Meetings for 20252-2026 program year will continue to be held on the second Saturday of the month on zoom at 10 am with occasional in-person social events or hybrid events. 

Dec. 13, 2025 – WCGS Holiday Party

We’ll meet in-person in Dobbs Ferry to celebrate the season together. Bring snacks to share, along with your genealogy successes or challenges you’d like to discuss. Location: Aldersgate United Methodist Church, 600 Broadway, Dobbs Ferry, NY 10522. Time: 9:30 – 11:30 am (with setup 9:00-9:30 and cleanup 11:30-noon). 

Jan. 10, 2026 – Ari Wilkins, Enslavement in the North and Gradual Emancipation

Slavery existed in some northern states well into the 19th century. Learn about how the motives for gradual emancipation; how it affected enslaved African Americans and enslavers at this time; the state laws surrounding slavery, and the records that it created.

Ari Wilkins, FTxSGS is a genealogist, lecturer and instructor who has been actively researching family history for over twenty-five years. Ms. Wilkins is a graduate of Louisiana State University. She speaks on a variety of genealogical subjects and specializes in African American research and Southern research. As a lecturer, Ms. Wilkins has spoken nationally at the National Genealogical Society, the Institute of Genealogical and Historical Research, the Salt Lake Institute of Genealogy, the Genealogical Research Institute of Pittsburgh, RootsTech, and a multitude of state and local societies. She has also led the African American course for the Texas Institute of Genealogical Research for the past three years.

Feb. 14, 2026 – Michelle Dowd Torosian, A Genealogist’s Guide to Love and Marriage

Marriage records can be particularly useful source for your genealogical research. Join us on Valentine’s Day to take a deep dive into extracting information from your ancestor’s marriage records, including a look into the laws that governed them.

Michelle Dowd Torosian, WCGS president, is a professional genealogist and founder of Torosian Genealogy, LLC. Her extensive research experience and sharp analytical skills enable her to work with clients undertaking historical research, solving the mysteries lurking in the branches of their family trees, identifying unknown ancestors, and recovering forgotten stories. A former CPA with Deloitte, Michelle is a certificate holder from Boston University’s Genealogical Research program and the ProGen Study Group.

Mar. 14, 2026 – Bonnie Wade Mucia, Navigating the Mayflower Families Silver Books: A Guide for Genealogists

Tens of millions of people are descended from this small group who crossed the ocean in 1620 on the Mayflower. The General Society of Mayflower Descendants publishes a series of 44 books called the Mayflower Families Silver Books, a compilation of colonial scholarship. This presentation covers the history of the Silver Books project and provides you with the tools and knowledge to effectively use them in your genealogy work, particularly for researching the colonial period. These books trace early colonial settlers through multiple generations, offering a treasure trove of genealogy scholarship. Whether you’re a seasoned genealogist or just starting, this presentation will equip you to unlock the full potential of the Silver Books, revealing lineages enriched by meticulous research and documented with original records and sources.

Bonnie Wade Mucia, AG^® an Accredited Genealogist in the New England region and is the owner of Keeper of the Past Genealogy, LLC. She serves as Director of the Mayflower Families Silver Books Project for the General Society of Mayflower Descendants, concentrating on Mayflower passengers’ descendants. She has published articles in respected genealogical journals, including the New England Historic Genealogical Society’s Mayflower Descendant, the Rhode Island Roots Journal of the Rhode Island Genealogical Society, The Maine Genealogist, The Nova Scotia Genealogist, and Crossroads, among others. 

Apr. 11, 2026 – Michael LaRocco, Genealogical Resources in the Masonic Library

The presentation will be on showcasing what the library museum has to offer to scholars, members and the general public as it pertains to genealogy and research in the areas of Masonic history and philosophy.  

Michael LaRocco is the Executive Director of the Chancellor Robert R Livingston Masonic Library of Grand Lodge. The Livingston Library is one of the premier masonic library museums in the world. We have over 60 thousand books in our collection and over 40 thousand artifacts. We are chartered with New York State Board of Education. Public access but specific to research for Freemasonry as it relates to the history of the United States and New York State. Michael has been the Executive Director since November 2022 and came with decades of experience in consultative sales.

May 9, 2026 – to be announced

June 13, 2026 – to be announced

Past 2025-2026 Meetings

Sep. 13, 2025 – Craig R. Scott, C.G., Quaker Records & Migration

Oct. 11, 2025 – Blaine Bettinger, Using Autosomal DNA for 18th and 19th Century Mysteries

Nov. 8, 2025 – Janeen Bjork, Westchester County Re-Boot

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2024-2025 Meetings
Sept 14, 2024 – Jane Wilcox – Uncharted Waters: New York State Archives

Oct. 12, 2024 – Luis Ariel Rivera – Introduction to Hispanic Research

Nov. 9, 2024 – Brian Rhinehart – Researching Your 19th Century Ancestors on Fold3

Dec. 14, 2024 – No meeting – happy holidays!

Jan. 11, 2025 –Patrick Raftery – Genealogical Collections at the Westchester County Historical Society

Feb. 8, 2025 – Amanda Perrine – Crafting Effective Research Plans

Mar. 8, 2025 – Susan Freas Rogers – Finding Your Irish Ancestors (watch party in Yonkers)

Apr. 12, 2025 – Thomas MacEntee – Translating, Transcribing and Summarizing Documents Using AI

May 10, 2025 – Bryna O’Sullivan – Searching for Your Revolutionary War Ancestors

June 14, 2025 – Annual Meeting & Social (in person, Dobbs Ferry)