WSGS Announces New Recognition Awards

The WSGS is pleased to announce the creation of three new awards for local genealogical societies and individuals. Nominations are now open for all three – in addition to the established Outstanding Volunteer/Team Awards.

  • Outstanding Communication – Recognizes the importance of how local genealogical societies or organizations communicate. Includes all forms of communication, including websites, social media, newsletters, lectures, videos, podcasts, etc. Nomination deadline is May 1, 2015.
  • Outstanding Project – Awarded to local genealogical society or organization in recognition of exceptional genealogical or historical projects implemented during the past year. Nomination deadline is May 1, 2015.
  • President’s Award for Outstanding Achievement – Recognizes that rare individual, society or organization who has demonstrated exemplary service above and beyond expectations. Nomination deadline is May 1, 2015.
  • Outstanding Volunteer/Team Award – An opportunity for local societies and organizations to recognize their outstanding members and teams on a wider basis. Nomination deadline has been extended to April 1, 2015.

A couple of other very important reminders:
• The deadline to apply for a WSGS Innovative Grant is April 1. We want to give up to five $100 grants to worthy projects, so apply now! The application is easy to complete and available here.
Registration is wide open for the WSGS Conference featuring David Rencher, FamilySearch’s Chief Genealogical Officer, Saturday, June 27, 2015 in Ellensburg. Don’t miss it!

Sandie McBride Named Outstanding Volunteer

Since 2003, the Washington State Genealogical Society has recognized more than 400 outstanding volunteers, 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 weeks, you will be introduced to each of the 2014 award recipients and learn why they received the 2014 WSGS Outstanding Volunteer Award.

Today we’re introducing Sandra “Sandie” Profitt McBride, of East Wenatchee, Washington, who was nominated by the Wenatchee Area Genealogical Society (WAGS). She was recognized for her outstanding efforts in the identification and preservation of historical documents of importance and value to researchers interested in the Wenatchee Area.

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Sandi McBride

When Ms. McBride retired and returned to her childhood hometown of Wenatchee from Seattle in 2005, she admirably continued to help the Seattle Genealogical Society complete a ten-year project of indexing King County court records. Upon joining WAGS, she jumped into another long-term project scanning old marriage records from Chelan and Douglas Counties. With great attention to detail and patience, she also verified records of the local cemetery and internments.

Ms. McBride has served on the WAGS board of directors as a Member-at-Large and has coordinated the huge task of the society’s website conversion. She has been a conscientious member of the library committee and frequently helped as a librarian.

Recognizing the time and dedication Ms. McBride has given to preserving information of genealogical importance, she richly deserved being a recipient of a 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.

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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.

Lorrell Louchard Named Outstanding Volunteer

Since 2003, the Washington State Genealogical Society has recognized more than 400 outstanding volunteers, 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 weeks, you will be introduced to each of the 2014 award recipients and learn why they received the 2014 WSGS Outstanding Volunteer Award.

Today we’re introducing Lorrell Louchard, of Port Townsend, Washington, who was nominated by the Jefferson County Genealogical Society  (JCGS). She was recognized for her leadership, knowledge, and volunteer efforts toward the goals and operation of the Jefferson County Genealogical Society.

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Lorrell Louchard

 

Ms. Louchard has been a member and dedicated volunteer of the JCGS for more than 15 years. She is a past recording secretary and is currently serving in that capacity again. In addition, Ms. Louchard has been on the library committee for many years and in charge of the 50/50 book project. She was on the Education committee, helping to plan the monthly programs and was the meet-and-greet person at JCGS’s monthly meetings. As an experienced volunteer, Ms. Louchard put together a cheat sheet notebook for the JCGS volunteers to use as a reference when helping a reseacher at the research center.

Always one to donate her time and expertise, Ms. Louchard volunteered her time on many other short-term projects of the society, and richly deserved being a recipient of a 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.

More Than Your Basic ABC’s — Much More!

Ever wonder what all the letters behind a professional genealogist’s name stand for? They stand for lots of hard work, dedication, and commitment.

David Rencher, the headliner at the 2015 WSGS Annual Conference on June 27 in Ellensburg, has a veritable alphabet book behind his name.

◾AG — Accredited Genealogist with the International Commission for the Accreditation of Professional Genealogists (ICAPGen)
◾CG — Certified Genealogist with the Board for Certification of Genealogists (BCG)
◾FUGA — Fellow of Utah Genealogical Association (UGA)
◾FIGRS — Fellow of the Irish Genealogical Research Society, London

And don’t overlook that he’s the CGO (Chief Genealogical Officer) at FamilySearch, past President of FGS (Federation of Genealogical Societies) and has a BA (Bachelor of Arts) in Family and Local History from BYU (Brigham Young University). That’s a lot of letters!!!

