Author Archives: Roxanne Lowe

The “Lowe Down” on the Tacoma-Pierce County Seminar

by Roxanne Lowe

Additional tables had to be brought in to accommodate the crowd.

“Slow down. Mull and ponder.” That was a frequent reminder from J. Mark Lowe, the featured speaker at Tacoma-Pierce County Genealogical Society‘s Spring Seminar on April 27 and 28, 2018. Good advice to someone (like me!) who often jumps from rabbit hole to rabbit hole while researching my family history — and other activities.

Quite the storyteller, Mark captured and held the attention of a roomful of enthusiasts with tales of his Southern family. His presentations included using online newspapers; finding and using sources at home or your library; migration through Virginia, the Carolinas, Kentucky and Tennessee; and a using a brick wall as a foundation for your research.

Mark Lowe and Mistress of Ceremonies Cyndi Ingle. What great chemistry between those two!

We learned to consider that brick walls were of our own making and could be used as a stepping stone to further research. He encouraged us to start with a research plan and complete that question. Even if we didn’t get an answer to the research question, we should document that, then move on to a new question. He also encouraged us to think about the big picture, open our minds to every possibility and not get too myopic — remember that research plan — and mull and ponder the possibilities!

Tacoma-Pierce County Genealogical Society always hosts a first-rate seminar. Good location, good organization, very welcoming. They are so well-organized, they’ve already lined up their speaker for 2019: Michael Lacopo, DVM. Dr. Lacopo has a varied and interesting ancestry and is a self-described “all-American mutt.” Mark your calendar for April 26 – 27, 2019.

 

Catherine and Gilbert Wooden Awarded 2017 Outstanding Volunteer Honors

by Roxanne Lowe

Since 2003, the Washington State Genealogical Society has recognized over 500 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 weeks, you will be introduced to each of the 2017 award recipients and learn why they received the 2017 WSGS Outstanding Volunteer and Team Award.

Catherine Wooden

Gilbert Wooden

Today we’re introducing Catherine and Gilbert Wooden of Renton, Washington, who were nominated by the South King County Genealogical Society (SKCGS). This dedicated duo was recognized for their loyal service to the operation of their local society.

Cathy and Gil provide the crucial behind- the-scenes support every society depends on for smooth operation. Cathy always serves at registration tables, providing name tags, handouts or other items as needed. Gil has operated the audio equipment for meetings, transporting everything back and forth from home to venue. They both have served on the board of directors and various committees.

Cathy and Gil are respected and diligent members of the SKCGS, and richly deserve the honor of being Washington State Genealogical Society Outstanding Volunteers.

For more information on the WSGS Outstanding Volunteer Award program, visit the Recognition page of the WSGS website or contact Roxanne Lowe, Interim Recognition Chair, at Roxanne@thekeeffes.com.

Join us in Vancouver

by Roxanne Lowe

Momentum is building for a fabulous and meaningful weekend full of genealogical as well as historical events! Register now for the Clark County Genealogical Society‘s Spring Seminar with David Allen Lambert from the New England Historic Genealogical Society. Registration info here.

And there’s more!

  • The Washington State Genealogical Society will be presenting their awards during the seminar’s lunch hour on Saturday.
  • An 1833-35 Hudson Bay Company (HBC) descendant is attending the HCB Gala Reception Friday evening and he has stories.
  • The Ft. Vancouver Tapestry will be showing at the CCGS Library Annex for 5 Full Days (24th-28th).
  • There’s a walking Cemetery Tour is scheduled for Sunday (meet up at Library).

Tacoma-Pierce County Seminar Kicks Off

by Roxanne Lowe

Roxanne Lowe and Mark Lowe are still looking for their family confluence — somewhere in the hills of North Carolina.

If Tacoma-Pierce County Genealogical Society‘s kick-off Meet & Greet with J. Mark Lowe is any indication, the  main event on Saturday, April 28, 2018 is going to be a fun ride! At the Friday night event, Mark entertained the attendees while they dined on a scrumptious dessert buffet. What could be better than laughter and chocolate!

A good ol’ Southern boy from Tennessee, Mark is a born storyteller from a long line of storytellers. Every lesson he shared had a witty, entertaining story behind it — from driving sheep to Atlanta to the escapades of his pistol-packin’ grandma. For him, it’s all about the story, urging all of us to “tell your stories or they’ll die.”

You can register on-site for the Tacoma-Pierce County Genealogical Society’s Spring Seminar  at the LaQuinta Inn, 1425 East 27th Street in Tacoma. Registration opens at 8:00 a.m. with opening remarks by Cyndi Ingle at 9:00.

