Minutes
Harmony Library
Harmony and
Community Room
President Ken Goldsberry called the meeting to order at
Welcome
Ken welcomed members to the new meeting place and introduced a visitor: Millie Miller.
Business Meeting
Recording Secretary
Report
Carol Stetser, Recording Secretary, stated that meeting minutes are being posted by Webmaster Dolores Ray on the Society website. Since Bob Larson reported that at least thirteen members do not have email addresses, it has been agreed that the minutes will also be posted at the general meetings for members’ perusal. In addition, Carol will have available a book containing past minutes for members to read, if they care to.
Treasurer’s Report
Treasurer Mary Joy Hauk reported that the Society had $2925.50 in income and $3346.55 in expenses for 2005. The present bank balance is $1818.87.
Mary Joy further reported that the members may want to
consider a possible increase in dues to meet the needs of the future. She also stated that the 2005 expenses were
greater than usual due to attorney fees to correct the Society’s status with
the State and the purchase of a computer program for publishing Society
materials. Also, there were expenses for
the printing of the three Society publications during 2005. Hopefully, the printing expenses will be
returned through the sale of the books.
Society
Representative
Marilyn Rudd, Society representative to the Colorado Council
of Genealogical Societies, reported on the Saturday, January 14 meeting she
attended. There are three upcoming
programs which Society members may wish to attend. These include a program on February 2 at
Denver Public Library sponsored by the Jewish Genealogical Society on Jewish
and Eastern European Research. The
Colorado Genealogical Society is sponsoring a seminar on March 17 at the Denver
Public Library concerning various land records including landless ancestors and
farming ancestors. Finally, the
Palatines to
Webmaster and
Education and Outreach
Education and Outreach Chairman, Dolores Ray, reported on upcoming programs (see attached). Three programs that are planned include a Girl Scout merit badge program, an oral history project and, in 2007, an elementary school genealogy program.
Dolores also stated that there will be another “Genealogy on the Internet” workshop in April. She further informed the members that there may be future workshops on “Using Technology to Your Advantage” and also on researching in specific foreign countries. These workshops will depend on member interest.
Finally, Dolores stressed that volunteers will be needed for the Girl Scout merit badge program and for the “Genealogy on the Internet” workshop. Also, the Education and Outreach Committee needs more committee members to help plan and implement new programs. Members are urged to volunteer.
In her capacity as Webmaster, Dolores reported that members have been provided with a handout (attached) which details what is available on the Society website. In addition, the handout lists databases which will be added to the website in the future.
Program Chairman
Vice President Len Ray reported on the program schedule for 2006 (attached). He mentioned the possibility of a program on the various paid databases available to genealogists and also one comparing and contrasting various genealogical magazines.
Len also reported that the video on organizing records is still available from Publications. Many members responded favorably to this video; those who missed it may want to borrow it.
Corresponding Secretary
Ken introduced Sareta Carmody, who is the Society’s new Corresponding Secretary. Sareta asked members to help her by informing her when members are ill so that she can send get well cards. Several members reported that Jack Long is in the hospital; Sareta will send him a get well card.
2005 Activity Summary
Ken handed out a summary (attached) of accomplishments of the Society for 2005. He extended thanks to all those who volunteered and participated in this very active and productive year for the Society.
Committee Reports
Hospitality
Marge Abrames will be having surgery on her shoulder and will need someone to take care of refreshments for the February and March meetings. She circulated a sign-up sheet for volunteers. Sonny Hygh, Jessica Kistler and Louise Holzman signed up.
Membership
Jean Anderson, Committee Chairperson, stated that the Society membership reached 150 in November. She summarized several projects that Membership accomplished during 2005. One of these was posting on the web a surname list that members are researching. She thanked Dolores Ray for her work in posting the list on the web. In addition, Jean kept a volunteer list, did a recruitment and invitation mailing and established a transportation link between volunteers and those who need transportation to meetings. Finally, Jean, with Bob Larson’s help, put out a new membership directory.
