Category Archives: Outstanding Volunteers

Eastern Washington GS’s Tuesday Gals 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.

Today we’re introducing the Tuesday Gals Team who were nominated by the Eastern Washington Genealogical Society (EWGS). Members of this dedicated team include Carol Anderson, Patricia Ayers, Patricia Bayonne-Johnson, Barbara Brazington, Mary Holcomb, Juanita McBride and Dolly Webb.

EWGS's Tuesday Gals

EWGS’s Tuesday Gals

Started in the 1950s, the “Tuesday Gals” are a longtime tradition of Gene-Helpers in the local library. In addition to helping people with genealogical research, the Tuesday Gals support EWGS’s genealogical holdings that are housed in the downtown branch of the Spokane Public Library by ordering books, binding and/or repairing them and cataloging them. Although they’re usually at the library on Tuesday’s (thus the name), they’re quick to help if needed on a different day.

This group of dedicated volunteers richly deserve being recipients of 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.

Wenatchee Area GS Strategic Planning Leadership Duo 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.

Today we’re introducing Shirley Allmon Acheson and Barbara Barker Congdon who were nominated by the Wenatchee Area Genealogical Society (WAGS). This dynamic duo made up the WAGS Strategic Planning Leadership Team.

Barbara Barker Congdon

Barbara Barker Congdon

Shirley Allmon Acheson

Shirley Allmon Acheson

Sharing insight gained at a Nonprofit Practices Institute seminar in 2012, this incredible pair facilitated a series of strategic planning sessions, greatly increasing the WAGS’s Board of Directors’ efficiency and purpose. Their exemplary teamwork enabled the board to develop and commit to a strategic plan, launching the society into a smoother, more efficient trajectory.

Ms. Acheson, an 18-year member of WAGS, graciously tackles a spectrum of volunteer tasks, giving her time, enthusiasm and considerable talent to website management, the WAGS “no-work fundraiser,” and maintenance of the Civil War Veterans database. She currently serves on the board of directors as a member-at-large.

Ms. Congdon is a career educator and avid researcher. Having grown up in Poulsbo, Washington, she was drawn to WAGS 20 years ago via their Genealogy Library resources and dedicated volunteers. She is a creative non-stop networker and enthusiastic promoter of WAGS. She is a frequent genealogy library volunteer, serves on the nominating committee, and currently is serving her second term as vice-president.

Ms. Acheson and Ms. Congdon are dedicated volunteers and richly deserve being recipients of a 2016 Outstanding Volunteer Team Award 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.

Outstanding Volunteers and Teams Honored

by Roxanne Lowe

Forty-two local genealogical society members were honored for their outstanding volunteerism at the WSGS Annual Conference in Tacoma, Washington, on 18 June 2016. Nominated by their local societies, these individuals and teams spent countless hours supporting their local organizations, researching, cataloging, inventorying, teaching, and inspiring others. We are proud to announce the 2016 Outstanding Volunteer Awards:

Shirley Allmon Acheson, Strategic Planning Leadership Team, Wenatchee Area Genealogical Society
Carol Anderson, Tuesday Gals Team, Eastern WA Genealogical Society
Patricia Ayers, Tuesday Gals Team, Eastern WA Genealogical Society
Barbara Baker, Clark County Finance Team, Clark County Genealogical Society
Claire Bardwell, Northeast Washington Genealogical Society
Kathy Bowman, Stillaguamish Valley Genealogical Society
Diane Boyd, Eastern Washington Genealogical Society
Barbara Brazington, Tuesday Gals Team, Eastern WA Genealogical Society
Karen van Haagen Campbell, Jewish Genealogical Society of Washington
Barbara Barker Congdon, Strategic Planning Leadership Team, Wenatchee Area Genealogical Society
John Covey, Tri City Genealogical Society
Michele Cozad, Stillaguamish Valley Genealogical Society
Patricia Deutsch, Jewish Genealogical Society of Washington
Leslee Dunlap, Ulster Workshop Team, Lewis Co. Genealogical Society
Bill Floberg, Tri City Genealogical Society
Larry Germann, Clark County Finance Team, Clark County Genealogical Society
Roberta Griset, Clallam Co. Genealogical Society
Cynthia Savage Harris, Whatcom Genealogical Society
Mary Holcomb, Tuesday Gals Team, Eastern WA Genealogical Society
Pam Hopwood, Ulster Workshop Team, Lewis Co. Genealogical Society
Joann Hulse, Ulster Workshop Team, Lewis Co. Genealogical Society
Patricia Bayonne Johnson, Tuesday Gals Team, Eastern WA Genealogical Society
Barbara Jeanne Gorham Johnson, Skagit Valley Genealogical Society
Eric Jordahl, Clark County Finance Team, Clark County Genealogical Society
Rebecca Judd, Bainbridge Island Genealogical Society
Lowell Kenedy, Clark County Finance Team, Clark County Genealogical Society
Sue Rogers Kreikemeier, Whitman Co. Genealogical Society
Margie Lloyd, Ulster Workshop Team, Lewis Co. Genealogical Society
Juanita McBride, Tuesday Gals Team, Eastern WA Genealogical Society
Sam McReynolds, Ulster Workshop Team, Lewis Co. Genealogical Society
Patricia Olsen, Ulster Workshop Team, Lewis Co. Genealogical Society
Patricia Olsen, Lewis County Genealogical Society
Leslie Parnell, Ulster Workshop Team, Lewis Co. Genealogical Society
Gail Porter, Clallam Co. Genealogical Society
George Ridgeway Jr., Skagit Valley Genealogical Society
Marge Samuelson, Jefferson Co. Genealogical Society
Louellen Verellen, Chelan Valley Genealogical Society
Sandy Wade, Tacoma Pierce Co Genealogical Society
Dolly Webb, Tuesday Gals Team, Eastern WA Genealogical Society
Lola Swearingen Weber, Lower Columbia Genealogical Society

