Genealogist and Lecturer
Her topic is
Finding your Female Ancestors
The speaker at the Lower Columbia Genealogical Society’s
Sept 10th , 2026 zoom meeting will be Amber Oldenburg. Her topic is Finding Your Female Ancestor
Virtual meeting doors will open at 9:30 am.
Speaker’s program will begin at 10:00 am
The public is invited to attend
Please consider joining our society for $20/yr.
For a link to join the meeting or to join the society contact lcgsgen@yahoo.com 24hrs prior to the event
The WSGS Board of Directors awarded 2026 Supportive Grants to five local societies. LeAnne Koliha, WSGS Vice President, announced the awards at the WSGS Annual Meeting on August 27, 2026.
The grants were awarded to:
Clallam County Genealogical Society — CCGS is in the process of having a mural painted on their building. It will feature historical figures of those who lived on or came to the North Olympic Peninsula, including Native tribal images. The purpose of this mural is several fold: to honor the 250th anniversary of the Constitution; to increase the visibility of the Genealogy Society; and to increase visitor traffic. The estimated cost of the mural is about $32,000. So far CCGS has received donations of $14,000 from members and the public. They have applied for a $10,000 grant, but it is not yet known if it will be approved. CCGS has contributed $5000 to date from their coffers. They continue to do fundraising.
Clark County Genealogical Society — The society plans to replace and upgrade essential office equipment. Their current equipment is outdated, and the printers are costly to operate. Specifically, they are seeking funding for a black-and-white laser printer and a new telephone system. The ink for their current color inkjet printers is expensive; a laser printer would better meet daily needs at a lower operating cost. Replacing their old phones will improve range and voicemail, making communication more dependable during the transition to a new location.
Lower Columbia Genealogical Society — LCGS hopes to provide speakers for their online meetings. They have decreased from ten speakers per year to nine, partly due to cost. With rare exception, their speakers are from outside the area. Speaker fees continue to go up. The grant will help them obtain quality speakers with an eye to increasing membership as well as educating their members. Over the last three months, LCGS has had 27 guests out of 68 attendees, and they have had two new members.
Mason County Genealogical Society — Will use their grant to purchase two or three photo scanners and a supply of flash drives to support their two ongoing community outreach programs. The first project is a monthly family photo scanning event with their partner, Mason County Senior Center. This helps preserve old family photos and gets them out of decaying photo albums and shoeboxes. In the 18 months that MCGS has been conducting this project, they have served over 60 community members. Several MCGS volunteers have worn out their own scanners and have purchased new ones. The other community project is their Genealogy Café where they partner with the Shelton branch of Timberland Library. MCGS wants to give visitors a flash drive to preserve the genealogical discoveries and the sources used in the findings and take with them at the end of the session.
Wenatchee Area Genealogical Society — WAGS plans to upgrade their digital preservation capabilities. The total project cost is $500, and WAGS will match the grant 100% with $250 of their own funds to purchase a pre-owned Sony Alpha 6000 digital camera and macro lens. Buying this equipment used is a deliberate, practical choice that lets them get high-quality, professional imaging gear at a fraction of the cost new. It will serve as the core upgrade for their library’s Digitizing Station, replacing an eight-year-old donated camera that is at the end of its lifespan and can no longer capture the crisp clarity needed for archiving.
For more information about the Supportive Grants, click here.
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 2025 award recipients and learn why they received they received a WSGS Outstanding Volunteer and Team Award.
Today we’re introducing Donna McLain of Longview, Washington who was selected by the Lower Columbia Genealogical Society as its recipient of a WSGS Outstanding Volunteer Award.
Donna has been a member of LCGS for many years, and during her tenure she has served as a member of the society’s board, as a greeter at in-person meetings and two terms as secretary. Her secretarial skills are outstanding, and her minutes are presented in a very businesslike and detailed manner. She has also been an active participant on the program committee, and she recommends presentations of interest. Donna is a great asset to our society, as she consistently offers thought-provoking input to all board discussions, and she is always willing to see a project through to its completion
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.
