Category Archives: Outstanding Volunteers

Rebecca Judd Awarded 2016 Outstanding Volunteer Honor

by Roxanne Lowe

Since 2003, the Washington State Genealogical Society has recognized almost 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 2016 award recipients and learn why they received the 2016 WSGS Outstanding Volunteer and Team Award.

Rebecca Judd

Today we’re introducing Rebecca Judd from the Bainbridge Island Branch of the Kitsap Regional Library. Rebecca was nominated by the Bainbridge Island Genealogical Society (BIGS). She was recognized for her long-standing and consistent support of BIGS.

Ms. Judd is the manager of the Bainbridge Island Branch of the Kitsap Regional Library, where BIGS holds most of its meetings. Ms. Judd worked with library staff to refer genealogical research questions to BIGS throughout the year. She partnered with BIGS to host an open house for three consecutive years to celebrate Family History month, encouraging members of the public to come to the library to spend time with a BIGS mentor.

Last year, Ms. Judd suggested a partnership with BIGS for a “Book-a-Genealogist” program for Family History month where members of the public could schedule time to meet with a BIGS mentor at the library during the month. Ms. Judd and her staff managed publicity, referred calls and helped arrange meeting spaces.

Ms. Judd’s commitment to a continued partnership with BIGS to educate the public about genealogy prove she richly deserved being a recipient of a 2016 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, Recognition Chair, at Roxanne@thekeeffes.com.

Barbara Jeanne Gorham Johnson Awarded 2016 Outstanding Volunteer Honor

by Roxanne Lowe

Since 2003, the Washington State Genealogical Society has recognized almost 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 2016 award recipients and learn why they received the 2016 WSGS Outstanding Volunteer and Team Award.

Barbara Jeanne Gorham Johnson

Today we’re introducing Barbara Jeanne Gorham Johnson of Sedro Woolley, Washington, who was nominated by the Skagit Valley Genealogical Society (SVGS). She was recognized for the organizational skills she willingly exhibits and shares at the local society.

Ms. Johnson is an active member of the SVGS known for her teaching expertise, most recently in the emerging, complex field of genealogical DNA. She has shared her DNA interest at society programs and as a lecturer at other seminars. She has served as SVGS vice president and secretary, spending eight years on the board of directors. In addition, she has been an active member of the seminar planning committee for several years, including being chair of the successful 2015 event.

Ms. Johnson is a true example of what an outstanding volunteer is, and richly deserved being a recipient of a 2016 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, Recognition Chair, at Roxanne@thekeeffes.com.

Cynthia Savage Harris Awarded 2016 Outstanding Volunteer Honor

by Roxanne Lowe

Since 2003, the Washington State Genealogical Society has recognized almost 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 2016 award recipients and learn why they received the 2016 WSGS Outstanding Volunteer and Team Award.

Cynthia Savage Harris

Today we’re introducing Cynthia Savage Harris, of Bellingham, Washington, who was nominated by the Whatcom Genealogical Society (WGS). She was recognized for sharing her tireless and innovative energies to educate the local society’s members and those interested in genealogy.

Using her innovative resourcefulness as education chair, Ms. Harris has produced educational and entertaining programs for the local society’s meetings for the past four years. She has also been in the forefront of organizing their annual genealogical conference. The programs have helped the WCGS grow by attracting many new members.

Ms. Harris’s pleasant attitude and dedication to the WGS’s projects are appreciated by all its members, and prove she richly deserved being a recipient of a 2016 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, Recognition Chair, at Roxanne@thekeeffes.com.

Roberta Griset Awarded 2016 Outstanding Volunteer Honor

by Roxanne Lowe

Since 2003, the Washington State Genealogical Society has recognized almost 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 2016 award recipients and learn why they received the 2016 WSGS Outstanding Volunteer and Team Award.

Roberta Griset

Roberta Griset

Today we’re introducing Roberta Griset of Sequim, Washington, who was nominated by the Clallam County Genealogical Society (CCGS). She was recognized for her hard-working commitment to the society and field of genealogy.

