Professional Genealogist Karin Coppernoll of Brick by Brick Genealogy will be sharing how to search un-indexed databases in our family history research. Don’t miss this unique educational opportunity.
The meeting will be held 1 pm, March 14 at the Stillaguamish Valley Genealogical Library, 6111 – 188th Pl. NE, Arlington, WA and is free to members and the public.
Pam Liebelt
Publicity Chair
Stillaguamish Valley Genealogical Society
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
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.
Leilani Lucrisia
Leilani Lucrisia has been appointed Region 1 South Regional Representative by WSGS Mikal McKinnon. In his announcement, President McKinnon expressed his appreciation to Leilani for her willingness to serve. Her experience and enthusiasm will a great asset on the Board.
Leilani is an active member of the Stillaguamish Valley Genealogical Society in Arlington where she served as newsletter editor. She has also been a member of the Northwest Genealogy Conference planning committee, responsible for the fabulous Syllabus. She is also a member of a genealogy society in Marysville and the Seattle Genealogical Society.
In a recent move by the WSGS Board, Region 1 (Island, San Juan, Skagit, Snohomish and Whatcom Counties) was split into two regions to ease geographical issues. Leilani, the Region 1 South Representative, will be assisting societies in part of Island and Snohomish Counties, including Comeford (Marysville) Camwood (Stanwood), Sno-Isle (Lynnwood) and Stillaguamish Valley (Arlington).
The Board is still in search of a volunteer to serve as the Region 1 North Regional Representative which encompasses Island (part) Skagit, Snohomish (part), Whatcom and San Juan Counties. More information on the responsibilities of a Regional Representative, click here or email WSGS Vice President Donna Potter Phillips at Donna243@gmail.com.
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.
Kathryn Bowman
Today we’re introducing Kathryn Bowman of Everett, Washington, who was nominated by the Stillaguamish Valley Genealogical Society (SVGS). She was recognized for her active participation in the 2016 Northwest Genealogy Conference in Arlington.
Ms. Bowman was the Assistant Conference Chair for 2016 and was responsible for the continued success of the conference. She coordinated all activity with the team members and led the marketing and material design teams. In addition, she is the SVGS newsletter editor and a valued member of The Tombstone Committee.
It is because of Ms. Bowman’s dedication and leadership skills that the Northwest Genealogy Conference enjoys continued success. There is no doubt, 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.
Blaine Bettinger explaining the latest developments in genetic genealogy.
The last day of the 2016 Northwest Genealogy Conference brought us Blaine Bettinger, intellectual property attorney by day and genetic genealogist by night. His first session was “Genetic Genealogy Year in Review.” So many changes, improvements, adjustments and announcements in the ever-changing field of genetic genealogy. No wonder I have a hard time keeping up with what to do with the results I have from all those kits I’ve paid for! It was so helpful to know what was happening — and what might be happening soon. His other sessions for the day were “Using Third-Party Tools to Analyze Your DNA” (oh…so that’s what I need to do with all that confusing data!) and “Using Autosomal DNA to Solve Family Mysteries.”
I only had time to take one workshop on Saturday (then off to a family reunion). Used the opportunity to listen to Jim Johnson from Heritage Quest Research Library share “Five Steps to Finding your Ancestors Who Passed Through Canada.” His one-hour lecture proved to me that you can always learn something (or many things) new in classes like this. Will be looking for the Murphy’s and Ryan’s in some of the new places Jim shared.
Some of the many volunteers from the Stillaguamish Valley GS.
The conference attendees also got the opportunity to thank the Stillaguamish Valley Genealogical Society for their hard work, sponsoring this conference. More than 40 members work year-round to give us a first-rate learning experience.
Patty Olson and Donna Potter Phillips welcoming visitors to the WSGS table.
In no time, it was time to close up the Washington State Genealogical Society‘s vendor booth where we talked to everyone who came by about the WSGS and signed up almost 70 new members. It was also time to say good-bye to old and new friends with promises of seeing them next year: August 16 – 19, 2017!! I’ll be there. Will you?
Lisa Louise Cooke zooming around the earth (with Google Earth)
More than 300 of us arrived bright and early (or maybe it was just early…) at the Byrnes Performing Arts Center in Arlington, rearing to go for Day 2 of the Northwest Genealogy Conference. But the hard-working members of the Stillaguamish Valley Genealogical Society, sponsors of this third annual conference, had been there long before us, making sure everything was ready.
It didn’t take long for us to “Blast to the Past with Google Earth” with the amazing Lisa Louise Cooke as our expert navigator. We held onto our seats as we zoomed from historical maps superimposed over today’s terrain to identifying old unidentified family photos using Google Earth (really!). The tips and “gems” just kept coming — the sky was truly the limit!
Today was “Dress Like Your Ancestor Day” — so creative!
