The Washington State Genealogical Society is sponsoring a FREE AI workshop with nationally respected presenter and podcaster Lisa Louise Cooke. The workshop “Make AI Your Personal Genealogy Assistant” will be Thursday, October 22, 2026, from 6:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. via Zoom.
The FREE workshop is open to all WSGS members, Blog subscribers and local society members. Registration will open on September 15. Space is limited to 100. The registration link will be posted on the Blog, emailed to WSGS members and through local societies.
The agenda will include the announcement of the 2026 Outstanding Volunteer and Team recipients, President’s Award for Outstanding Achievement and the Supportive Grant awards. We’ll also have a short presentation titled “Writing Your Family Story Using AI” with Forrest Adams, North Beach Genealogical Society and Grays Harbor Genealogical Society.
We hope you join us! If you want more information, email Info@wasgs.org.
The agenda will include the announcement of the 2026 Outstanding Volunteer and Team recipients, President’s Award for Outstanding Achievement and the Supportive Grant awards. We’ll also have a short presentation titled “Writing Your Family Story Using AI” with Forrest Adams, North Beach Genealogical Society and Grays Harbor Genealogical Society.
We hope you join us! If you want more information, email Info@wasgs.org.
The agenda will include the announcement of the 2026 Outstanding Volunteer and Team recipients, President’s Award for Outstanding Achievement and the Supportive Grant awards. We’ll also have a short presentation titled “Writing Your Family Story Using AI” with Forrest Adams, North Beach Genealogical Society and Grays Harbor Genealogical Society.
We hope you join us! If you want more information, email Info@wasgs.org.
Local societies, don’t forget the following deadlines for Outstanding Volunteer/Team awards, Supportive Grants and the President’s Award for Outstanding Achievement.
Outstanding Volunteer/Team awards: Due July 1. Every year, WSGS supports the nominations of local society members and teams that make societies better.
Supportive Grants: Due July 1. Two grants for $250 each may be awarded to projects that support the work and mission of local societies.
President’s Award for Outstanding Achievement: Due August 1. This award is given to single out that rare individual, society or organization who has demonstrated exemplary service above and beyond expectations.
Questions? Email Outreach@wasgs.org (Supportive Grants) or Info@wasgs.org (Outstanding Volunteer/Teams and President’s Award for Outstanding Achievement).
Local societies, don’t forget the following deadlines for Outstanding Volunteer/Team awards, Supportive Grants and the President’s Award for Outstanding Achievement.
Outstanding Volunteer/Team awards: Due July 1. Every year, WSGS supports the nominations of local society members and teams that make societies better.
Supportive Grants: Due July 1. Two grants for $250 each may be awarded to projects that support the work and mission of local societies.
President’s Award for Outstanding Achievement: Due August 1. This award is given to single out that rare individual, society or organization who has demonstrated exemplary service above and beyond expectations.
WSGS Annual Meeting: August 21, 6:30 p.m. The agenda will include the announcement of the 2025 Outstanding Volunteer and Team recipients, President’s Award for Outstanding Achievement and the Supportive Grant awards.
Questions? Email Outreach@wasgs.org (Supportive Grants) or Info@wasgs.org (Outstanding Volunteer/Teams and President’s Award for Outstanding Achievement).
LeAnne Koliha of Marysville has been nominated to serve as WSGS Vice President for the 2025-2026 term. Additionally, Frank McLean of Yakima has been nominated for another term as Treasurer. The term of offices is 01 Jan 2025 through 31 Dec 2026.
Online voting for the slate will begin 08 Dec 2024 and run through 15 Dec. All WSGS members will receive an email with a Google link to their anonymous ballot. Members are asked to vote for each position. Write-in nominations are allowed. There is also space for suggestions and comments.
LeAnne’s candidate statement:
LeAnne Kohila
I am excited to be nominated as Vice President of the Washington Society Genealogical Society. I look forward to this opportunity to serve as WSGS continues to find ways to support the local societies and individual genealogists.
I was born in Yakima, Washington, and have spent most of my life on оne side of the mountains or the other. After high school I spent a year as an exchange student living in The Netherlands. I graduated from Central Washington University with a major in special education.
After teaching for nine years, I went back to school myself. I received my law degree from Lewis and Clark Law School in 1985. I retired from the law in 1996. Being retired was boring so I went back into education until 2009.
