Author Archives: Roxanne Lowe

Linda Swank Lantis Named One of WSGS’s Outstanding Volunteers in 2023

by Roxanne Lowe

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 Linda Swank Lantis of Yakima, Washington, who was nominated by the Yakima Valley Genealogical Society (YVGS).

In 2005, Linda became a member of YVGS and has been an invaluable member ever since.

A semi-annual yard sale is the library’s primary fundraiser and Linda organizes the donated items along with Patricia Hert.  Linda schedules volunteer workers and the food donated during the week for the workers.  During Covid, Linda and Patricia kept the grounds around the library presentable by mowing the lawn, pulling and spraying weeds.

Linda served as past secretary of YVGS and has been an active librarian. This past spring, because of her experience, workmanship and excellent leadership, Linda was elected head librarian delegating librarians, training and keeping up with the abundance of donated books in a timely manner.

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.

Winona Hahn Laird Named One of WSGS’s Outstanding Volunteers in 2023

by Roxanne Lowe

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 Winona Hahn Laird of Kent, Washington, who was nominated by the South King County Genealogical Society (SKCGS).

Winona is being honored for the effort she put into creating and teaching beginning genealogy classes for SKCGS in 2023. The society experienced a 25 percent increase in membership directly attributable to her classes.

Winona also has served as president and vice president of SKCGS and on numerous committees, including chair of the last two seminar committees, and head of the education committee and the five-year planning committee. Currently she runs the virtual Family Tree Maker Special Interest Group and the in-person Research Workshop at the Kent Family Search Center (FSC). She has also been group liaison for the Family Search Center.

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.

Russell Kruse Named One of WSGS’s Outstanding Volunteers in 2023

by Roxanne Lowe

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 Russell Kruse of Yakima, Washington, who was nominated by the Yakima Valley Genealogical Society (YVGS).

Russell became interested in genealogy and became a member of YVGS in 2011.  He actively volunteers when a maintenance issue arises.

Russell has been very active in multiple activities working on the semi-annual yard sale with other members transporting discarded items from church yard sales to the YVGS storage garage and setting up, selling and cleaning up at the end of the sale.  Russell oversees the recycling project for the YVGS library loading up the recyclable items each week and hauling them to the recycler — an invaluable task. 

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.

How to Post Your Meetings & Events on the WSGS Blog and Website

by Roxanne Lowe

Do you want to broadcast information about your local society, workshop, genealogical tip, or a research query? Just send it to the WSGS Blog and WSGS Meetings and Events! Your post will be seen by more than 1,000 genealogists from around the state and beyond. Just email a Word document, text file, PDF or graphic to WSGSBlog@wasgs.org and Info@wasgs.org and we’ll do the rest!

We’re always looking to publicize local events and workshops, feature stories, updates from your society, and other genealogical information that might be of interest to our many subscribers and viewers.

We hope to hear from you soon! And don’t forget to encourage your Society members to subscribe to the Blog for the most up-to-date information from around the state.

You may manage your subscription options from your profile.

Lynn Krogh Named One of WSGS’s Outstanding Volunteers in 2023

by Roxanne Lowe

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 Lynn Krogh of Spokane, Washington, who was nominated by the Eastern Washington Genealogical Society (EWGS).

Lynn joined EWGS about five years ago, and soon after was on the Ways and Means committee. This committee does the raffles at each meeting and the door prizes at our seminars. Lynn is now the committee chair of the Ways and Means committee. She picked raffle and door prizes that matched the topic of the monthly meeting or seminars. She also held a silent auction of donated items and raised almost $900.

Lynn is now on the program committee and sends out the blast e-mails announcing the upcoming meetings and seminars. She was also the EWGS NGS representative. during Covid, and kept EWGS current on what was happening at NGS.

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.

