Dear Parke Society Members, After several months of busy activity and exciting developments, we will be taking a short break from our Monthly Town Hall program during June 2026. As many of you know, a great deal of our staff's time and energy is currently focused on preparing and launching the Parke Society's new TNG (The Next Generation) website. This important project is moving forward steadily, but it also requires a significant investment of time from our officers, trustees, and staff. In addition, the Society's Quarterly Trustee Meeting will take place on June 14, and preparation for that meeting is already underway. Between these important responsibilities, we felt it would be difficult to devote the time needed to prepare and present the quality Town Hall program that our members have come to expect. Rather than rushing a meeting, we've decided to think of June as our Parke Society "Spring Break" — an opportunity for everyone to catch their breath while important work continues behind the scenes. The good news is that this work is being done on your behalf and will help move several Society initiatives forward, particularly the new TNG website, which we believe will become one of the most valuable resources we have ever offered our members. We'll return in July with plenty of news, updates, and discussions to share, including progress on the TNG project, highlights from the Trustee Meeting, and other topics of interest to our members. Thank you for your understanding, your patience, and your continued support as we work to build new resources and opportunities for the Parke Society community. We hope you enjoy the start of summer and look forward to seeing you again in July! Warm regards, The Parke Society Officers, Trustees, and Staff

Well… for the next few months, at least! We’re delighted to share the topics and dates for the next three Parke Society Monthly Town Hall Meetings, and we hope they’ll spark your curiosity—and inspire you to join us. Go ahead and mark your calendar; you won’t want to miss a single one. All Town Hall meetings are held on Zoom and are open to everyone , whether you’re a longtime Parke Society member or simply curious about your Park/e/s roots. Not a member yet? These meetings are a perfect way to see what the Society is all about and decide if membership is right for you. And if you are a member, invite family members to join us as well! Here’s what’s coming up: Sunday, December 14, 2025 · 3:00 pm Eastern Notable Park/e/s Throughout History Led by Parke Society President Susan Van Allen Most of our Park/e/s ancestors were hardworking, “salt-of-the-earth” people whose lives and contributions mattered deeply within their families and communities. From time to time, however, a Park/e/s stepped into the broader spotlight—making a mark in politics, literature, music, the arts, science, invention, athletics, and more. For instance, did you know there have been not one, but two Park men who became Mr. Universe ? Join us as we explore a fascinating sampling of Park/e/s individuals who brought recognition—and sometimes fame and fortune—to the surname. Sunday, January 4, 2026 · 3:00 pm Eastern Looking Ahead: The Parke Society in 2026 and Beyond Join members of the Parke Society staff and Board as we share what lies ahead in the coming year. From new projects to expanding initiatives, there’s a lot to be excited about—and plenty of ways for members to get involved. If you’ve ever wondered how the Society works or how you might play a part, this meeting is for you. Sunday, February 1, 2026 · 3:00 pm Eastern DNA in Action: A Deep Dive into a Park/e/s Genetic Group February marks the first in a new series of Town Hall meetings that will focus on individual genetic groups within the Park/e/s DNA Surname Project. These sessions are designed not only for participants within a specific group, but for everyone interested in learning how to approach the “big picture” of genetic genealogy. In this session, we’ll take a close look at Genetic Group 046 , which currently includes 45 participants and continues to grow. The group contains at least thirteen different lineage keys, several tracing their origins to County Donegal, Ireland. Together, we’ll explore how traditional family tree research and targeted DNA testing can help connect these seemingly separate lineages into a more cohesive family story. Even if Group 046 isn’t your group, you’ll come away with valuable insights and practical strategies you can apply to your own Park/e/s research. And who knows—your group could be next! We hope you’ll join us for one—or all—of these engaging and informative Town Hall meetings. Whether you’re just starting your Park/e/s journey or have been researching for years, there’s something here for everyone. Click the "Click Me" button below to join the Parke Society Town Hall Meeting.

If you missed our last town hall meeting about breaking down brick walls in your family research, the video is now available on our Parke Society YouTube channel. A resource page can be found in the comments section below the video, or you can access it at the link below. To view the town hall meeting video: https://youtu.be/aBw5HcQIs8M To view the resource page for this meeting: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1zHseNXO0Nx2YOtif-EUqn_AgmNghtJKu/edit?usp=sharing&ouid=110194266322964331728&rtpof=true&sd=true

Please join us as we continue our discussion of Building a Genetic Map of the Park/e/s Surname in the British Isles--The Next Steps. At our February town hall, we took a look at where we stand at present in terms of genetically identifying and locating the many Park/e/s lineages in the different counties in the British Isles. This month, we'll discuss the varied approaches we plan to take to dramatically increase our knowledge of all Park/e/s lineages, including growing our database of individuals using traditional record sources and individual family lineage histories, all cross-referenced with DNA representation. Join the discussion of how we can all contribute to this project, as the scope of this enterprise begs for many volunteers in a true collaborative sense. We welcome your thoughts, comments, questions, and suggestions! The meeting is open to all, Parke Society members and non-members alike. Members will receive a link to the meeting via our MailChimp mailing list, and any interested non-members can contact Ken Parks at dnaadmin@parke.org to receive the link.