The Northeast Washington Genealogical Society is not only alive and well, but it is thriving! I attended their meeting in Colville on Wed, Mar 14th, and 35 were present….up a good ten from usual, President Karen Struve explained. “We send out meeting reminders to nearly 50 too,” Karen said. Kathy Ochs teaches a repeating beginners class and coming from that are a flock of prospective new members. Good for them, way up in Stevens County, the northeast corner of Washington.

This group has published nearly two dozen books on their area and one, Little Journeys, is in its third printing and had an order from Germany. On a sadder note, their periodical, Pioneer Branches, has been discontinued due to lack of support (nobody will step up to do it!). I asked about continuing and new plans and projects and they have plenty. Their major focus of time and energy is the care and keeping of the Evergreen Pioneer Cemetery where they have reset stone, replaced stones and done repeated massive cleanups. (A WSGS grant went to this group to fund the removal of a huge, leaning tree threatening the cemetery.) They work with the Stevens County Historical Society on research requests and projects.

The above group photo is of the NeWGS board:  (L to R) Kathy Ochs (beginners’ class); Lora Rose (Evergreen Cemetery); Sue Witham (treasurer); Susan Dechant (past president); Mary Ann Schrader (member-at-large); Norma Yost (vice president); and Karen Struve. Not present were Sharon Wilson (recording secretary) and Helen Swords (corresponding secretary).

Their annual fall seminar (29 Sep 2018) will feature Janet O’Conner Camarata and “every genealogist in the state is invited to come!”

Their website is newgs.org

I 100% enjoyed my lunch and time with them for they are upbeat, energetic and positive and that makes genealogy FUN, wouldn’t you agree?