Category Archives: Outstanding Volunteers

Florance Nelson Named One of 2022’s Outstanding Volunteers

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 2022 award recipients and learn why they received the 2022 WSGS Outstanding Volunteer and Team Award.

Today we’re introducing Florance Irene McDonald Nelson of Buena, Washington, who was nominated by the Yakima Valley Genealogical Society (YVGS).

Florance Nelson

Florance joined YVGS around 2005 when she retired and moved to the Yakima Valley.  Always willing to help, she was appointed historian of the society in 2012 and served as such ever since. This is a job requiring her to maintain the society’s scrapbooks of events, photos, etc.

She has been involved in many aspects of YVGS and is a staff volunteer librarian devoting every Friday and one Saturday a month at the library. She helps with the hospitality committee and assists in publicity for the society.  She shows up for every fundraiser and can work circles around many of the members.

Florance took over as temporary corresponding secretary in 2019 for an ill member and was elected to that position this year.  Members like Florance keep YVGS strong. 

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.

Celia McNay Named One of 2022’s Outstanding Volunteers

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 2022 award recipients and learn why they received the 2022 WSGS Outstanding Volunteer and Team Award.

Celia McNay

Today we’re introducing Celia McNay of North Bend, Washington, who was nominated by the Eastside Genealogical Society (EGS).

Celia has served for four years (2016-2020) as the president of the EGS, and continues to be the driving force behind the recruitment of new members. She also has fostered closer relationships with other local, regional and national genealogical societies and organizations and participated in outreach meetings with the public at large.

She spearheaded the digitization of the paper records of the EGS including newsletters and minutes so that the society’s history is both preserved and accessible for the future.

Celia organized highly successful week-long research trips to the Family History Library in Salt Lake for EGS members in 2018 and 2019. Only COVID prevented a third such research trip in 2020.

Here, closer to home, Celia has been a speaker in both genealogical workshops and genealogy classes for the Bellevue Regional Library both in person and later on Zoom. She continues to serve actively in the society as a member of the nomination committee and the membership committee chair. Celia is very personable and a dedicated genealogist, generous with her time and always willing to assist others. Not surprisingly she is active in her local FHC as well. She is an outstanding volunteer with a special grace and a smile.

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.

Barbara McGill Named One of 2022’s Outstanding Volunteers

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 2022 award recipients and learn why they received the 2022 WSGS Outstanding Volunteer and Team Award.

Barb McGill

Today we’re introducing Barbara McGill of Usk, Washington, who was nominated by the Northeast Washington Genealogical Society (NeWGS).

Barb is currently serving as NeWGS’s vice president. She jumped into the position full-speed ahead! One of the main responsibilities of the vice president is to line up the society’s monthly programs and she has done an outstanding job. Even through the pandemic, Barb managed to provide interesting and informative classes each and every month, adapting to the virtual world to present them.

Although admittedly not a computer whiz, she also agreed to maintain the events page on NeWGS’s website.

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.

Ann McCeery Named One of 2022’s Outstanding Volunteers

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 2022 award recipients and learn why they received the 2022 WSGS Outstanding Volunteer and Team Award.

Ann McCreery

Today we’re introducing Ann McCreery of Port Townsend, Washington, who was nominated by the Jefferson County Genealogical Society (JCGS).

Ann exhibited extraordinary dedication, knowledge, skill and patience while shepherding the board through a year-long process, during the COVID-19 pandemic, over Zoom, to create the society’s strategic plan.

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.

Terry Mattison Named One of 2022’s Outstanding Volunteers

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 2022 award recipients and learn why they received the 2022 WSGS Outstanding Volunteer and Team Award.

Today we’re introducing Teresa “Terry” Mattison of Longview, Washington, who was nominated by the Lower Columbia Genealogical Society (LCGS).

Terry Mattison

Terry has been a very active member of the society for a number of years. She has served as president as well as a trustee serving on the program committee. She is currently the web page webmaster, and she is seeking ways to improve the society’s webpage. She is also a strong voice as a board member, and she advocates for new and innovative ideas to assist the members with their genealogical research.

Terry has presented various programs to help members interpret their DNA results, and she has written articles for the society’s newsletter, The Key, on the subject of DNA. As one LCGS member stated, “She offers herself rather than waiting to be asked.”

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.

Hank LuBean Named One of 2022’s Outstanding Volunteers

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 2022 award recipients and learn why they received the 2022 WSGS Outstanding Volunteer and Team Award.

Today we’re introducing Hank LuBean of East Wenatchee, Washington, who was nominated by the Wenatchee Area Genealogical Society (WAGS).

Hank LuBean

As WAGS’ technology chair, Hank had set up a digitizing system in 2018/19 for the society, creating a state-of-the-art digitizing station, and programming and building a website and database to archive digitized items. These very successful projects garnered Hank the WAGS Outstanding Volunteer designation in 2019.