My husband and I lived in Baton Rouge, Louisiana from 2010 until his health required him to take medical retirement and we returned to the Northwest.
I have been interested in genealogy for years. I have had the good fortune to be able to research my father’s family by visiting the areas of France and Germany where his parents were born. I am member of the Daughters of the American Revolution, Lady Stirling Chapter in Bothell, and Daughters of the American Colonists, Pilchuck Chapter in Lynnwood, where I am the chapter registrar. I am just finishing a term as vice president of the library for the Stillaguamish Valley Genealogical Society.
Frank’s candidate statement:
I have been a member of WSGS since 1988 and have served in nearly every office, including President and Treasurer. I am currently WSGS Treasurer, as well as chair of the Pioneer Certificate Program and chief reviewer of the Pioneer Pursuit effort. I am also the Buildings and Grounds supervisor at the Yakima Valley Genealogical Society.
Frank McLean
I have a vested interest in seeing the society become a more useful organization to local societies and individual genealogists. Over the years, I have seen a lot of changes in WSGS, but am hoping for more. I am particularly interested in making WSGS an organization that provides value to societies. WSGS is interested in what services and opportunities it can provide. I also hope we can generate interest in expanding individual participation, maybe serving on the board or helping some other way. I would appreciate your support in moving WSGS in a positive direction.
It’s that time of year! Time for your society to honor your outstanding volunteers or teams with an Outstanding Volunteer or Team Award.
No later than July 1, 2024: Submit the form and photograph of your honoree(s) to Info@wasgs.org. The narrative (approximately 150 words) should explain the accomplishments of your nominee/team and why you are honoring him/her/them. The photo should be a good quality digital photograph (at least 300 dpi).
September 1, 2024: Formal announcement of the recipients will be announced.
A few special notes:
Local societies can submit up to two individuals or one teams/projects for special recognition by WSGS. Contact Roxanne Lowe at Info@wasgs.org if you have an extraordinary situation.
The Outstanding Volunteer/Team Award program is not a competition – it is locally driven. All nominees from local societies will be honored with an Outstanding Volunteer/Team certificate, but we want these awards to be special, so please don’t nominate your whole society (even though they are outstanding!).
Posthumous awards may be considered.
If your nominee is camera shy & doesn’t want to have a picture submitted, that’s fine. Also, if you’re unable to snap a picture of your whole team, we’re okay with individual member photos.
Nominees may have received an Outstanding Volunteer award previously. Click here for a cumulative list of awardees (alpha by name and by society).
Please honor the July 1 timeline for nominations. There is a lot of behind-the-scenes work, including reviews, to be done before the announcement on September 1.
The nomination form is available here. Please complete one form per person or team.
Additional details and deadlines may be found at the WSGS website here.
Please contact Roxanne Lowe at Info@wasgs.org if you have questions or suggestions.
The nomination period for the Washington State Genealogical Society President’s Award for Outstanding Achievement is open. Nominations are due by 01 Aug 2024. The announcement will be made 01 Sep 2024.
The President’s Award for Outstanding Achievement is designed to single out that rare individual, society or organization who has demonstrated exemplary service above and beyond expectations.
The ideal recipient of the President’s Award for Outstanding Achievement has:
• Exhibited long-term, consistent service in the field of genealogy, family or local history, the genealogical community, records preservation or made an important single contribution in those areas that will endure into the future. • Demonstrated a high degree of energy, commitment, flexibility, and professional conduct. • Provided significant support and impact to the local genealogical community time and time again. • Exhibited personal influence and example to society members and/or the general public with their unselfish service. • Supported or advanced local or statewide genealogical research.
Nominations may be submitted by any individual, local society or organization, regardless of WSGS membership. Nominees do not have to have been officers in their local societies.
Previous recipients of this prestigious award include:
2015 – Fred Pflugrath, Wenatchee Area Genealogical Society
2016 – Margie Wilson, Skagit Valley Genealogical Society
2017 – Joanne Egbert Calhoun, Wenatchee Area Genealogical Society
2018 – Ann Olson, Olympia Genealogical Society
2021 – Helen McGreer Lewis, South King County Genealogical Society (posthumous)
2022 – Jill Morelli. Seattle Genealogical Society
2023 – Karen Mitchell, Clallam County Genealogical Society
Additional information, including the nomination form, is available here. Questions should be directed to Info@wasgs.org. Please type “President’s Award” in the Subject Line.
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