To read each individual’s accomplishments and why they were nominated, visit the Outstanding Volunteer Awards Program page.

For more information about the Outstanding Volunteer Awards Program, contact Roxanne Lowe, WSGS Recognition Chair.

Mel & Marilyn Wright Named Outstanding Volunteers in 2015

by Roxanne Lowe

Since 2003, the Washington State Genealogical Society has recognized more than 450 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. Over the last few months, you were introduced to each of the 2015 award recipients and learned why they received the 2015 WSGS Outstanding Volunteer and Team Award.

Today we’re introducing Mel and Marilyn Wright of Coupeville, Washington, who were nominated by the Genealogical Society of South Whidbey Island (GSSWI). They were recognized for what makes a society great: dedication, reliability, generosity, and energy.

Marilyn and Mel Wright

Marilyn and Mel Wright

For years, Mr. and Mrs. Wright, affectionately known as M & M, have been key members of the GSSWI, giving opinions, sharing ideas, and leading volunteer efforts, such as digitizing the society’s collection of obituaries, sponsoring interest groups on New England and New York, and organizing an annual trip to Salt Lake City.

Often the first to arrive and last to leave society meetings, this motivated twosome ensure everything is organized from beginning to end, including room organization, refreshments, audio-visual set-up, and even climbing onto waist-high window ledges to put up temporary rods and curtains to block the light.

Mr. and Mrs. Wright are experienced genealogists who keep up with continuing education and are glad to share their experience and resources with others. For these qualities and all they do for the GSSWI, they richly deserved being recipients of a 2015 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.

 

Janice Weihs Named Outstanding Volunteer in 2015

by Roxanne Lowe

Since 2003, the Washington State Genealogical Society has recognized more than 450 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 next month, you will be introduced to each of the 2015 award recipients and learn why they received the 2015 WSGS Outstanding Volunteer and Team Award.

Today we’re introducing Janice Weihs of Tacoma, Washington, who was nominated by the Tacoma Pierce County Genealogical Society (TPCGS). She was recognized for her dedicated and committed volunteer efforts. Janice’s husband Frank was an Outstanding Volunteer from TPCGS in 2010.

Janice Weihs with husband Frank

Janice Weihs with husband Frank

Mrs. Weihs has been a member of TPCGS since at least 1994. She initiated the society’s newsletter in 2006, and continued to serve as editor until the fall of   2014. She also began serving on the library committee in 2010. While on the library committee, she consulted with the staff of the Tacoma Public Library to determine what resources would best augment the library’s genealogy collection. She then purchased the resources from funds donated by society members. Mrs. Weihs also helped with extracting the 1892 Pierce County Auditor’s Census and the Tacoma and Pierce County death records from 1884 to 1907.

Although their active participation has become limited in the past few years due to health issues, Mr. and Mrs. Weihs have continued to support the society. The couple was recently named lifetime members of TPCGS.

Mrs. Weihs is a valued and hard-working member of the TPCGS, and illustrates that she richly deserved being a recipient of a 2015 WSGS Outstanding

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.

 

Larry Taylor Named Outstanding Volunteer in 2015

by Roxanne Lowe

Since 2003, the Washington State Genealogical Society has recognized more than 450 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 next month, you will be introduced to each of the 2015 award recipients and learn why they received the 2015 WSGS Outstanding Volunteer and Team Award.

Today we’re introducing Larry Taylor of Arlington, Washington, who was nominated by the Stillaguamish Valley Genealogical Society (SVGS). He was recognized for his commitment and dedication to memorializing final disposition information of those no longer with us.

Larry Taylor

Larry Taylor

Mr. Taylor has worked tirelessly for three years to photograph, document and add Snohomish County memorials to the Find a Grave website. He has, coordinating with more than a dozen volunteers, photographed and uploaded over 100,000 photos – 32,000 by Mr. Taylor alone. As a result of these intensive efforts, people worldwide can access information about their loved ones via the Internet.

Now that Snohomish County memorials are complete, Mr. Taylor is leading an effort to find, identify and mark the 10,000 graves without formal headstones that are throughout the county.