Olympia Gen Soc Hosts Successful Seminar

by Roxanne Lowe

Keynote speaker Lisa Alzo and OGS President Nancy Neville Cordell

It comes as no surprise that the Olympia Genealogical Society‘s Spring Seminar was a resounding success. Lisa Alzo, professional writer, lecturer and genealogist rolled into one terrific presenter, entertained and educated more than 110 attendees on Saturday, April 7, 2018. Her topics included:

  • Immigrant Cluster Communities: Past, Present and Future
  • Silent Voices: Telling the Stories of Your Female Immigrant Ancestors
  • Diseases, Disasters and Distress: Bad for Your Ancestors, Good for Genealogy
  • Murder, Mayhem and Town Tragedy Making Those Skeletons Dance: Exploring Your Family’s Dark Side

Roger Newman from Shelton won one of the raffles. Photo by Patty Olsen.

Always a first-rate affair, Olympia’s Spring Seminar also included book sales and fabulous raffle baskets. It was also a great opportunity to welcome and network with fellow genealogists from the area.

There are a number of upcoming seminars in the region. Check out this blog post for a list.

Societies: If you’d like to promote your workshop or seminar on the WSGS Blog, send a flyer or paragraph to WSGSBlog@wasgs.org. We’d love to share it with our readers!

John Jay Winsor Awarded 2017 Outstanding Volunteer Honor

by Roxanne Lowe

Since 2003, the Washington State Genealogical Society has recognized over 500 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 weeks, you will be introduced to each of the 2017 award recipients and learn why they received the 2017 WSGS Outstanding Volunteer and Team Award.

John Jay Winsor

Today we’re introducing John Jay Winsor of Marysville, Washington, who was nominated by the Stillaguamish Valley Genealogical Society (SVGS). He was recognized for his dedicated volunteerism at SVGS for the many years he was a member of the society.

Always greeting everyone with a pleasant smile and good cheer, Mr. Winsor’s willingness to pitch in with any manual labor that the society was in need of will never be surpassed. The society’s only regret is that this award must be given posthumously, due to his sudden passing January 28, 2017.

Mr. Winsor was truly a humble and wise man who quietly donated to the Northwest Genealogy Conference scholarship program. Members of the SVGS are grateful for the time they had with him.

His dedication and willingness to help where needed illustrate why he richly deserved being a recipient of a 2017 WSGS Outstanding Volunteer Award.

For more information on the WSGS Outstanding Volunteer Award program, visit the Recognition page of the WSGS website or contact Roxanne Lowe, Interim Recognition Chair, at Roxanne@thekeeffes.com.

David Allen Lambert Coming to Vancouver — You Should, Too!

by Roxanne Lowe

Register now for the Clark County Genealogical Society‘s Spring Seminar on Saturday, May 26. An added bonus to the day is the Washington State Genealogical Society’s Recognition Event during the lunch hour. Registration information and form are available here.

Clark County and their partners have organized a weekend-long event, packed with a wide variety of activities. The Saturday seminar key speaker will be David Allen Lambert. Serving as chief genealogist for the venerable New England Historic Genealogical Society (NEHGS), David’s seminar topics include 1) World War 1 Military; 2) Great Migration Era settler research; and 3) Probate & Deed Records research.

Friday, May 25
7:00 p.m. – 9:30 p.m.

As an honored guest at the Hudson Bay Company Gala Reception Friday evening, David Allen Lambert will be sharing his genealogical gems; seemingly small finds that lead to amazing stories. CCGS is collaborating with Friends of Fort Vancouver to bring some of the wonderful Fort interpreters as guests. The Hudson Bay Company Gala Reception will be held at the Artillery Barracks of the Fort Vancouver National Historic Site, 600 Hathaway Rd. in Vancouver.

Saturday, May 26
8:00 a.m. – 3 p.m.

The seminar includes three lectures from David Allen Lambert, NEHGS chief genealogist. Additionally, the Washington State Genealogical Society will announce their annual recognition awards. The event will be at  the Historic Red Cross Building, 605 Barnes Street in Vancouver.

Sunday, May 27
10:00 a.m. – 3 p.m.

The Clark County Genealogical Society will host a library open house at 715 Grand Blvd, Vancouver. A guided cemetery tour is also planned; brochures will be available for other self-guided tours.

Before and During Memorial Weekend

For 5 days before and during Memorial Weekend, The Fort Vancouver Tapestry will be displayed at the CCGS Library. Completed in 2005, this historic community project required 57 skilled stitchery workers contributing 100,000 hours over 5 plus years.

Accommodations

For out-of-towners, the Hilton Hotel offered special rates. The CCGS group reservation code is CCG. Click here for the special rate.

