Don’t Miss the Fort Vancouver Tapestry

by Roxanne Lowe

A section of the Fort Vancouver Tapestry

For those attending the Clark County Genealogical Society’s Spring Seminar, don’t miss viewing the Fort Vancouver Tapestry on exhibit at the CCGS Annex, 717 Grand Blvd., Vancouver. This exquisite textile will be on display from Thursday, May 24 through Monday, May 28.

The tapestry was completed over a six-year period (1999 – 2005), using over 100,000 hours of volunteer effort. The 70 panels, stitched by 57 talented embroiderers, depicts the history and growth of the American West all the way to the banks of the mighty Columbia. The tapestry is 108 feet long and has more than 22 miles of woolen yarn.

An amazing work of art not to be missed.

Lower Columbia Genealogical Society June Meeting

by Charles Hansen

CEMETERY RESEARCH

varies greatly, and to learn how to approach it, we look forward to having LAUREL SMITH, President of the GENEALOGICAL FORUM OF OREGON, to share her experience with us.

LOWER COLUMBIA GENEALOGICAL SOCIETY

http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~walcolgs/

SOMERSET RETIREMENT APARTMENTS

2025 TIBBETTS DRIVE, LONGVIEW

DINING ROOM 7:00 PM

June 14, 2018

VISITORS ARE WELCOME AND ENCOURAGED TO ATTEND.

GENEALOGICAL FORUM’s Thursday Evening E-News

by Charles Hansen
GFO Logo Halo 2 Large

THE GENEALOGICAL FORUM’s

Thursday Evening

E-News, Edition

10 May 2018

For more information visit www.gfo.org, contact us at info@gfo.org, or call our library at 503-963-1932. We love hearing from you!

For a complete GFO CALENDAR click here.

Also, if you missed your free copy of our monthly Insider for May 2018, you’re in luck because we saved you a copy HERE. NOTE: The Insider issues are now located under the “Learn” > “Our Publications” menu at www.gfo.org.

Curious about the status of your GFO Membership? We’d love to have you as a GFO Member!
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Votes Counted: New Board Elected
ballot-box-1359527 640

The election for GFO’s Board has concluded and the votes have been counted.
* Vince Patton is the new President.
* Geoff Smith will be Secretary.
* Anne Wheeler returns as Director at Large.
* Marti Dell is the Endowment Committee Chair.

The new term for these officers begins July 1.
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$500 Challenge: Will Genealogy Problem Solvers Win The Prize?
GPS Logo

Another of GFO’s members has submitted a genealogical puzzle for our experts to try and solve!

This time, however, our inquiring member has offered GFO a $500 donation prize if the Genealogy Problem Solvers can crack the case!

Join us for this free presentation on May 19th, and marvel at the research wonders of experts Harold Hinds, Kristin Parks, Duane Funk, and Tom O’Brien.

Will the problem solvers be able to demolish the brick wall? Will GFO get the $500 donation?

Attend the GPS meeting on Saturday, May 19th at 9:30am to find out!
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Mexican Ancestry Group Meets Friday, May 11th, 11:30am
Mexican Ancestry SIG

The next Mexican Ancestry meeting will consist of finding records of border crossings, people from Mexico entering into the U.S. through entry ports such as Eagle Pass and El Paso Texas, Nogales, Arizona, San Isidro, California, and many others.

Official record keeping began in 1906 and information taken at the port of entry varied from state to state. We’ll take a look at what records are available through the Family Search website.

These records also tie in with naturalization records for Mexican Americans. Within the naturalization records is a wealth of detailed information such as the port of entry, place of birth, last foreign residence, and more.

The Genealogical Society of Hispanic America – Southern California has a four volume set of books for sale through its website, “Naturalizations of Mexican Americans” by John P. Schmal. Over 1,200 extractions are included in these four volumes. The leader of this free Special Interest Group will bring Volume 1 to share with the group.