People like Mr. Taylor make finding our history easier. He is an appreciated and diligent member of the SVGS, and illustrates that he richly deserved being a recipient of a 2015 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.

 

Mary Stolaas Named Outstanding Volunteer in 2015

by Roxanne Lowe

Since 2003, the Washington State Genealogical Society has recognized more than 450 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 next month, you will be introduced to each of the 2015 award recipients and learn why they received the 2015 WSGS Outstanding Volunteer and Team Award.

Today we’re introducing Mary Stolaas of Nordland, Washington, who was nominated by the Jefferson County Genealogical Society (JCGS). She was recognized for her dedicated volunteer efforts to expand and simplify local library resources.

Mary Stolaas

Mary Stolaas

As a retired librarian, Ms. Stolaas took on the job of reorganizing JCGS’s library of over 2,000 books and CD’s to conform to the Dewey Decimal System. Over the last few months, Ms. Stolaas has made the entire collection available online, using a program called “Library Thing.” As a result, JCGS members can now access the Library Things website and look for a resource by using a keyword to see whether the book or CD is available. Members no longer have to know the specific title or author to locate the book or CD. “Library Thing” also allows the user to search other libraries in its network, thus expanding the availability of genealogical resources.

Ms. Stolaas is a detail-oriented and respected member of the JCGS, and illustrates that she richly deserved being a recipient of a 2015 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 Conference Planning Committee Named Outstanding Team in 2015

by Roxanne Lowe

Since 2003, the Washington State Genealogical Society has recognized more than 450 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 month, you will be introduced to each of the 2015 award recipients and learn why they received the 2015 WSGS Outstanding Volunteer and Team Award.

Today we’re introducing the WSGS Conference Planning Committee who was nominated by the Stillaguamish Valley Genealogical Society (SVGS). They were recognized for their detailed planning, commitment, and teamwork hosting the 2014 Washington State Genealogical Society Conference in Arlington, Washington, despite the tragic Oso landslide which occurred on March 22, 2014.

Conference Team from Stillaguamish Valley GS

WSGS Conference Team from Stillaguamish Valley GS

The conference, hosted by the SVGS, attracted more than 300 attendees, not from just Washington State, but from Canada, middle-America, Texas, Massachusetts and Oregon. To ensure a first-rate conference, the planning committee received grants from the City of Arlington and Snohomish County Hotel/Motel Tax Fund. The committee was also able to secure nationally recognized speakers and donations from local businesses.

This successful event was held despite the catastrophic Oso landslide which occurred less than five months before the conference – in the prime of the planning. Several committee and society members, as well as conference vendors, were left with severe property damage and access to meetings.

Due to their careful planning and “can do” spirit, the planning committee overcame the diversity and devastation to pull off the successful event. They richly deserved being a recipient of a 2015 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.

Dave Sachi Named Outstanding Volunteer in 2015

by Roxanne Lowe

Since 2003, the Washington State Genealogical Society has recognized more than 450 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 2015 award recipients and learn why they received the 2015 WSGS Outstanding Volunteer and Team Award.

Dave Sachi

Dave Sachi

Today we’re introducing Dave Sachi of Port Townsend, Washington, who was nominated by the Jefferson County Genealogical Society (JCGS). He was recognized for his dedicated efforts to keep the local society members informed and involved.

Mr. Sachi has assumed the vital job of compiling the JCGS quarterly newsletters for the past few years. Under his guidance, the newsletter has increased from eight pages to twelve. Each issue features a calendar of events letting JCGS members know the subject and speaker for the general meetings and when the society’s different interest groups meet. Each issue also includes the president’s message about the society business, a member-written book review, a list of new resource books and/or CD’s in the library, a story on the history of the county, and/or a family history story contributed by a JCGS member.

Mr. Sachi is an appreciated, diligent member of the JCGS, and richly deserved being a recipient of a 2015 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.

Brian Runyan Named Outstanding Volunteer in 2015

by Roxanne Lowe

Since 2003, the Washington State Genealogical Society has recognized more than 450 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 2015 award recipients and learn why they received the 2015 WSGS Outstanding Volunteer and Team Award.

Today we’re introducing Brian Runyan of Vancouver, Washington, who was nominated by the Clark County Genealogical Society (CCGS). He was recognized for his enthusiastic, forward-thinking volunteer efforts.

Brian Runyan

Brian Runyan

Since joining CCGS in 2012, Mr. Runyan has quickly become a valued member. He is a creative thinker, with a positive outlook, good ideas, and always ready to help with any task that needs doing. As chair of the education committee, Mr. Runyan has refined and expanded the society’s educational offerings. He has been especially effective in advocating for increased use of computer technology and social media.

Mr. Runyan is quick to accurately assess other people’s strengths and encourages them to use their abilities to further the goals and operations of the society. His willingness to help with whatever needs doing, his encouragement of others, and his sense of humor all help him as he moves into the forefront of the CCGS leadership.

Mr. Runyan’s enthusiasm and willingness to serve demonstrate that he richly deserved being a recipient of a 2015 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.