We are The ROOTS Users Group (RUG), a non-profit, incorporated in February 1989 and, are celebrating our 37th year of continuous service to our members!
While we offer webinars and other materials to support the officially retired The Master Genealogist software, we continually review other genealogy programs looking toward future migration from TMG. Our online webinars are typically held the second Saturday of the month but we occasionally will skip a month for holidays.

Join our ROOTS Users Group!

Bob Velke's TMG Tutorial Videos are now available FREE!
Click here to learn more.

The recording of Don Ferguson’s March 2026 "HRE (History Research Environment) Update” is AVAILABLE
(Re-recorded March 16) Upcoming RUG Meetings

UPCOMING RUG MEETINGS

Times are US Eastern Time Zone
April 11, 2026
Time Session Title Presenter
9:00 am Session 1 "Finding Living Relatives Using Family Tree Now.com and True People Search" Larry Olson
~10:15 – 10:30 am Break

~ 10:30 am Session 2 "Additional Resources for Finding Living People" Steve Ullrich
~10:15 – 10:30 am Break

~ 11:05 am Session 3 An overview of American Ancestors Winter 2026 magazine titled:
“Read All About it! Using Newspapers in Family History Research”
Added Resources for Finding Living People
Janis Rodriguez
~ 11:15 am Session 4 Play the recorded Webinar: “US and Canada Newspaper Resources and Strategies”
Presenter: Thomas MacEntee via a prerecorded webinar on the RUG’s Members Only Thomas MacEntee Webinar Library. Handout available in Library.

While online newspaper resources are plentiful for United States and Canada research, finding the best websites and tools to collect data can be a treasure hunt. Learn how to find the best historic newspaper sites (free and paid) and how to properly capture images and text to improve your genealogical research.

Following the webinar there will be an opportunity for attendees to discuss the webinar, make comments, add info and ask questions. During the meeting, please type your questions into the chat window or send them in advance to programs@rootsusers.org
Thomas MacEntee
Recorded Webinar
May 9, 2026
Time Session Title Presenter
9:00 am Session 1 “Creating and Using Flags to Celebrate your Patriot Ancestors” Terry Reigel
~10:15 - 10:30 am Break

~ 10:30 am Session 2 “Our Revolutionary War Ancestors” Larry Olson, Janis Rodriguez, Wendy McGuire and others in the RUG Community

We welcome members and new users!

Join us for our meetings by downloading and installing the FREE Zoom App. You can use the Basic Free application to view a meeting hosted by the RUG as our license can host up to 100 people. FOR ZOOM BEGINNERS: Please watch this video on YouTube. 

RUG plans to inform members in three different ways of the link members need to access each meeting. First, an email with the ZOOM link will be sent the night before the scheduled meeting by the webmaster. The link also will be posted on the front page of the RUG website on the morning of the meeting. This same Zoom link will be posted for attendees on the TMG Mailing List. (If you are not a member of that list, you can join here).

Please take time now to sign up for an account with ZOOM if you have not already. We would appreciate your creating a profile that states your first name or initial and last name, whether or not you are a RUG member, and your location. For example: Connie Jeremiah, RUG M, VA. If you wish, include a photo in your account profile. When you are in the meeting, you can change it by clicking on the '...' on your picture or clicking on '...' after your name in the Participants list, and then clicking on "Rename". ZOOM has different functions that we will be using for the meeting, including the chat box for you to communicate with RUG and other attendees, the Raise and Lower Hand function, and the ability to voice your questions and comments live.

TMG Links
The Master Genealogist Wholly Genes' Software Support Page
The Master Genealogist Email Support List
Terry Reigel's TMG Tips
John Cardinal's Home Page
Lee Hoffman's TMG Tips
Michael J. Hannah's Home Page
History Research Environment (HRE)
OTHER IMPORTANT TMG LINKS
The latest (or last) "Install" files are now available for TMGv9,
plus TMGv8, TMGv7, TMGv6, TMGv5, and TMGv4 on our TMG Installer page.
TMG Version 9.05 is available for download!
(as of 3 December 2014) (tmg9setup.exe or tmg9uksetup.exe)
Licenses are available from Harry Goegebeur of Belgium (Harry.Goegebeur at genea.be)
Second Site Version 8.03 Released!
(as of 7 November 2022) (Visit Website)
GedSite Version 5.11 Released!
(as of 29 October 2025) (Visit Website)
TMG to GEDCOM (T2G) Version 2 Released!
(as of 13 January 2021) (Visit Website)
Gedcom Publisher Version 3.01 Released!
(as of 15 February 2025) (Visit Website)
TMG Utility Version 7.5 is available for download!
(as of 12 August 2020) (Visit Website)
Hot Key help — read Keyboard Template Replacement article.
Download your own TMG "Cheat Sheets"
Link to DeAnna Burghart's "Cheat Sheets"
"Research Checklist for Genealogists" by Rebecca Whitman Koford (Download PDF)
Members: Distribute our RUG Brochure at other Genealogy meetings!
OTHER EVENTS
Mount Vernon Genealogy Society has several Events every month.
Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) Calendar of Events.
All events are free and open to the public.

Links to other TMG user groups listed on the Wholly Genes website.