Brenda Goddard Arambul Named One of WSGS’s Outstanding Volunteers in 2024

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 a WSGS Outstanding Volunteer and Team Award.

Today we’re introducing Brenda Goddard Arambul of Yakima, Washington who was selected by the Yakima Valley Genealogical Society as its recipient of a WSGS Outstanding Volunteer Award.

Brenda joined the YVGS six years ago. She is a dependable, hard worker, assisting with tables of Christmas items at the two yearly yard sales.

During the Christmas season, Brenda has assisted in the Christmas tree decoration for “Holiday Lights,” displays of nonprofit groups from the Yakima area held in the Yakima Valley Museum. Each Christmas display is judged by the public by inserting a ticket in each participant’s private box.

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.

Arizona Genealogy Day Conference — Free & Virtual

by Roxanne Lowe

You are invited to attend the fifth annual Arizona Genealogy Day conference on Saturday, 29 March 2025. Registration is now open (https://azsos.libcal.com/calendar/starl/azgenday25). The free, virtual conference is sponsored by Arizona Genealogical Advisory Board and the Arizona State Library, Archives, and Public Records.

Arizona-based as well as national speakers are presenting, and the subjects cover Story Telling/Sharing to DNA to Artificial Intelligence. We think there is something for everyone! And the topics are NOT necessarily Arizona based subjects, so anyone can learn something. If you cannot attend on the day of the conference, go ahead and register because the conference will be on the Arizona State Library’s YouTube channel for a limited time afterward.

If you have any questions, please contact myself or Kori Tueller from the Arizona State Library: ktueller@azlibrary.gov.

Let’s Talk About: Washington Trivia…Quiz & Prize!

by Donna Phillips


This is/was SUCH a delightful little book and it will be YOURS…. IF you can honestly take the quiz and send your answers to me. Honestly means no internet searching for answers! See how much Washington trivia you really know! Here goes:


1. List the names of the territorial governors (are 14). 


2. List the names of the state governors (are 23 to newly elected Ferguson).


3. What is the Washington State’s official  __________:

Amphibian – Bird – Dinosaur – Endemic Mammal – Fish – Flower – Fruit = Grass – Insect – Marine Mammal – Tree – Vegetable – Fossil – Gem – Waterfall


If you choose to take this quiz, copy and paste your answers in an email to me, Donna243@gmail.com, with “QUIZ” in the subject line, and your mailing address.

 Deadline is February 28, 2025. Have fun!

Clallam County Genealogical Society DAR Databases for Genealogy

by Charles Hansen

Clallam County Genealogical Society Announcement:

Using the DAR Databases for Genealogy will be the topic of a presentation by Georgianna Seko for the Clallam County Genealogical Society Saturday meeting, February 15th at 9:30am.  Georgianna is a longtime member of the DAR, and has been doing genealogical research for several years.  She volunteers at the CCGS Research Center in Port Angeles.

The DAR website offers more than just Revolutionary War information to the researcher.  This overlooked resource may help one find that missing clue that will break down a brick wall.

Everyone is invited to watch the program, either by coming to the Research Center at 403 E. 8th Street in Port Angeles, or via Zoom.  To obtain the Zoom meeting number and passcode, contact the Society by email: askus@clallamcogs.org or phoning 360-417-5000 Tuesday-Friday from 10am to 4pm.  Participants are requested to sign in 15 minutes before the program.

There is no cost to attend the meeting and program. 

Skagit Valley Genealogical Society Writing Your Life Story 2025

by Charles Hansen

Sharpen your pencils! Do your keyboard finger exercises! Don’t miss the second of our Winter Series, Writing Your Life Story with Annette Burke Lyttle, CG, of Heritage Detective, Saturday, February 8, 2025 at 1pm,presented by Skagit Valley Genealogical Society. Learn how effectively organizing your time and research leads to success in writing your family history. Come in person to the Burlington Public library or join us by Zoom, email genealogy0715@gmail.com to request a Zoom link.

Let’s Talk About: FamilySearch Mobile App

by Donna Phillips

Note: The FamilySearch Mobile app is a simplified version of the web version and does require that you are comfortable using and navigating a mobile phone or tablet. 

Have you ever had to fill up some too-long minutes waiting…. at an appointment at Les Schwab, for a prescription to be filled, or for the doctor or for the kids’ game to get over?? Here is something to help made that “empty” time productive (and to keep your blood pressure down from waiting). Viola! Try the FamilySearch Mobile App!

The FamilySearch Mobile App consists of three major parts:

1. Family Tree — is a full featured genealogy app to add, edit and share your family story and use record hints to grow your family tree branches.(You likely have already used this feature.)

2. Memories — is a way to capture important family events as they happen, to use your phone to preserve photos or documents or to record audio stories from older generations.

3. Get Involved — is a fun way to help make historical records searchable for free online, to make it possible for people to find their ancestors online, to give back to the community in a simple and easy way and to use your spare time in a meaningful way.  

Here’s how to download the FamilySearch Mobile App:

* Open the Apple App Store or Google Play Store or go to www.familysearch.org/mobile-apps.  For Kindles, first download the Google Play app or ta the Play Store for Android.

*Search for FamilySearch

*Once found, download thusly:

    ** Android: tap INSTALL

    ** Apple: tap GET

    ** Kindle: tap GET APP

    ** When the app finished its installation, tap the icon to open it and login using your FamilySearch credentials.

Tacoma Pierce County Genealogical Society February Educational Meeting

by Charles Hansen

Tacoma Pierce County Genealogical Society Monthly Educational Meeting
Tuesday, February 11, 2025, starting at 6:00 pm

This month’s presentation: Using the FamilySearch Catalog presented by Charlotte Van Valkenburgh. This is a recorded presentation that was given at a Mini-RootsTech event on October 10, 2024. Charlotte is an intern at the FamilySearch Library on the U.S./Canada team. She recently graduated from BYU – Idaho with an emphasis on family history research. She finds joy in teaching others how to find the records that connect them to their ancestors. She loves spending her free time discovering all she can about her own ancestors and solving adoption mysteries with the help of DNA.

As one of the most useful tools in family history research, the FamilySearch Catalog is extremely valuable. Come learn about some tips and tricks to using the FamilySearch Catalog to help in your family history research.

This meeting will be hybrid and we encourage everyone who can 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

Find your local number: https://us02web.zoom.us/u/kcFbCNTY39

Tacoma Pierce County Genealogical Society February Writing Family History

by Charles Hansen

Tacoma-Pierce County Genealogical Society Writing Family History
Wednesday, February 12, 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