli Bergheimer- 3 Types of DNA, 4 Challenging families, 5 DNA testing companies- help me understand!
10:30 AM- Break and view exhibits
11:00 PM Kelli Bergheimer- A Case Study: A Mystery First Cousin
12:00 PM- Lunch
1:00 PM Rebecca Hopman- Wisconsin Historical Society- "I’ve Done My DNA—Now What? Pairing DNA Results with Family History Research"
2:00 PM- Break
2:30 PM Kelli Bergheimer- Strategies to Identify Your DNA Matches
5:15 PM Cash Bar 
6:00 PM Dinner and After Speaker Frank Smoot- Chippewa Valley Historical Society- “We Are Still Here”- A Short Indigenous History of the Chippewa Valley.

Saturday, March 29 

8:00 AM Registration and Vendors Open 
9:00 AM Kelli Bergheimer- The ATGCs of DNA Analysis: Assumptions, Thinking Analytically, Guesses, and Conclusions
10:00 AM Break 
10:30 AM Russell Horton, Wisconsin Veterans Museum- Old Abe the Eagle: Eau Claire Icon
11:30 AM Lunch 
12:30 PM Kelli Bergheimer- How to Organize and Pass on Your Family History
1:30 PM Break 
2:00 PM Dr. Bill Hopkins- Mayflower Society- Mayflower 101
3:30 PM- WSGS Board Meeting

Optional meals (these are provided at cost)

Friday lunch- The Director - Mediterranean pasta salad, sliced fresh fruit and berries, shaved ham-smoked turkey-and pastrami, sliced wheat, white and sourdough bread, lettuce, tomato, and red onion, sliced Swiss, Cheddar and Provolone, spicy whole grain mustard, yellow mustard, and mayonnaise, homemade kettle chips, and Chef’s choice of soup. Assorted fresh baked cookies. Includes coffee. $28

Friday Night Banquet will be Break a Leg- Caesar salad, sliced fresh fruit and berries, grilled pork chops with cabernet demi-glace, chicken Parmigiano, vegetarian lasagna, Fococcia Bread, garlic mashed potatoes and steamed broccoli and coffee. Ice cream sundae bar for dessert! $36

Saturday Lunch Pitmasters BBQ- Sliced fresh fruit and berries, pulled pork sandwiches, BBQ grilled chicken breast, baked beans, potato salad, creamy coleslaw, and homemade kettle chips. Includes coffee and assorted dessert bars. $30

Current WSGS members may register at reduced rates.

You may become a member and pay the WSGS rate at the time of registration.

(Please note that membership in an Affiliate Society does not qualify as WSGS membership for the reduced rates.)

You can register via postal mail or online.

Please note though all mail in registrations must be postmarked by March 1st.

If you would like to register after that date, you will need to use the online registration, please do not mail your form in.

All attendees will receive an e-mail confirmation from the WSGS Office. 
Printable Registration Form

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Early Bird WSGS Member Registration For current WSGS members Early Bird pricing ends March 1

WSGS Member Rate Full 2-Day Registration $80.00 USD Virtual Full 2-Day Registration $80.00 USD Friday or Saturday Only $60.00 USD Virtual Friday or Saturday Only $60.00 USD Please indicate day of attendance for single day of GAR. N/A Friday Saturday

Early Bird Non-Member Registration If you are not a WSGS member you may become a member on this form and choose the Member Rate above Early Bird pricing ends March 1

Non-Member Rate Full 2-Day Registration $140.00 USD Virtual Full 2-Day Registratio $140.00 USD Friday or Saturday Only $90.00 USD Virtual Friday or Saturday Only $90.00 USD Please indicate day of attendance for single day of GAR. N/A Friday Saturday

Meals (Must by purchased by March 1) Friday lunch- The Director - Mediterranean pasta salad, sliced fresh fruit and berries, shaved ham-smoked turkey-and pastrami, sliced wheat, white and sourdough bread, lettuce, tomato, and red onion, sliced Swiss, Cheddar and Provolone, spicy whole grain mustard, yellow mustard, and mayonnaise, homemade kettle chips, and Chef’s choice of soup. Assorted fresh baked cookies. Includes coffee. $28 Friday Night Banquet will be Break a Leg- Caesar salad, sliced fresh fruit and berries, grilled pork chops with cabernet demi-glace, chicken Parmigiano, vegetarian lasagna, Fococcia Bread, garlic mashed potatoes and steamed broccoli and coffee. Ice cream sundae bar for dessert! $36 Saturday Lunch Pitmasters BBQ- Sliced fresh fruit and berries, pulled pork sandwiches, BBQ grilled chicken breast, baked beans, potato salad, creamy coleslaw, and homemade kettle chips. Includes coffee and assorted dessert bars. $30

Friday Lunch Friday Lunch $28.00 USD Friday Banquet Friday Banquet $36.00 USD Saturday Lunch Saturday Lunch $30.00 USD

Print Syllabus Must be ordered by March 1. If you attend virtually, it will be mailed to you, otherwise it will be available upon check in at Gene-A-Rama.

Printed Syllabus Print Syllabus $10.00 USD

WSGS Membership If you are not a WSGS member you may become a member on this form and choose the Member Rate above

WSGS Membership Individual Membership $40.00 USD 2 Year Individual Membership $80.00 USD Family Membership $50.00 USD 2 Year Family Membership $100.00 USD Youth Membership (Under 25) $15.00 USD Affiliate Membership $30.00 USD 2 Year Affiliate Membership $60.00 USD Institutional Newsletter Subscription $30.00 USD Surcharge for Print Newsletter $20.00 USD