For years, Ms. Griset has been the backbone supporting CCGS. She has served as president for three years and is currently the society’s vice president. She has also served as the society’s volunteer coordinator, making sure the research center is staffed, filling in herself when needed. She arranges for meeting and seminar speakers, sometimes even hosting out-of-town speakers at her home. For a number of years, she edited and published the society’s quarterly newsletter and even now works closely with the new editor.

Needless to say, Ms. Griset’s numerous contributions to the CCGS are invaluable, thereby proving she richly deserved being a recipient of a 2016 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, Recognition Chair, at Roxanne@thekeeffes.com.

Bill Floberg Awarded 2016 Outstanding Volunteer Honor

by Roxanne Lowe

Since 2003, the Washington State Genealogical Society has recognized almost 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 2016 award recipients and learn why they received the 2016 WSGS Outstanding Volunteer and Team Award.

Bill Floberg

Bill Floberg

Today we’re introducing Bill Floberg of Kennewick, Washington, who was nominated by the Tri-City Genealogical Society (TCGS). He was recognized for his many years of support, encouragement and assistance to the society.

Mr. Floberg is one who is always working quietly in the background tending to the less than glamorous, but absolutely necessary, things that make a society successful. He can always be counted on to help whenever help is needed. For example, he manned the bookstore at the TCGS “Traveling Through Time” seminar in the fall of 2015. Had he not volunteered, there might not have been a bookstore.

At present, Mr. Floberg is serving as vice-president of TCGS. He has also served as the membership chair for the last four years and chair of the judging committee for the year-long TCGS Archived Document Contest.

Mr. Floberg is the definition of the word volunteer, thereby proving he richly deserved being a recipient of a 2016 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, Recognition Chair, at Roxanne@thekeeffes.com.

Lewis County’s Ulster Workshop Team Awarded 2016 Outstanding Team Award

by Roxanne Lowe

Since 2003, the Washington State Genealogical Society has recognized almost 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 2016 award recipients and learn why they received a 2016 WSGS Outstanding Volunteer and Team Award.

Ulster Workshop Team

Ulster Workshop Team

Today we’re introducing the Ulster Workshop Team who was nominated by the Lewis County Genealogical Society (LCGS). Team members included Leslee Dunlap, Leslie Parnell, Patricia Olsen, Joann Hulse, Sam McReynolds, Margie Lloyd, and Pam Hopwood.

Braving significant financial risk by the small society, the workshop team took on the herculean task of hosting the Ulster Historical Foundation on one of only 12 stops on its 2016 North American tour. Members of the team worked countless hours advertising the event, coordinating with the host facility, arranging door prizes and making decorations for the event. As a result of their efforts, nearly 100 enthusiastic attendees enjoyed a day of learning and discovery.

The group did an outstanding job of advertising, organizing, and executing the workshop. As a result, they are richly deserving of being named a 2016 Outstanding Volunteer Team by the Washington State Genealogical Society.

For more information on the WSGS Outstanding Volunteer Award program, visit the Recognition page of the WSGS website or contact Roxanne Lowe, Recognition Chair, at Roxanne@thekeeffes.com.

Patricia Deutsch Awarded 2016 Outstanding Volunteer Honor

by Roxanne Lowe

Since 2003, the Washington State Genealogical Society has recognized almost 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 2016 award recipients and learn why they received the 2016 WSGS Outstanding Volunteer and Team Award.

Patricia Deutsch

Patricia Deutsch

Today we’re introducing Patricia Deutsch of Seattle, Washington, who was nominated by the Jewish Genealogical Society of Washington State (JGSWS). She was recognized for her organizational skills to improve access to the JGSWS holdings.

The JGSWS owns a collection of over 200 resources, including books, research guides, methodologies, atlases, histories and maps of particular interest to Jewish genealogists. This collection had previously been unavailable to members of the society having been stored in boxes at the Jewish Community Center and in one of the society member’s garage. Ms. Deutsch moved the collection to a more advantageous location, and made them available for members to use. She arranged the books on shelves for easy browsing and devised a system for the items to be loaned out to members for their use at home. These efforts have given the JGSWS members an additional way to improve their knowledge of research methods and resources and to further their own efforts to trace their families.

