Since 2003, the Washington State Genealogical Society has recognized over 500 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 2017 award recipients and learn why they received the 2017 WSGS Outstanding Volunteer and Team Award.

Wenatchee Area Genealogical Society Leadership Team

Today we’re introducing the Wenatchee Area Genealogical Society’s Leadership Team (WAGS). The team members are Shirley Acheson, Phyllis Barnett, Barbara Congdon, Hank LuBean, Sandra McBride, Patty Ostendorff, Lynda Pheasant, Susan Rumble and Mary Swartz.

This team made an extraordinary commitment to the value of planning for long-term success of WAGS. Each year the team has participated in a series of strategic planning sessions, and has diligently pursued the process of building leadership skills. The former broad mission statement was reformatted into the concise statement: “WAGS connects, collects, and protects family histories.” The Board Operational Calendar, established as an outcome of previous strategy sessions, was revised to better reflect current operations. Key committees now provide written reports each month for Board meetings. Budget requests are submitted in advance of the coming year, available for year-end review and planning by the budget/finance committee. To raise the overall leadership skills of its board members, an educational component is incorporated into each monthly meeting.

In addition to serving an elected or appointed position, each person on WAGS’s Leadership Team also voluntarily contributes in multiple areas to create the successful genealogical organization that WAGS has become.

The dedication and commitment of the WAGS Leadership Team illustrate that it richly deserved being a recipient of a 2017 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, Interim Recognition Chair, at Roxanne@thekeeffes.com.