Learn more about GFSKate and her chats below!  

 

My name is Linda Lambert (aka GFSKate). You can reach me directly at ktlkate@avantek.net My screen name is to honor my therapy dog, Katie, whose registered name is Cattle Kate.

I was born and raised in Effingham County, Illinois, but I've lived in Arizona since 1972. I live on a horse ranch with my horses and dogs. In my younger years I was a rodeo cowgirl and traveled the southwest PRCA Turquoise Circuit with my barrel horse, Nikki.

I've been doing genealogy since 1960. I started out in the pen and pencil era. I was a host, trainer of new hosts and Beginners' Center Manager in the Golden Gates Forum starting on January 14, 1997 until July 1, 2003. I am happy to be back hosting again.

My personal research thus far is in Germany; England; St. Louis, Missouri; and southern Illinois (especially Jasper and Effingham counties). But as time goes on, I find my family in more and more areas. Who knows where I'll find them next? This is my genealogy quest.

I am an Illinois GenWeb volunteer for 2 Illinois counties (Effingham County and Jasper County). I have nine Rootsweb genealogy mailing lists that I administer.

I use a PC desktop computer, along with a laptop for genealogy research when I'm out and about. I use The Master Genealogist (TMG) genealogy software program. I also utilize a Palm Tungsten E loaded with GedStar Pro (I can carry my entire genealogy data base from TMG on my Palm).

I am one of the founding members of the Sun Country TMG Users' Group which was organized in 1998. I have served as an officer in one capacity or another since then.

I am deeply involved with Therapy Dogs, International. I am an evaluator for new handler/dog teams. I have four Australian Cattle Dogs, each of them certified therapy dogs. Katie has achieved the highest rating that a therapy dog can reach through Therapy Dogs, International. Cody, Jess and Jake are working toward that same rating. Because of many requests, I am again teaching obedience classes by appointment only. These classes are a 6-week intensive class geared towards owner/dog teams who intend to go into therapy dog, assistance dog or service dog work.

It's a good thing I'm retired (I'm considered a senior citizen now), otherwise, I couldn't do all these fun things.