join CCGS? Two options exist for joining CCGS. You can join by mail or join online. Our “Join CCGS” webpage provides information on membership benefits, how to join, and costs. Click on the *Join CCGS* menu option in the left column or click here.

For Members:

login? All CCGS members have been sent an email with their login information. Click the word "Members" in the left column of any page and enter your login and password. Access to the members-only portion of the website will appear below the "Members" button. If you are having difficulty, please contact the webmaster.

change my login name? After logging in, click "Edit Your Profile" under "Members" in the left column. Click on the pencil icon to edit the login name. A new window will open where you can enter a new login name and click "Save". Be careful to enter only valid characters (letters, numbers, underscore, dash, period and @ symbol), as invalid characters will be ignored. The only warning will be that they will turn red and then vanish.

change my password? After logging in, click "Edit Your Profile" under "Members" in the left column. Click on the pencil icon to edit the password. A new window will open where you can enter a new password. Be careful to enter only valid characters (letters and numbers only), as invalid characters will be ignored. The only warning will be that they will turn red and then vanish. Note: the special characters which are allowed in the login name cannot be used in the password.

change my email, address, or phone number? After logging in, click "Edit Your Profile" under "Members" in the left column. Click on "Contact Info" and then click on the pencil icon to edit. Click on "Change Login". A new window will open where you can edit your information and click "Save" when done.

remove my name and email from the membership list? A membership list is available in the member-only section of the website. Members can remove their name and/or email from the membership list. To change your preferences, login to the member section. After logging in, click the "Edit Your Profile" submenu under "Member Login" in the left column. Click on the "Member Settings" tab. and then in the “Membership List” section, click on the pencil icon to edit. A new window will open, uncheck “Show Name” and “Email Address” to remove both. Click "Save" when done.

Surname Research List - CCGS members can contribute to the surname research list with their Champaign County ancestors. Also, members can communicate with the member who entered the surname data. If you enter a surname, you may be contacted by fellow CCGS members.

add my Champaign County surnames to the surname list? You must be a CCGS member to submit your surname information and make the data available to other members. After logging in, click the "Edit Your Profile" submenu under "Member Login" in the left column. Within your profile, click on the "Surname" tab. For each Champaign County surname you wish to enter, complete these steps:

Click on the plus sign icon to add surnames. A new window will open where you add your surname information. The Surname is the only required field, but members should complete as many fields of when and where your Champaign County ancestor was here. Click "Save" when done. Repeat steps to add additional surnames.

edit or delete my surnames in my membership profile? You must be a CCGS member to contribute to the surname research list that members can view and communicate with other members. After logging in, click "Member Login" in the left column. Within your profile, click on the "Surname" tab. For each surname, click on the pencil icon to edit or the trash can icon to delete.

search for others researching surnames of interest? You must be a CCGS member to search for surname information. After logging in, click "Member Login" in the left column. From the drop down list under "Member Login" click on the submenu "Surname Research". Enter a surname and click on the magnifying glass to search. If you find a surname of interest, you can contact the member researching this surname. Click on the envelope icon and complete the required information (sender name, sender email, subject, validation, and message). Click the “Send Email” button to send a message to the submitter of that surname. You will not see the email address of the submitter, in order to protect the privacy of our members.

renew my membership online? Starting at 30 days prior to membership expiration, members can renew online. To renew online, login to the members-only section of the website using the “Members” menu on the left-hand side and enter your login and password. There will be a red box identifying the number of days until your membership expires. Go to the “Edit Your Profile” which is a sub-menu option under “Members”. Click on the green “Renew Membership” button. A new window will open where you complete the information and confirm. Then, you must click the “Buy Now” button which will take you to PayPal where you can use your PayPal account or a personal credit card to complete your membership renewal. If guidance is needed to complete the online join, individuals can consult the Renew Your Membership Online document. Warning: When renewing online, there is an optional donation box. Only enter a dollar amount if you wish to give a donation in addition to the membership fee.

renew my membership online after it expires? Even though your membership has expired, you can renew through the CCGS website. Memberships that expire have a grace period where the account can be accessed and even after the grace period, online renewal is still an option. To renew online, login to the members-only section of the website using the “Members” menu option. After logging in, the information in the red box will identify the status of your account. The green “Renew Membership” button will be available on this page when you are past the grace period or you will have to go to “Edit You Profile” under the Members menu. Use the option that applies to your account and if guidance is needed consult the document in the answer above. Warning: When renewing online, there is an optional donation box. Only enter a dollar amount if you wish to give a donation in addition to the membership fee.