Sign up now to spent the day listening to David share his expertise and vision for the future of genealogy. You’ll understand why he’s got all those letters behind his name!

Outstanding Volunteer Deadline Extended

Attention all Societies & Organizations:

The deadline to name your 2015 Outstanding Volunteer has been extended to April 1.

The Outstanding Volunteer and Outstanding Team Awards are presented each year at the Annual Conference to members nominated by their local society. Societies can nominate no more than two individuals and/or one team. Nomination criteria is left to the individual societies.

Honor those outstanding members and teams that help your organization be successful. If you’ve got questions, contact Roxanne Lowe, WSGS Recognition Chair.

 

Lois LeBlonde Named Outstanding Volunteer

Since 2003, the Washington State Genealogical Society has recognized more than 400 outstanding volunteers, 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 weeks, you will be introduced to each of the 2014 award recipients and learn why they received the 2014 WSGS Outstanding Volunteer Award.

Today we’re introducing Lois M. LeBlonde of Anacortes, Washington, who was nominated by the Skagit Valley Genealogical Society (SVGS). She was recognized for her exceptional and consistent leader¬ship, knowledge, and volunteer efforts toward the goals and operation of the Skagit Valley Genealogical Society.

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Lois LeBlonde

 

Ms. LeBlonde has been a member of the SVGS board of directors for the past four years and has served as the society’s treasurer for the past three and one-half years. She has maintained the financial records, including deposits and expenses, as well as separate recorded categories of funds for activities of SVGS, all of which are controlled by a strict budget. She most recently maintained a separate accounting of funds received during an unbudgeted society seminar.

Ms. LeBlonde has been a mentor for multiple high school students for the ROOTS project sponsored by SVGS and the Burlington Public Library under the auspices of a Paul Allen Foundation grant, supporting SVGS’s goal for community education.

Ms. LeBlonde has been an outstanding, dedicated volunteer, and she richly deserved being a recipient of a 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.

Winona Laird Named Outstanding Volunteer

Since 2003, the Washington State Genealogical Society has recognized more than 400 outstanding volunteers, 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 2014 award recipients and learn why they received the 2014 WSGS Outstanding Volunteer Award.

Today we’re introducing Winona Laird of Kent, Washington, who was nominated by the Puget Sound Chapter of the Association of Professional Genealogists (PS-APG). She was recognized for her dedication to furthering the quality of genealogical education in Washington State and furthering the goals and operation of the PS-APG.

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Winona Laird

Ms. Laird’s commitment to genealogical education has always been evident in her willingness to teach others. She has regularly presented classes on beginning genealogy to historical societies and libraries in the South King County area. She was also the co-founder of the Genealogy Training Center LLC which provides quality genealogy classes from basic to advanced using a hands-on method of teaching as well as keeping up with changing genealogy research and technology.

Ms. Laird is a current member and Past President of the South King County Genealogical Society and coordinator of their Family Tree Makers users’ group. She is also a member of the National Genealogical Society and Federation of Genealogical Societies.

Since last year, Ms. Laird has been the program coordinator for PS-APG and a valued participant of the speakers forum, an interest group of the PS-APG. Her contributions to the PS-APG and the field of genealogy illustrate that she richly deserved being a recipient of a 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.

Puget Sound Genealogical Society’s Obituary Records Team Named Outstanding Volunteers

Since 2003, the Washington State Genealogical Society has recognized more than 400 outstanding volunteers, 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 2014 award recipients and learn why they received the 2014 WSGS Outstanding Volunteer Award.

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Nancy Ladenberger

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Jeanne Menchenton

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Beverly Nelson

Today we’re introducing the Puget Sound Genealogical Society’s Obituary Records Project Team, which included Jeanne Menchenton, Beverly Nelson and Nancy Ladenberger. The team was recognized for their outstanding support and work in the preservation of important records of genealogical value to the PSGS and other researchers interested in the families of Kitsap County, Washington.

Over the course of the last 12 years, these three individuals were the primary volunteers who collected over 40,500 obituaries from newspapers and other local sources. After clipping each obituary, attaching it to an index card and storing it in a plastic sleeve, the cards were alphabetized, labeled, checked for accuracy and stored in a large card catalog cabinet.

After completion of this portion of the project, the team created a database of each obituary with the name, date of death, publication name and date and any extra information that could be helpful to a researcher. The information was then posted on the PSGS website.

While many volunteers spent time on this project over the years, these three – Jeanne, Beverly and Nancy, were committed to finishing this project. Due to their dedication and tireless work, they richly deserved being recipients of a 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.