Tag Archives: Washington State Genealogical Society

Mel & Marilyn Wright Named Outstanding Volunteers 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. Over the last few months, you were introduced to each of the 2015 award recipients and learned why they received the 2015 WSGS Outstanding Volunteer and Team Award.

Today we’re introducing Mel and Marilyn Wright of Coupeville, Washington, who were nominated by the Genealogical Society of South Whidbey Island (GSSWI). They were recognized for what makes a society great: dedication, reliability, generosity, and energy.

Marilyn and Mel Wright

Marilyn and Mel Wright

For years, Mr. and Mrs. Wright, affectionately known as M & M, have been key members of the GSSWI, giving opinions, sharing ideas, and leading volunteer efforts, such as digitizing the society’s collection of obituaries, sponsoring interest groups on New England and New York, and organizing an annual trip to Salt Lake City.

Often the first to arrive and last to leave society meetings, this motivated twosome ensure everything is organized from beginning to end, including room organization, refreshments, audio-visual set-up, and even climbing onto waist-high window ledges to put up temporary rods and curtains to block the light.

Mr. and Mrs. Wright are experienced genealogists who keep up with continuing education and are glad to share their experience and resources with others. For these qualities and all they do for the GSSWI, they richly deserved being recipients 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.

 

Janice Weihs 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 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 Janice Weihs of Tacoma, Washington, who was nominated by the Tacoma Pierce County Genealogical Society (TPCGS). She was recognized for her dedicated and committed volunteer efforts. Janice’s husband Frank was an Outstanding Volunteer from TPCGS in 2010.

Janice Weihs with husband Frank

Janice Weihs with husband Frank

Mrs. Weihs has been a member of TPCGS since at least 1994. She initiated the society’s newsletter in 2006, and continued to serve as editor until the fall of   2014. She also began serving on the library committee in 2010. While on the library committee, she consulted with the staff of the Tacoma Public Library to determine what resources would best augment the library’s genealogy collection. She then purchased the resources from funds donated by society members. Mrs. Weihs also helped with extracting the 1892 Pierce County Auditor’s Census and the Tacoma and Pierce County death records from 1884 to 1907.

Although their active participation has become limited in the past few years due to health issues, Mr. and Mrs. Weihs have continued to support the society. The couple was recently named lifetime members of TPCGS.

Mrs. Weihs is a valued and hard-working member of the TPCGS, and illustrates that she richly deserved being a recipient of a 2015 WSGS Outstanding

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.

 

Register for WSGS Conference NOW

by Roxanne Lowe

You don’t want to miss it, so register NOW — before June 11 — for the Washington State Genealogical Society Conference on June 18, 2016. The conference’s featured speaker is Paula Stuart-Warren, GG, FMGS, FUGA. Presentations include:

Paula Stuart Warren

Paula Stuart Warren

  • Your Anytime Library: Success in the Virtual Stacks
  • Railroad Records and Railroad History: Methods for Tracking
  • Untrod Ground: Sources You May Not Have Encountered
  • Controlling Chaos: Organizing Your Genealogical Material
The conference will be at the La Quinta Inn and Suites, 1425 East 27th St. in Tacoma and is hosted by the Tacoma-Pierce County Genealogical Society. Registration is $50 if postmarked by June 11, 2016. Postmarks after June 11, add $5 late fee. Walk-in registration is also available, although lunch availability cannot be guaranteed.
 
For registration and more information, visit the Tacoma-Pierce County Genealogical Society website here.

Publicize Your Society’s Upcoming Events

by Roxanne Lowe

Want to spread the word about your society’s program, workshop, seminar or training class?

It’s easy to have your event posted on the WSGS Events Page and Blog. Just send an email to webmanager@wasgs.org (website) and WSGSBlog@wasgs.org (blog) with the details (who, what, where & when) and/or flyer. As if by magic, information about your event will be posted for all to see. The website and blog are great ways to maximize exposure to your target audience.

Larry Taylor 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 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

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.

 

Innovative Grant applications due today!

by Roxanne Lowe

Innovative Grant applications are due by 11:59 p.m. Wednesday, June 1, 2016. Late applications will not be accepted.

The grants, up to $100, are designed to support the inventive and creative efforts of WSGS-member societies and organizations. Up to five grants will be awarded in 2016.

The simple application is only ONE page and is available here. Additional guidance on the program is here.

For more information, contact Roxanne Lowe, WSGS Recognition Chair.

Innovative Grant Applications Due on Wednesday

by Roxanne Lowe

Local Societies:

Get your Innovative Grant applications in by 11:59 p.m. Wednesday, June 1, 2016. Late applications will not be accepted.

The grants, up to $100, are designed to support the inventive and creative efforts of WSGS-member societies and organizations. Up to five grants will be awarded in 2016.

The simple application is only ONE page and is available here. Additional guidance on the program is here.

For more information, contact Roxanne Lowe, WSGS Recognition Chair.

Mary Stolaas 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 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 Mary Stolaas of Nordland, Washington, who was nominated by the Jefferson County Genealogical Society (JCGS). She was recognized for her dedicated volunteer efforts to expand and simplify local library resources.

Mary Stolaas

Mary Stolaas

As a retired librarian, Ms. Stolaas took on the job of reorganizing JCGS’s library of over 2,000 books and CD’s to conform to the Dewey Decimal System. Over the last few months, Ms. Stolaas has made the entire collection available online, using a program called “Library Thing.” As a result, JCGS members can now access the Library Things website and look for a resource by using a keyword to see whether the book or CD is available. Members no longer have to know the specific title or author to locate the book or CD. “Library Thing” also allows the user to search other libraries in its network, thus expanding the availability of genealogical resources.

Ms. Stolaas is a detail-oriented and respected member of the JCGS, and illustrates 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.

WSGS Conference Planning Committee Named Outstanding Team 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 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.

Conference Team from Stillaguamish Valley GS

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.

See What You Can Do With an Innovative Grant

by Roxanne Lowe

Last year, the Washington State Genealogical Society announced the creation of the “WSGS Innovative Grant Program.” The grants, up to $100, were designed to support the inventive and creative efforts of WSGS-member societies and organizations. Five societies received grants at the 2015 Annual Conference in Ellensburg:

Dead tree slated for removal

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.

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.

Software purchase

WAGS was able to purchase a second FileMaker Pro 12 software program that doubled the access time for dedicated volunteers who work many hours maintaining and improving the WAGS Library collection.

Wenatchee Area Genealogical Society – Purchase 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 2016 deadline for submitting a grant proposal is JUNE 1. The simple one-page application and additional information are available here.

Contact Roxanne Lowe, WSGS Recognition and Special Awards chair, at Roxanne@thekeeffes.com if you have questions.