Kelowna & District Genealogical Society September Conference

by Charles Hansen

kdgs

Friday, September 23 through Sunday, September 25

Kelowna & District Genealogical Society

“Harvest Your Family Tree” Genealogical Conference & Marketplace 2016

Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada

 

Prepare to be inspired!

Combine your vacation with a top notch genealogy conference and stretch your $$ further.  One of the largest Western Canadian genealogy conferences, 10 acclaimed speakers from the UK, US and Canada with 33 topics, huge marketplace, Expert Panel, Speakers Reception, Guided Historic Walking Tour, bushels of fabulous door prizes and raffles.

Head north and get ready for a warm welcome!

 

www.kdgsconference2016.blogspot.ca

 

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.

THE GENEALOGICAL FORUM’s Wednesday Evening E-News

by Charles Hansen

GFO1

THE GENEALOGICAL FORUM’s Wednesday Evening E-News 29 June 2016

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 go to www.gfo.org/calendar.htm.

Also, if you missed your free copy of our monthly Insider for July 2016, you’re in luck because we saved you a copy at http://www.gfo.org/insider/16-Jul.pdf.

Continue reading →

Northeast Washington Gen Society Newsflash

by Charles Hansen

NeWGS LOGO cropped

The next Northeast Washington Genealogical Society meetings are on Wednesday, July 13, 2016. The morning Computer Interest Group (CIG) will meet in the basement meeting room of the LDS Church on Juniper Street in Colville at 10:30 AM.

 NeWGS member, Gary Sheehan, will lead us through possible online avenues to explore in researching an elusive ancestor of one of our members. The class will be geared for the beginner but even the more experienced researchers will learn a new tip or two. Audience participation will be encouraged.

 We will take a lunch break at noon and then return to the LDS Church for our afternoon meeting and program.

Today we will be viewing a video Thomas presented at the RootsTech 2015 Conference in Salt Lake City. The title is “Building a Genealogy Research Toolbox”. This is all about organizing your files and websites you use often in your research. There is a nice bonus at the end of the video. Come see for yourself!

Thomas McEntee is a well-respected genealogist who describes himself as a “tech guy” with a love for history. He is a genealogy professional who is also a blogger, educator, author, social media connector, marketer, network builder and more. Thomas has built his own genealogy-related business called High Definition Genealogy.

 All visitors are welcome. You do not need to be a member to attend the Northeast Washington Genealogical Society’s meetings.

 

Eastside Genealogical Society German Interest Group

by Charles Hansen

EGS

Dear GIG Friends,

I wanted to share with those of you who weren’t able to attend the June 3, 2016 GIG Meeting that I will be stepping down as the leader of the GIG.  I’m sorry to say that I just don’t have the time to commit to it and I can’t make all the meetings, due to working full time.  My goal in taking on the leadership this past year was to keep the GIG from folding after Ann Passe stepped down (after leading it for over 8 years!), to have some new and/or professional genealogists as speakers, and to start having local field trips again.  I hope your expectations were met this past year.

Leadership of the GIG will continue in the capable hands of Dorothy Pretare, who assisted me with programming this past year.  Dorothy has two new Programs co-chairs who will assist her with programming and speakers.  I’m looking forward to hearing what topics and who our speakers will be for the last part of 2016 and 2017! Continue reading →

Margie Wilson Earns President’s Award for Outstanding Achievement

by Roxanne Lowe

Margie Wilson was announced as the recipient of the WSGS President’s Award for Outstanding Achievement at the WSGS Conference in Tacoma on June 18, 2016. The announcement was made by WSGS President Mikal McKinnon. Margie was nominated by the Skagit Valley Genealogical Society (SVGS) where she has been an active member since at least 2008 and has held various offices.

Margie Wilson as Anne Justis Morton, wife of John Morton, a signer of the Declaration of Independence

Margie Wilson in an historical portrayal of Anne Justis Morton, wife of John Morton, a signer of the Declaration of Independence

It’s easy to see why Margie earned the coveted award. She was the driving force to secure and implement a $23,000 Paul Allen grant for “Making Connections Through ROOTS – Researching Our Origins for Teens and Seniors,” a 20-week credit-bearing course for high school seniors who were at risk of not graduating. The innovative program taught them research skills, how to use library services and resources, citations, family history, interviewing skills and more. Margie worked two years to get the project off the ground, guiding the program from beginning to end, including securing the grant, getting local school board approval, writing the curriculum and arranging for field trips. The program is now being implemented elsewhere around the country.

Margie is active in the City of Burlington walking tours and cemetery historical tours. She was asked by the Skagit County Historical Museum to teach 120 7th grade students about the early history of Burlington. She has also been a member of the local Rotary, Toastmasters and United Way.

Created in 2015, the WSGS President’s Award for Outstanding Achievement was designed to single out that rare individual, society or organization who has demonstrated exemplary service above and beyond expectations. Last year’s recipient was Fred Pflugrath from the Wenatchee Area Genealogical Society. Continue reading →

FamilySearch Not Available Tomorrow, June 27

by Roxanne Lowe

There’ve been lots of announcements, but we want to make sure you know:

FamilySearch has been working on an upgrade to their website to accommodate the ongoing growth of new features, such as hinting in the Family Tree. As a part of this process, FamilySearch.org will undergo a technical upgrade on Monday, June 27, starting at 12:00 a.m. MDT (6:00 a.m. UTC). The site may be unavailable for up to 24 hours as they test the system improvements.

For more information, visit FamilySearch.org.

THE GENEALOGICAL FORUM’s Wednesday Evening E-News

by Charles Hansen

GFO1

THE GENEALOGICAL FORUM’s Wednesday Evening E-News 22 June 2016

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 go to www.gfo.org/calendar.htm.

Also, if you missed your free copy of our monthly Insider, you’re in luck because we saved you a copy at http://www.gfo.org/insider/16-May.pdf.

***

Be sure to join us on July 31st at the GFO Library!

Digital

The GFO proudly presents…
Digital Photos: Scanning, Preparing, Organizing, and Sharing & Legacy Family Tree Software
Come join us for this amazing workshop opportunity with Geoffrey Rasmussen on Sunday, July 31, 2016, from 9:30am to 2:00pm.

Learn from the best to organize and share your digital photos by using Google’s new Google Photos! Geoffrey Rasmussen will teach you the best practices for digitizing, preserving and enhancing your photograph collections. He will also give tips on how you can readily access your collections on your computer, smartphone, or tablet.

Click HERE to register before obsolescence takes over the world as we know it.

Continue reading →