Art Kelly 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 months, you will be introduced to each of the 2017 award recipients and learn why they received the 2017 WSGS Outstanding Volunteer and Team Award.

Art Kelly

Today we’re introducing Art Kelly of Richland, Washington, who was nominated by the Tri-City Genealogical Society (TCGS). He was recognized for his dedication and enthusiasm to improve his local society.

Mr. Kelly joined the Tri-City Genealogical Society a few years ago after moving to the area. He immediately began to contribute to their success, volunteering wherever he was needed. Using his exceptional networking skills, he developed contacts throughout the community to advance TCGS event publicity.  Last year Mr. Kelly took over organizing the programs for their monthly meetings and has provided a year of unique and exceptional presentations. After unexpected circumstances created a need to fill the vice president’s position, Mr. Kelly stepped up, agreeing to serve.

The Tri-City Genealogical Society is a much better organization for his enthusiastic participation and effort. There is no doubt, Mr. Kelly 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.

FGS Webinar Breaking out of the Box

by Charles Hansen

The Federation of Genealogical Societies (FGS) is is pleased to announce the February 2018 webinar, “Breaking Out of the Box: Creative Thinking for Your Society,” presented by Amy Johnson Crow, CG, MLS. Doing the same thing over and over isn’t just boring. It could strangle your society. Look at some ways to get the creative juices flowing and find new solutions.

This webinar will be held on February 15, 2018 at 7:00 p.m. Central Time, and will be recorded for viewing on the FGS website shortly after its conclusion. Please register in advance.

More Information Here

Monday Mystery

by Charles Hansen

The origins of Valentine’s Day are shrouded in centuries of dust. No matter to the retailers of today; Valentine’s Day is a $15 billion dollar industry!!! (Now THAT’s a mystery to me.) Anyway. 

Some history here: In the year 380, Christianity became the legal religion, so dictated the Holy Roman  Emperor Constantine. But all those “converts” did not entirely abandon the traditions and practices they had held before their “conversion.” One of these was a fertility celebration, known as Lupercalia, which eventually became Valentine’s Day.

Now you know…………. somewhat.

International German Genealogy Partnership (IGGP)

by Charles Hansen

The International German Genealogy Partnership (IGGP) will be hosting our second conference in Sacramento California June 15-17, 2019.  IGGP is a growing partnership comprised of more than 100 international genealogical societies and organizations interested in collaborating to help further all members’ family history research with respect to their ethnic German roots.

 

The inaugural 2017 International German Genealogy Conference (IGGC) was highly successful, with 700 in attendance from 5 countries and 34 of the US states.  IGGC is emerging as one of the pre-eminent international German genealogy conferences.  Attached is the notice of the upcoming Call for Presentations.  Please pass this information on to any who might be interested in making a proposal to participate.  IGGP 2019 Call for Presentations Save the Date

Regards,

Amy Chidester

Presenter Team Chair

Tri-City Genealogical Society February Meeting

by Charles Hansen

Dear Members and Guests:

As you know, February 14th is Valentine’s Day and if you already have plans to be somewhere else for that evening, it is understandable, but if not, I hope you can attend our TCGS Beginning Genealogy Class and our Program Meeting that evening.

Please know that we will have another Genealogy Book Sale which means you will need to bring your $1 bills or checks as we will not have any change. By the way, if you want to donate any genealogy books/magazines, your donation would be very appreciated. We would first give preference to our TCGS Library for such books and then if there is duplication, we would place the books in our Genealogy Book Sale.

Beginning Genealogy Class: 6:15 p.m. to 6:45 p.m. (please note that once the class starts, the book sale is restricted until the class is over and then after the program. We certainly do not want to distract from our speakers and persons who are listening to such presentations. Thank you.

Program: 7:00 p.m. – Native American History and Researching Native American Records – see the attached “flyer”

As usual, we want to ask you to invite a friend to our meetings.

Art Kelly

TCGS Feb 2018 Flyer

GENEALOGICAL FORUM’s Thursday Evening E-News

by Charles Hansen

THE GENEALOGICAL FORUM’s

Thursday Evening

E-News, Edition

8 February 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 February 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.

GFO’s 2018 Elections Call for Candidates!

The following positions are available for new candidates this coming fiscal year:

▪ GFO President
▪ Director-at-Large
▪ Secretary

Interested in taking on one of these roles?

Just send an email to president@gfo.org today! We need candidates candidates candidates. And there is on-the-job training available for all of these positions.

These people help keep the GFO going in so many ways. Just curious?? Send a note to Laurel Smith at president@gfo.org for more information!

Insider Editors Needed

We also need two or three people to help take over editing and publication of the Insider this summer.

This is our monthly newsletter and our fearless editor is stepping down this summer. Interested in helping out? Email Jackie Olson at insider@gfo.org.

Continue reading →

Friday Serendipity

by Charles Hansen

Way, way back in June 2015, David Rencher was the speaker at the WSGS/Kittitas County Gen Society’s conference. Anybody remember?

With his teaching remarks, he introduced to us the concept of “framing the problem.” And framing it correctly. He began by teasing us with, “have you a tough genealogy problem? Worried you won’t solve it in your lifetime? Do you keep doing the same-old-same-old things and wondering why you have no new conclusions or answers?”

He then explained that you must “frame the problem differently.” Simply put, how to look at the problem differently. He showed three photos of the Golden Gate bridge……

If you’re driving on the bridge, you see the bridge from that angle only. If you’re boating on the bay, you see the bridge from that angle only. And if you’re flying overhead, you will see the bridge from that angle only. 

His point with these images of the Golden Gate bridge is that, with regards to your tough genealogy problems, you’re looking at the bridge from your angle. That’s all you see. But if you were to see it from a boat or from the air, you’d have an entirely different perspective.

“To solve a tough problem,” he said, “You must frame your picture differently.” 

Towards the finale of his talk, David quipped, “I know where lots of my ancestors aren’t because I’ve looked there!”

Societies: We Want to Hear From You

by Roxanne Lowe

Local genealogical societies and organizations, we’d love to publicize your events and meetings on the WSGS website and Blog.

Here are a few reasons to share information about your upcoming society meeting, workshop, seminar or special event:

  • Gets the word out to your target audience in order to increase attendance or participation.
  • Helps other local societies looking for program ideas.
  • Promotes what great programs you’re providing your members. (Bragging is totally acceptable in this case!)

Web site: The “Meetings and Events” tab of the website lists upcoming events chronologically. You can also search for a key word or filter by category. The three most immediate events are highlighted on the right navigation bar on every web page.

Blog: Every Thursday, more than 700 WSGS Blog subscribers receive a weekly digest listing all the blog posts from the previous seven days. That’s right…more than 700 people interested in area meetings, events, tips, and special features!

WSGS wants to help promote your activities. Just send your meeting notice, workshop/seminar flyer or event news to WebManager@wasgs.org and WSGSBlog@wasgs.org and we’ll do the rest. We hope to hear from you!