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 2023 award recipients and learn why they received the 2023 WSGS Outstanding Volunteer and Team Award.

Today we’re introducing Joleen Aitchison of Kingston, Washington, who was nominated by the Bainbridge Island Genealogical Society (BIGS).

Joleen’s volunteerism started even before she joined BIGS. In 2013, as director of the Family History Center in Poulsbo, she volunteered to give a presentation at a BIGS monthly meeting and then became a member. And she’s been a consistent and valuable volunteer ever since, serving as a mentor, working on the newsletter and now the website, making full-scale presentations, and offering one-on-one help to anyone interested. In addition to serving as a Special Interest Group leader, Joleen is a major resource for BIGS’s members in other special interest groups. She is a past board member and was a major contributor to several Family History Month special events open to the public.

Joleen is one of BIGS’s most knowledgeable members in both traditional genealogy and genealogical DNA and is able to make complex information understandable and approachable to the less experienced.

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.