Lower Columbia Genealogical Society Preservation of Documents

by Charles Hansen

PRESERVATION OF DOCUMENTS

To learn the proper way to preserve records you have located during genealogy research, you will want to join us for the February meeting. The presentation will be by TRACY REBSTOCK, Southwest Regional Archivist from the Washington State Archives.

LOWER COLUMBIA GENEALOGICAL SOCIETY

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

SOMERSET RETIREMENT APARTMENTS

2025 TIBBETTS DRIVE, LONGVIEW

DINING ROOM 7:00 PM

Feb 8, 2018

VISITORS ARE WELCOME AND ENCOURAGED TO ATTEND.

Whatcom Genealogical Society February Meeting

by Charles Hansen

Whatcom Genealogical Society Meeting Monday, February 12, 2018, 2 p.m. at the Bellingham Elks Lodge, 710 Samish Way.  Guest Speaker:  Cyndi Ingle. Cyndi is a Certified Genealogist, and owner of the “Cyndi’s List” Web site.  She will speak on “Back to Basics:  Research Planning and Execution Online.”  Visitors are welcome!  Contact:  WGS President Galen Biery – 360-733-8300

Friday Serendipity

by Charles Hansen

Ever heard of the Heritage Network here in Washington? Think it’s something you, and your genealogical society, might ought to look into?? Any organization dedicated to preserving and promoting historical resources is an organization you might want to support.

Click to TheHeritageNetwork  for more information.

GENEALOGICAL FORUM’s Wednesday Evening E-News

by Charles Hansen

THE GENEALOGICAL FORUM’s

Wednesday Evening

E-News, Edition

17 January 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 January 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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piggy bank thinker

A big Thank You to everyone who donated to GFO’s Annual Appeal!

Each and every donation matters, and we are very grateful for your support. If you haven’t contributed yet and want to, it’s not too late!

Simply send us a check, or go to our website at http://gfo.org/support-us/annual-appeal.html to give safely and securely.

Thank you again!
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GFO’s German Group Field Trip – Save the Date!
hamburg-germany

Guten Tag!

Instead of meeting at GFO on Saturday, February 3rd, the German Special Interest Group (SIG) will be at Concordia University to spend the day researching in the German from Volga library section, which is upstairs.

WHERE? NE Liberty St., behind the campus which is at 2811 NE Holman St., Portland.

If you send Mike Fernandez and Tia Cobb general questions, e.g. book on a location/city, time period, map, the volunteers at the library might be able to pull documents, books, etc. beforehand. Contact: tjuana52@yahoo.com.

Mike and Tia are trying to have the library open earlier than our regular 1:00 meeting. We’ll keep you posted!
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Freedmen’s Bureau and Civil War Workshop – Feb 25th
357px-Black soldier in Union Army Sergeant uniform 1864

Don’t miss out on this wonderful opportunity!

Come here Kate Eakman as she gives tips on researching African Americans in the Civil War as well as information about the Freedmen’s Bureau!

Did you know the Freedmen’s Bureau was created to provide assistance to both former slaves and impoverished whites in the South?

This half-day workshop is not only for African American researchers, but for all those with family history or interest in the Civil War.

Register HERE today!

WHEN? Sunday, February 25th, 9:30am – noon
WHERE? GFO Library (map)
WHO? Speaker, professional genealogists, and former college history professor, Kate Eakman
HOW? Registration can be accessed HERE!

 

Continue reading →

Puget Sound Genealogical Society January Meeting

by Charles Hansen

Puget Sound Genealogical Society
Saturday Jan 27  1030 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
at Kitsap Regional Library 1301 Sylvan Way, Bremeron
SUPPLEMENTAL CENSUS RECORDS
With Winona Laird: Learn the types of Federal supplemental censuses,
what data was collected and how they can help in our research.
Registration required call (360) 475-9172
Jackie Horton, Publicity Chairperson

Outstanding Volunteer Award FAQs

by Roxanne Lowe

Have you got questions about the WSGS Outstanding Volunteer and Team Awards? We’re here to help. Here are a few frequently asked questions (and answers) about the program. If you’ve got other questions, visit the Recognition page or email Roxanne Lowe, Interim Chair of the Recognition Committee.

