Larimer County Genealogical Society

General Meeting Minutes

April 19, 2007

Harmony Library

Harmony and Shields Street

Fort Collins

Community Room

President Ken Goldsberry called the meeting to order at 6:30 pm. He proposed the following agenda (see attached for more details):

Welcome and General Announcements

Break

Program

Business Meeting

Welcome

President Goldsberry welcomed everyone and made several general announcements. He informed everyone that the Society scrapbook was on display and explained that it contained pictures from the recent Girl Scout Workshop. He then told the members that complimentary copies of the magazine Internet Genealogy were available for anyone who wanted one. The final announcement made was that members no longer need to sign in as they enter the meeting.

Cathi Smith then described the Recycle Table. She stated that there are lots of new magazines and books available for purchase and reminded members to bring no longer needed genealogy items for resale. Cathi said that the Recycle Table earned $28 last month, and she hopes to do even better this month.

Society Photographer Sonny Hygh stated that the deadline for pictures for inclusion in the new membership directory is this evening. If anyone wants pictures taken, be sure to contact him.

At this point Ken welcomed Carrie Gray who was visiting the Society this evening.

Genealogy Gems

President Goldsberry then asked if any members had found any great information during the last month that they wanted to share. Sonny Hygh presented a short slide presentation on his father’s changing name. The last name migrated from “High” to “Hygh”, and his first name changed from “Rutherford” to “Relliford” and back again. As Sonny put it, “Who knows why”!

Phil Carpenter elaborated on the changing of names by explaining that his family had always thought they were English because Carpenter is so obviously English. However, upon further research, they realized they’re really German Swiss. The name was originally Zimmerman, which translates to house builder or carpenter in English. The change occurred when the family wanted to own land in America and needed a more anglicized name to do so.

CCGS Representative Report

CCGS Representative Marilyn Rudd explained to the members that our Society belongs to the Colorado Council of Genealogical Societies and has recently been deciding which of the national organizations to join: Federation of Genealogical Societies or National Genealogical Society. After some discussion, the Board of the Society decided that the Society would join both, as well as the CCGS, for this year and determine which is most beneficial for the Society.

Marilyn then introduced Pat Roberts who is the president of the Colorado Council of Genealogical Societies. As a new president, Pat has pledged to visit each of the 28 member societies (which range in size from five to over 300 members) of the Colorado Council of Genealogical Societies to explain the mission of CCGS and answer any questions. She explained that CCGS was formed 28 years ago to help support societies and help them run more smoothly. For example, CCGS maintains a speakers’ bureau to help member societies obtain qualified genealogical programs. In addition, the Society handles the issuing of various pioneer, territorial and early statehood certificates for qualified Coloradoans. These certificates are available for descendants of those who can prove they lived in Colorado before certain dates.

Break

At this point President Goldsberry thanked Hospitality Chair Marge Abrames for her work and also expressed appreciation to those who provide the various treats for the meetings. Marge stated that Hospitality is working well, and plenty of volunteers seem to be available to provide treats. A short break for refreshments and conversation was then taken.

Guest Speaker

After the break, Vice President Len Ray introduced the speaker for the evening: Phil Carpenter. Phil has worked at the Grandview Cemetery in Fort Collins for 28 years and presented a program on some of the more interesting features of that cemetery as well as those of Roselawn Cemetery.

Grandview Cemetery is actually the third cemetery in Fort Collins. Between 1864 and 1872 the Post Cemetery on the corner of Oak and College was in use. Later, the Mountain Home Cemetery on the corner of Laurel and Stover Streets was used. Finally, in August of 1887, Grandview Cemetery was started. In August of 2007 the cemetery will be 120 years old, and a celebration is planned for that time.

The earliest burial at Grandview was that of young Felix Scoville who was only three months old when he died. More people were buried in 1918 than in any other time since. About 7% of the population died of the Spanish Flu during that year. Even with today’s much larger population (in 1918 the population was only 7,000-8,000 people), the burial numbers are lower today.

Some of the more noteworthy families of Fort Collins had burials in Grandview Cemetery. Some of the well known names include: Avery, Loomis, Stover, Taft, Whedbee, McClelland, H. C. Howard, Lory and Moore. Many of these are the namesakes of various roads, schools and buildings throughout the area.