Sara Cochran
Genealogist and lecturer
Her Topic is
Missing: Reward! Locating Widows,
Spinsters and Bachelors
The speaker at the Lower Columbia Genealogical Society’s June 11th, 2026, zoom meeting will be Sara Cochran. Her topic is Reward! Locating Widows, Spinsters and Bachelors.
Virtual meeting doors will open at 9:30 am
Speaker’s program will begin at 10:00 am
The public is invited to attend
Please consider joining our society for $20/yr.
For a link to join the meeting or to join the society contact lcgsgen@yahoo.com 24hrs prior to the event
Maggie Cogswell
Washington State Archivist
Her topic is
Preserving and Dating Photographs
The speaker at the Lower Columbia Genealogical Society’s May 14th, 2026 zoom meeting will be Maggie Cogswell. Her topic is Preserving and Dating Photographs
Virtual meeting doors will open at 9:30 am
Speaker’s program will begin at 10:00 am
The public is invited to attend.
Please consider joining our society for $20/yr.
For a link to join the meeting or to join the society contact lcgsgen@yahoo.com 24hrs prior to the event
Genealogist and Lecturer
Her topic is
Researching Newspaper Outside of Newspapers.com
The speaker at the Lower Columbia Genealogical Society’s April 9th, 2026 zoom meeting will be Amber Oldenburg. Her topic is Researching Newspapers Outside the Newspaper.com.
Virtual meeting doors will open at 9:30 am
Speaker’s program will begin at 10:00 am
The public is invited to attend.
Please consider joining our society for $20/yr.
For a link to join the meeting or to join the society contact lcgsgen@yahoo.com 24hrs prior to the event
Attorney, Genealogist and Blogger
His topic is
Did Your Ancestor Work on a Railroad
Speaker at the Lower Columbia Genealogical Society’s
March 12th 2026 Zoom meeting is James Tanner. His topic is Did Your Ancestor Work on a Railroad.
Virtual meeting doors will open at 9:30 am
Speaker’s program will begin at 10:00 am
The public is invited to attend
Please consider joining our society for $20/yr.
For a link to join the meeting or to join the society contact lcgsgen@yahoo.com 24hrs prior to the event
Genealogist and lecturer
Whittier Area Genealogy Society
Her topic is
Probate—Where There’s a Will or Not
Speaker at the Lower Columbia Genealogical Society’s
February 12th 2026 zoom meeting is Christine Cohen. Her topic is Probate – Where There’s a Will or Not.
Virtual meeting doors will open at 9:30 am
Speaker’s program will begin at 10:00 am
The public is invited to attend
Please consider joining our society for $20/yr.
For a link to join the meeting or to join the society contact lcgsgen@yahoo.com 24hrs prior to the event
Angela Packer McGhie
CERTIFIED GENEALOGIST
WRITER, LECTURER
Her topic is
Strategies for Resolving Conflicting Evidence
Speaker at the Lower Columbia Genealogical Society’s
January 8th 2026 zoom meeting is Angela Packer McGhie. Her topic is Strategies for Resolving Conflicting Evidence.
Please note time change
Virtual meeting doors will open at 9:30 am
Speaker’s program will begin at 10:00 am
Public is invited to attend
Please consider joining our society for $20/yr.
For a link to join the meeting or to join the society contact lcgsgen@yahoo.com 24hrs prior to the event
THOMAS MacENTEE
GENEALOGIST, AUTHOR, BLOGGER
Translating, Transcribing and Summarizing Documents Using AI
Speaker at the Lower Columbia Genealogical Society’s
November 13th Zoom meeting
Virtual meeting doors will open at 6:30 pm
The speaker’s program will begin at 7:00 pm
The public is invited to attend however, non-members will not have access to the handout as per speaker’s request
Please consider joining our society for $20/yr.
For a link to join the meeting or to join the society contact lcgsgen@yahoo.com 24hrs prior to the event