A Gift That Money Can't Buy

Give your Family A Gift That Money Can't Buy/
Record & Preserve Your Family's History!

This program encourages everyone, especially senior citizens to preserve their family's history. It gives examples including how some people dealt with situations that they didn't care to discuss. It covers: Documenting the basic facts; Identifying those important documents that your future descendants will appreciate; Showing the importance of family photographs and telling how to properly identify everyone; and then Preserving it all for future generations to enjoy. The final step is to record and preserve the stories that make your family "Your Family!" It uses examples to show the importance of certain events to a family and how the description of a single event can give great insight into a particular person.

"Don't wait for the young wipper-snappers to come and ask for the information"

• • One hour program that encourages everyone, especially senior citizens to preserve their family's history. It gives examples including how some people dealt with situations that they didn't care to discuss. It covers: Documenting the basic facts; Identifying those important documents that your future descendants will appreciate; Showing the importance of family photographs and telling how to properly identify everyone; and then Preserving it all for future generations to enjoy. The final step is to record and preserve the stories that make your family "Your Family!" It uses examples to show the importance of certain events to a family and how the description of a single event can give great insight into a particular person.

Audio of the March 22, 2010 program of "A Gift That Money Can't Buy"

• • Half Hour Dinner or Lunch program: An overview that uses a wide variety home sources to show how some people dealt with situations that they didn't care to discuss. A number of interesting and humorous family vacation stories are usedto show the importance of certain events to a family and how the description of a single event can give great insight into a particular person.

• • These programs can be directed to or used by a variety of audiences:

    • Seniors & Baby Boomers: Lecture and/or booklet

    • Genealogy Society Banquet

    • Students: Teacher Guide and booklets

    • Hospice: Caregiver or volunteer can help record information.

    • Funeral Home Preplanning: Shows Good Will and a Focus on life while helping to gather the necessary information.

Download Family Group Sheets, Ancestor Charts, List of Home Sources at Download Forms 

Past Programs:

