The Northwest Suburban Genealogy Society has a number of active Special Interest Groups (SIGs) that serve to support Members with interests in special genealogical topics, as listed below. These groups generally meet on a monthly or quarterly schedule and have a planned program of interest to the SIG members. There are opportunities for discussion, questions, and sharing of information.
Volunteer Opportunities! We would love to form several more SIGs, but we need to recruit a leader for each group.
February 2026
March 2026
April 2026
AI (Artificial Intelligence) SIG
We meet the first Wednesday of the month at 4 PM Central and our 1st Meeting January 7th 2026
SIG Group Leaders: Janet Blake and Howard Cameron
Email Address: ai_sig@nwsgs.org
Mission Statement — NWSGS Artificial Intelligence Special Interest Group (AI SIG)
The AI Special Interest Group empowers NWSGS members to confidently integrate artificial intelligence into their genealogical practice through collaborative exploration and shared learning. We investigate both general-purpose AI tools (ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, Copilot, Perplexity) and genealogy-focused applications (Transkribus, FamilySearch Labs), discovering practical ways to accelerate research, overcome challenges, and preserve family histories. Grounded in ethical AI use and traditional genealogical standards, we build expertise together - making emerging technology accessible to all while ensuring our research remains accurate, documented, and verifiable.
RootsMagic SIG
SIG Group Leader: Jenny Warner
Email Address: jennywarnergenealogist@gmail.com
Mission Statement — NWSGS RootsMagic Special Interest Group
The mission of the NWSGS RootsMagic Special Interest Group is to help members learn how to get the most out of the RootsMagic genealogy software. Through demonstrations, discussions, and hands-on exploration, participants discover practical ways to organize their research, document sources, and share their family histories. Whether you’re new to RootsMagic or have been using it for years, this group offers a supportive setting to deepen your skills and find new ways the software can enhance your genealogical work.
Mission Statement — NWSGS Irish Special Interest Group
The mission of the NWSGS Irish Special Interest Group is to help members explore and better understand their Irish roots through shared research, discussion, and discovery. Each month, we focus on a specific topic related to Irish genealogy—such as records, migration patterns, local history, or DNA connections—to deepen our knowledge and strengthen our research skills. Whether you’re just beginning your Irish research or have years of experience, this group provides a friendly space to learn from one another and uncover the stories of our Irish ancestors together.
Roundtable SIG
This is an in-person genealogy group meeting for our local members, open to all enthusiasts of genealogy and family tree research, and is an informal forum for members to share their successes and challenges in their family history research. Beginners and friends are welcome to attend and participate.
The meeting is hosted by members of the NWSGS, which is a group that promotes the study of genealogy, conducts programs and workshops, and assists members in their family history research.
The mission of this new meeting is to provide a space for questions, answers, and discussions around genealogy.
The meeting will be held the second Wednesday of each month from 2 -3:30 PM CT and held at the Arlington Heights Memorial Library, 500 N Dunton Ave, Arlington Heights, IL in the Shackley Room.