Supportive Grants Are Waiting For You

May21 by Roxanne Lowe

If your local genealogy society needs financial assistance for a special project or purchase, consider applying for a WSGS Supportive Grant. Applications are being accepted through July 31, 2024.

The grants, up to $250 each, are designed to fill a need or support a special project of WSGS-member societies and organizations. Ideas are limited only by societies’ creativity. Some ideas include:

Equipment, such as video camera, microphone, tripod, mixing board, or screen, as your society moves to hybrid meetings.
Purchase of furniture, equipment, books, magazines or other publications/ subscriptions for an existing or new society library.
Locating, inventorying, restoring and/or preserving a local cemetery.
Hosting a special event, presentation, or workshop.
Purchasing genealogical-related software, scanner, projector, peripherals or other equipment or technology.
Developing a project serving special populations, e.g. senior citizens, children/teens, tribal members, ethnic organizations, etc..
Restoring and/or preservation of photos or original documents.
Identifying and unifying old photos, Bibles, quilts, letters or other significant memorabilia with family members, museums, or other good homes.
Creation of a website, blog or other communication tool.
Publication of local history or narratives.

The awards do not have to be repaid — they’re yours to support worthy projects. Two grants will be awarded in 2024.

The simple application is only ONE page and is available here. There is also additional guidance on the program. For more information, visit our website at https://www.wasgs.org/cpage.php?pt=90.

Questions should be directed to Outreach@wasgs.org. Please note “Supportive Grants” in the Subject Line.

How to Post Your Meetings and Events on the WSGS Blog and Website

May21 by Roxanne Lowe

Do you want to broadcast information about your local society, workshop, genealogical tip, or a research query? Just send it to the WSGS Blog and WSGS Meetings and Events! Your post will be seen by more than 1,100 genealogists from around the state and beyond. Just email a Word document, text file, PDF or graphic to WSGSBlog@wasgs.org and Info@wasgs.org and we’ll do the rest!

We’re always looking to publicize local events and workshops, feature stories, updates from your society, and other genealogical information that might be of interest to our many subscribers and viewers.

We hope to hear from you soon! And don’t forget to encourage your Society members to subscribe to the Blog for the most up-to-date information from around the state.

You may manage your subscription options from your profile.

Let’s Talk About: Scattering Ashes

May21 by Donna Phillips

(Logo thanks to O’Connell Family Funeral Homes with locations in several states.)

More and more people are planning to be cremated when they pass, and their cremains scattered………. in a garden, over a cliff, in water or in a designated spot in an established cemetery. What are the rules for scattering cremains in Washington State?
According to a bit in our Spokesman newspaper (from Jared Gendron of the News Tribune, Tacoma), YES, you can scatter the cremains of a loved one in Washington but there are caveats.

Ashes can be scattered in most public and state owned land with permission from whomever controls the land.
Permission from the Chief Park Ranger is needed for National Parks.
Ashes can be scattered into any bodies of water in Washington.
Ashes can be scattered in the ocean beyond the lowest tide mark.
Ashes can be buried in the ocean as long as it’s three nautical miles from land and the EPA must be notified of the event.
Only human cremains, not pets or other animals, may be dispersed into the ocean.

Casting: Make sure to toss the ashes with the wind and make sure nobody is standing downwind.

Trenching: Burying the ashes in a hole/trench at least a foot deep.

Raking: Placing the cremains in soft soil and raking them into the soil.

Water: Keep in mind that some cremains may sink instantly while others may float (for a time).

** In 2004, our family gathered at the family cabin on Bottle Bay, Lake Pend Oreille, to pour our father’s ashes off the end of the dock. It was a very special day for all of us.

Tacoma Pierce County Genealogical Society DNA SIG

May20 by Charles Hansen

Tacoma-Pierce County Genealogical Society DNA Special Interest Group Meeting

Tuesday, May 28, Starting at 7:00 pm via Zoom

We will be reading Your DNA Guide by Diahan Southard.

This month we will discuss pages 40 to 61.

This book is available from the author, the publishers, Amazon, or perhaps through your local public library or via Inter-Library Loan.