14 September 2019 - Indian Trails Public Library District - Meeting
Wheeling, IL

21 May 2017 - Schaumburg Township District Library - Special Program with Online Family Tree
Schaumburg, IL

17 November 2015 - Addison Public Library

Addison, IL

8 May 2015 - Reaching Forward Conference

Rosemont, IL

 7 October 2014 - Watseka Public Library - program

Watseka, IL

21 August 2014 - Seneca Public Library - program

Seneca, IL

3 May 2014 - Winnebago & Boone Counties Genealogical Society - Meeting

Rockford, IL

3 February 2014 - Lakewood Ranch Genealogy Club - Meeting

Lakewood Ranch, FL

23 April 2012 - Town & Country Public Library

Elburn, IL

12 April 2012 - Chillicothe Public Library

Chillicothe, IL - Sponsored by the Illinois Humanities Council

24 March 2012 - Harvard Diggins Library

Harvard, IL - Sponsored by the Illinois Humanities Council 

21 March 2012 - Naperville Women's Club

Naperville, IL

13 March 2012 - Benedictine University - Center for Lifelong Learning

        Naperville, IL

21 February 2012 - Moline Public Library

Moline, IL - Sponsored by the Illinois Humanities Council 

17 November 2011 - Friends of the Olney Public Library

Olney, IL - Sponsored by the Illinois Humanities Council

19 October 2011 - The Women's Literary Society of La Porte

La Porte, IN

4 June 2011 - Kankakee Public Library

Kankakee, IL- Sponsored by the Illinois Humanities Council

18 April 2011 - McDonough County Genealogical Society

Macomb, IL - Sponsored by the Illinois Humanities Council

12 April 2011 - AAUW - Naperville 

Naperville, IL - Sponsored by the Illinois Humanities Council

11 April 2011 - Wauconda Area Public Library District

Wauconda, IL

24 March 2011 - Graves-Hume Public Library

Mendota, IL - Sponsored by the Illinois Humanities Council

22 January 2011 - Geneseo Public Library District

Geneseo, IL - Sponsored by the Illinois Humanities Council

20 January 2011 - West Chicago Public Library

West Chicago, IL - Sponsored by the Illinois Humanities Council

7 October 2010 - Eli Skinner Chapter, NSDAR

Palatine, IL - Sponsored by the Illinois Humanities Council

18 September 2010 - Fulton County Historical and Genealogical Society

Cuba, IL - Sponsored by the Illinois Humanities Council

20 May 2010 - Elmhurst Historical Museum

Elmhurst, IL - Sponsored by the Illinois Humanities Council

15 May 2010 - CAGG-NI Computer Assisted Genealogy Group - Northern ILL

Schaumburg, IL

17 April 2010 - Peotone Public Library District

Peotone, IL - Sponsored by the Illinois Humanities Council

22 March 2010 - Lansing Historical Society

Lansing, IL - Sponsored by the Illinois Humanities Council

16 March 2010 - Rock Falls Public Library

Rock Falls, IL - Sponsored by the Illinois Humanities Council

1 December 2009 - Rotary Club - Christmas Party & program that was open to the public

Fairbury, IL - Sponsored by the Illinois Humanities Council

17 November 2009 - Woodstock Public Library

Woodstock, IL - Sponsored by the Illinois Humanities Council

16 November 2009 - OfficeMax Corporate Headquarters - Lunch & Learn

Naperville, IL

24 October 2009 - Prairie Creek Public Library District

Dwight, IL

15 October 2009 - DuPage Historical Museum

Wheaton, IL

4 September 2009 - Hinsdale Rotary Club - Luncheon

Hinsdale, IL

22 August 2009 - Tippecanoe County Area Genealogical Society - Workshop

Lafayette, IN

27 June 2009 - Lockport Area Genealogical and Historical Society - Annual Dinner

Romeoville, IL

16 April 2009 - Vernon Area Public Library

Lincolnshire, IL

8 April 2009 - Lemont Public Library District

Lemont, IL

27 March 2009 - Milwaukee County Genealogical Society

Milwaukee, WI

11 March 2009 - Odell Public Library District

Odell, IL - Sponsored by the Illinois Humanities Council

3 March 2009 - Ella Johnson Memorial Public Library District

Hampshire, IL - Sponsored by the Illinois Humanities Council

19 February 2009 - Centuries and Sleuths Bookstore - Mini-program & Book Signing

Forest Park, IL

12 January 2009 - Hinkley Historical Society

Hinkley, IL - Sponsored by the Illinois Humanities Council

6 December 2008 - Lake Villa District Library

Lake Villa, IL

7 October 2008 - Roselle Public Library

Roselle, IL

12 May 2008 - The Chicago Tax Club

Rolling Meadows, IL

8 March 2008 - DuPage County History Museum

Wheaton, IL

30 August 2007 - Mather Lifeways - Central Cafe

Chicago, IL

14 April 2007 - West Chicago City Museum

West Chicago, IL

12 April 2007 - Villa Park Noon Lions Club

Villa Park, IL

15 January 2007 - DAR - Perrin Wheaton Chapter

Wheaton, IL

9 November 2006 - Wheaton Newcomers Club

Wheaton, IL

29 April 2006 - Elk Grove Historical Society 30th Anniversary Luncheon

Elk Grove Village, IL

21 April 2006 - Wisconsin State Genealogical Society - Gene-A-Rama - Dinner

Stevens Point, WI

5 April 2006 - College of DuPage - Older Adult Institute

Glen Ellyn, IL

4 February 2006 - Gary/Winfield United Methodist Church - men's club

Winfield United Methodist Church, Winfield, IL

9 September 2005 - St. Pauls House and Health Care Center

Chicago, IL

7 Nov. 1998 - Mariners - United Methodist Church Organization

Lombard, IL

2 Apr. 1998 - Villa Park Lions Club

Villa Park, IL

9 Jan. 1998 - Good Shepard Lutheran Church Group

Naperville, IL

12 June 1997 - Lexington Commons Retirement Center

Lombard, IL

17 Oct. 1996 - Glen Ellyn Historical Society

Glen Ellyn, IL

9 Oct. 1995 - Fairview Retirement Center

Lombard, IL

June 1995 - Glenside Public Library

Glendale Heights, IL