After the slide presentation, Phil discussed the various forms of memorialization available. Presently, 75% of people in Fort Collins choose cremation. Many of them merely scatter the ashes and don’t bother with any sort of memorial. Phil suggested that it’s important to think about what type of memorial might be appropriate. Some options at Grandview include cenotaphs, a memorial garden or even a planting a tree with a memorial plaque nearby.

Finally, Phil mentioned that in September the cemetery will hold its annual Cemetery Stroll. This stroll through the cemetery features stops at various graves where performers dressed as the person buried there explain a bit about the person’s life. This year’s Stroll will feature mayors of Fort Collins.

Business Meeting

Recording Secretary’s Report

Recording Secretary Carol Stetser reported that minutes are available online as well as at each Society meeting for those who wish to read them.

Treasurer’s Report

Treasurer Mary Joy Hauk reported that the Society bank balance is presently $2506.47.

She further reported on the ongoing obituary project. All 14,000 obits have been scanned and are ready to be placed on the Society website. Members who helped were thanked for their efforts. This was a big project, and it wouldn’t have been possible without the work of so many volunteers.

Education and Outreach

Kathy Patrick reported on the recent Girl Scout Merit Badge Workshop. She felt that this year’s workshop was a great improvement over last year’s and that the girls learned a lot and had a good time, as well. She thanked the volunteers who made the program a success.

Dolores Ray reported on other activities of the E & O Committee. The committee is presently working on preparing a Boy Scout Merit Badge Workshop similar to the one presented for the Girl Scouts. In addition, a workshop on DNA and Genealogy is also in the planning stages.

Dolores stated that two workshops are coming up in the next few weeks. Robert Larson will present a workshop on using PowerPoint to make slideshows for Family Reunions on April 21 and April 28. In May a workshop will be presented on creating CDs and DVDs for slideshows and movies using music and special effects.

Newsletter

Newsletter Editor Bob Larson was not present, but President Ken Goldsberry informed the members that Bob is putting the finishing touches on the new membership directory, so if anyone has email address changes, wants new pictures, etc., they should be done this week.

Also, Ken stated that the Society is still in need of someone to take over Bob’s duties as editor of the newsletter. He suggested if anyone is interested to please let the Board know.

Publications

Board Member/Publications Chair Hap Hazard was congratulated on becoming the new President of the Fort Collins Historical Society.

Hap reported that he has made up some generic Society business cards which members are free to take. These are nice to hand out to potential Society members as well as to others in the genealogy community.

Publicity

Chair Kathy Patrick reported that a reporter from the Loveland Reporter Herald attended part of the recent Girl Scout Workshop. Kathy is working to see that an article on the workshop is printed in the paper.

Ken asked anyone who is interested in writing to write up a news article or genealogy gem for the local newspapers and/or the Society newsletter.

Hospitality

Chair Marge Abrames stated that everything is going well. She thanked those who have donated treats for the meetings.

Archives

The Society is still looking for someone who would be willing to take over the Archivist position for the Society. Paul Smith has been digitizing some of the older Society records and would be willing to work with a new person to ease them into the position.

Miscellaneous Announcements

Jim Willard reported that the Local History Archive has moved from the Fort Collins Library to the Museum. Rheba Massey has retired, but she will continue to work on recording local oral histories. Paul Smith reported that he had visited the new archive location and found it to be very user friendly and accessible. Hap Hazard, who volunteers at the archives, stated that the new location will provide extended hours: 10:00 to 5:00 on weekdays and 1:00 to 5:00 on Sunday.

Kathy Patrick announced that Ancestry.com has a new database on Quebec Civil Records. It requires as expanded membership to use from home, but the Loveland Library subscribes to the database where it can be accessed for free.

Pat Roberts told members that the National Archives is increasing prices for copies of various records on May 29. For example, Civil War Pension Files now cost $37.50. After May 29, they will be $125. Homestead Records also will increase from $17.50 to $40. These are large increases so she suggests ordering files before the new prices take effect.

President Ken Goldsberry announced that the next Board Meeting will be May 3 at the Fort Collins Main Library. The next General Meeting will be May 17 at the Harmony Library. Paul Kilburn will speak at that meeting about the settlement of New England.

The meeting was adjourned at 8:35 pm.