FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)

Annual and multiple-year CGSI memberships are available at the following levels:

• Individual - One person
• Household - Up to two persons at the same mailing address
• Sponsor - An added level available to either Individual or Household members to support CGSI educational efforts

Membership in CGSI provides access to four proprietary CGSI Research Databases, hundreds of hours of educational video and audio recordings in the CGSI Digital Library, and more than 30 years of Naše rodina journal articles online.

Individual Membership

This annual membership pertains to one person with benefits including:

• four quarterly issues of CGSI's journal publication Naše rodina (Our Family)
• an information packet to welcome new members
• access to the Members Only section of the CGSI website
• one admission to any CGSI events at a reduced (member) rate
• free admission to the CGSI Research Collection at the Minnesota Genealogical Society (MGS) Library, a $10 per visit value
• one vote at the annual CGSI membership meeting elections

Household Membership

Benefits include all those for Individual Membership as explained above. Added benefits include:

• admission for two persons to any CGSI events at a reduced (member) rate
• free admission to the CGSI Research Collection at the MGS Library, a $10 per person per visit value
• entitles the two members to one vote each at the annual CGSI membership meeting elections

Sponsor Membership

Benefits for Sponsor Membership follow those of the stated Individual Membership or Household Membership as described above. The names of Sponsor Members are published each year as recognition in an issue of our journal Naše rodina.

The web page Getting Started provides an introduction to genealogical research.  That section includes general tips as well as specific information to enhance your research experience at any skill level.

Resources web page provides information on Using Archives, How to Find Records, Research Databases, and Publications.

Professional Resources provides reference lists of professional genealogists, translators, and tour guides.

Naše rodina (Our Family) is the quarterly journal published by CGSI. Each issue contains multiple articles relating to genealogy, history, culture, and traditions. CGSI members have online access to every issue published since 1989. You can view a complete index of all issues and the individual articles they contain.

Note for international members: Due to the high cost of international postage CGSI does not mail issues of Naše rodina to members outside of the US and Canada. All members have access to all issues online.

A webinar (web-based seminar) is a presentation, lecture, workshop, or seminar transmitted over the World Wide Web. Before the internet existed, people needed to travel some distance to attend events that provided genealogical education on any number of topics.  Today's computer and internet technology allow interested genealogy enthusiasts to attend and participate remotely from around the world.

The CGSI Member Surnames Index is a collection of family surnames submitted and researched by other CGSI members since 1988. These indexes are available to search within the Member-only section of this website (member login required).

This online database tool which can help the family researcher locate and connect with potential relatives and ancestors. The surnames and locations in the database are presented in the same format as submitted or updated by the member (i.e. surname and village of origin spellings and any variations are unedited by CGSI).

CGSI's Pioneer Family Certificate and Century Family Certificate pertain to descendants of immigrants from the former nation of Czechoslovakia. 

Descendants of the immigrants who arrived in North America before 1871 may qualify to receive a Pioneer Family Certificate. 

Descendants of immigrants who arrived 100 years before the date of application may qualify to receive a Century Family Certificate.

CGSI members and non-members are eligible, and encouraged, to apply for either or both certificates.