MCGG's 2025 Fall Genealogy Season Starts in September -- Join Us!

A reminder about our Macomb County Genealogy Group September 2025 meetings.

MCGG Friday group meets in-person (hybrid) on Friday, September 5, 2025, at 1 p.m.
in the Board Room of the Mount Clemens Public Library. Our topic is ... What is Going On? presented by Lisa Eschenburg and Robert McGarry.

Eschenburg & McGarry will cover a variety news and changes in the of genealogy community and tangent/related communities. Some of the topics covered are Microsoft Windows news to be aware of before it is too late, DNA testing news, genealogy software news, and of course other things you should be know.

MCGG Let's Talk...Genealogy discussion group meets in-person (hybrid) Wednesday, September 10, 2025, at 6:30 p.m. in the Local History & Genealogy Room of the Mount Clemens Public Library. Our topic is ... Where Do I Go From Here?

Bring research questions, brick walls, or new finds to share with the group! Let's share our challenges, maybe someone will have an idea to solve them.

Why is this our most popular discussion topic? Because it is your opportunity to get your questions or problems hopefully answered. But not just from one point of view but often several. And, when you have a new genealogy find you have like-minded genealogists who understand that satisfaction when maybe family members do not

Our plan is that our meetings will be hybrid meaning the meeting will be in-person with a virtual Zoom option. The Zoom meeting link (or registration link) will now be found on our Southeast Michigan Genealogy Events Calendar and our Facebook page. The link will usually be added the night before or morning of the meeting. Members will receive a reminder email with the Zoom invite or a reminder that registration is required for a meeting.

New attendees are always welcome.

See you at our favorite library!
LE

 

MyHeritageDNA Stopped Accepting DNA Data Uploads/Transfers for Security

We've just recently heard some unfortunate news. MyHeritageDNA is no longer accepted DNA Data Uploads. This means you can no longer test at another genealogy DNA testing company (like Ancestry, FamilyTreeDNA or 23andMe) and transfer/upload that data to MyHeritageDNA database. Any previously made DNA data transfers/uploads are not negatively effected -- meaning all if fine for those previous uploads.

Though a specific date has not been found for this policy change, it appears to have occurred sometime in the May/June time frame. The most complete and most timely reporting was at and by The DNA Geek.

So in order to get into the MyHeritageDNA database you now must test directly with MyHeritageDNA. Fortunately, MyHeritageDNA has many sales throughout the year and some of the best prices. While AncestryDNA's DNA database is primarily US based, MyHeritageDNA's database has a large European base which helps when looking for European ancestors.

Rather than for monetary reasons, it appears this change was made as a security measure to prevent unauthorized uploads from law enforcement agencies and other non-consumer sources.

MyHeritage has a robust privacy policy. It has stated and states: 

"MYHERITAGE HAS NEVER SOLD OR LICENSED GENETIC DATA OR HEALTH DATA, AND WILL NEVER DO SO IN THE FUTURE.

MyHeritage will never provide data to insurance companies under any circumstances. MyHeritage prohibits law enforcement use of its DNA Services."

In the last several years it appears some of these parties have on occasion slipped into the DNA database against the MyHeritage Privacy Policy. So because they couldn't follow the RULES the service is being discontinued.

See you at our favorite library!
LE 

PGSM 47th Annual Genealogy Seminar Registration Now Open; Closes Oct. 5 for Postal Mail Or Oct. 8 for Online

Registration is now open for the Polish Genealogical Society of Michigan's 47th Annual Genealogy Seminar on Saturday, October 18, 2024, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m Eastern Time. See the PGSM website to register or download the registration form.

Speaker Dr. Anna Muller will present “The People of Hamtramck: Reflections on Belonging, Agency, and Being Polish American.” Speaker Nancy Loe, M.A., MLS will present “Researching Ancestral Locations in Prussian Genealogy Records” and “Finding Prussian Ancestors in Online Archives.” And, Dr. John Radzilowski will present “Fr. Leopold Moczygemba and Fr. Jozef Dabrowski: Pioneers in Polish American Education.”

Available as a virtual meeting (zoom) for $20.00, or as in-person for $45.00 with continental breakfast and Polish lunch at a new location:
Polish Institute of Culture & Research, 3535 Commerce Rd., Orchard Lake Village, Michigan. In-person seating is limited so register early.

In-person registration on event day is from 9:00 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. The seminar runs from 9:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. There is an optional In-Person Walking Tour 3:15 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. (All times U.S. Eastern Time.)

Visit pgsm.org to register and pay by credit or debit card. Online registration closes October 8.

To register and pay by check, fill out the form at the PGSM website and mail it with your payment to: PGSM, P.O. Box 85987, Westland, MI 48185-6087. Registrations paid by check must be postmarked by October 5.

For more information about PGSM or the seminar, visit the pgsm.org website.

It looks like another interesting seminar on Polish research.

See you at our favorite library!
LE

MyHeritage August Cyber Sale: $29 DNA Tests -- The Lowest Price Returns

MyHeritage is running an August Cyber DNA Sale. MyHeritageDNA (autosomal) tests now regularly $89 each are on sale for the returning lowest price ever just $29 each (plus taxes and shipping.) Orders of two or more DNA kits receive free shipping. This sale ends in two days per the ad on the website which means about August 10th. We don't see a specific time listed, we are guessing the usual 11:59 p.m.

There are two options for this sale. Just the MyHeritage DNA kit where you pay shipping unless you buy two or more kits. Or the MyHeritage DNA kit and a 30-day Complete free trial* of the MyHeritage website subscription and free shipping even if you order only one test kit.

The trial subscription will auto-renew unless you cancel it before the renewal date. Here are the * details: *After 30 days, you'll enjoy a 50% discount and be charged $299 $149 for the first year. The Complete subscription renews annually. You can cancel anytime. So, you get a 50 percent discount the first year of renewal but additional renewals will be charged at the current regular price.

 

MyHeritageDNA is becoming a "must be at" for its DNA tools. Its customer base is more international. MyHeritage has chromosome browser feature and made its internal member messaging feature free. It also offers an ethnicity/admixture report and a list of DNA matches. No data subscription is needed to see/use all the DNA matching features including its AutoCluster feature. A few additional features were added last year -- like an update to its ethnicity estimates and genetic groups including viewing the genetic groups of your match and seeing what you have in common.

 

As a reminder, MyHeritageDNA also sells its test kits on Amazon.com and often at sale prices when it is having a sale. However, for this sale the MyHeritageDNA test on Amazon it is NOT at the same sale price rather it is $49. If you do find a sale as good as from the website at some point in the future, make sure the seller shown is MyHeritage fulfilled by Amazon and not sold by a third-party unauthorized seller. Non-Amazon Prime members usually get free shipping due to the total cost and because it is fulfilled by Amazon; prime members just get quicker 2-day shipping for free. But it looks like this sale on the MyHeritage website is not to be beat.

 

Look for this before adding your item to your cart.

See you at our favorite library!
LE