Tag Archives: Skagit Valley Genealogical Society

Skagit Valley Genealogical Society September 19 Seminar

by Charles Hansen
Just a reminder that next Saturday, September 19, 2015  will  be a seminar featuring Mary Kathryn Kozy and Jill Morelli being presented at the Mount Vernon Senior Center.  Jill will be presenting programs on “Ten Top Techs She Uses and You Can Too” and “Writing Your Family Histoy – Just Do It” and Mary Kathryn will be presenting “Researching in Newspapers” and  “Google and its Genealogy Tools”
Walk ins are welcome. 
Feel free to join us.  We look forward to welcoming you. $50 admission.  Bring a grab bag luunch.  Cofee, Tea & water available.  Jim Johnson will be  bringing books and lots of very nice door prizes.
Hazel
Communications
Skagit Valley Genealogical Society

Skagit Valley Gen Society Newsflash

by Charles Hansen
 
Skagit Valley GS Skagit Valley Genealogical Society’s Educational Seminar
Responds to a Global “El-Nino” of Interest in Family History

MOUNT VERNON — Skagit Valley Genealogical Society (SVGS) is hosting its twelfth annual seminar, “Genealogy — All About Life” on Saturday, September 19, 8am-4pm at the Mount Vernon Senior Center, 1401 Cleveland. Guest speakers are two highly sought after speakers — professional genealogists Mary Kathryn Kozy and Jill Morelli. Topics include: Google’s Genealogy Tools, Top 10 Tech Tools for Genealogists, Researching Newspapers, and Writing Your Family History. Seminar admission is $40 for SVGS members and $45 non-members.“There are three global social trends that are creating a “genealogical El-Nino” for genealogical societies everywhere right now. First, the Baby Boomer generation is starting to retire by the millions. They are a population group that now has more free-time at their disposal.  Second, in Europe and the United States the popularity of television family history reality shows such as such as “Who Do You Think You Are?” are stimulating an interest in discovering one’s ancestry. And third, technology and software entrepreneurs are creating software “apps” to assist family historians with organizing and sourcing their discoveries and materials. An example of this trend is the RootsTech conference that attracts budding software designers as well as seasoned genealogists. Over 25,000 people, of all ages, attend the conference earlier this year. It was the second largest gathering of genealogists on the planet. Britain’s, “Who Do You Thing You Are?” conference being the world’s largest. These three current social trends are creating a “perfect storm” of interest in family history research. It is great to see a younger audience is now getting attracted to genealogy. Family research requires detective work and it is very stimulating and rewarding.” said Margie Wilson, SVGS genealogy librarian.

SVGS is bringing the best educators to our community so amateur family historians can break through research “brick walls.” This year to add excitement to the seminar SVGS is offering all attendees an opportunity to receive one of two door prizes:  A one-on-one consultation with a scientist/expert, who will explain how to interpret your genealogy DNA test results; or for beginning researchers, an opportunity to meet one-on-one with an expert family history researcher.

SVGS’ seminar will also be an opportunity to network with other genealogists, learn new skills from the experts, explore how to use the latest technology to improve your research, plus books and resources will be on-hand to expand your research horizons.

Questions: Kris LaRue (360) 770-0762 or svgsgenealogy@gmail.com. For details and online registration visit: skagitvalleygenealogy.org.

Innovative Grant Awards Announced

by Roxanne Lowe

WSGS President Mikal McKinnon has announced the local society projects that received Innovative Grants at last month’s state conference. The Innovative Grant Program, awarding financial awards up to $100, was created to support the inventive and creative efforts of WSGS-member societies and organizations. The successfully funded projects, which include matching funds from the local society, are:

  • Chelan Valley Genealogical Society – Purchase of a computer, solely for genealogical research, at the Chelan Public Library. The computer will have access to Ancestry.com and FamilySearch.org.
  • Northeast Washington Genealogical Society – Removal of trees that are endangering the safety of people and protection of grave markers at the Evergreen Cemetery, a local cemetery near Colville. Until NWGS began caring for this long-neglected cemetery, vandalism and lack of care had left its mark on many of the headstones and gravesites. Today, the cemetery looks like an old, but loved, pioneer cemetery.
  • Skagit Valley Genealogical Society – Purchase of a new laptop computer to be used for society presentations and transcription of documents from the Northwest Regional Archives in Bellingham.
  • Tri-City Genealogical Society – Funds will support the society’s “Archived Records Contest” which encourages individuals to share records they have obtained by various means other than just downloading an image from the Internet. Click here for more about the Archived Records Contest.
  • Wenatchee Area Genealogical Society – Specialized computer software to enable more than one volunteer to enter data related to local obituaries, cemetery records, World War I records and more. The software purchase will enable WAGS members to add to their extensive genealogical holdings of more than 394,000 records and 90 databases.

Announcements for the 2016 grant cycle will be posted on the Blog in Spring 2016. For more information about the Innovative Grant Program, contact Roxanne Lowe, WSGS Recognition Chair.

