Exploring DNA Testing for Genealogy Research

Date and Time: Sunday, November 13 2022, 1:30 - 2:30 pm and 3:00 - 4:00 pm

Location:  (In-person & Remote)

Live Presentation at the Siegal Lifelong Learning facility in the Landmark Centre Bldg at 27500 Science Park Dr, Beachwood, OH

The program will also be available online for those unable to attend in person.

Details:

Exploring DNA Testing for Genealogy Research: 2-part program in partnership with the Case Western Reserve University Laura and Alvin Siegal Lifelong Learning Program

Part 1 (1:30-2:30 pm): 200,000 MATCHES! HELP!

and

Part 2 (3:00-4:00 pm): Online DNA Tools and your Brick Walls

Presented by Gil Bardige

1:30-2:30 pm - Session 1 - 200,000 MATCHES! HELP!

Genetic testing can be a powerful tool for genealogical research. DNA results can generate clues that can help people confirm or deny relationships. But DNA results can also be confusing and frustrating. In this presentation, Gil Bardige will share proven methodologies to help you prioritize your top 50 matches so that you can have the highest probability of finding a common relative on a family tree, and provide you with actionable processes that you can really use in your genealogy research.

2:30-3:00 pm - Break/reception

3:00-4:00 pm - Session 2 - Online DNA Tools and your Brick Walls

Do you have endogamy in your family tree? You are probably wondering what the best online tools are to use in your family history research. Gil Bardige will discuss strategies and challenges when using popular 3rd party tools in such cases. He will demonstrate how to use – or not use – different online tools, including Ethnicity, Shared Matches, Clusters, WATO (What are the Odds) and SCMP (shared centimorgan project). After this lecture, you will find yourself more productive and effective in applying your DNA matches to your genealogy.

Gil Bardige, born and raised in Chicago, lives in the Columbus Ohio area. A graduate of the New York Institute of Technology, Gil retired in 2019 after a long career in air conditioning and refrigeration most recently as a National Business Development Leader for Trane.

At the “instruction” of his mother, Gil began his genealogy adventure in 1979 with 54 people in his tree. Today his family tree including Mishpocha, is over 2300 people tracing 4 branches back to his 5th great grandfathers born about 1740. His families arrived in Chicago in the early 20th century in the early 1900s.

For over 15 years Gil has expanded his knowledge base to Genetic Genealogy, testing at each of the four major DNA companies and currently manages three y-DNA projects at Family Tree DNA as a Volunteer Administrator. He loves to help people manage their expectations and begin to remove confusion from the DNA results whether it’s, Y-DNA, mtDNA, or Autosomal DNA. He had spoken at dozens of local events and international conferences, including at IAJGS in Orlando, Cleveland, Virtual San Diego, and Virtual Philadelphia.

Gil is the Chair of the Genealogy Committee of the Columbus Jewish Historical Society (JGS). Gil co-hosts live Genetic Genealogy Q&A sessions at JGS Illinois and JGS Toronto. He developed and hosts the monthly Kvel & Kvetch genealogy Q&A in Columbus. Gil manages the Mentoring Program for IAJGS and co-hosts the Apple Users and Jewish Genealogy Facebook page and monthly virtual BOF (Birds of a Feather) meeting.

Gil is a firm believer that you can use DNA results as a tool in your genealogical research as it generates clues that can help people confirm/deny relationships. His speaking style is high energy (you won’t be bored) and he loves to take questions. People have said of his presentations, “Thank you, Gil, I am no longer confused!”

REGISTRATION FOR THIS PROGRAM IS BEING HANDLED BY

The Laura and Alvin Siegal Lifelong Learning Program of Case Western Reserve University.

There is no cost for this program for members of Lifelong Learning nor for members of the Jewish Genealogy Society of Cleveland.

The cost for non-members is $10.00.

REGISTER HERE