  1. Who can nominate an Outstanding Volunteer or Team? Any local genealogical society or organization in Washington State can participate in the Outstanding Volunteer or Team program.
  2. Does my society have to be a member of WSGS to nominate someone? No, you don’t have to be a member, nor does your nominee. If, however, you’d like to join us, we’d love to have you. To join (as an organization, individual or family), click here.
  3. Does WSGS choose the Outstanding Volunteer or Team from all the nominees? No. This program is not a competition among the nominees or societies.  WSGS honors every individual and team who is identified by their local genealogical organization for exceptional efforts. This is a means for local society and groups to give widespread recognition to their top volunteers.
  4. How many nominees can my society submit? We ask that you limit your nominations to two individuals and/or one team.
  5. What does my nominee or team get for being an Outstanding Volunteer or Team? Each nominee will receive a personalized certificate outlining why they were nominated by their local society. He/she/they will also be featured on the WSGS Blog. It is also our hope that the nominating society will honor their volunteer at an upcoming meeting or event.
  6. Can we nominate someone who has been an Outstanding Volunteer before? Absolutely! More than 50 people have been honored more than once since the program’s inception in 2003.
  7. How can I see who my society has nominated in the past? Click here to see a cumulative index of all 500+ names since 2003, listed by society and by individual name.
  8. Can we nominate someone posthumously? Yes. What a wonderful way show his/her family that you valued their late family member’s achievements.
  9. What if we want the nomination to be a surprise? We love surprises (and keeping secrets!) Just check the box on the nomination form to let us know you want to keep this under wraps until the “big announcement” at the WSGS Annual Meeting and Recognition Event on May 26 in Vancouver.
  10. How do we nominate someone? We’ve made it pretty easy. The first deadline is Feb. 15 when the name (yes, just the name) of your individual or team needs to be sent to Roxanne Lowe, Interim Chair of the WSGS Recognition Committee. She’ll respond by sending you an easy-to-complete form that needs to be returned (along with a photo of your nominee) by March 15. After that, you’ll get a chance to review and approve the certificate before it’s announced on May 26.
  11. When will the announcements be made? The presentation will be part of the WSGS Annual Meeting and Recognition Event, held in conjunction with the Clark County Genealogical Society’s Spring Seminar on Saturday, May 26 in Vancouver.

 

WSGS Election News

by Roxanne Lowe

By an overwhelming majority, Sue Ericksen was elected WSGS Treasurer for a second term. Sue’s involvement with WSGS has been longstanding, having served as WSGS’s President from 2009 – 2012, membership chair, web manager and Region 5 representative. To learn more about Sue, read her Meet the Board feature.

Also on the ballot, the following Regional Representatives were elected to two-year terms:

  • Region 1 North:  Nancy Bonefedi
  • Region 1 South:  Barbara Gorham
  • Region 3:  Nancy Cordell
  • Region 5:  Opal Myhres
  • Region 7:  Donna Potter Phillips

If you want to know which region you’re in, click here.

Lisa Chan 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.

Lisa K. Chan

Today we’re introducing Lisa K. Chan of Seattle, Washington, who was nominated by the Seattle Genealogical Society (SGS). She was recognized for her willingness to share her technical skills and abilities, moving the society to a higher level in a technical world.

Although Ms. Chan has been a member of SGS for less than two years, she has had a transformational impact on their society. With a background in computers, technology and training, Ms. Chan introduced society members to Google Apps for Non-Profits, a free suite of applications and cloud-based storage and coached them through its implementation. Ms. Chan was also instrumental in the creation of SGS’s digital scanning lab, enabling them to digitize decades of SGS records. The society is now digitizing many of their printed assets, enabling them to be searched. Ms. Chan also helped create sound policies and procedures regarding SGS’s growing digital assets. In addition, Ms. Chan provides biweekly drop-in sessions called “Tech Tuesdays” at the SGS Library, on technology, genealogical software, genetic research and more.

Ms. Chan has been instrumental in SGS’s efforts to move ahead in today’s technological world, and 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.

Wednesday Nostalgia

by Charles Hansen

Dorothy Petry is “THE” mover and shaker behind the Borderlands Museum, aka the Okanogan County Historical Society, almost to the Canada border in Oroville. I asked her for a sketch of “her” museum:

“Museums come large or small, formal or informal, specialized or general. Having visited and enjoyed many museums in the U.S., Canada and England, I find that the 1907 Old Great Northern Railroad Depot Museum here in Oroville is a good mix for visiting and working.”

“All Aboard” and enjoy a quick tour of the depot. The Ladies Waiting Room has become the Visitors Information Center. Next is the telegraph room now the Railroad Room with many of the original items still in place and also houses a small but growing research area. Down a short hallway, with restrooms on one side and office/kitchen area on the other, is the room that once served as the men’s sleeping quarters. Lastly, we step into the freight/baggage area that today is the main museum display area. Here is where yesteryear’s tools become today’s artifacts where education and memories await the visitor.”

“Behind the museum is a small army of volunteers; this group has a serious and fun time planning, researching, collecting, building, assembling and overcoming the challenges of creating a viable historic museum.  Do come visit!!”

Do come visit especially if you have ancestry in the northern part of the Okanogan Valley.