Date: May 11, 2026
Title: Adoption and Genealogy: History, Research, and DNA Tools
Speaker: Lou McLean
Description: Lou is an adoptee and after finding her biological mother in 2004, her genealogy research took quite a turn. In 2022 the search for her biological father started all over again. If you are interested in how to navigate the adoption-genealogy process, this presentation will give you some hints. Researching both with or without DNA results will be discussed, and resources will be provided that you may not have thought about. Lou’s personal story will show you that no path is straight forward, but trails can be followed or discovered with perseverance.
Biography: Lou has a Bachelor of Education degree from the University of Alaska Fairbanks and worked for the University as the 4-H Director with Cooperative Extension prior to retiring in 2005. Once she and her husband retired, they began their years as snowbirds to Arizona and traveled extensively throughout the United States and Europe.
Since Lou has been a member of WVGS she has served in leadership roles including Secretary and President, worked with CEC to begin the Digitizing project, and volunteers as a Library Aide. She does community outreach talking about the Society and facilitates the Writing Special Interest Group at WVGS. She also teaches a class to folks regarding the website of WVGS and led an Adoption SIG for a time.
Lou was adopted at birth and she and her husband have an adopted daughter and two sons. She has two grandchildren. She has written a memoire and her story about meeting her biological mother in 2004. She has been working on her adopted and biological genealogy since 2004.
Handout: Click Here to Download the Handout
In-person meetings are held at the First Presbyterian Church located at 12225 N. 103rd Ave., Sun City, AZ. (click here for map) – will open in new tab in your web browser)
Please arrive after 12:30 pm to sign up for classes, SIGs, or the 2027 Seminar, ask questions of a Board Member or Committee Chairperson, etc. Note: We will not be offering coffee at this time.
The short business meeting will start at 1:00 pm sharp followed by our featured speaker.
FROM DUPLICATE BOOKS TEAM
Books will be available for purchase at the meeting.
Jill Mitchell, Elaine Wright, and Della Jones
WVGS Duplicate Book Sales team
Please bring Aluminum Cans & Plastic Bottles to the
Membership Meeting
We appreciate your efforts to collect these items and dropping them off at our Membership Meetings. We especially thank you for collecting from your neighbors and friends. Please be sure to let these helpers know the best way to help us collect and recycle.
Remember, bring them to the church, NOT the Library!
| Not These | Only Clear Plastic |
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| These are NOT accepted and need to be hand picked out of the collection or the whole bag will be rejected. Please, only CLEAR plastic bottles. |
ALUMINUM CANS & CLEAR PLASTIC BOTTLES ONLY Drop-off |
Guidelines for dropping off Aluminum Cans/Clear Plastic Bottles:
- Place aluminum cans and clear plastic-water/soda bottles in separate bags.
- Cans do not have to be crushed, but should be rinsed and empty.
- Water bottles can take up less room if they are smashed before putting the cap back onto the bottle.
Please, NO glass, prescription bottles, milk bottles, or food cans as these items need to be hand picked out. Also, NO bags with holes, as any item not rinsed may leak.