Be Sure to Visit my new 1900 Galveston Storm Website at: http://freepages.genealogy.rootseb.com/~barnette 

BRITISH WOMAN SEARCHES FOR HER HOUSTON ROOTS

 Pippa Chapman is 56 years of age and lives in Norwich England. She has been married 37 years has two loving daughters and a beautiful granddaughter. During WWII her mother, Joan Pugh, who was 17 at the time, worked in the pigeon service in Cinderford near her home village of Longford in Gloucestershire, England. Her father was an American GI stationed in Cinderford between April and July 1944. All that is known of her father is he was from Houston, Texas.

 Anyone who may have known Joan Pugh or been stationed in Cinderford who could shed light on Pippa's American father may contact her by e-mail at TwohootsNorwich@aol.com or contact Mic Barnette at 281-550-7935.

 Pippa's experience is not unusual in places where American troops have been stationed anywhere in the world. It is also not uncommon for soldiers at anytime in history to have fathered children wherever they may have been stationed. With the help of the Internet similar birthparent searches are becoming more frequent as children come of age whose fathers served anywhere in the world.

 NEW BCG EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR NAMED

 The Board for Certification of Genealogists (BCG) has announced that Lynn C. McMillion, CLS, is BCG's new Executive Director. She replaces Marty Hiatt, CGRS who recently resigned after serving five years as BCG's Executive Director.

 Established in 1964, BCG's mission is to promote high standards of competence and ethics among genealogists and to foster public confidence in genealogy. The board's certification program is one of the ways BCG works to attain these goals.

 Applicants seeking certification submit portfolios demonstrating how they meet standards for genealogical research, analysis, and compilation. Individuals interested in certification should visit the board's Web site at http://www.bcgcertification.org or request further information from the Executive Director at office@bcgcertification.org. BCG's mailing address will remain unchanged at P.O. Box 14291 Washington, DC 20044.

CEMETERY AND TOMBSTONE STUDIES

 Learn about cemeteries, tombstone artwork and epitaphs in a two session class taught by Paula Perkins Parke. Cemetery Searching & Answers from the Tombstone is a two part class offered by Leisure Learning.  The first session will be held from 7 P.M. to 9:30 P.M. Wednesday April 11 at Leisure Learning's 2990 Richmond Avenue campus. The concluding session will be held in a local cemetery at a date and time to be determined in class.

 For more information about this class and to register, contact Leisure Learning at 713-529-4414

FAMILY TREE MAKER SOFTWARE CLASS

 Paula Perkins Parke will teach an Organizing Your Family Research With Family Tree Maker Software class from 6 to 9 P.M. Tuesday April 17.  This one-time class will be held at the Grace Presbyterian Church, 10221 Ella Lee near Sam Houston Tollway.

 Through demonstrations, students will learn step by step instructions to organize and document family information and sources. For more information and to register, contact Becky Morris at 713-267-5091.

LESLIE SMITH COLLIER IN HUMBLE

 The Humble Area Genealogical Society will host their annual seminar from 8 A.M. to 3:30 P.M. Saturday April 21 in the Teaching Theater of Kingwood College in Kingwood. Nationally known lecturer Leslie Smith Collier will be the featured speaker. Her topics will include: Using Pre-1850 Censuses; Using Estate Sales; Locating Ancestral Lands; and Evaluating Evidence in Published Sources.

 For more information and to register, contact Bernie and Barbara Balser at 281-360-7041 or by email at bbalser@aol.com .

NEWS FROM THE BOOKSHELF

 Reunions Magazine has issued their annual Workbook and Catalogue for 2001. Workbooks are $10 each or free when included with a subscription to Reunions Magazine which is $22 per year. The workbook has numerous helpful charts, tips and checklists for anyone planning a reunion of any kind, large or small.

 Some of the reunion subjects covered in the workbook are timetables, budgets, fundraising, choosing a site, site inspection, negotiating contracts, communications, invitations, activities and entertainment for adults and children, food, preserving the memories and finishing touches.

 To subscribe or purchase the workbook, write Reunions magazine at P.O.Box 11727, Milwaukee, WI 53211 or visit their website at http://reunionsmag.com .