Susan Palmer Named One of WSGS’s Outstanding Volunteers in 2024

May11 by Roxanne Lowe

Since 2003, the Washington State Genealogical Society has recognized over 600 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 2024 award recipients and learn why they received they received a WSGS Outstanding Volunteer and Team Award.

Today we’re introducing Susan Palmer of Bainbridge Island, Washington who was selected by the Bainbridge Island Genealogical Society (BIGS) as its recipient of a WSGS Outstanding Volunteer Award.

Susan joined the BIGS Board as Director of Programs in April 2022. Selecting topics for and delivering the monthly programs is a major cornerstone of BIGS’ work. Susan jumped in and helped the society move forward with the Zoom platform. She was an essential member of the Hybrid Team to again offer in-person programs. She was instrumental in developing the Zoom registration process. Susan broadened the society’s horizons in the breadth of speakers she engaged, including their first international speaker.

Under her leadership, BIGS was finally able to celebrate its 1st Annual BIGS at the Beach – for members and their families that had been cancelled the previous two years.

Susan developed a very useful planning document, providing speaker and topic information for programs well into the future. This is an effective tool in communicating with the board and the communications team’s use. Susan worked quietly, efficiently, reliably and collaboratively to deliver excellent program results.

For more information on the WSGS Outstanding Volunteer Award program, visit the Recognition page of the WSGS website or contact Info@wasgs.org. Please type “Volunteer Award” in the subject line.

Let’s Talk About: Old Postcards

May9 by Donna Phillips

I confess: I cannot help myself from browsing through the boxes of old postcards that I may encounter at a thrift shop.

Case in point, the two above. Both had writing on the reverse side……….. old German. Which of course I could not read. So I took them with me to RootsTech in March and requested help on B-1 in the FamilySearch Library.

The card at the top was addressed to “Fraulein Luise Koller, Frankfurt a Main, Niederrad.” It was from “Heinrich.” Was Heinrich the handsome suitor of Luise? Or was that a commercial photo?

The lower one REALLY intrigued me. Was this a real person in real clothes or a costumed funny? This card, dated 1919, was from Erik Lund to “the family Moller in Vestergade.” Erik says he is “sending to you my picture.” Wonder what they thought!

So teaches Wikipedia: “A postcard is a rectangular piece of thick paper, sent without an envelope and for a lower fee. Production of postcards blossomed in the late 19th and each 20th centuries and an easy and quick way for individuals to communicate. The study and collecting of postcards is termed deltiology. (Remember that when you’re invited to be on Jeopardy.)

Do you have any old postcards in your collected personal family history archive?

Wenatchee Area Genealogical Society Where Did Your Family Tree Grow

May6 by Charles Hansen

Tacoma Pierce County Genealogical Society Mystery Book Club

May6 by Charles Hansen

Tacoma-Pierce County Genealogical Society Mystery Book Club
Saturday, May 17, 2025 starting at 4:00 pm via Zoom

Please join us as we discuss a fictional genealogical book, Death on a Gravestone: The Newshound Mysteries by M. K. Jones & John F. Wake

More information at:
Amazon: Death on a Gravestone, print and Kindle versions
This book may also be available in print from various bookstores.

TPCGS Book Club Zoom Meeting
Every month on the Third Sat beginning at 4:00 PM Pacific Time
Please download and import the following iCalendar (.ics) files to your calendar system.

Monthly: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/tZUkfuCqrzgsG9RrrhNAdU65Lz86P0s92mu1/ics?icsToken=98tyKuGppzIjGNWWthiHRpwcHYr4XerzmHZdjfpvjg3tLQFXV1WjGvgaZIIvA4GC

Join Zoom Meeting:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81999213610?pwd=Qkk2WFZTZ2Rzdzc1Z0szN1AzdEZCUT09
Meeting ID: 819 9921 3610
Passcode: 479394

One tap mobile:
+12532050468,,81999213610#,,,,*479394# US
+12532158782,,81999213610#,,,,*479394# US (Tacoma)

Dial by your location:
+1 253 205 0468 US
+1 253 215 8782 US (Tacoma)
Meeting ID: 819 9921 3610
Passcode: 479394

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

Tacoma Pierce County Genealogical Society Writing Family History SIG

May6 by Charles Hansen

Tacoma-Pierce County Genealogical Society Writing Family History
Wednesday, May 14, 2025, starting at 7:00 PM via Zoom

The Writing Family History Special Interest Group (WFH-SIG) supports TPCGS members in documenting, writing, and preserving their family histories—formally or informally. Monthly meetings will provide a mix of presentations, writing exercises, and peer reviews to help members make progress in their projects.

Meeting invite with links in file attached below

Date & Time: Every month on the Second Wednesday, starting at 7:00 PM Pacific Time

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

Monthly: https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/tZMoc-2qqDMjHNXnACfWJ0dop_pMeQXMRoYM/ics?icsToken=98tyKuGvqz8uGNKduR-GRpwEGY-gLOrwplxEgo1lkj7GBRd5Mgf5Jt1SH7dOKPXi
Join Zoom Meeting:

https://us06web.zoom.us/j/87544268961?pwd=oNtdztP51tePuSn3bt45J3wuxnGXzl.1
Meeting ID: 875 4426 8961
Passcode: 328639

One tap mobile:
+12532158782,,87544268961#,,,,*328639# US (Tacoma)
+12532050468,,87544268961#,,,,*328639# US

Dial by your location:
• +1 253 215 8782 US (Tacoma)
• +1 253 205 0468 US
Meeting ID: 875 4426 8961
Passcode: 328639

Find your local number: https://us06web.zoom.us/u/kclCP1SsOV

Tacoma Pierce County Genealogical Society Monthly Education Meeting Reaching Back

May6 by Charles Hansen

Tacoma Pierce County Genealogical Society Monthly Educational Meeting
Tuesday, May 13, 2025, starting at 6:00 pm

Kathy Veasey will speak at the May meeting. Presentation: “Reaching Back”.

