Author Archives: Roxanne Lowe

Cynthia Savage Harris Awarded 2016 Outstanding Volunteer Honor

by Roxanne Lowe

Since 2003, the Washington State Genealogical Society has recognized almost 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 2016 award recipients and learn why they received the 2016 WSGS Outstanding Volunteer and Team Award.

Cynthia Savage Harris

Today we’re introducing Cynthia Savage Harris, of Bellingham, Washington, who was nominated by the Whatcom Genealogical Society (WGS). She was recognized for sharing her tireless and innovative energies to educate the local society’s members and those interested in genealogy.

Using her innovative resourcefulness as education chair, Ms. Harris has produced educational and entertaining programs for the local society’s meetings for the past four years. She has also been in the forefront of organizing their annual genealogical conference. The programs have helped the WCGS grow by attracting many new members.

Ms. Harris’s pleasant attitude and dedication to the WGS’s projects are appreciated by all its members, and prove she richly deserved being a recipient of a 2016 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, Recognition Chair, at Roxanne@thekeeffes.com.

WSGS Bids Adieu to 2016

by Roxanne Lowe

As 2016 comes to a close, we want to reflect on the accomplishments of the Washington State Genealogical Society over the past 12 months. While there’s always more to do — and we’re going to continue working on improvements — we still celebrate what we’ve done and are getting ready to be bigger and better in 2017.

Here are a few of our most important accomplishments.

  • Successful partnership with Tacoma-Pierce County Genealogical Society to host the highly successful WSGS Conference and awards ceremony in June.
  • Our blog continues to get active readership. 465 (and counting!) posts were sent to more than 500 blog subscribers. We had 284 seminars and meetings posted throughout the year — up from 112 in 2015! Most popular posts were “Tip of the Week” and Donna Potter Phillips’ “Serendipity.”
  • We have 369 proud members of WSGS – highest membership in years.
  • Offered complimentary memberships to all local societies.
  • Updated the Board’s Standing Rules.
  • Outstanding Volunteers/Teams awards were presented to 20 individuals and 4 teams with 20 members from 17 local genealogical societies.
  • Innovative Grants awarded to:
    • Jefferson County Genealogical Society – upgrade software designed to index and preserve more than 400,000 local records.
    • Wenatchee Area Genealogical Society – event promotion to “adopt” coyote sculpture. See 28 Dec 2016 blog feature.
    • Whitman County Genealogical Society – assist with the purchase of a new society computer, 22” monitor and portable hard drive to ensure back-up of files.
  • President’s Award deservedly presented to Margie Wilson of Skagit Valley Genealogical Society.
  • Created the Education Assistance Fund to support local societies’ abilities to provide quality genealogical educational events.
  • Pioneer and First Citizen Certificates remain one of our most popular programs. Since its inception in 1984, more than 27,000 certificates have been issued. Check here for the index of early Washingtonians.
  • In our continuing effort to promote transparency and involvement, the Board minutes and society’s financial reports are now posted in the members’ area of website.
  • Website updated, with a special emphasis on the home page and publicizing local societies’ events and meetings.
  • Staffed WSGS information table at four events where we promoted WSGS, answered questions, and enrolled new members.

 

Wenatchee Area GS Adopts Coyote Using Innovative Grant

by Roxanne Lowe

WAGS Coyote

Hello, Mr. Coyote, how do you fare
Sitting and reading on the museum stair?
You are so handsome—really, quite dapper
Completely absorbed in your candy wrapper.

This excerpt of a poem written in 1996 by Mrs. Ella Dillon, a local writer and poet, was the perfect coda at the Wenatchee Area Genealogical Society’s (WAGS) recent “adoption ceremony” of “Coyote Reading a Candy Wrapper.” Renamed the WAGS Coyote, the sculpture by renowned Northwest artist Richard Beyer, was originally installed in 1995 by Art on the Avenues, a non-profit promoter of the arts in the Wenatchee Valley. That same year, the coyote was voted Wenatchee’s favorite sculpture, purchased by the city and placed on the steps of the Museum Annex at 217 S. Mission Street — the home of the Wenatchee Area Genealogical Society Library.

Since 1996, Coyote has been “fostered” by Terry and Suzanne Sorom, supporters of the Art on the Avenues program. At the adoption ceremony, the Sorom’s were delighted to officially transfer to WAGS their baton of care and concern for WAGS Coyote.