As if the Google Earth for Genealogy program wasn’t enough, Lisa also pumped us full of resources, ideas, strategies and tips during her “Google Tools and Procedures for Solving Family History Mysteries” and “Future Technology and Genealogy.” The only thing she couldn’t provide was time to do all the exciting opportunities she shared. Maybe that’s why I’m still on the computer and it’s after 11 p.m.!
The day also forced me to choose two hour-long workshops from the 14 offered today. (Side note: 40 different workshops were offered at the conference — and I had to choose only 6 — an almost impossible task!) I decided I needed the focus and motivation to get organized, so I attended “Solve Genealogy Problems by Creating a Timeline” with Beth Foulk and “Building a Research Plan” with Janice Lovelace. Two great classes with step-by-step (easy) plans, tools and resources to organize myself. I’m feeling positive about my future success.
The day closed with a banquet at the Glen Eagle Country Club where we were treated to Blaine Bettinger, tomorrow’s keynote presenter on DNA and genetic genealogy, giving us a peek at the “Science Fiction Future of Genetic Genealogy.”
Beth Foulk entertained NWGC attendees at today’s free beginner classes.
“Wanna talk about dead people?” That’s how featured speaker Beth Foulk kicked off the Northwest Genealogy Conference‘s entertaining free beginner class (actually three classes!) today. From that opening question (and roomful of chuckles), we were off to 3+ hours of stories, examples, resources, tips, reminders and ah ha’s — everything you could ask for. It didn’t matter how you defined “beginner” — we all learned plenty in Beth’s engaging classes:
The day ended with a fun networking reception at local hot spot Skookum Brewery. What a great way to see old friends and meet new ones.
If you missed today’s classes, don’t despair. The organizers at the Stillaguamish Valley Genealogical Society are ready for you (Boy — are they ready!). You can still register for the conference (although you’ll need to bring your own meals) — even if you only want to come for one day ($80/day). Just show up at the Byrnes Performing Arts Center in Arlington and be prepared to be educated and entertained.
I’ll post again tomorrow. Looking forward to hearing keynote speaker Claudia Breland’s three presentations, but I’m a little worried about how to choose only two individual classes from the 13 being offered, plus visit the vendors and do a little networking. What a dilemma!
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 next month, 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 Larry Taylor of Arlington, Washington, who was nominated by the Stillaguamish Valley Genealogical Society (SVGS). He was recognized for his commitment and dedication to memorializing final disposition information of those no longer with us.
Larry Taylor
Mr. Taylor has worked tirelessly for three years to photograph, document and add Snohomish County memorials to the Find a Grave website. He has, coordinating with more than a dozen volunteers, photographed and uploaded over 100,000 photos – 32,000 by Mr. Taylor alone. As a result of these intensive efforts, people worldwide can access information about their loved ones via the Internet.
Now that Snohomish County memorials are complete, Mr. Taylor is leading an effort to find, identify and mark the 10,000 graves without formal headstones that are throughout the county.
People like Mr. Taylor make finding our history easier. He is an appreciated and diligent member of the SVGS, and illustrates that he 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.
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 month, 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 the WSGS Conference Planning Committee who was nominated by the Stillaguamish Valley Genealogical Society (SVGS). They were recognized for their detailed planning, commitment, and teamwork hosting the 2014 Washington State Genealogical Society Conference in Arlington, Washington, despite the tragic Oso landslide which occurred on March 22, 2014.
WSGS Conference Team from Stillaguamish Valley GS
The conference, hosted by the SVGS, attracted more than 300 attendees, not from just Washington State, but from Canada, middle-America, Texas, Massachusetts and Oregon. To ensure a first-rate conference, the planning committee received grants from the City of Arlington and Snohomish County Hotel/Motel Tax Fund. The committee was also able to secure nationally recognized speakers and donations from local businesses.
This successful event was held despite the catastrophic Oso landslide which occurred less than five months before the conference – in the prime of the planning. Several committee and society members, as well as conference vendors, were left with severe property damage and access to meetings.
Due to their careful planning and “can do” spirit, the planning committee overcame the diversity and devastation to pull off the successful event. They 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.
Northwest Genealogical Conference, hosted by Stillaguamish Valley Genealogical Society, Arlington, WA
The conference will be held August 17th – 20th and will kick off Wednesday the 17th with a Free Day for beginning genealogists.
The next three days will be filled with informative and entertaining classes by nationally known speakers: Thursday’s theme is “Gathering Your Family’s Story” with Claudia Breland as the keynote speaker;
Friday will be “Tools to Help Tell the Story” with Lisa Louise Cooke;
Saturday’s will be “DNA, How is it a Part of Your Family’s Story?” with Blaine Bettinger.
In addition to the keynotes, all three days will include many classes taught by talented speakers.
There will be a banquet, a free taco bar reception, and other genealogically based fun events to choose from. See www.NwGC.org for more information and to register for the conference.