Questions? Send a note to the group leader, Vince Ramirez at sw@gfo.org.
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GFO Needs You! Bulletin Editor & Membership Assistant
GFO Needs You

This is important. The current Editor is finishing up her last Bulletin.
We need your help to keep the Bulletin publishing.

As with every organization, we are soon to lose some of our most valuable volunteers to retirement.

We’re currently in need of a Managing Editor for our quarterly publication, The Bulletin. The good news is, we have a substantial stockpile of articles so this will give the next Editor a big help before they begin.
Also, we need an assistant for our Membership Committee Chair. Have a couple of hours to spare each month? Please help us keep membership records up to date. Training provided.

Email volunteer@gfo.org if interested!
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Students’ Coin Drive Saves Oregon Constitution
Oregon Constitution 2

Read all about how a group of Oregon students and other citizens helped the State Archivists preserve the state’s constitutional document.

This completely inspiring article, complete with pictures and videos, can be read and experienced HERE.
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Join this Saturday’s Cemetery Clean Up Crew
Cemetery

Friends of Lone Fir Cemetery needs enthusiastic volunteers for this upcoming event.

Saturday, May 12th, 2018 is Oregon Cemetery Clean Up Day.

They need as many volunteers as possible to help spruce up Lone Fir for spring as part of this state-wide effort!

The shift runs from 10:00am to noon, and the duties include picking up debris and weeding around headstones. Tools, training, and snacks will be provided.

The more hands we have the more fun! This is a cooperative project between Friends of Lone Fir, METRO, and SOLVE.

To sign up for this opportunity please fill out the form here.
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In The Next Week at GFO…
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FRIDAY, May 11th

Mexican Ancestry Group 11:30am – 1:30pm

This meeting of the Mexican Ancestry group will consist of finding records of border crossings, people from Mexico entering into the U.S. through entry ports such as Eagle Pass and El Paso Texas, Nogales Arizona, San Ysidro California, and many other ports.

If you know of any other people interested in Hispanic genealogy tell them about the up and coming group. They don’t have to be a GFO member to participate.

For questions or comments, please email Vince at sw@gfo.org.

SATURDAY, May 12th

Great Lakes Region Group 9:30 – 11:30am

At this meeting, we will look at the Ohio River as a major regional transit corridor. At this meeting, Judi Scott’s recent presentation on orphan trains, a genealogy visit to LaCrosse, Wisconsin, and ancestor’s puzzling move from Bohemia to Minnesota. You are invited to bring stories about your family and research in the Great Lakes Region. Questions? Contact Lynn at GreatLakes@gfo.org.

Writers’ Forum 1 – 3pm

This is a peer group of genealogists, who meet to learn about writing and to share our writing with each other. Peggy Baldwin facilitates this group and can be reached at peggyrbaldwin@gmail.com or 503-916-9410.

SUNDAY, May 13th

Maps Work Party 9am – Noon

We are planning to continue working on on our collection of maps on the second Sunday of the month from 9:00am until noon or whenever. Come when you can. Doris Cruickshank is our map project coordinator.

WEDNESDAY, May 16th

Learn & Chat 10am – Noon

At Learn & Chat some of the learning comes from speakers with particular expertise but most of it comes from the sharing of experiences and knowledge of attendees who have developed methods that work for them. And if you have been doing genealogy for any length time you have likely experienced the wonderful moments of exhilaration, the successes that you then share with others and that drive you to continue researching. Unfortunately those times can be few and far between. Join us to talk about your genealogy questions and help provide support to others. Facilitated by Jean Quan.

DNA Q&A 1 – 3pm

Lisa McCullough leads a discussion on various DNA related subjects, with each meeting focused on a particular subject. General questions are welcome at the end of each planned discussion. Questions? Send a note to Lisa McCull at dna_lm@gfo.org.

