Author Archives: Roxanne Lowe

AI Workshop Coming Soon!

by Roxanne Lowe

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.

Reminder: WSGS Annual Meeting — August 27, 2026

by Roxanne Lowe

You’re invited to the WSGS’s annual meeting! Thursday, August 27, 6:30 p.m. via Zoom.

In compliance with Washington’s Nonprofit Corporation Act (24.03A), we’re holding our annual meeting.

Here’s the Zoom link:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84911154165?pwd=6w3P7KCgNunmb1YseVyo9NDtB98262.1

Meeting ID: 849 1115 4165
Passcode: 113167

Phone: +16694449171,,84911154165#,,,,*113167# US

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.

Reminder: WSGS Annual Meeting — August 27, 2026

by Roxanne Lowe

You’re invited to the WSGS’s annual meeting! Thursday, August 27, 6:30 p.m. via Zoom.

In compliance with Washington’s Nonprofit Corporation Act (24.03A), we’re holding our annual meeting.

Here’s the Zoom link:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84911154165?pwd=6w3P7KCgNunmb1YseVyo9NDtB98262.1

Meeting ID: 849 1115 4165
Passcode: 113167

Phone: +16694449171,,84911154165#,,,,*113167# US

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.

Artificial Intelligence is Coming to You!

by Roxanne Lowe

The Washington State Genealogical Society is sponsoring a free workshop with Lisa Louise Cooke on “Make AI Your Personal Genealogy Assistant.”

Date: October 22, 6:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.

Registration will open on September 15. Space is limited to 100 participants.

This FREE workshop is open to all WSGS members, local society members and Blog subscribers.

If you have questions, email Info@wasgs.org. Please put “AI Workshop” in the subject line.

New Website is Almost Here

by Roxanne Lowe

In the next day or two, WSGS will have a brand new look!

For years, WSGS has run on the ENS-C (EasyNetSites-Classic) platform — and it’s served us well. But technology moves on, and ENS-C is being phased out. So we’re migrating to its successor, ENS-R (Responsive), built by the same company, Blue Crab Software in Chapel Hill, North Carolina.

What’s changing

ENS-R keeps everything you rely on — our search tools, member database, Pioneer Pursuit Index, cemetery information and site organization — while adding a modern, mobile-friendly design. Pages will automatically resize for phones, tablets, and desktops, so browsing on your phone will finally feel as smooth as on a computer. You’ll also notice larger text and a top navigation menu instead of the sidebar.

What’s staying the same

The blog isn’t changing. It moved to a new server months ago without any issues, and this update won’t affect it.

What you need to do — right now, nothing

We’ve spent months testing in a private preview environment to catch problems before they reach you. As with any technology change, small hiccups are possible, and we appreciate your patience if anything needs fine-tuning after launch.

Once ENS-R goes live, we’ll email members with simple instructions for resetting your password to access the Members Only area. Until then, there’s nothing you need to do.

If you have questions about the new website, please email Info@wasgs.org. Thank you in advance for your patience!

WSGS Annual Meeting — August 27, 2026

by Roxanne Lowe

You’re invited to the WSGS’s annual meeting! Thursday, August 27, 6:30 p.m. via Zoom.

In compliance with Washington’s Nonprofit Corporation Act (24.03A), we’re holding our annual meeting.

Here’s the Zoom link:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84911154165?pwd=6w3P7KCgNunmb1YseVyo9NDtB98262.1

Meeting ID: 849 1115 4165
Passcode: 113167

Phone: +16694449171,,84911154165#,,,,*113167# US

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.

Looking for Johns River Pioneer Cemetery burials

by Roxanne Lowe
Jason Fry (Oregon Trail Pioneer in 1947) and his wife Annette Huntington

If anyone has access to information on the John’s River Pioneer Cemetery “inhabitants,” Mary Anderson would like to hear from you.

Mary Anderson, Tacoma FamilySearch Center Director and a member of the pionner Fry family, is looking for pictures, stories, and any information on those buried in the Johns River Pioneer Cemetery in Markham, Washington (Grays Harbor County). She knows there are many more than the 18 listed in Find A Grave. In fact, she currently has 30 names, including her Fry family. Some of the surnames include: Fry, Phillips, Watson, Jones, Clark, McLeod, Luark, Atwood, Grimes, Nagle and Vorhies. 

One of her group has drawings and pictures of the headstones as they are now and which ones are missing according to a relative that wrote everything down prior to passing in the 1990s. Some of the headstones were made of cedar in early times and no longer exist.  There is also had a large stump with names carved into it.