Pam Stinson Awarded 2017 Outstanding Volunteer Honor

by Roxanne Lowe

Since 2003, the Washington State Genealogical Society has recognized over 500 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 2017 award recipients and learn why they received the 2017 WSGS Outstanding Volunteer and Team Award.

Pam Stinson

Today we’re introducing Pam Stinson of Sequim, Washington, who was nominated by the Jefferson County Genealogical Society (JCGS). She was recognized for her untiring support of the society.

Ms. Stinson served as vice president from 2013 to 2016 and spent many hours helping re-write JCGS’s policies and procedures, as well as update executive board and volunteer job descriptions. She also was instrumental in helping the team transition to an updated version of the society’s genealogical database.

Currently, Ms. Stinson is the chair of the technology committee which oversees the computer equipment, the JCGS website and the society’s technology needs. She is also the liaison to the local historical society with which JCGS shares a facility, where she maintains a good working relationship between the two societies.

Ms. Stinson is always willing to offer her time to make the Jefferson County Genealogical Society a great resource for all researchers. For all these reasons, she richly deserved being a recipient of a 2017 WSGS Outstanding Volunteer Award.

For more information on the WSGS Outstanding Volunteer Award program, visit the Recognition page of the WSGS website or contact Roxanne Lowe, Interim Recognition Chair, at Roxanne@thekeeffes.com.

Natalie Stien Awarded 2017 Outstanding Volunteer Honor

by Roxanne Lowe

Since 2003, the Washington State Genealogical Society has recognized over 500 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 2017 award recipients and learn why they received the 2017 WSGS Outstanding Volunteer and Team Award.

Natalie Stien

Today we’re introducing Natalie Stien of Redmond, Washington, who was nominated by the Jewish Genealogical Society of Washington State (JGSWS). She was recognized for her dedication to excellence during the 2016 International Association of Jewish Genealogical Societies annual (IAJGS) conference in Seattle.

Ms. Stien joined JGSWS in 2004, volunteering right away for various positions. However, her commitment to getting the job done right was exemplified when JGSWS co-hosted the International Association of Jewish Genealogical Societies Annual (IAJGS) Conference in Seattle in August 2016. Ms. Stien served as a volunteer co-chair, a monumental job coordinating dozens of volunteers for the six-day conference. She was the first to arrive and the last to leave every day of the conference, often working 15-hour days. Her responsibilities included determining where volunteers would be needed, finding and adopting a software program that volunteers could use to sign themselves up for specific tasks and time slots, and dealing with last-minute schedule changes.

According to fellow JGSWS board members, Ms. Stien was often the first to volunteer for any extra tasks needed to support the organization. This display of dedication illustrates that Ms. Stien richly deserved being a recipient of a 2017 WSGS Outstanding Volunteer Award.

For more information on the WSGS Outstanding Volunteer Award program, visit the Recognition page of the WSGS website or contact Roxanne Lowe, Interim Recognition Chair, at Roxanne@thekeeffes.com.

Register Now for Clark County Spring Seminar and WSGS Recognition Event

by Roxanne Lowe

The WSGS Annual Meeting and Awards Ceremony, which includes the announcement of the Outstanding Volunteer and Team awards, Outstanding Communication and Project awards,  WSGS President’s Award for Outstanding Achievement and Innovative Grant winners, will be Saturday, May 26, 2018 during the lunch period of Clark County Genealogical Society‘s Spring Seminar. The seminar and awards event will be held at the Fort Vancouver National Historic Site in Vancouver.

David Allen Lambert

The seminar’s featured speaker will be David Allen Lambert, New England Historic Genealogical Society‘s chief genealogist. His seminar topics include:

  • World War 1 Military
  • Great Migration Era settler research
  • Probate & Deed Records research

CCGS has planned other events during the weekend, including:

  • Hudson Bay Company Gala Reception on Friday night. David will be the honored guest and will share his genealogical gems: seemingly small finds that led to amazing stories.
  • A guided Cemetery Tour is proposed for Sunday. There will also be brochures for other local self-guided tours available at the CCGS Library.
  • For the five days before and during Memorial Weekend, The Fort Vancouver Tapestry will be displayed at the CCGS Library. Completed in 2005, this historic community project required 57 skilled stitchery workers contributing 100,000 hours over more than five years.  For more information, visit http://www.fortvancouvertapestry.com.

For out-of-towners, the Hilton Hotel is offering special rates.  The Hilton’s web access page is:  http://www.hilton.com/en/hi/groups/personalized/P/PDXVAHH-CCG-20180525/index.jhtml?WT.mc_id=POG. Be sure to  mention the CCGS group reservation code CCG.

The CCGS Spring Seminar flyer, including a registration form, can be downloaded by clicking on REGISTRATION FORM seminar 2018 or visit the CCGS website.