Using their 2016 Innovative Grant, WAGS hosted the not-so-serious adoption ceremony and celebration as the WAGS Coyote became their official mascot. The event was also an excellent opportunity to promote WAGS and its resource library with approximately 600,000 pieces of information. Local dignitaries, including the Mayor of Wenatchee, attended the unique event and toasted the occasion with Tree Top apple juice, a local favorite.

The WSGS Innovative Grants, up to $100, are designed to support the inventive and creative efforts of WSGS-member societies and organizations. Up to five grants will be awarded in 2017.

In addition to WAGS, last year’s grant awards were made to:

• Jefferson County Genealogical Society – upgrade software designed to index and preserve more than 400,000 local records.
• Whitman County Genealogical Society – assist with the purchase of a new society computer, 22” monitor and portable hard drive to ensure back-up of files.

The deadline for the Innovative Grant application is March 1, 2017. The simple application is only ONE page and is available here. Additional guidance on the program is here.

Roberta Griset Awarded 2016 Outstanding Volunteer Honor

by Roxanne Lowe

Since 2003, the Washington State Genealogical Society has recognized almost 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 2016 award recipients and learn why they received the 2016 WSGS Outstanding Volunteer and Team Award.

Roberta Griset

Roberta Griset

Today we’re introducing Roberta Griset of Sequim, Washington, who was nominated by the Clallam County Genealogical Society (CCGS). She was recognized for her hard-working commitment to the society and field of genealogy.

For years, Ms. Griset has been the backbone supporting CCGS. She has served as president for three years and is currently the society’s vice president. She has also served as the society’s volunteer coordinator, making sure the research center is staffed, filling in herself when needed. She arranges for meeting and seminar speakers, sometimes even hosting out-of-town speakers at her home. For a number of years, she edited and published the society’s quarterly newsletter and even now works closely with the new editor.

Needless to say, Ms. Griset’s numerous contributions to the CCGS are invaluable, thereby proving she richly deserved being a recipient of a 2016 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, Recognition Chair, at Roxanne@thekeeffes.com.

Meet the Board: Melonie Liening

by Roxanne Lowe

Do you know who’s running the show at the Washington State Genealogical Society? Did you know we have an Executive Committee, six standing committee chairs and three appointed non-elected officers? Who are all these people? In the coming months, we’ll introduce them to you, so you can say “hi” the next time you see them.

Melonie Liening

In today’s “Meet the Board” series, we’re introducing you to Melonie Liening from Tacoma. Melonie is the Regional Representative for Region 2 which includes King and Pierce Counties. She has been a member of WSGS since 2014.

Melonie Ann Sackman was born in Sedro Woolley, Washington to Leroy and Mollie Sackman. Her roots run deep in Skagit County as both of her parents were from Sedro Woolley, too.

Melonie and her husband Ralph celebrated their 40th wedding anniversary in June and have four grown children: three sons and a daughter. While they don’t have any grandchildren yet, they do have a “granddog” and “grandcat.”

Melonie’s grandparents Gottlieb Sackman and Katherine Kreis

Melonie has been doing genealogical research for 35 years, mostly Germans from Russia which includes her Dad‘s and husband’s sides of the family. She became interested in her German family around age 12 when her uncle gave her a very rough sketch of their Sackman family on a scrap of paper — just names, no places or dates, but mentioned the family was from Russia. Her love of genealogy began to grow in her 20’s as a night out for herself when her children were young.  She would go to the local Family History Center about once a week to do a bit of research after her husband got home from work.  Since those early years, her passion has evolved far more than she ever could have imagined with several filing cabinets, many books, etc. as well as trips to Europe to visit homeland villages, relatives she initially met via the mail or email and appreciation of the life and struggles of her ancestors as well as a greater understanding of history.  Melonie taught herself to read the German and Polish records — but draws the line at learning Russian!  Most recently, Melonie has been working with the American lines on her mother’s side which include seven patriot ancestors!

Melonie in her DAR dress

Melonie has traveled to Poland, Ukraine, Germany and New England in search of ancestral records. One of her most exciting finds was seeing an original 1726 tax book with her Georg Dammel ancestor listed and the amount of money paid. The tax book was in the private home of a woman living in the village of Grötzingen, Germany. The woman’s father was a former mayor of the village and had kept the tax books all these years in his home.

