Tag Archives: Skagit Valley Genealogical Society

Diane Ulrich Partington Named Outstanding Volunteer in 2015

by Roxanne Lowe

Since 2003, the Washington State Genealogical Society has recognized more than 450 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 2015 award recipients and learn why they received the 2015 WSGS Outstanding Volunteer and Team Award.

Today we’re introducing Diane Ulrich Partington of Mount Vernon, Washington, who was nominated by the Skagit Valley Genealogical Society (SVGS). She was recognized for her ardent commitment to researching genealogical queries.

Diane Partington

Diane Partington

Ms. Partington is SVGS’s resident researcher. She spends countless hours researching information for people from all over the world. She gathers obituaries and funeral home records, as well as Skagit County birth and death records. She does courthouse genealogical research and frequently makes visits to county cemeteries to locate and photograph headstones.

In addition to local research, Ms. Partington frequently assists other communities in the preservation of cemetery records for the development of research databases. She has been instrumental in maintaining SVGS’s collection of records from local funeral homes and collecting and preserving obituaries from local newspapers.

Ms. Partington is a valued and dynamic member of the SVGS. Her qualities illustrate that she richly deserved being a recipient of a 2015 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.

Muriel Neely Named Outstanding Volunteer in 2015

by Roxanne Lowe

Since 2003, the Washington State Genealogical Society has recognized more than 450 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 2015 award recipients and learn why they received the 2015 WSGS Outstanding Volunteer and Team Award.

Muriel Neely

Muriel Neely

Today we’re introducing Muriel S. Neely of Mount Vernon, Washington, who was nominated by the Skagit Valley Genealogical Society (SVGS). She was recognized for her dedication and commitment to her local society and community.

When the need arose for someone to assume the job of SVGS secretary, Ms. Neely, who had previously held the office, graciously agreed to return to the position. Demonstrating her commitment to the society, she has been re-elected twice. She has also generously given of her time and expertise in assisting with SVGS’s community education classes and recording of cemetery databases.

In addition to her commitment to SVGS, Ms. Neely is a great community volunteer. She serves on the boards and governance committees of multiple community organizations, including the Skagit County Historical Museum, Friendship House and helping at the local blood bank.

Ms. Neely is supportive of the objectives and goals of SVGS in every circumstance and richly deserved being a recipient of a 2015 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.

Skagit Valley Gen Society Newsflash

by Charles Hansen
Skagit Valley Genealogical Society
Educational Program for April 9, 2016“An Introduction to Eastern European Family History Research”
featuring Canadian Genealogist, Dave Obee

BURLINGTON – The Skagit Valley Genealogical Society (SVGS) presents, An Introduction to Eastern European Family History Research on Saturday, April 9, 1-3PM at the Burlington Senior Center, (Use the East Entrance) 1011 Greenleaf St., Burlington. The guest speaker is Eastern European genealogy expert, Dave Obee.  Mr. Obee will explain how, with the help of new geographic tools and more records being placed online, it is now easier than ever to locate records in Eastern European countries like Poland and Ukraine. The program is free and open to the public to attend. Details: skagitvalleygenealogy.org, genealogy0715@gmail.com, or (360) 757-6224.

DAVE

“Getting to Know the DAR” Presentations in Burlington on February 13

by Roxanne Lowe

Skagit Valley GSThe Skagit Valley Genealogical Society is proud to present an afternoon of “Getting to Know the D.A.R. (Daughters of the American Revolution).” Visitors are welcome.

Have you discovered a American Revolutionary War ancestor in your family tree? Join fellow researchers for “Getting to Know the Daughters of the American Revolution (D.A.R.) at the Skagit Valley Genealogical Society‘s Saturday, February 13, 2016 meeting. The program begins at 1:00 pm at the Burlington Senior Center, 1011 Greenleaf St.. Enter on the east entrance to the building.

Linda Maki, Regent, will speak on “What Does the D.A.R. Do?”; Karen Manatt, Treasurer, will discuss “The History of the Ann Washington Chapter”; Mayo Shears, Past Regent and Registrar, will explain “DAR Ancestor Research and the Application Process”; and Mollie Sackman, historian, will share historic DAR scrapbooks.

For more details, contact Margie Wilson at rootsproject@frontier.com or visit skagitgenealogy.org.

Skagit Valley Gen Society News Flash

by Charles Hansen

 

Skagit Valley GS

Skagit Vally Genealogical society will hold its 2015 seminar on Saturday, September 19.  We will be featuring Jill Morelli and Mary Kathryn Kozy.  Walk ins are welcome.  We hope you will join us at the Mount Vernon Senior Center at8:00am.
Door Prizes and lots of books.  Come join us.
Hazel
Communications
Skagit Valley Genealogical Society
Society Mision Statement:
Skagit Valley Genealogical Society is a non-profit 501c3 organization dedicated to the collection and preservationof genealogical information and to providing supportive and educational opportunities for those who are involved in genealogical research.