Kathleen Veasey
I began my genealogy research in the mid-1970’s. My oldest sister and I lived and breathed family history! My sister was the city librarian and, because I had time during the day, I would spend all day at the library, reading microfilms. On the weekends, we would meet at my house and see where our research was going. After 10 years, we had enough information to print and publish our family history books.

Eventually, I learned how to search the web. I made many contacts through the years and, along with continuing to gather family information, I started maintaining a giant collection of descendants of my third great grandfather’s enslaved persons. More recently, I expanded the research of enslaved persons to include all black families in the county, starting with the 1870 census and following these lines down to 1850. I look forward to sharing my journey with the members of the TPCGS.

This meeting will be hybrid and we encourage everyone who is able to attend in person at our new meeting location:
University Place Library
3609 Market PL W.
University Place, WA 98466
and via Zoom for those unable to attend in person.

Attend virtually via Zoom:
Tacoma-Pierce County Genealogical Society is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.

Please download and import the following iCalendar (.ics) files to your calendar system.
Monthly: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/tZIqduGpqjgsHtBNs9zc8CGna6R-KHlcz5so/ics?icsToken=98tyKuGuqToiG9CWth2DRpwAB4j4WevwiHZdgrd_sgy8GSMLQST4N7Rwf5lXHNvK

Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86718143644?pwd=S0FjYU5acVVKbDEyamdXWWZVekFjdz09
Meeting ID: 867 1814 3644
Passcode: 630507

One tap mobile
+12532050468,,86718143644#,,,,*630507# US
+12532158782,,86718143644#,,,,*630507# US (Tacoma)
Dial by your location

+1 253 205 0468 US
+1 253 215 8782 US (Tacoma)
Meeting ID: 867 1814 3644
Passcode: 630507

Stillaguamish Valley Genealogical Society Annual Meeting, Pot Luck, Silent Auction

May6 by Charles Hansen

Stillaguamish Valley Genealogical Society

Annual Meeting, Election of Officers, Potluck and Silent Auction

Tuesday, May 13th

SVGS Library

6111 188 PL NE

Arlington, WA

Potluck starts at Noon!

The Stillaguamish Valley Genealogical Society will hold a Potluck prior to the Annual Meeting and Election of Officers. All friends of the society are welcome!

Bring your favorite dish (maybe an old family recipe) to share.

If possible, we would like you to bring an item based on the following parameters.

If your last name begins with: Please bring:

A to I Main Course

J to R Dessert

S to Z Salad/Side Dish

Another option that anyone may choose is to bring Appetizers or Beverages.

Immediately following the Potluck, at approximately 1pm the SVGS Annual Meeting will begin. Members, please stay and vote on the upcoming 2025-2026 budget and the Election of Officers.

The following slate of candidates has been presented for election:

President-Ruth Caesar

Vice President of the Library-Leslie Bock

Secretary-LeAnne Koliha

Silent Auction

This year we are having a silent auction as to help supplement our operating budget. We have a great selection of items that have been donated by members and the community to bid on. Don’t forget to bring your checkbook!

Let’s Talk About: Dostadning: Swedish Death Cleaning

May6 by Donna Phillips

Disclaimer: This is not my office but it surely could be. Is this your office? Kitchen? Pantry? Spare room? Closet? Storage drawers?

While back, I came upon this little book: The Gentle Art of Swedish Death Cleaning, by Margareta Magnusson. While the title sounds a tad foreboding, the premise is simple and profound: Rid your world of stuff…. stuff you don’t want, don’t need, never used and never liked and do it now!

My favorite presentation to give to fellow genealogists is “Leave A Legacy and NOT A Mess.” I teach that YOU collected all that stuff, and while it means the world to you, it may well not mean a sniff to your descendants (immediate descendants anyway). It is imperative that YOU do something with all that stuff. No excuses.

This premise 100% applies to your clothes-shoes-Tshirts, your kitchen gadgets, your shelves of unfinished projects, your unused collection of clipped recipes, your 200 books, your dozens of different baking pans that you never use anymore. You get the idea.

At my age, and facing a domicile move, this is rather uppermost in my mind. And I assert that it might should be in yours too. Be nice to your descendants. Consider it a Pre-Death House Cleaning For the Benefit of Your Children.

And know what? You’ll be FREE! No more looking around and being dismayed at all the stuff that’s cluttering your life. Free!

P.S. Does any library or genealogy society want all your genealogy? Those books, binder and boxes of research notes. NO WAY, JOSE. You collected it; it’s up to YOU to dispose of it all. And this is 100% true: If you want your family to value your life’s work, leave it to them in an organized fashion…. preferably online.

Heritage Quest Research Library May 1st Video

May3 by Charles Hansen

Seattle Genealogical Society Tip of the Week Family Search

May3 by Charles Hansen

TIP OF THE WEEK –
DON’T FORGET FAMILYSEARCH (AND IT’S FREE!) FamilySearch is much more than its tree. They offer a vast amount of records that would otherwise require subscriptions to other sites. This is especially notable since FamilySearch includes international records for free that would require an higher tier subscription on a site such as Ancestry.

But not all records on FamilySearch are available from home. To get the most out of FamilySearch visit a FamilySearch Center or affiliate (The SGS Library is a FamilySearch affiliate, but not a center). Even better, these locations usually have a host of other resources and subscriptions that patrons can access for free. Utilize the best resources to research your family and save money while you do it.

Learn more about FamilySearch Centers and the resources they provide