Check WorldCat to see what libraries may have copies.

Calendar reminder: TPCGS DNA Special Interest Group Meeting

Every month on the Fourth Tuesday beginning at 7:00 PM Pacific Time

Please download and import the following iCalendar (.ics) files to your calendar system.

Monthly: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/tZYqdeyrrz0iEtx-c_J3gNfcI8mebT1zajLo/ics?icsToken=98tyKuGqqTkvGdWTuBGPRpwQB4joZ-nzmCFHj7dF0RzaKXNUTAX1H7pPN7BLQcLR

Join Zoom Meeting:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82725316888?pwd=MDc3UEZrUVJNbmxmK2ZORmw5YzdDdz09

Meeting ID: 827 2531 6888

Passcode: 811780

One tap mobile:

+12532050468,,82725316888#,,,,*811780# US

+12532158782,,82725316888#,,,,*811780# US (Tacoma)

Dial by your location:

+1 253 205 0468 US

+1 253 215 8782 US (Tacoma)

Meeting ID: 827 2531 6888

Passcode: 811780

Find your local number: https://us02web.zoom.us/u/kIKCyZLQy

Clallam County Genealogical Society German Immigration Patterns

May17 by Charles Hansen

Saturday, June 8^th at 10:00am, the Clallam County Genealogical Society will welcome Claire Gebben, a noted genealogist. She will appear in person at the KSQM-FM Community Room at 609 West Washington Street, in the Sequim Village Shopping Center, Sequim, WA. Her topic will be German Immigration Patterns.

Since the 19^th Century millions of German-speaking emigrants were leaving Europe for places far and wide, especially North America. Who were they and why did they leave? The answer is complicated. This talk explores waves of emigration in the historical context of wars, religious oppression, weather, economics, and other factors. Presentation also includes a look at the patterns of settlement of German migrants on arrival in North America.

Clair Gebben is a public speaker, teacher, and writer. She specializes in German genealogy, migration patterns and 19^th century history. She has authored award winning novels and memoirs based upon the documented accounts of her ancestors. Her articles have appeared in numerous periodicals. Claire holds an MFA in Creative Writing from the Northwest Institute of Literary Arts.

Join us at our June 8^th gathering, and meet Claire Gibben. Her books will be available for purchase at that time.

There is no cost to attending the meeting.

The presentation will also be available on Zoom. Call or e-mail the Society for the Zoom codes. (Please arrive or Zoom in at 9:45am.)

Phone: 360-417-5000 e-mail: askus@clallamcogs.org website: www.clallamcogs.org

Let’s Talk About: “Just A Piece Of Tin”

May17 by Donna Phillips

Just a piece of tin, lying in the dirt.

To the finder it meant nothing, to a family, more hurt.

For removal and return proper steps were to follow.

To a community back home more pain, grief and sorrow.

A journey of time and in decades lost

Of a round trip in miles and of the thousands it cost.

Of the man who had worn it so many of us knew,

A young man on our streets just like me and you.

Of a life never lived, or adventures untold

Of one life to give, a young never to grow old.

Just a piece of tin, lying in the dirt.

I photographed this poem framed and on the wall in a museum back east while on a trip. It was penned by Charles Stage, 30 May 2016. It quite touched my heart and I saved it to share with you in our “memorial month.”

Ask Google if you’d like to know more fascinating history of U.S. military dog tags.

****Bet you didn’t know this “dog tag” trivia: People in the 1950s lived under constant threat of nuclear war and had tags made for their elementary age school children in districts across the U.S. New York City was the first public school system to issue the “identification tags” in Feb 1952, spending $159.000 to provide them to 2.5 million students.

Eastern Washington Genealogical Society Newspaper Research

May15 by Charles Hansen

Don’t miss this opportunity to learn from an expert!

Read to the bottom of the message for more about this meeting.

Sylabus: will be available on the website EWGSi.com the day before the meeting.

(be sure to print your copy before you arrive.)

Zoom Link: available on the website EWGSi.com the day before the meeting.

Bring some cookies to share…are there ever enough cookies?!?

Free Table:

Bring any items that may help someone else with their research.