Newsletter
Newsletter Editor, Bob Larson, first discussed the Family Tree Maker Group. About 60 members use Family Tree Maker, and Bob, with Mary Joy’s help, has started a user group. The first six months of 2006 will be especially aimed at new users and will include demos of every feature available on Family Tree Maker. Bob sends an email a week in advance of each meeting.
Next Bob reported on the newsletter. There have been some problems with mail delivery of out-of-town newsletters. Last month Bob posted the newsletter early to ensure a timely delivery.
Bob then wondered if members would like to receive an electronic version of the newsletter rather than a paper one. Some members responded positively, but others were concerned about slow downloads and difficulty of reading online magazines.
Bob asked for any members’ email address updates. He also recommended Ceil Damschroder’s
upcoming genealogy classes which will be held in
Publications
Carolyn Jones, Committee Chairperson, reported that in 2005 the Society sold 65 books and 3 CD for a total sum of $1252. She reminded members that the Society published three books in 2005 and recognized the efforts of Mary Joy Hauk, Sonny Hygh and Barbara Graham as well as Duane and Susan Kniebes in producing these volumes.
History
Although Paul Smith, Committee Chairperson, was not present, Ken stated that committee chairs and officers should be prepared to present 2005 reports and files to the History Committee at the February Board Meeting.
By-Laws
Proposed changes to the by-laws were presented to the membership at the November meeting as well as in the newsletter. Ken asked if there were any discussion or problems with the proposed changes. No one had any; Nancy Abrahams moved that the by-laws be accepted as written. The motion was seconded and approved unanimously.
Research Projects
Ken thanked all volunteers who helped on the 2005 research projects. He stated the Society is considering further projects, possibly an obituary project, for 2006.
Society Research
Research requests to the Society are referred to Carol Stetser and Al Boswell. Carol reported that the Society had eight requests for local research during 2005.
Budget and Finance
This committee was recently set up and consists of Majel Morgan, Mary Joy Hauk and Roger Wood. The committee met with Ken Goldsberry and has prepared a proposed budget for the Society.
Election of Officers
Bob Larson, Chairman of the Nominating Committee, nominated the following: Len Ray for Vice President, Mary Joy Hauk for Treasurer and Carol Stetser for Recording Secretary. All are continuing previously held positions. Bob asked for a show of hands confirming these officers. The three officers were elected by a unanimous show of hands.
At this point a break for refreshments and conversation was taken. The refreshments were especially notable since members brought all kinds of delicious treats!
Announcements
Dora Hildebrant announced that she has been the researcher for the “Cemetery Crawl” for several years, and she has now resigned to do other things. She would like someone to volunteer for the position.
Ceil Damschroder gave the members a light moment by reading a humorous article on fruitcakes. She stated that she’d brought fruitcake as a treat. She requested members to “eat up” as her husband said she couldn’t come home with that fruitcake!
Genealogy Gems
Frances Ek showed members an artifact she’d brought. She wondered if anyone could recognize what
it was. No one did, but she stated that
it was a finial for a fence post at a cemetery in
Jessica Kistler brought an article and pictures on her
maternal great-great grandfather who was instrumental in starting the First
National Bank in
Ken Goldsberry reported that he’d found that the Fort Collins Weekly Courier newspaper has several years online. These are completely searchable and a great source for local research. He also reported on his relative, Demetrio Papageorgopi;p. This man has been difficult to research, but Ken recently found some information about him and his performances with the San Francisco Symphony.
Betty Summers stated that researchers should never give up the search. She had long wondered which part of her family she resembled, since she didn’t appear to favor either of her parents. Recently, she re-examined an old photo album and discovered a stamp photo of her great grandmother. When she enlarged the photo, she was surprised to find that she was the image of that long ago grandmother.
Journal Giveway
Finally, Ken read some humorous statements made by Red Skelton. Louise Holzman recognized the statements as being made by Red Skelton and thereby won a journal which had been donated by Joe and Gwen Kelly.
The meeting was adjourned at
Respectfully submitted,
Carol Stetser