Then WAGS got word that EasyNet Sites, our web provider, was going out of business. Hank suggested we create and maintain our own website, and volunteered to take on the task. He had previous experience making websites for family and some smaller groups around town, but WAGS was a bigger challenge, needing to include ordering merchandise; creating and tracking memberships and receiving payments; creating specialized pages for historical photos and large databases; the previous digitized archive and other databases; and a specialized search engine. Hank’s perseverance and commitment to making documents available to others has resulted in an attractive and functional new website. An important part of his approach is training others to be able to navigate the site and edit and revise.

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.”

Tina Lawson Named One of 2022’s Outstanding Volunteers

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 2022 award recipients and learn why they received the 2022 WSGS Outstanding Volunteer and Team Award.

Today we’re introducing Tina Lawson of Auburn, Washington, who was nominated by the South King County Genealogical Society (SKCGS).

Tina joined SKCGS in February 2020, just in time to help us pivot to an online-only world. Soon after accepting the publicity team leader role, she began to actively administer the society’s Google Workspace, which was previously mostly unused. By creating a shared calendar, shared drives for each team, and improving the team email lists, she greatly facilitated the work of the board. Then she created an internal website, The Hub, for board volunteer use, along with hundreds of hours of private volunteer training.

SKCGS would not have been able to thrive without her invaluable support to the board and other volunteers. She has quietly given each of the members hours of her time, not just giving resources such as The Hub, but also individual help and training. “The Magic Show” (collaborative, participatory meetings) could not have existed without the support of the board and Tina’s technical and personal expertise.

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.”

LeeRoy Kind Named One of 2022’s Outstanding Volunteers

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 2022 award recipients and learn why they received the 2022 WSGS Outstanding Volunteer and Team Award.

Today we’re introducing LeeRoy Kind of Marysville, Washington, who was nominated by the Stillaguamish Valley Genealogical Society (SVGS).

LeeRoy Kind

As a volunteer, LeeRoy enjoys training patrons: 1) how to do research on their own and, 2) how to use the SVGS library. He became a volunteer in 2009, and served as parking lot attendant coordinator and speaker monitor for the Northwest Genealogy Conference. In his earliest days with SVGS, he digitized obituaries and entered data from area newspapers for SVGS’s online Death Index. More currently, he has been the driving force behind the Weller Funeral Home Card Digitization Project.

In LeeRoy’s opinion, one of the most important things to remember when doing research is that we’re not going to find everything we’re looking for the first time we type a name into a database. It’s “…a continual search.”

LeeRoy was born in Pelican Rapids, Minnesota and moved with his job at Hewlett- Packard from Detroit to California and finally to Marysville, Washington where he has lived since 1982.

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.”

Flynn Kennedy Named One of 2022’s Outstanding Volunteers

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 2022 award recipients and learn why they received the 2022 WSGS Outstanding Volunteer and Team Award.

Today we’re introducing Flynn Kennedy of Marysville, Washington, who was nominated by the Stillaguamish Valley Genealogical Society (SVGS).

Flynn Kennedy

In 2011, Flynn became a volunteer librarian with SVGS. She worked with the Northwest Genealogy Conference for three years as a Jackie-of-all-Trades, serving in a variety of roles. Her current projects include creating a four-generation history for a patron who is related to Noah Webster, transcribing a 33-page application for a claim against the U.S. Southern Claims Commission, and attempting to solve a family history mystery in Vermont in the 1830’s.

In Flynn’s opinion, the three most important things to remember when trying to break through a brick wall are “… collaboration, collaboration, collaboration.”

Flynn was born in Toledo, Ohio and moved to Seattle on September 28, 1980. She earned a B.A. from Capital University in Columbus, Ohio (during the Punic Wars) and earned a Post Graduate Certificate in Genealogy Research from Boston University in 2014.  

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.”

Andrea Hoskins Named One of 2022’s Outstanding Volunteers

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 2022 award recipients and learn why they received the 2022 WSGS Outstanding Volunteer and Team Award.

Today we’re introducing Andrea Hoskins of Bainbridge Island, Washington, who was nominated by the Bainbridge Island Genealogical Society (BIGS).

Within a short time of joining BIGS in 2018, Andy Hoskins volunteered to serve as newsletter editor, where she helped redesign its content and appearance. She also volunteered to lead the Writers Workshop SIG.

Andrea Hoskins

Andy’s true gifts became obvious when she agreed to serve as president (beginning her term in April 2020) just as the COVID pandemic arrived. Andy has demonstrated effective leadership, adaptability, creativity, and quiet problem-solving, all while effectively conducting the day-to-day business of the organization in extraordinary times. She led the board to clarify major areas of focus and to revise the society bylaws to better define board position responsibilities with an eye toward increasing participation of current and future members.

Andy brings a quiet leadership – leading by example and vision – offering ideas and possibilities for the future of the organization. BIGS looks forward to Andy’s excellent leadership as BIGS continues to evolve post- pandemic.

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.”