Skagit Valley GS Earns First Outstanding Project Award

by Roxanne Lowe

Kris and Chris, proud Skagit Valley GS members, accepting the Outstanding Project Award

The inaugural WSGS Outstanding Project award was awarded at the WSGS Conference in Ellensburg last month to the Skagit Valley Genealogical Society (SVGS) for their “Making Connections Through Roots (Researching Our Origins Teens With Seniors)” project. This deserving effort was a community collaboration between SVGS, the Burlington Public Library and the Burlington-Edison Alternative High School. The purpose of the project was to teach 12th grade students who were at risk of dropping out of school basic researching methods by researching their own unique family histories. In addition to the dedication of many committed individuals, this innovative project received a $23,000 grant from the Paul G. Allen Foundation. The SVGS received a certificate and one-year membership to WSGS for their accomplishment.

Upon reviewing the ROOTS nomination, one reviewer commented,

“I can only find positive remarks to make about this marvelous project. It perfectly combines answers to various struggles that genealogical societies encounter. It embraces youth and validates them. It is an amazing tool for outreach…I applaud the mastermind that created a solution to address so many concerns. I also applaud each and every person that participated in this project. I would love to see this project duplicated by every genealogical society in every county of every state of this great country. Bravo!!”

If you would like to hear more about this outstanding project, contact John Hayes, SVGS President. In addition, the Washington State Library featured a recent First Tuesday webinar about the project. https://sas.elluminate.com/p.jnlp?sid=2008170&psid=2015-01-06.0907.M.51A1F6BD288768B43F3C46EBA9B642.vcr

Continue reading →

Skagit Valley Genealogical Society September Seminar

by Charles Hansen
Please share with your society members, your friends & family.  We would like to welcome and see some of you at our seminar.  Visit our website www.skagitgenealogy.org where you can register online, use paypal  or print a registration form.
Have a nice summer and good ancestor hunting!
Hazel
Communications
Skagit Valley Genealogical Society

Save the Date Seminar 2015 Flyer 8.5 x 11

Lois LeBlonde Named Outstanding Volunteer

by Roxanne Lowe

Since 2003, the Washington State Genealogical Society has recognized more than 400 outstanding volunteers, 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 weeks, you will be introduced to each of the 2014 award recipients and learn why they received the 2014 WSGS Outstanding Volunteer Award.

Today we’re introducing Lois M. LeBlonde of Anacortes, Washington, who was nominated by the Skagit Valley Genealogical Society (SVGS). She was recognized for her exceptional and consistent leader¬ship, knowledge, and volunteer efforts toward the goals and operation of the Skagit Valley Genealogical Society.

LeBlondePhoto

Lois LeBlonde

 

Ms. LeBlonde has been a member of the SVGS board of directors for the past four years and has served as the society’s treasurer for the past three and one-half years. She has maintained the financial records, including deposits and expenses, as well as separate recorded categories of funds for activities of SVGS, all of which are controlled by a strict budget. She most recently maintained a separate accounting of funds received during an unbudgeted society seminar.

Ms. LeBlonde has been a mentor for multiple high school students for the ROOTS project sponsored by SVGS and the Burlington Public Library under the auspices of a Paul Allen Foundation grant, supporting SVGS’s goal for community education.

Ms. LeBlonde has been an outstanding, dedicated volunteer, and she richly deserved being a recipient of a 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, Recognition Chair, at Roxanne@thekeeffes.com.

Skagit County History Project Team Earns Outstanding Recognition Award

by Roxanne Lowe

Since 2003, the Washington State Genealogical Society has recognized more than 400 outstanding volunteers, 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 2014 award recipients and learn why they received the 2014 WSGS Outstanding Volunteer Award.

SchulzePhoto

Rita Schulze

JohnsonSharonPhoto

Sharon Johnson

LaRuePhoto

Kris LaRue

RasarPhoto

Hazel Rasar

RoyalPhoto

Dan Royal

Today we’re introducing Sharon Johnson, Kris LaRue, Hazel Rasar, Dan Royal, and Rita Schulze, members of the Skagit County History Project Team, who were nominated by the Skagit Valley Genealogical Society. The team was recognized for exceptional research, preservation and publication of historical material relating to Skagit County.

The History Project Team was created to document the historical biographies of the people of Skagit County and their ancestors. Beginning in 2003, stories were gathered for a number of years until collections ceased and the gathered material turned over to Mr. Royal with the vision of publishing a book known as “Skagit County, Washington and Its People.”

Each member of this long-term team held a unique, valuable role. As publications chair, Ms. Rasar was instrumental in assisting Mr. Royal with the early development of the project. Together, the two of them also coordinated the effort throughout the ten-year period. In 2012, Ms. Schulze became chair of the effort while Ms. Johnson began budgeting for the books’ publication. Ms. Rasar was also involved with Ms. Schulze, Ms. Johnson and Ms. LaRue in proofing and developing of an every-name index. Mr. Royal worked with a draft person to format and publish the final books. The two-volume set was published in 2014.

Due to the team’s dedication and tireless work on this decade-long project, they richly deserved receiving a 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, Recognition Chair, at Roxanne@thekeeffes.com.