The East Texas Genealogical Society will hold its regular monthly meeting on Saturday, March 8, 2008, at 2:00 p.m. at the Tyler Public Library in the Taylor Auditorium. The featured speaker will be Debbie Parker Wayne. Ms. Wayne, a professional genealogist, will present a program titled “Using the U.S. BLM-GLO Web Site to Find Land Records.” The Bureau of Land Management – General Land Office has the records of the initial transfer of land from the government to individuals for the public land states. These records date from about 1820 to 1908 and are for most of the eastern public land states. Ms. Wayne’s program will include instructions on how you can search for land records of your ancestors, save a copy of the land patent, and even order a certified original copy of the patent. From these records you can find the information you need to order the land file from the National Archives where additional family information may be found. It was the desire to own land that brought many of our ancestors across the North American continent, and these original records often give us new information about our families that was not available elsewhere. Debbie Parker Wayne completed a successful career in the computer industry spanning over twenty-five years before moving to East Texas in 2000. In 1990, as the technical explosion in genealogy was beginning, her interest and experience with computers provided a perfect complement to her new-found interest in genealogy and family history research. Since moving to East Texas Ms. Wayne has worked full time on genealogical research and has taught many classes for genealogical societies in East Texas. She is a member of the Association of Professional Genealogists, an officer in the Lone Star Chapter APG, and has attended Samford’s Institute of Genealogy and Historical Research. Approximately thirty minutes following the conclusion of the regular program and refreshments, the Computer Interest Group of the East Texas Genealogical Society will meet with Sharon Brogden who will present a program on “Pocket Genealogy.” ETGS meetings are free and open to the public. For more information about ETGS go to our web-site: www.rootsweb.com/~txetgs or contact June Everheart, Publicity Director at Everheart@suddenlink.net or (903)877-4501.