If you know anything about the Johns River Pioneer Cemetery, please contact Mary Anderson at msynergy007@gmail.com.

Valorie Cowan Zimmerman Named One of WSGS’s Outstanding Volunteers in 2025

by Roxanne Lowe

Since 2003, the Washington State Genealogical Society has recognized over 600 outstanding volunteers and teams, nominated by their local society or genealogical organization for their service and dedication. These volunteers are the backbone of their local society, giving their time and expertise, to the organization and the field of genealogy. In the coming months, you will be introduced to each of the 2025 award recipients and learn why they received they received a WSGS Outstanding Volunteer and Team Award.

Today we’re introducing Valorie Cowan Zimmerman of Kent, Washington who was selected by the South King County Genealogical Society as its recipients of a WSGS Outstanding Volunteer Award.

Valorie has served SKCGS as president from 2001 to 2025. Her service to the society has gone far beyond the duties of president. Some of Valorie’s accomplishments include organizing and leading a research study group and the Genetic Genealogy/ DNA Special Interest Group. She also participated in the leadership of the Technical Users Group and FamilyTree Maker Special Interest Groups.

Valorie was a member of the SKCGS publicity team which earned a WSGS Outstanding Team Award in 2024. She was also a member of the Going Virtual Team that earned an award in 2022. Valorie has actively participated in the SKCGS Education Committee, written many weekly blog posts, served as a genealogy help desk volunteer in King County libraries and represented SKCGS on the Washington Presidents’ Council. She also served as vice president of WSGS from 2021 to 2024.

For more information on the WSGS Outstanding Volunteer Award program, visit the Recognition page of the WSGS website or contact Info@wasgs.org. Please type “Volunteer Award” in the subject line.

YVGS Binding Project Named One of WSGS’s Outstanding Teams in 2025

by Roxanne Lowe

Since 2003, the Washington State Genealogical Society has recognized over 600 outstanding volunteers and teams, nominated by their local society or genealogical organization for their service and dedication. These volunteers are the backbone of their local society, giving their time and expertise, to the organization and the field of genealogy. In the coming months, you will be introduced to each of the 2025 award recipients and learn why they received they received a WSGS Outstanding Volunteer and Team Award.

Today we’re introducing the YVGS Binding Project who was selected by the Yakima Valley Genealogical Society (YVGS) as their recipient of a WSGS Outstanding Team Award. The team is composed of Larry Ball and Don Boatright.

In 2011, Don became an invaluable member of YVGS. He served as membership chair from 2011-2022 and increased our membership over 300.  He also started helping our librarian rebinding our materials that needed maintenance and binding bulletins.  Don also worked at our semi-annual yard sales for years.

Larry joined our society in 2019 and immediately became a valued member.  He is a retired electrician and has helped maintain our outside and inside lighting and other electrical needs.  He has faithfully worked our semi-annual yard sales and is learning the job of book binding from Don. 

For more information on the WSGS Outstanding Volunteer Award program, visit the Recognition page of the WSGS website or contact Info@wasgs.org. Please type “Volunteer Award” in the subject line.

WAGS Publicity Team Named One of WSGS’s Outstanding Teams in 2025

by Roxanne Lowe

Since 2003, the Washington State Genealogical Society has recognized over 600 outstanding volunteers and teams, nominated by their local society or genealogical organization for their service and dedication. These volunteers are the backbone of their local society, giving their time and expertise, to the organization and the field of genealogy. In the coming months, you will be introduced to each of the 2025 award recipients and learn why they received they received a WSGS Outstanding Volunteer and Team Award.

Today we’re introducing the WAGS Publicity Team who was selected by the Wenatchee Area Genealogical Society (WAGS) as their recipient of a WSGS Outstanding Team Award. The team is composed of Kari Strain and Kris McGregor.

Kris and Kari are an energetic and creative publicity team—absolutely fearless when it comes to contacting people and trying new things. Kris began posting on our WAGS Facebook page a couple years back, and Kari has added her technical expertise, creating a much stronger community connection for our social media presence.

The duo also served as our nominating committee this year, contacting members in an effort to fill board positions. They are also key players in our library’s relocation efforts, again boldly asking around the community for leads and assistance. 

For more information on the WSGS Outstanding Volunteer Award program, visit the Recognition page of the WSGS website or contact Info@wasgs.org. Please type “Volunteer Award” in the subject line.