Skagit Valley Genealogical Society September 19 Seminar

by Charles Hansen
Just a reminder that next Saturday, September 19, 2015  will  be a seminar featuring Mary Kathryn Kozy and Jill Morelli being presented at the Mount Vernon Senior Center.  Jill will be presenting programs on “Ten Top Techs She Uses and You Can Too” and “Writing Your Family Histoy – Just Do It” and Mary Kathryn will be presenting “Researching in Newspapers” and  “Google and its Genealogy Tools”
Walk ins are welcome. 
Feel free to join us.  We look forward to welcoming you. $50 admission.  Bring a grab bag luunch.  Cofee, Tea & water available.  Jim Johnson will be  bringing books and lots of very nice door prizes.
Hazel
Communications
Skagit Valley Genealogical Society

Skagit Valley Gen Society Newsflash

by Charles Hansen
 
Skagit Valley GS Skagit Valley Genealogical Society’s Educational Seminar
Responds to a Global “El-Nino” of Interest in Family History

MOUNT VERNON — Skagit Valley Genealogical Society (SVGS) is hosting its twelfth annual seminar, “Genealogy — All About Life” on Saturday, September 19, 8am-4pm at the Mount Vernon Senior Center, 1401 Cleveland. Guest speakers are two highly sought after speakers — professional genealogists Mary Kathryn Kozy and Jill Morelli. Topics include: Google’s Genealogy Tools, Top 10 Tech Tools for Genealogists, Researching Newspapers, and Writing Your Family History. Seminar admission is $40 for SVGS members and $45 non-members.“There are three global social trends that are creating a “genealogical El-Nino” for genealogical societies everywhere right now. First, the Baby Boomer generation is starting to retire by the millions. They are a population group that now has more free-time at their disposal.  Second, in Europe and the United States the popularity of television family history reality shows such as such as “Who Do You Think You Are?” are stimulating an interest in discovering one’s ancestry. And third, technology and software entrepreneurs are creating software “apps” to assist family historians with organizing and sourcing their discoveries and materials. An example of this trend is the RootsTech conference that attracts budding software designers as well as seasoned genealogists. Over 25,000 people, of all ages, attend the conference earlier this year. It was the second largest gathering of genealogists on the planet. Britain’s, “Who Do You Thing You Are?” conference being the world’s largest. These three current social trends are creating a “perfect storm” of interest in family history research. It is great to see a younger audience is now getting attracted to genealogy. Family research requires detective work and it is very stimulating and rewarding.” said Margie Wilson, SVGS genealogy librarian.

SVGS is bringing the best educators to our community so amateur family historians can break through research “brick walls.” This year to add excitement to the seminar SVGS is offering all attendees an opportunity to receive one of two door prizes:  A one-on-one consultation with a scientist/expert, who will explain how to interpret your genealogy DNA test results; or for beginning researchers, an opportunity to meet one-on-one with an expert family history researcher.

SVGS’ seminar will also be an opportunity to network with other genealogists, learn new skills from the experts, explore how to use the latest technology to improve your research, plus books and resources will be on-hand to expand your research horizons.

Questions: Kris LaRue (360) 770-0762 or svgsgenealogy@gmail.com. For details and online registration visit: skagitvalleygenealogy.org.

Innovative Grant Awards Announced

by Roxanne Lowe

WSGS President Mikal McKinnon has announced the local society projects that received Innovative Grants at last month’s state conference. The Innovative Grant Program, awarding financial awards up to $100, was created to support the inventive and creative efforts of WSGS-member societies and organizations. The successfully funded projects, which include matching funds from the local society, are:

  • Chelan Valley Genealogical Society – Purchase of a computer, solely for genealogical research, at the Chelan Public Library. The computer will have access to Ancestry.com and FamilySearch.org.
  • Northeast Washington Genealogical Society – Removal of trees that are endangering the safety of people and protection of grave markers at the Evergreen Cemetery, a local cemetery near Colville. Until NWGS began caring for this long-neglected cemetery, vandalism and lack of care had left its mark on many of the headstones and gravesites. Today, the cemetery looks like an old, but loved, pioneer cemetery.
  • Skagit Valley Genealogical Society – Purchase of a new laptop computer to be used for society presentations and transcription of documents from the Northwest Regional Archives in Bellingham.
  • Tri-City Genealogical Society – Funds will support the society’s “Archived Records Contest” which encourages individuals to share records they have obtained by various means other than just downloading an image from the Internet. Click here for more about the Archived Records Contest.
  • Wenatchee Area Genealogical Society – Specialized computer software to enable more than one volunteer to enter data related to local obituaries, cemetery records, World War I records and more. The software purchase will enable WAGS members to add to their extensive genealogical holdings of more than 394,000 records and 90 databases.

Announcements for the 2016 grant cycle will be posted on the Blog in Spring 2016. For more information about the Innovative Grant Program, contact Roxanne Lowe, WSGS Recognition Chair.