Congratulations to J. H. "Jay" Fonkert, CG®, FMGS

On 25 October 2025 at the 18th annual North Star Genealogy Conference, the Minnesota Genealogical Society (MGS) presented the honorific title of Fellow (FMGS) to J. H. “Jay” Fonkert, CG®, for his long and continuing service to MGS and the national genealogy community. In addition to many years of MGS Board leadership, Jay founded the North Star Conference and its annual awards program. He served as editor of the MGS quarterly journal for 15 years, and published more than 100 articles in eight genealogy journals, including the NGSQ. He has lectured for countless societies, national conferences, and institutes including the Salt Lake Institute of Genealogy, the Genealogy Research Institute of Pittsburgh, and the Board of Certification of Genealogists’ Reisinger Memorial Lecture series. Jay was first awarded the Certified Genealogist® credential in 2007. 

 

Congratulations on this well-deserved honor, Jay Fonkert, CG®, FMGS!