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 2022 award recipients and learn why they received the 2022 WSGS Outstanding Volunteer and Team Award.

Today we’re introducing the Zoom Team that was nominated by the Eastern Washington Genealogical Society (EWGS). The team was comprised of John Wilson and Carol Anderson.

March 2020 was the last in-person meeting for EWGS until April 2022 when in-person meetings resumed. April, May and June 2020 came and went with everything locked down. Then along came Zoom. Carol Anderson and John Wilson were using Zoom to communicate with their families and determined EWGS meetings could be conducted via Zoom. They reached out to the board by walking each person through the Zoom sign-in process and a new meeting format was born. It was a matter of members teaching other members the sign-in process and John posting the directions on the EWGS website.

Other societies disbanded for lack of vision, but EWGS has prospered adding new members. In April 2022, EWGS had their first hybrid meeting all because of the “can do attitude” of Carol and John.

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.”