27005 S. Milford Road ▪ South Lyon (248) 437-8800 ▪ [ http://www.lyon.lib.mi.us/ | www.lyon.lib.mi.us ] Monday - Thursday 10:00 am-9:00 pm Friday - Saturday 10:00 am-5:00 pm For Immediate Release: July 16 , 2020 Contact: Katie Rothley, Marketing & Outreach Librarian Phone: 248-437-8800 ext. 618 Email: krothley@lyon.lib.mi.us Lyon Township Library to host Katherine Willson, online through Zoom, on the Global 1918 Influenza Pandemic, July 21 at 6:30pm. South Lyon, MI – Join us online Tuesday, July 21 at 6:30pm for a presentation, by Katherine R. Willson, on the 1918 Influenza Pandemic and what resources to consult for a better understanding of the effect this event had on our ancestors. This presentation will appeal to those who have an interest in history and genealogy. Description of our virtual event: More Americans were killed by the global 1918 Influenza (Spanish Flu) Pandemic than in the Great War. This virus had tragic implications on our ancestors’ communities and in their own families. Learn of the specific sources to consult for a greater understanding of the direct and indirect effects this health crisis had on our ancestors. Please consider joining us for this informative presentation; register using the form on our event calendar, here: [ https://lyon-lib.libcal.com/event/5608026 | https://lyon-lib.libcal.com/event/5608026 ] . You will be emailed a Zoom link to join the program, one-day prior. Katherine’s Bio Katherine R. Willson of Ann Arbor, Michigan is an engaging & dynamic [ https://socialmediagenealogy.com/presentation-topics/ | genealogy lecturer ] at local, regional and national conferences; an educator teaching beginning, intermediate, and advanced genealogy classes in Michigan since 2001; the author of [ http://theindepthgenealogist.com/product/a-genealogists-guide-to-grand-rapid... | The Genealogist’s Guide to Grand Rapids, Michigan  ] (published in 2018 by The In-Depth Genealogist), and a [ https://socialmediagenealogy.com/personal-consultations/ | professional researcher for private clients ] . Her genealogy interests began as an 8-year-old Junior Girl Scout working towards a “My Heritage” badge, and her passion was fueled when, after college, both her mother’s and father’s relatives gave her binders containing generations’ worth of family information. Her success in using Facebook to break down genealogical brick walls (both personally and in her classroom) inspired her to compile [ https://moonswings.files.wordpress.com/2020/05/genealogy-on-facebook-may-202... | a list of 16,000+ Facebook genealogy links (updated May 2020).  ] Additionally, she has created a compilation of [ https://moonswings.files.wordpress.com/2020/05/genealogy-on-youtube-may-2020... | 170 instructional genealogical channels on YouTube ] . Her passion for genealogy combined with practical and creative strategies keeps Katherine’s audience fully engaged and actively participating in her energetic and entertaining presentations. Participants leave with the tools necessary to do their own research, as well as the inspiration to do it! Katherine’s past & present genealogical society memberships and volunteer positions have included: * [ https://virtualgenealogy.org/ | Virtual Genealogical Association ] – Founder/President (2018-present) * [ https://mimgc.org/ | Michigan Genealogical Council ] – Vice-President (2016-2017) & President (2018-2019) * [ http://www.apgen.org/ | Association of Professional Genealogists ] – Board of Directors (2018-2019) * [ https://fgs.org/ | Federation of Genealogical Societies ] – Conference Publicity Chair (2019) * [ http://www.genealogicalspeakersguild.org/ | Genealogical Speakers Guild ] – Secretary (2018-2019) * [ https://www.gripitt.org/ | Genealogical Research Institute of Pittsburgh ] – Social Media Chair (2018-2019) * [ http://www.ngsgenealogy.org/ | National Genealogical Society ] member (2013-Present) * [ https://www.americanancestors.org/ | New England Historic Genealogical Society ] member (2014-present) * [ https://www.newyorkfamilyhistory.org/ | New York Genealogical & Biographical Society ] member (2014-present) An Army Reserve wife of 20+ years, Katherine has supported military families since 2010 as a member of the Department of Defense’s [ http://www.yellowribbon.mil/ | Yellow Ribbon Reintegration Program (YRRP) ] [ http://www.yellowribbon.mil/yrrp/cadre-of-speakers.html | Cadre of Speakers. ] She travels regularly across the country to speak at YRRP events for military members (and their loved ones) within the three stages of deployment (pre-deployment, during deployment and post-deployment). In addition to her love for genealogy and public speaking, she is a mixed-media artist and served for 10 years as a board member for the [ http://www.annarborwomenartists.org/ | Ann Arbor Women Artists ] (President, 2009-2013; Vice-President & Chair of Juried Exhibits Committee, 2007-2009; Treasurer, 2003-2007). You can see some of her work in a [ https://www.facebook.com/moonswings/media_set?set=a.10202349917101836.107374... | Facebook photo album, ] on her [ https://www.instagram.com/katherine.r.willson/ | Instagram  ] account, and on her [ http://www.flickr.com/photos/moonswings | Flickr  ] page. For more information, please contact Cathy Cottone at 248-437-8800 ext. 616 or email at ccottone@lyon.lib.mi.us.