Ms. Deutsch’s efforts to improve access to their resources were much appreciated by the JGSWS, thus proving she richly deserved being a recipient of a 2016 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, Recognition Chair, at Roxanne@thekeeffes.com.

Michele Cozad Awarded 2016 Outstanding Volunteer Honor

by Roxanne Lowe

Since 2003, the Washington State Genealogical Society has recognized almost 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 2016 award recipients and learn why they received the 2016 WSGS Outstanding Volunteer and Team Award.

Michele Cozad

Michele Cozad

Today we’re introducing Michele Cozad of Arlington, Washington, who was nominated by the Stillaguamish Valley Genealogical Society (SVGS). She was recognized for her active volunteerism and many years of service to the society.

Ms. Cozad currently serves as SVGS and Northwest Genealogy Conference secretary and is vital to the success of the organization. Her exemplary recordkeeping skills keep all committees on track. She is also a gifted writer creating entertaining and informative pieces which are published, gaining the society great local press. She has been a librarian at SVGS since 2014 and serves on the Tombstone and Membership committees, and takes the lead on multiple conference teams.

Ms. Cozad also represents SVGS at many community events and at statewide genealogy seminars. In addition, she can be counted on to help others. Her delightful personality makes her a great asset to SVGS, and illustrate that she richly deserved being a recipient of a 2016 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, Recognition Chair, at Roxanne@thekeeffes.com.

John Covey Awarded 2016 Outstanding Volunteer Honor

by Roxanne Lowe

Since 2003, the Washington State Genealogical Society has recognized almost 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 2016 award recipients and learn why they received the 2016 WSGS Outstanding Volunteer and Team Award.

John Covey

John Covey

Today we’re introducing John F. Covey of Richland, Washington, who was nominated by the Tri-City Genealogical Society (TCGS). He was recognized for his leadership and guidance through challenging times.

Mr. Covey has served two terms as TCGS President. During his extended tenure, he led without hesitancy and he never lost his focus on successfully leading the society during and through difficult times.

For many years, Mr. Covey has coordinated week-long trips to the Family History Center in Salt Lake City. He has also chaired the 2015 TCGS fall seminar “Traveling Through Time” with William Dollarhide as the featured presenter.

Mr. Covey’s dedication to the preservation and success of TCGS illustrates that he richly deserved being a recipient of a 2016 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, Recognition Chair, at Roxanne@thekeeffes.com.

Time to Select Outstanding Volunteers and Teams

by Roxanne Lowe

Now is the time for genealogical societies and organizations to select their local outstanding volunteers and teams so they can be honored at the WSGS Annual Meeting on April 22, 2017 in Yakima. The annual meeting will be held in conjunction with the Yakima Valley Genealogical Society’s Spring Seminar.

Each year, the State Society recognizes local volunteers and teams nominated by their society or organization at the annual conference. In 2016, more than 20 local volunteers and four teams from 20 organizations were recognized for their support and dedication to their society and the researching public.

The process for this year’s Outstanding Volunteer Award program is much like last year’s – no significant changes. In addition to the traditional Outstanding Volunteer Award program, there are three other recognition awards: Outstanding Project, Outstanding Communication, and the President’s Award for Outstanding Achievement. Information about those awards will be forthcoming, but should not impact organizations’ Outstanding Volunteer Award nominations.

Letters to local societies and organizations, with additional details, have been emailed to society contacts. If you have not received that information, please contact Roxanne Lowe, WSGS Recognition Chair. The milestones for this year’s nomination process are:

• No later than January 15, 2017: Submit the name(s) of your honorees to the Recognition Committee.
• By February 15, 2017: Submit a narrative (approximately 150 words) explaining the accomplishments of your nominee and why you are honoring him/her. Include a good quality digital photograph (at least 300 dpi).
• April 22, 2017: Formal announcement and presentation of certificates at the Annual Meeting in Yakima.

Additional details and deadlines, plus indexes and narratives of accomplishments of past honorees, since 2003, may be found at the WSGS website here.

Please contact Roxanne Lowe at roxanne@thekeeffes.com if you have questions or suggestions.