Tri-City Genealogical Society June Meeting

by Charles Hansen

Flyer: Jensen, Benton County PUD Auditorium

You will want to put this presentation on you calendar as it will be very entertaining as we learn about Hollywood and the Contributions to World War II as presented by Humanities Washington. Please see the enclosed attachment.
I also appreciate those of you who continue to attend our meetings and I trust that they have been helpful to you in your family history research. We would so much enjoy having you become a member of the Tri-City Genealogical Society and membership is even easier via our website through Pay-Pal.  An account with Pay-Pal is not necessary as you would just pay with you debit or credit card. See our website for membership instructions.
http://tricitygenealogicalsociety.org/q/ or call 943-9322 for information.
We hope to see you in June. Thank you for your interest.
Art Kelly

Friday Serendipity

by Charles Hansen

We know what a seagull is, right? Would you guess how many different types of gulls there are??  This is Mr. Resting Seagull that I spotted in New Zealand…. just posing for tourist photos, no doubt.

“There are at least 28 types of gull species seen in North America. These birds are fairly well distributed throughout the continent along the coastlines and at sea. Although gulls are referred to as seagulls on a daily basis by most people, they are simply referred to as “gulls” in the birding society.” (Quoting from this website: https://www.birds-of-north-america.net/gulls.html )

From another website, I learned that there are 50 species world wide! Gracious. Never would have guessed. Would you?

Norma Yost 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.

Norma Yost

Today we’re introducing Norma Yost of Colville, Washington, who was nominated by the Northeast Washington Genealogical Society (NeWGS). She was recognized for her dedication to the preservation of a local pioneer cemetery.

Since joining in 2014, Ms. Yost has been involved in the clean-up and maintenance of Evergreen Cemetery in Colville, a local pioneer cemetery established in 1868. She is a favorite speaker at NeWGS meetings, and has been a member of the board of directors serving as member-at-large and currently as librarian. As librarian, Ms. Yost has used her talents to design outstanding displays for National Family History Month. She is also a gifted seamstress and has personalized NeWGS vests by embroidering their names on them.

Ms. Yost is a respected and diligent member of the NeWGS. Her accomplishments and dedication illustrate that 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.

German Interest Group of The Eastside Genealogical Society (EGS) May Meeting

by Charles Hansen

The German Interest Group of The Eastside Genealogical Society (EGS) will meet on Friday, June 1, 2018, from 1 to 3 pm in the Relief Society Room of the LDS Church at 10675 NE 20thSt, Bellevue, WA 98004 with doors opening at 12:45 pm for networking. Visitors are always welcome at our meetings.       

Topic: “How to Find German Records on Family Search Efficiently and Effectively” – Many genealogists use FamilySearch and yet may not realize that they are accessing only a small portion of the records available. Learn several strategies for using FamilySearch to access the 70% of the records not currently indexed.  This means more than 1.33 billion records and 247,000 books not indexed on FamilySearch. The presentation will include step-by-step actions and examples to specifically access German records in the U.S. and Europe. (Feel free to bring your laptops.)

Speaker: Janet O’Conor Camarata, a member of Eastside Genealogical Society and South King County Genealogical Society, has over 25 years of experience in genealogy. She is an instructor in genealogy at Pierce College, a seminar presenter and trainer in genealogy societies across Washington, who takes advantage of the latest technology and staying mobile with the latest computing tools.

For more information, kindly visit our website

Wednesday Nostalgia

by Charles Hansen

Cannot speak for you, but my heart kinda breaks when I see a nearly forgotten gravemarker   …………….like this:

It was a small wooden curved marker, well rotted off at the bottom, and looking to me like somebody stuck it into this bush. No writing was visible.

Who did this marker memorialize? Did they want a marker that would eventually turn to dust? Was it a quick-simple marker by a family of limited means?

I took this photo in the un-endowed portion of Greenwood Memorial Terrace cemetery here in Spokane.

Would this be a fun challenge: Who would like to write the story of this little wooden marker, how it came to be and who it was for? If you would, send it to me, Donna243@gmail.com