Besides being a proud member of WSGS, Melonie is a member of the Mary Ball Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) in Tacoma, Tacoma-Pierce County Genealogical Society, The Society of German Genealogy in Eastern Europe where she has been a board member for 2-1/2 years, currently serving as secretary as well as a member of the International German Genealogical Partnership, a new group that is planning an outstanding conference for all things German this summer in Minneapolis. (For more information on the International Germanic Genealogy Conference, click here.)

A few other interesting tidbits about Melonie:

  • Her favorite color is pink.
  • Her favorite dessert is Angel Food Cake.
  • Besides genealogy, her favorite hobbies are related to history and children.
  • She particularly recommends the Society for German Genealogy in Eastern Europe (SGGEE) website for those interested in genealogy of Germans from Russian Poland and Volhynia.

Now you know a little more about one of the WSGS Board members. The next time you see Melonie, say hello and thank her for her service to the WSGS.

Bill Floberg Awarded 2016 Outstanding Volunteer Honor

by Roxanne Lowe

Since 2003, the Washington State Genealogical Society has recognized almost 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 2016 award recipients and learn why they received the 2016 WSGS Outstanding Volunteer and Team Award.

Bill Floberg

Bill Floberg

Today we’re introducing Bill Floberg of Kennewick, Washington, who was nominated by the Tri-City Genealogical Society (TCGS). He was recognized for his many years of support, encouragement and assistance to the society.

Mr. Floberg is one who is always working quietly in the background tending to the less than glamorous, but absolutely necessary, things that make a society successful. He can always be counted on to help whenever help is needed. For example, he manned the bookstore at the TCGS “Traveling Through Time” seminar in the fall of 2015. Had he not volunteered, there might not have been a bookstore.

At present, Mr. Floberg is serving as vice-president of TCGS. He has also served as the membership chair for the last four years and chair of the judging committee for the year-long TCGS Archived Document Contest.

Mr. Floberg is the definition of the word volunteer, thereby proving he richly deserved being a recipient of a 2016 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, Recognition Chair, at Roxanne@thekeeffes.com.

SCGS Announces Free Webinar Schedule

by Roxanne Lowe

The Southern California Genealogical Society (SCGS) has announced its highly acclaimed Jamboree Extension Series Webinar schedule for 2017.

The webinars offer a wide range of topics to build skills, whether you’re a beginner or professional genealogist.

All live broadcasts of the webinars are free and are offered the first Saturday of each month (10:00 a.m.) and third Wednesday (6:00 p.m.). You can attend on your computer, tablet or smart phone.

For more information and registration, visit the SCGS webinar series website.

Ginny Majewski Elected WSGS President

by Roxanne Lowe

Virginia “Ginny” Majewski

Virginia “Ginny” Majewski from Sequim has been elected President of the Washington State Genealogical Society for the 2017 – 2018 term. Currently, Ginny is WSGS Secretary and also President of the Clallam County Genealogical Society. She replaces Mikal McKinnon from Richland who presided over the society for two terms, 2013 – 2017.

In other election news, Karin Coppernoll from Monroe and Opal Myhres from Yakima were elected Secretary and Region 5 Representative (Kittitas, Klickitat, and Yakima counties), respectively.

For more information about Ginny and Karin, read the 01 Dec 2017 blog post.

Lewis County’s Ulster Workshop Team Awarded 2016 Outstanding Team Award

by Roxanne Lowe

Since 2003, the Washington State Genealogical Society has recognized almost 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 2016 award recipients and learn why they received a 2016 WSGS Outstanding Volunteer and Team Award.

Ulster Workshop Team

Ulster Workshop Team

Today we’re introducing the Ulster Workshop Team who was nominated by the Lewis County Genealogical Society (LCGS). Team members included Leslee Dunlap, Leslie Parnell, Patricia Olsen, Joann Hulse, Sam McReynolds, Margie Lloyd, and Pam Hopwood.

Braving significant financial risk by the small society, the workshop team took on the herculean task of hosting the Ulster Historical Foundation on one of only 12 stops on its 2016 North American tour. Members of the team worked countless hours advertising the event, coordinating with the host facility, arranging door prizes and making decorations for the event. As a result of their efforts, nearly 100 enthusiastic attendees enjoyed a day of learning and discovery.

The group did an outstanding job of advertising, organizing, and executing the workshop. As a result, they are richly deserving of being named a 2016 Outstanding Volunteer Team by the Washington State Genealogical Society.

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