Kathy Sizer and Jill Scott Elected to WSGS Board

by Roxanne Lowe

Congratulations are extended to Kathy Sizer and Jill Scott who were elected recently as WSGS President and Secretary, respectively. Their terms run through Dec. 31, 2025. Kathy will be serving her second two-year term, while Jill is new to the Board. Jill’s election was unanimous and Kathy’s was almost unanimous — one write-in vote for Cynthia Fuerst of Yakima.

Kathy and Jill, and the rest of the WSGS Board, are anticipating a year filled with growth and service to its members. WSGS members are invited to attend (virtually) the monthly board meetings which are the third Tuesday of each month at 2:00 p.m. The minutes of each meeting are available in the Members’ Area of the website.

For more information about participating in WSGS, email Info@wasgs.org.

Deb Klein Named One of WSGS’s Outstanding Volunteers in 2023

by Roxanne Lowe

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 Deb Klein of Kirkland, Washington, who was nominated by the Seattle Genealogical Society (SGS).

Debra “Deb” joined the SGS in June 2015 and became editor of eNews!, the SGS newsletter, later that year. She has never missed a beat, ensuring that an SGS eNews! has been published and emailed to more than 1,000 people on the 15th day and the last day of every month these last eight years. 

During the long COVID-19 shutdown, the newsletter was a vital connection between SGS leadership and the society’s members. Deb has regularly prepared and written articles and “Tip[s] of the Week” and made sure SGS events were promoted even when no one sent her any content ahead of time. She has just retired from this position, and everyone in SGS will miss her.

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.

Diana Keehn Named One of WSGS’s Outstanding Volunteers in 2023

by Roxanne Lowe

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 Diana Keehn of Marysville, Washington, who was nominated by the Stillaguamish Valley Genealogical Society (SVGS).

Diana is currently a volunteer librarian and publicity chair (a board position) at SVGS. As publicity chair, she promotes the society primarily via social media such as the SVGS Facebook page, Arlington Newsletter, Washington State Genealogical Society blog and Conference Keeper. As a volunteer librarian, she assists with cataloging new additions at the library, and is noted for one-to-one training and encouragement of patrons in how to do research themselves to find the answers to their questions in the extensive collection. She participates in various research groups and is usually available to “do whatever needs to be done.”   

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.

Carol Jenner Named One of WSGS’s Outstanding Volunteers in 2023

by Roxanne Lowe

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 Carol B. Jenner of Olympia, Washington, who was nominated by the Puget Sound Chapter of the Association of Professional Genealogists (PS-APG).

Carol began her family history journey by visiting NARA in Washington, DC in 1973 to inspect the newly released census records. After that she became the family historian, collecting its odds and ends over the years. In 2010, Carol completed a University of Washington certificate program which intensified her focus. She has since attended 19 genealogical institutes. These provided Carol with the solid educational foundation to become a Certified Genealogist (CG) in 2022.

Carol joined the PS-APG in 2017. During her term as chapter representative, the chapter website failed. She singlehandedly took on this project. Within weeks she was able to move the entire website onto the free WordPress platform. This resulted in a secure and stable website that now incorporates a mobile-friendly design. Where would PS-APG be today without those people who can make “magic” happen?

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.

Lori Gibson Named One of WSGS’s Outstanding Volunteers in 2023

by Roxanne Lowe

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 Lori Gibson of Bainbridge Island, Washington, who was nominated by the Bainbridge Island Genealogical Society (BIGS).

Lori took over the position of website administrator in 2016. She has served tirelessly, maintaining the site on a day-to-day basis, finding illustrations and creating layouts, posting and archiving material, and handling all the site’s technical needs. In the process, she worked successfully with several different BIGS newsletter editors and contributed to those communications as well. The website was originally developed in HTML. Lori migrated the site to WordPress and provided a leadership role in two separate “website refreshes.”

Most recently, Lori integrated PayPal into the website, allowing BIGS to collect dues via the web. In addition to her work on the website, Lori also volunteers as a member of the hybrid meeting committee.

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.