Take something home that may help you with yours!

Raffles:

Bring some cash to win great prizes!

Proceeds from raffles/auctions/book sales are one of the ways to help our society continue to offer great educational opportunities.

$$$$$

Win Cash!!!

Also remember your $$$ for the 50/50 contest.

This money builds our scholarship fund to help those less fiscally fortunate.

Auction October 5th, 2024

Bring auction items to any EWGS meeting.

Our goal is to raise over $1000 this year!

The Ways & Means Committee will be sending updates over the summer months. You’ll get sneak peeks at what may be in the auction.

And they will offer some easy-peasy ideas of items you can donate…possibly without even leaving home!

See you in the Newspapers!

Form 990

May15 by Charles Hansen

Did you file your 990 form for 2023?? May 15th was the due date. I know the IRS does not send any notice that it is due so you can easily overlook it.

German Interest Group of the Eastside Genealogical Society German Brick Walls

May15 by Charles Hansen

When: Friday, June 7, 2024 from 12:30 to 2:30 pm PDT

Zoom Registration required: https://tinyurl.com/3748pjb9

Topic: Is this the End? Taking Your German Brick Walls Down Piece by Piece
What do you need to look for once you have reached your brick wall? What is available and how do you find it? Leam how to think like a German and understand how to assess the needs of your German research to get the most out of it, from both sides of the ocean. You will understand how a typical German lived and made decisions. A case study will show you step by step how to overcome a typical brick wall.

Presenter: Luana M. Darby, AG®

Luana M. Darby, AG® is a professional genealogist, author, and consultant. She has a bachelor’s degree in Family History and Genealogy from Brigham Young University and a master’s in library and information science from San Jose State University. Luana has been actively involved in the genealogical field for over thirty-five years. She specializes in Palatine German, US Canadian, and Western European research and forensic genealogical research for probate firms. She frequently travels to Europe for genealogical research onsite in archives and repositories and is a frequent lecturer at local and national conferences and institutes. Luana has served as past president and director of the Utah Genealogical Association, on the Association of Professional Genealogists board, and as a director of the Genealogical Speakers Guild.
She is currently a board member of ICAPGen and the Utah State Society of DAR as state registrar. She also served as the chair for the NGS 2020 Virtual Family History conference and is a past online adjunct faculty member of the Family History department at BYU-Idaho. Luana M. Darby is accredited for research in the United States Midwest region.

More information: Visitors are always welcome. Our website is https://egsgermangroup.wordpress.com/

Let’s Talk About: Washington Wheat

May14 by Donna Phillips

We eat wheat most every day in some form or another. And mankind has been eating wheat for thousands of years. (Did you have toast, bagel or cereal for breakfast?) How many types of wheat are there, would you guess? How many types are grown in Washington? Well, there are six main types or classes of wheat with many sub-categories under each of the six.

Wheat was first planted in the U.S. in 1777 and is still today the primary flour for U.S. grain products. Wheat is grown in 42 U.S. states with Kansas as the largest producer. Our own Whitman County produces on average 32 million bushels of wheat annually. Lincoln County produces 22 million bushels. (Need I remind you that many of our ancestors came to Eastern Washington back in the 19th century primarily to grow wheat?)

What’s the best wheat for what product?

Hard Red Winter wheat: general all-purpose

Hard Red Spring wheat: breads, rolls, croissants, bagels, pizza crusts

Soft Red White wheat: cakes, pastries, Asian noodles, flat breads

Hard White wheat: Asian noodles, tortillas, flatbreads

Durum wheat: with a high protein content, perfect for pasta

It’s a real science to today’s wheat farmers to know what to plant, where and when. Which type is best for their fields; which types best resist disease. Each farmer has to make a decision, sometimes field by field, about which wheat variety will work for them.

**Amazing wheat factoids: In 2022, the U.S. shipped 205.3 metric tons (about 250,000 pounds) of wheat overseas; this wheat export had the value of $7.3 billion; and the U.S. is the 5th in the list of wheat exporters. There are about 100 different varieties of wheat crackers to be found in your favorite supermarket.